“I know exactly what I want, but I can’t describe it to AI.” Every designer has felt this frustration. You can see the image perfectly in your mind, but the words to describe it vanish when you start typing.
This guide gives you the vocabulary and framework to translate visual concepts into prompts that Midjourney, DALL-E, and other AI image generators actually understand.
Make a nice logo for a coffee shop
Minimalist logo design for artisan coffee roaster STYLE: Clean vector illustration, single color, works at any size SUBJECT: Abstract coffee bean shape formed by two hands cupping COMPOSITION: Centered, circular negative space, no text MOOD: Warm, welcoming, handcrafted feel REFERENCE: Similar to modern Scandinavian design, Apple-like simplicity
Visual Vocabulary
The difference between vague and precise prompts comes down to vocabulary. Learn these terms and AI will understand exactly what you mean.
Composition Terms
Camera Angles
Bird’s eye view, worm’s eye view, dutch angle, straight-on, three-quarter view, profile shot, over-the-shoulder
Framing
Extreme close-up, close-up, medium shot, full shot, wide shot, establishing shot, negative space
Layout
Rule of thirds, centered, symmetrical, asymmetrical, golden ratio, leading lines, frame within frame
Depth
Shallow depth of field, deep focus, bokeh, foreground interest, layered composition, atmospheric perspective
Lighting & Mood
Light Direction
Front lit, backlit, side lit, rim lighting, under lighting, top-down, dappled light, volumetric rays
Light Quality
Soft diffused, harsh direct, golden hour, blue hour, overcast, studio lighting, natural window light
Color Temperature
Warm tones, cool tones, neutral, candlelit warmth, neon glow, moonlit blue, sunset orange
Atmosphere
Moody, ethereal, dramatic, peaceful, energetic, mysterious, nostalgic, futuristic, cozy
Pro Tip
Style & Medium
Commercial: Product photography, editorial, fashion, food photography, architectural
Fine Art: Conceptual, abstract, surrealist, minimalist, documentary
Vintage: Film grain, Polaroid, daguerreotype, Kodachrome, expired film look
Technical: HDR, long exposure, macro, tilt-shift, infrared
Traditional: Watercolor, oil painting, pencil sketch, charcoal, ink wash
Digital: Vector art, flat design, gradient mesh, pixel art, low poly
Artistic: Art nouveau, art deco, pop art, impressionist, expressionist
Commercial: Editorial illustration, children’s book, comic book, concept art
Realistic: Photorealistic, hyperrealistic, Octane render, ray tracing
Stylized: Claymation, isometric, voxel art, cel-shaded, Pixar style
Technical: Wireframe, blueprint, x-ray view, exploded view, cutaway
The VSCM Framework
Structure your visual prompts using these four elements in order. Vision sets the direction, then Style, Composition, and Mood add the details.
Vision
Style
Composition
Mood
Create a [MEDIUM/STYLE] image of [SUBJECT]. VISION: - Main subject: [What is the focus?] - Story/concept: [What is happening or being communicated?] - Emotional intent: [How should viewers feel?] STYLE: - Medium: [Photography, illustration, 3D render, etc.] - Art direction: [Specific style, era, or artist reference] - Technical approach: [Rendering style, camera type, etc.] COMPOSITION: - Framing: [Close-up, wide shot, etc.] - Angle: [Eye level, bird's eye, etc.] - Layout: [Rule of thirds, centered, etc.] - Depth: [Focus, background treatment] MOOD: - Lighting: [Direction, quality, color] - Color palette: [Dominant colors, temperature] - Atmosphere: [Time of day, weather, environment] - Feeling: [Adjectives describing the vibe]
Platform-Specific Tips
Each AI image generator has preferences. Here’s how to adjust your prompts.
Midjourney
Prefers shorter, more poetic prompts. Uses parameters like --ar (aspect ratio), --v (version), --stylize. Put the most important concepts first. Responds well to artist names and art movements.
DALL-E
Prefers natural language, descriptive paragraphs. Be specific about what you want AND what you do not want. Handles complex scenes with multiple elements well. Good at following detailed spatial instructions.
Stable Diffusion
Highly responsive to weighted terms (word:1.5). Use negative prompts to exclude elements. Benefits from quality tags like “masterpiece, best quality, highly detailed.” Very customizable with fine-tuned models.
Insight
Real Examples
See how the VSCM framework transforms vague ideas into precise prompts.
A woman in a coffee shop
Editorial photography of a young professional woman in a Scandinavian-style coffee shop VISION: Solo moment of peaceful contemplation, she's found her favorite corner STYLE: Natural light photography, 35mm film aesthetic, soft grain COMPOSITION: Medium shot, shallow depth of field, subject positioned left third, window light from right MOOD: Golden hour warmth through large windows, muted earth tones, steam rising from ceramic cup, hygge atmosphere
Cool tech startup office
Architectural interior photograph of modern tech startup headquarters VISION: The future of work - open, collaborative, human-centered STYLE: Commercial architectural photography, Dezeen magazine aesthetic, clean lines COMPOSITION: Wide establishing shot, leading lines from floor pattern, human figures for scale at 1/3 points MOOD: Bright and airy, floor-to-ceiling windows, biophilic design with hanging plants, warm wood accents against white walls, morning light
Next Steps
You now have the vocabulary. AskSmarter.ai can help you build visual prompts through guided questions that extract exactly what you’re imagining.
Build your visual prompt
Answer questions about your vision, style preferences, and mood. Get a polished prompt ready for any AI image generator.
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