5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using AI Image Generators

AI image generators are incredibly powerful, but they can also be tricky to master. If your results aren't living up to your expectations, you might be making one of these common mistakes. Here's what to avoid.

1. Being Too Vague

The most common mistake is a lack of detail. A prompt like "a picture of a dog" is too broad. What kind of dog? What is it doing? What's the style? Instead, try: "A photorealistic image of a golden retriever puppy, playfully chasing a red ball in a sunny, green park." Specificity is key.

2. Forgetting the Style

Every image has a style. If you don't specify one, the AI will choose a default, which might not be what you want. Always include artistic direction. For example, add phrases like "in the style of Vincent van Gogh," "as a cyberpunk digital painting," "as a black and white film noir photograph," or "using a minimalist line art style."

3. Neglecting the Composition

How the elements in your image are arranged is crucial. Use compositional keywords to guide the AI. Phrases like "extreme close-up," "wide-angle shot," "shot from a low angle," or "symmetrical" can dramatically change the look and feel of your final image.

4. Using Confusing or Contradictory Terms

AI models can get confused if your prompt contains conflicting ideas. For example, "a photorealistic cartoon" is a contradiction. Similarly, avoid overly complex sentences with multiple clauses. Keep your descriptions clear and concise, focusing on one primary subject and scene.

5. Giving Up Too Soon

Your first prompt rarely produces the perfect image. The best results come from iteration. Think of it as a conversation. Tweak your prompt, add details, remove others, and try again. Regenerating the same prompt can also yield different results, so don't be afraid to experiment!