8 Components of great AI art prompts

Add detailed descriptions

Including detailed descriptions in your prompt helps Copilot generate more accurate and visually appealing art. Provide as much information as possible about the colors, shapes, and textures you want to see in the final piece. For instance, "a vibrant sunset with shades of orange, pink, and purple, reflecting on a calm ocean" will be a more effective prompt than “a sunset over water.” You might also try prompts like these to get started:

1. Create an image of a snowy mountain peak with jagged rocks and a clear blue sky.
2. Design a tropical beach scene with palm trees, white sand, and turquoise water.
3. Produce an illustration of a dense forest with tall trees, green foliage, and a winding path.

Choose an art style

Specifying the style of artwork you want Copilot to generate is another important component. Whether you prefer a realistic, abstract, impressionistic, or another style, make sure to include this information in your prompt. Rather than prompting “a painting of a forest,” you might instead use "an abstract painting representing a forest, with bold brushstrokes and vibrant colors." Here are a few more prompts you can use to create images with a more defined style:

1. Generate a realistic 3D portrait of a young woman with detailed facial features and natural lighting.
2. Design an impressionistic mountain landscape with soft, blurred edges and pastel colors.
3. Produce a surrealist image of a melting potted plant in a desert landscape.

Give context

Context is enormously helpful when creating AI-generated art; when you provide background information to the prompt, Copilot can use it to enhance the artwork. This could include the setting, time period, or emotional tone you want to convey. For example, in the prompt "an exciting futuristic cityscape at night, with neon lights and flying cars," the word “futuristic” indicates the imagined time period, and “exciting” denotes the tone for the image. Try out prompts like these to practice adding context to your AI image prompts:

1. Create an image of a medieval castle on a hill, surrounded by a moat and lush greenery.
2. Generate an illustration of a bustling market in an ancient Roman city.
3. Produce a scene of a post-apocalyptic wasteland with abandoned buildings and overgrown vegetation.

Add intentional composition

The composition of an artwork refers to how different elements are arranged within the piece. For a well-balanced or strikingly composed piece, give Copilot guidance on how you want the elements to be positioned and balanced. If, for example, you wanted an equally balanced image, you might prompt Copilot to create an image with "a symmetrical composition with a large tree in the center and smaller trees on either side." Here are a few more prompts that you can use to practice composition:

1. Create a seaside image with a lighthouse on a rocky cliff as the main focal point on the upper right side.
2. Design an image of a dog’s reflection in a pond with a balanced composition, distributing elements evenly distributed across the canvas.
3. Produce an illustration of a person running a marathon with a dynamic composition, featuring diagonal lines and movement.

Invoke emotion

Adding descriptions of emotions in your Copilot prompts can make the final piece more impactful and evocative. It’s especially helpful to include descriptions of the feelings or moods you want the artwork to inspire in the audience. You might, for example, "a melancholic scene of a lone figure standing on a deserted beach at dusk." Here are some other prompts that you can use for more emotional pieces:

1. Generate an image of a party that evokes a sense of joy and celebration, with bright colors and smiling faces.
2. Design a peaceful and serene city landscape with soft lighting and gentle colors.
3. Produce an illustration of a forest that conveys a sense of mystery and intrigue, with dark shadows and hidden details.

Take inspiration from other art and artists

Drawing inspiration from existing art or artists can help guide Copilot in creating a piece that aligns with your vision. For example, you might mention specific art movements that you admire, such as the Surrealist movement, to create a piece that has those elements present. Here are a few more examples to inspire your AI art creation:

1. Create a Baroque-style image of a dog playing fetch.
2. Generate an illustration of a cupcake influenced by the Art Deco movement, with geometric shapes and bold lines.
3. Produce a painting of a springtime cityscape inspired by the Impressionist movement.

Use relevant keywords

Using relevant keywords in your prompt can help Copilot focus on specific elements and themes. Choose keywords that accurately describe the subject, style, and mood of the artwork in this guide. The more specific you are in your word choice, the more accurately Copilot can generate what you have in mind. Here are some examples:

1. Create a vibrant abstract painting that gives off the impression of stained glass.
2. Design a dark, moody, gothic scene on a castle bridge.
3. Produce a whimsical, playful illustration of a wildflower meadow.

Start creating with Copilot

By incorporating these eight components—clarity, detail, context, style, composition, emotion, inspiration, and keywords—into your Copilot art prompts, you can create stunning and unique artwork. Try Copilot today and see how easy it is to make beautiful AI art that captures your vision.