Turning Text into Images with AI - GPT Image Generation Practice

Introduction

We looked at various AI image generation tools in the last post, right? Now it's time for practice! Let's turn the imagination in your head into reality by entering text.

"Can't I just type what I want?" you might think. Yes, basically that's it. But how you write the prompt makes all the difference in the results. The same "cat" can produce a cute character, a realistic photo, or an oil painting-style work depending on who writes it.

I was disappointed at first when I simply typed "red apple" and got a bland image. But after learning prompt writing principles, I could accurately express the atmosphere and style I wanted.

Today, we'll learn how to create increasingly sophisticated images step by step, starting from the basic prompt structure. After reading this, you'll be able to create whatever images you want freely!

Basic Prompt Structure

Prompt writing has a formula-like structure. It looks complex at first, but once you understand this structure, you can create any image:

[Subject] + [Style] + [Mood/Emotion] + [Composition/Angle] + [Lighting] + [Details]

Let me break down what this means.

[Subject]: What to draw?

• Core subjects like "cat," "mountain landscape," "astronaut"

[Style]: What feeling to draw with?

• "Watercolor," "digital art," "photo," "animation style," etc.

[Mood/Emotion]: What feeling to convey?

• "Peaceful," "mysterious," "dynamic," "warm," etc.

[Composition/Angle]: From what angle to view?

• "Close-up," "full body shot," "from above," "panorama view," etc.

[Lighting]: How to express light?

• "Sunset light," "soft lighting," "dramatic lighting," etc.

[Details]: How much quality and detail?

• "Detailed," "high resolution," "professional quality," etc.

You don't need to include all elements. But the more you include, the more accurately AI understands your intention and gets closer to your desired image.

Learning by Example

❌ Bad Prompt:

cat

✅ Good Prompt:

A fluffy white cat sitting on a windowsill, soft natural lighting,
cozy atmosphere, golden hour, detailed fur texture, warm colors

Korean Version (DALL·E 3):

A fluffy white cat sitting on a windowsill, soft natural light,
cozy atmosphere, sunset glow, delicate fur texture, warm tones

Step-by-Step Practice

Practice 1: The Simplest Start

Prompt:

A red apple on a wooden table

Result: A basic apple image is generated.

Now let's add elements one by one!

Practice 2: Adding Style

Prompt:

A red apple on a wooden table, watercolor painting style

Result: An apple painting with a watercolor feel appears.

Various Style Keywords:

• oil painting (oil painting)
• digital art (digital art)
• pencil sketch (pencil sketch)
• anime style (animation style)
• 3D render (3D rendering)
• vintage photography (vintage photo)

Practice 3: Adding Mood and Lighting

Prompt:

A red apple on a wooden table, watercolor painting style,
soft morning light, peaceful atmosphere

Result: An apple painting with a soft and peaceful morning atmosphere

Lighting Keywords:

• golden hour (sunset/sunrise)
• dramatic lighting (dramatic lighting)
• studio lighting (studio lighting)
• backlit (backlight)
• neon lights (neon lighting)
• candlelight (candlelight)

Practice 4: Adding Detail and Quality Keywords

Prompt:

A red apple on a wooden table, watercolor painting style,
soft morning light, peaceful atmosphere, highly detailed,
professional quality, 4K

Quality Enhancement Keywords:

• highly detailed (very detailed)
• professional quality (professional quality)
• 8K resolution (8K resolution)
• award winning (award-winning level)
• masterpiece (masterpiece)
• trending on artstation (popular on ArtStation)

5 Practical Examples

Example 1: City Landscape

Prompt (English):

Futuristic city skyline at night, neon lights reflecting on wet streets,
cyberpunk style, cinematic composition, dramatic lighting,
highly detailed, 4K quality

Prompt (Korean - DALL·E 3):

Night futuristic city skyline, neon lights reflecting on wet streets,
cyberpunk style, cinematic composition, dramatic lighting,
highly detailed, 4K quality

Expected Result: A futuristic city image like Blade Runner

Example 2: Nature Landscape

Prompt (English):

Serene mountain lake at sunrise, misty atmosphere, pine trees,
mirror-like water reflection, soft pastel colors,
landscape photography, professional quality

Prompt (Korean):

Serene mountain lake at sunrise, misty atmosphere, pine trees,
mirror-like water reflection, soft pastel colors,
landscape photography, professional quality

Expected Result: A peaceful and beautiful natural landscape photo

Example 3: Character Portrait

Prompt (English):

Portrait of a wise old wizard, long white beard,
magical staff with glowing crystal, fantasy art style,
detailed facial features, dramatic lighting,
painted by a master artist

Prompt (Korean):

Portrait of a wise old wizard, long white beard,
magical staff with glowing crystal, fantasy art style,
detailed facial features, dramatic lighting,
master's painting

Expected Result: Fantasy game wizard concept art

Example 4: Food Photography

Prompt (English):

Gourmet burger with melted cheese, fresh vegetables,
sesame seed bun, food photography, professional lighting,
macro shot, appetizing presentation, high resolution

Prompt (Korean):

Gourmet burger with melted cheese, fresh vegetables,
sesame seed bun, food photography, professional lighting,
macro shot, appetizing presentation, high resolution

Expected Result: Restaurant menu-quality food photo

Example 5: Abstract Art

Prompt (English):

Abstract geometric shapes, vibrant colors, gradient background,
modern digital art, minimalist composition,
smooth gradients, trending on Behance

Prompt (Korean):

Abstract geometric shapes, vibrant colors, gradient background,
modern digital art, minimalist composition,
smooth gradients, trending on Behance

Expected Result: Modern and sophisticated abstract work

Prompt Writing Tips

1. Describe Specifically

❌ "Pretty flower" ✅ "A single red rose with morning dew drops on petals"

2. Use Style References

• "in the style of Studio Ghibli" (Ghibli style)
• "like a Pixar movie poster" (like Pixar movie poster)
• "inspired by Van Gogh" (Van Gogh-inspired)

3. Use Negative Prompts (Stable Diffusion, MidJourney)

Remove unwanted elements:

Negative prompt: blurry, low quality, distorted, ugly,
bad anatomy, extra fingers

4. Adjust Weights (MidJourney)

A cat::2 sitting on a chair::1

(Cat emphasized 2x more than chair)

5. Specify Aspect Ratio

• MidJourney: --ar 16:9 (landscape)
• MidJourney: --ar 9:16 (portrait)
• MidJourney: --ar 1:1 (square)

Practice Assignments

Try writing prompts and generating images on these topics:

Assignment 1: My Dream Home

Hint: Include house style, surroundings, time of day, weather, atmosphere

Assignment 2: Favorite Animal Portrait

Hint: Animal type, pose, background, style, lighting

Assignment 3: Imaginary Cafe

Hint: Interior style, atmosphere, lighting, seasonal feel

Common Mistakes and Solutions

Mistake 1: Prompt Too Short

Problem: "dog" Solution: "A golden retriever puppy playing in a sunny garden, happy expression, detailed fur, warm lighting"

Mistake 2: Using Vague Expressions

Problem: "cool car" Solution: "Sleek red sports car, Ferrari style, urban street background, sunset lighting, cinematic angle"

Mistake 3: Too Many Elements at Once

Problem: "A cat and dog and bird and fish in a house with garden and mountains and ocean" Solution: Focus on one theme, or divide into multiple images

Mistake 4: Style Inconsistency

Problem: "Realistic photo, anime style, watercolor painting" Solution: Choose one consistent style

Next Steps

Once you've learned the prompt basics:

1. Experiment with various styles
2. Try different prompts for the same subject
3. Save favorite images and record prompts
4. Reference other people's prompts in community galleries

Conclusion

You might not get the desired image at first, but keep trying and you'll get a feel for which words create which results. Prompt writing is an art form!

In the next post, we'll practice actually drawing simple landscapes.

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💡 Today's Tip: When you get an image you like, be sure to save the prompt! You can refer to it later when creating similar styles.