Cheatsheet
Quick reference guide for crafting effective image editing prompts.
Tip
For comprehensive guidance with detailed examples and explanations, see the Full guide guide.
Prompt formula
Core components
Modification Instruction - What change to make? - Add: “add a bird”, “insert clouds”, “place flowers” - Remove: “remove the person”, “eliminate power lines” - Modify: “change color to blue”, “convert to oil painting” - Transform: “transform to Viking”, “change outfit to modern”
Change Target - What to modify? - Be specific: “the woman with red hair”, “the car in the foreground”, “the text on the sign” - Avoid pronouns: Use “the purple prune character” not “it”
Preservation Requirements - What must stay the same? - Identity: “preserve facial features”, “keep same person” - Composition: “maintain exact position”, “keep same pose” - Lighting: “keep same lighting”, “preserve shadows” - Style: “maintain visual consistency”, “keep art style”
Quick tips
✅ DO: - Be explicit about preservation - Start with simple edits - Use quotation marks for text: Replace ‘Old’ with ‘New’ - Specify identity markers explicitly - Iterate for complex changes
❌ DON’T: - Make vague changes without preservation - Attempt complex multi-element changes at once - Rely on pronouns or vague references - Skip preservation requirements
Editing categories
“Add a knitted purple teddy bear, next to the character reading a book, matching textures and fabric while preserving the overall style and keeping all other elements unchanged”
Keywords: “add [object]”, “insert [object]”, “place [object]”
Include: “matching lighting”, “matching textures”, “maintaining atmosphere”
“Remove the book from the purple character while matching background elements, maintaining the same cartoon style and lighting”
Keywords: “remove [object]”, “eliminate [object]”, “delete [object]”
Specify replacement: “replace with [background]”, “fill with natural elements”
“Change the purple prune character’s outfit from purple to blue, maintaining the same cartoon style, pose, and lighting”
Color: “change [object] to [color]”, “from red to blue”
Material: “change wood to metal”, “transform texture”
Size: “make larger”, “scale up 20%”
Style: “change vintage to modern”, “transform style”
“Replace the text ‘PRUNA’ with ‘PRUNA ENDPOINTS!’ while maintaining the same style, size, and positioning”
Use quotes: Replace ‘Old Text’ with ‘New Text’
Preserve: “maintaining same font”, “keeping font style”
“Convert the purple prune character to a pencil sketch for a cartoon with natural graphite lines, cross-hatching, and visible paper texture, preserving the character while applying the style”
Background: “replace background”, “change setting”, “transform environment”
Style: “convert to watercolor”, “transform to sketch”, “change to oil painting”
Specify: “oil painting with visible brushstrokes” not “make it artistic”
“Transform the man into an African woman wearing silver glasses, a thin dark green raincoat, a backpack, and braids while preserving the man’s stance and size.”
Type |
Keywords |
|---|---|
Identity |
“preserve facial features”, “maintain exact face”, “keep identity” |
Expression |
“change expression to smiling”, “transform mood” |
Hair |
“change hair to long”, “add beard”, “short to flowing” |
Clothing |
“change clothes to [style]”, “update outfit”, “transform wardrobe” |
Character |
“transform to Viking”, “change to pirate style”, “transform to [character]” |
“Make a top down view of the street vendor while keeping all scene elements and positions the same.”
Type |
Keywords |
|---|---|
Angles |
“low-angle shot”, “bird’s eye view”, “top down view”, “three-quarter angle” |
Distance |
“wide shot”, “close-up”, “establishing shot”, “full body shot” |
Preservation |
“keep exact position”, “maintain placement”, “same position and pose” |
“First, change the background to a beach, then update the purple prune character’s setting to include ocean waves and seagulls, finally, add a pirate ship and change the character into pirate style, maintaining natural lighting and cartoon proportions and position throughout”
Type |
Keywords |
|---|---|
Sequence |
“first… then… finally”, “start by… then… next” |
Multiple |
“change both X and Y”, “update A, B, and C”, “and also” |
Preservation |
“maintaining consistency throughout”, “preserve lighting throughout” |
Preservation keywords
Category |
Keywords |
|---|---|
Identity |
“preserve facial features”, “maintain identity”, “keep same person” |
Composition |
“exact position”, “same pose”, “maintain placement”, “preserve camera angle” |
Lighting |
“same lighting”, “preserve shadows”, “maintain atmosphere”, “natural lighting” |
Style |
“keep art style”, “maintain visual consistency”, “preserve proportions” |
Other Elements |
“keep all other elements unchanged”, “maintain background details” |
Troubleshooting
Problem |
Solution |
|---|---|
Character identity changes too much |
Use specific identifiers: “the woman with short black hair” not “her” |
Subject shifts position |
Add: “keep exact camera angle, position, and pose” |
Style loses details |
Name specific techniques: “pencil sketch with visible graphite lines” not “sketch style” |
Unwanted elements change |
Add: “while maintaining all other aspects exactly as they are” |
Complex changes fail |
Break into sequential edits, make one change at a time |
Text doesn’t match formatting |
Use quotes: Replace ‘[original text]’ with ‘[new text]’ |
Lighting doesn’t match |
Add: “maintaining the same lighting and shadows” |
Learn more
📚 Full guide: Full guide - Comprehensive prompting guide with detailed examples, troubleshooting, and advanced techniques
Related guides:
Cheatsheet - Image generation quickstart cheatsheet
Cheatsheet - Video generation quickstart cheatsheet