Full guide

This guide teaches you how to craft effective prompts for AI image editing. Master the art of editing prompts to transform existing images with precision and creativity.

Note

All example images in this guide were edited using the Pruna-optimized FLUX models on Replicate:

What is an image editing prompt?

An “editing prompt serves as your modification blueprint” - it’s the textual instruction that guides AI models to edit existing images. Think of it as directing a digital artist who can modify anything you can describe.

Effective editing prompt engineering involves “strategically describing what to change” while being explicit about what to preserve. The precision of your preservation instructions directly influences how well the original image’s character, composition, and style are maintained.

Prompting principles for image editing

Learn these fundamental principles to craft editing prompts that modify images precisely while preserving what matters.

✅ DO

❌ DON’T

Be explicit about preservation

“Change the car color to red while maintaining the same lighting and shadows”

Make vague changes

“Change the car color to red”

Start with simple edits

Build complexity gradually through iterative edits

Attempt complex multi-element changes

Trying to change too many things at once

Use quotation marks for text edits

Replace ‘joy’ with ‘Pruna’ while maintaining same font style

Describe text changes vaguely

“Change the text to Pruna AI”

Specify identity markers

Transform the man into a Viking while preserving his exact facial features and expression

Rely on pronouns or vague references

“Transform him into a Viking”

Control composition explicitly

Change the background to a beach while keeping the subject in the exact same position and pose

Give vague positioning instructions

“Put the subject on a beach”

Name specific styles

Convert to oil painting with visible brushstrokes

Use vague style terms

“Make it artistic”

Iterate when making dramatic changes

Break complex transformations into sequential edits

Attempt complete transformations in one go

Changing everything about an image in a single edit

Tip

Successful editing prompts balance precision with simplicity. Start with basic modifications and gradually increase complexity through iterative edits. As a rule of thumb: being more explicit generally improves results, unless it makes the edit instruction too complicated.

Creating an image editing prompt

A strong image editing prompt clearly communicates three essential components:

Modification Instruction: What change or transformation to apply
Change Target: The specific element(s) you want to edit
Preservation Requirements: What aspects must stay the same

[Modification Instruction] [Change Target] [Preservation Requirements]

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

Before

After

These components work together to ensure precise edits while maintaining the image’s original character and composition.

Tip

The most critical difference between generation and editing prompts is the preservation requirement. Always explicitly state what should remain unchanged - identity, lighting, composition, style, or any other important element.

Step 1: Specify modification instructions

Clearly describe what change or transformation you want to make. Use direct, action-oriented language and be specific about the desired outcome.

Material/Color Changes: “from purple to blue”, “change wood to metal”, “convert to glossy finish”
Content Modifications: “add a bird”, “remove the person”, “replace the text”
Style Transformations: “convert to oil painting”, “change to sketch style”, “transform to cyberpunk aesthetic”
Positional Changes: “move to the left”, “scale up 20%”, “rotate 45 degrees”
Lighting Adjustments: “brighter ambient lighting”, “warmer tone”, “more dramatic shadows”

"Add a knitted purple teddy bear"

Original

Original+modification

Tip

Be direct and avoid command language. Describe the desired state, not instructions to perform.

Step 2: Define the change target

Identify exactly where or which element(s) in the image you want to modify. Use specific, unambiguous references to avoid confusion.

Subjects: “the woman with red hair”, “the purple prune character”, “the car in the foreground”
Objects: “the book on the table”, “the sign above the door”, “the background behind the subject”
Elements: “the clothing”, “the text”, “the lighting”, “the background”
Areas: “the upper right corner”, “around the character”, “in the masked region”

"[...] next to the character reading a book"

Original+modification

Original+modification+target

Tip

Be explicit and avoid command language. Describe the desired state, not instructions to perform.

Step 3: Add preservation requirements

This is the most critical component for editing prompts. Explicitly state what must remain unchanged to maintain the image’s integrity and character.

Identity Elements: “preserve facial features”, “maintain same person”, “keep identity”
Composition: “maintain exact position”, “keep same pose and stance”, “preserve camera angle”
Lighting and Atmosphere: “keep same lighting”, “maintain natural shadows”, “preserve atmosphere”
Style Consistency: “keep same art style”, “maintain visual consistency”, “preserve proportions”
Contextual Elements: “keep all other elements unchanged”, “maintain background details”, “preserve surrounding scene”

"[...] matching textures and fabric while preserving the overall style and pose and keeping all other elements unchanged"

Original+target+modficitation

Original+target+modficitation+preservation

Tip

The more explicit you are about preservation, the better the edit will respect the original image.

Image editing prompt categories

Understanding how specific words and phrases control your edits is essential for crafting effective editing prompts. Each term you include shapes the modification in predictable ways. This section explains “what visual changes each term creates” and “how preservation language protects important elements.”

Editing terms control what type of modification to make, whether adding, removing, or transforming elements. These keywords determine the editing operation and help preserve what should remain unchanged.

"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"

Before

After

Category	Visual Effect
Objects & items	“add [object]”, “insert [object]”, “place [object]” = adding specific items to scenes while matching lighting and style; “in the masked area” specifies location for inpainting
Natural elements	“add birds”, “insert clouds”, “add rain”, “place flowers” = introducing environmental elements with matching atmospheric conditions
Architectural elements	“add archway”, “insert building”, “place doorway” = adding structural elements maintaining perspective and scale
Lighting & atmosphere	“matching the lighting”, “maintaining the atmosphere” = ensuring additions fit existing illumination and mood
Materials & textures	“matching textures”, “weathered appearance”, “chrome details” = specifying material properties for consistency

"remove the book from the purple character while matching background elements, maintaining the same cartoon style and lighting"

Before

After

Category	Visual Effect
Basic removal	“remove [object]”, “eliminate [object]”, “delete [object]” = removing specific elements and filling space appropriately
People & figures	“remove person”, “eliminate tourist”, “delete figure” = removing people while maintaining scene consistency
Objects & clutter	“remove trash can”, “eliminate power lines”, “delete car” = cleaning up unwanted objects with natural replacement
Text & logos	“remove watermark”, “eliminate logo”, “delete text” = removing graphics while restoring underlying surfaces
Background restoration	“replace with [background]”, “fill with natural elements”, “restore original surface” = specifying what should replace removed elements
Lighting maintenance	“maintaining natural lighting”, “preserving light sources” = ensuring replacements match existing illumination

"Change the purple prune character's outfit from purple to blue, maintaining the same cartoon style, pose, and lighting"

Before

After

Category	Visual Effect
Color changes	“change [object] to [color]”, “transform color to [color]” = altering colors while maintaining lighting and shadows; “from red to blue” = direct color swaps
Material transformations	“change wood to metal”, “transform texture to [material]” = changing material properties (wooden to metallic, smooth to rough)
Size & proportion	“make larger”, “reduce size”, “scale up/down” = adjusting object dimensions while maintaining perspective
Design & style	“change vintage to modern”, “transform style” = updating aesthetic while keeping basic form; “update appearance” = general styling changes
Finish & surface	“matte to glossy”, “polished chrome”, “weathered finish” = changing surface properties and reflectivity
Preservation	“maintaining same [property]”, “keeping [element]” = specifying what should remain unchanged during modification

"Replace the text "PRUNA" with "PRUNA ENDPOINTS!" while maintaining the same style, size, and positioning in the photo."

Before

After

Category	Visual Effect
Quotation marks for text	Replace ‘[original]’ with ‘[new]’ = direct text swaps using exact quotes; “Change the text”, “Update the text” = modifying written content
Signs & labels	“change store sign”, “update street sign”, “modify label” = editing public signage while maintaining style
Documents	“change document title”, “update price tag”, “modify headline” = editing formal text with formatting preservation
Font preservation	“maintaining same font”, “keeping font style”, “preserving typography” = preserving original text appearance
Context matching	“fits the theme”, “matches setting”, “appropriate for context” = ensuring edits fit the image’s purpose
Case sensitivity	Specify capitalization: “Pruna” vs “pruna” = preserving or changing letter case as needed

Tip

Best practice for text editing: Use clear quotation marks around exact text like Replace ‘Current Text’ with ‘New Text’ for most accurate results.

"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."

Before

After

Category	Visual Effect
Identity preservation	“preserve facial features”, “maintain exact face”, “keeping identity” = protecting person’s recognizable characteristics during edits
Expression changes	“change expression to smiling”, “transform mood” = modifying emotions while keeping same person; “serious to confident” = specific emotion swaps
Hair modifications	“change hair to long”, “add beard”, “short to flowing” = modifying hair while preserving facial structure
Age adjustments	“look younger/older”, “smoothing wrinkles”, “adding gray hair” = age modifications with realistic progression
Clothing changes	“change clothes to [style]”, “update outfit”, “transform wardrobe” = clothing swaps while maintaining pose and expression
Character attributes	“transform to [character]”, “change to Viking/magician” = complete transformations with identity preservation
Specific identity markers	“the woman with short black hair”, “the man with blue eyes” = direct naming prevents pronoun confusion

Tip

Avoid vague references like “her”, “him”, or “the person”. Instead, use specific identifiers: “the woman with short black hair” or “the man wearing glasses” for better results.

"Make a top down view of the street vendor while keeping all scene elements and positions the same."

Before

After

Category	Visual Effect
Angle changes	“low-angle shot”, “bird’s eye view”, “worm’s eye view”, “top down view”, “three-quarter angle” = changing viewing angles; “looking up/down” = directional perspectives
Distance & framing	“wide shot”, “close-up”, “establishing shot” = changing distance from subject; “tight framing”, “full body shot” = framing adjustments
Composition control	“keep exact position”, “maintain placement”, “same position and pose” = preserving subject location during angle changes
Camera movement	“slight tilt”, “pan left/right”, “tilt up/down” = simulating camera movements
Lens effects	“telephoto”, “wide-angle”, “fisheye” = simulating different lens properties
Depth preservation	“maintaining depth”, “preserve perspective”, “keep spatial relationships” = maintaining 3D positioning during angle changes

Tip

For background changes with camera control: “Change the background to a beach while keeping the person in the exact same position, scale, and pose. Maintain identical subject placement, camera angle, framing, and perspective.”

"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"

Before

After

Category	Visual Effect
Background changes	“replace background”, “change setting”, “transform environment” = modifying backgrounds while preserving foreground; “maintaining subject prominence” = keeping focus on main element
Artistic style transfers	“convert to [style]”, “transform to watercolor”, “change to sketch” = style conversions; “with visible brushstrokes”, “pencil lines” = technique-specific details
Color palette shifts	“warm autumn tones”, “monochrome”, “selective color” = color scheme changes; “maintaining original lighting” = preserving illumination
Texture modifications	“smooth to rough”, “weathered texture”, “polished surface” = material property changes
Atmospheric transformations	“change atmosphere”, “transform mood”, “shift energy” = emotional tone changes
Lighting adjustments	“day to night”, “natural to dramatic”, “soft to harsh” = illumination changes while maintaining composition
Specific style names	“Bauhaus art style”, “oil painting”, “Renaissance painting” = named artistic movements; “cyberpunk aesthetic” = genre-specific styles
Material swaps	“wood to metal”, “fabric to leather”, “concrete to marble” = changing material properties

Tip

Name specific styles for better results. Instead of “make it artistic”, use “Transform to oil painting with visible brushstrokes, thick paint texture, and rich color depth”

"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"

Before

After

Category	Visual Effect
Sequential instructions	“first… then… finally” = ordering multiple operations step-by-step; “start by… then… next” = explicit sequencing for complex edits
Coordination terms	“and also”, “while also”, “additionally” = linking multiple simultaneous changes
Compound transformations	“change both X and Y”, “update A, B, and C” = coordinating multiple elements; “maintaining consistency” = ensuring unified results
Iterative editing	“in sequential steps”, “gradually”, “step by step” = breaking complex edits into manageable stages
Unified style	“all changes contribute to cohesive result”, “harmonious modifications” = ensuring all edits work together
Dependency management	“preserve lighting throughout”, “maintain proportions”, “keep relationships” = managing how changes affect each other
Complex scene edits	“background AND subject AND lighting” = coordinating multiple aspect changes in one prompt when complexity is manageable

Tip

For very complex transformations, consider iterative editing: First make one major change, verify the result, then build upon it for best results. This is especially important for character consistency across multiple edits.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with well-crafted prompts, you may encounter issues. Here’s how to address common problems based on real-world editing challenges.

Problem	Solution	Check	Try
Character identity changes too much	Specify identity markers explicitly	For vague references like “him”, “her”, or “the person”	Use “the woman with short black hair” or “the man with blue eyes”
Subject shifts position during background change	Control composition explicitly	Whether you specified position preservation	Add “keep the exact camera angle, position, and pose”
Style loses important details	Name specific techniques and characteristics	If using vague terms like “make it artistic”	Use “Convert to pencil sketch with visible graphite lines and cross-hatching”
Unwanted elements change with edits	State explicitly what should remain unchanged	What elements are unexpectedly modified	Add “while maintaining all other aspects exactly as they are”
Complex multi-element changes fail	Break into sequential edits	Whether trying to change too many things at once	Make one major change, verify, then build upon it
Text edits don’t match original formatting	Use quotation marks for exact text	Whether you specified exact text to replace	Use Replace ‘Old Text’ with ‘New Text’ format
Lighting doesn’t match after edits	Preserve lighting conditions in prompt	Whether lighting was mentioned as unchanged	Add “maintaining the same lighting and shadows”
Perspective or scale changes unexpectedly	Specify preservation of spatial relationships	Whether 3D positioning was mentioned	Add “maintaining depth, perspective, and spatial relationships”

Next Steps

Full guide - Learn how to prompt for text-to-image generation

Full guide - Learn how to prompt for video generation

Addressing biases in models - Learn about creating inclusive and diverse content

Prompt engineering tools - Learn about tools and techniques for improving your prompts