Start with the job of the image
Before describing the scene, answer: where will it appear, what is the main subject, what should the viewer do next, and which format is needed? “Make a stylish photo” leaves too many decisions to the model. “A landscape product shot for a website hero, product on the right, clean space on the left for the headline” gives the composition a job.
A reliable prompt structure
- SubjectWhat must appear: a product, person, package, interior, or abstract scene.
- SettingWhere the subject is and what surrounds it: a studio, marble, fabric, office, or street.
- Light and moodSoft daylight, hard side light, a warm premium mood, or documentary realism.
- CompositionClose-up, top-down, subject on the right, room for text, symmetry, or a dynamic diagonal angle.
- ConstraintsNo text, logos, watermarks, unnecessary objects, or distorted details.
When to use a reference and how to choose settings
A reference helps when composition, product shape, material, or overall mood matters. Attach an image you are allowed to use and say what should be preserved: angle, color, silhouette, or lighting. In the current interface, references are supported by the Nano Banana model; Cormak shows a note when another model is selected.
Choose the aspect ratio for the placement, not by habit. Website covers usually need landscape, product cards often work in square, and stories or vertical video need portrait. Quality affects detail and cost: use a faster draft to validate the idea, then choose higher quality once the composition works.
How to iterate without losing direction
- Change one variable at a time: light, angle, background, or material.
- Keep a successful prompt and add one targeted refinement.
- Describe what to remove, not only what to add.
- Check the thumbnail: the main subject should be recognizable without zooming.
- Do not use generated imagery as a replacement for factual product information.
Use the gallery as a working library
Generated images are saved to your account gallery. Keep project names clear and avoid mixing ad shots, illustrations, and backgrounds in one series. After a week, this saves more time than expected: you can quickly find, compare, and reuse visual directions that already work.
