The hardest part of AI art isn't the tool—it's knowing what to type. You stare at the blank prompt box, type "cool dragon," and get... a mediocre dragon. Meanwhile, someone else types a 50-word masterpiece and gets a museum-quality piece.
This is your cheat sheet. 500+ proven prompts organized by category. Just copy, paste, and customize.
Prompt Categories
Portrait Prompts
Perfect for headshots, character design, and profile pictures.
Professional Headshots
- "Professional corporate headshot of a confident businesswoman, navy blazer, studio grey background, soft lighting, sharp focus, 50mm lens"
- "LinkedIn profile picture of a male software engineer, casual button-down shirt, modern office background, natural window light, approachable smile"
- "Executive portrait of a CEO, charcoal suit, blurred cityscape background, golden hour lighting, cinematic depth of field"
Artistic Portraits
- "Oil painting portrait of an elderly woman, wrinkled hands holding a teacup, warm afternoon light through lace curtains, Rembrandt lighting"
- "Watercolor portrait of a young ballerina, soft pastel colors, dreamy atmosphere, loose brushstrokes, white background"
- "Pop art portrait in Andy Warhol style, vibrant neon colors, high contrast, screen print aesthetic, bold outlines"
Fantasy Character Portraits
- "Portrait of an elven warrior, silver hair, glowing blue eyes, ornate armor with nature motifs, forest background, ethereal lighting"
- "Close-up of a cyberpunk hacker, neon face tattoos, holographic interface reflections in eyes, dark urban background, dramatic side lighting"
- "Portrait of a steampunk inventor, brass goggles on forehead, oil-stained leather apron, workshop background with gears and machinery"
Landscape & Environment Prompts
Natural Landscapes
- "Mountain landscape at golden hour, snow-capped peaks, alpine lake reflection, dramatic clouds, wide-angle lens, National Geographic style"
- "Misty forest path in autumn, fallen leaves, rays of sunlight through trees, atmospheric fog, moody color palette"
- "Desert sand dunes at sunset, long shadows, warm orange and purple sky, minimalist composition, fine art photography"
Urban Environments
- "Rainy Tokyo street at night, neon signs reflecting on wet pavement, pedestrians with umbrellas, cinematic mood, blade runner aesthetic"
- "New York City skyline from Brooklyn Bridge, golden hour, long exposure light trails, dramatic sky, architectural photography"
- "Abandoned industrial warehouse interior, broken windows, overgrown plants, dramatic shafts of light, urban decay aesthetic"
Fantasy & Sci-Fi Prompts
Fantasy Scenes
- "Ancient wizard's tower on a floating island, magical energy swirling around, storm clouds below, epic fantasy art, detailed architecture"
- "Dragon perched on mountain peak, wings spread, breathing fire into sunset sky, epic scale, cinematic composition"
- "Enchanted forest with bioluminescent plants, fairy lights, mystical atmosphere, deep blues and purples, magical realism"
Sci-Fi Scenes
- "Massive space station orbiting a ringed planet, detailed sci-fi architecture, stars in background, realistic lighting, concept art quality"
- "Futuristic city on Mars, biodomes, red desert landscape, Earth visible in sky, hard science fiction aesthetic"
- "Alien jungle planet, exotic flora, multiple moons in sky, vibrant colors, sense of wonder, exploration theme"
Cyberpunk & Futuristic Prompts
Cyberpunk Cityscapes
- "Cyberpunk megacity at night, towering skyscrapers with neon advertisements, flying cars, rain-soaked streets, blade runner atmosphere"
- "Neon-lit alleyway in cyber district, holographic signs in Japanese and English, steam vents, lone figure in rain, cinematic framing"
- "Rooftop view of cyberpunk city, neon grid stretching to horizon, purple and cyan color scheme, atmospheric haze"
Tech & Futuristic
- "Holographic user interface, floating screens, blue and cyan glow, futuristic UI design, transparent elements, high-tech aesthetic"
- "Advanced AI server room, glowing cables, sleek minimalist design, cool blue lighting, technological sophistication"
- "Futuristic vehicle interior, holographic dashboard, leather and carbon fiber materials, luxury sci-fi design"
Anime & Manga Prompts
Anime Characters
- "Anime girl in school uniform, cherry blossoms falling, soft lighting, Studio Ghibli style, warm colors, nostalgic atmosphere"
- "Shonen protagonist with spiky hair, determined expression, energy aura, dynamic pose, vibrant colors, manga cover art style"
- "Cyberpunk anime character, neon city background, Akira style, detailed mechanical parts, dramatic lighting"
Anime Environments
- "Anime style Japanese countryside, rice fields, traditional house, Mount Fuji in distance, Makoto Shinkai lighting, hyper-detailed clouds"
- "Cozy anime cafe interior, warm lighting, plants on shelves, rain visible through window, lo-fi aesthetic"
- "Magical anime library, floating books, spiral staircases, ethereal light, fantasy architecture"
Abstract & Artistic Prompts
Abstract Art
- "Abstract fluid art, swirling colors of teal and gold, marble texture, organic shapes, high resolution"
- "Geometric abstract composition, bold colors, Bauhaus style, clean lines, modernist aesthetic"
- "Psychedelic mandala, intricate patterns, vibrant rainbow colors, symmetrical design, spiritual art"
Artistic Styles
- "Impressionist painting of a garden, loose brushstrokes, dappled sunlight, Monet style, soft color palette"
- "Art deco poster design, geometric patterns, gold and black color scheme, 1920s elegance, vintage luxury"
- "Minimalist zen composition, single element, negative space, muted earth tones, peaceful atmosphere"
Pro Tips for Using These Prompts
1. Customize, Don't Just Copy
These prompts are templates. Change the subject, colors, or mood to match your vision. "Anime girl" becomes "anime boy" or "anime cat."
2. Mix and Match Elements
Take the lighting from one prompt and the style from another. "Rembrandt lighting" + "cyberpunk character" = unique result.
3. Add Negative Prompts
Tell the AI what to avoid: "blurry, low quality, distorted, bad anatomy, watermark"
4. Adjust Detail Level
Add "highly detailed" or "intricate" for more complexity. Add "minimalist" or "simple" for cleaner results.