Why Your AI-Generated Images Look Terrible—And How to Fix Them
Your AI Prompt Looks Bad, and It’s Probably Your Fault
Let’s be honest: we’ve all been there. You have a brilliant idea—nay, a vision—for an AI-generated image so stunning, so mind-blowingly original, that it will redefine the very concept of digital art.
You excitedly type your prompt into the AI generator of your choice, hit enter… and what emerges looks like something a confused Roomba coughed up after a long night out. Maybe the free version of the tool is watered down. Maybe your idea wasn’t as solid as you thought. Maybe—just maybe—you’re bad at writing prompts.
Fear not, valiant explorer of the pixelated frontier! You are an advanced lifeform, capable of learning, adapting, and improving. And with this (mostly AI-written) guide, you too will master the ancient and mystical art of telling a machine what to do properly.
1. Keep It Structured – Subject. Camera Movement. Foreground.
AI may seem magical, but it’s really just pattern recognition on steroids. If you type something like “a cool robot in space”, you’re basically asking it to throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks. Instead, structure your prompt like a professional filmmaker or photographer:
Example: “A sleek, retro-futuristic robot in deep space, illuminated by the light of a distant red dwarf. Cinematic wide-angle shot, lens flare in the background, high contrast, dramatic shadows.”
2. Be Specific – Is This an Art Film or a Michael Bay Explosion-fest?
If you want a futuristic cyberpunk cityscape, don’t just say “futuristic city.” Do you mean a neon-lit Blade Runner vibe? A 2001: A Space Odyssey utopia? A post-apocalyptic wasteland where AI-generated influencers battle for supremacy in an abandoned Metaverse?
3. Ask Before Asking – Use AI to Help You Write Better Prompts
Here’s a fun hack: before using an image generator, try using a text generator (like ChatGPT) to refine your prompt.
- 🚫 Bad Prompt: “Cool dragon in a fantasy world.”
- ✅ Better Prompt: “A majestic, fire-breathing dragon soaring over a medieval city at sunset, captured in the style of an oil painting.”
4. Embrace the Power of Digital Texture – Photorealism? Claymation?
If you don’t specify the style, AI will just guess. And guesswork is how you end up with something that looks like it was painted by a sleep-deprived raccoon.
5. If All Else Fails, Provide a Reference Image
Sometimes words aren’t enough, and AI just needs to see what you’re talking about. Many generators let you upload an image as a reference.
Final Thoughts
AI is a powerful tool, but it’s not a mind reader. (Yet.) If you’re getting garbage results, chances are your prompt needs work—not the AI. So be clear, be structured, and for the love of all things digital, be specific.
Need better AI-generated visuals? Let’s talk.