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Introduction

Prompt engineering is the key to unlocking the full potential of AI models in VideoDraft. This guide will teach you how to craft prompts that consistently produce high-quality images and videos.
The difference between a good and great result often lies in how you describe what you want. Master these techniques to save credits and time.

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The Anatomy of a Perfect Prompt

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Core Structure

Every effective prompt follows this pattern: 
[Subject] + [Action/State] + [Environment/Context] + 
[Style/Mood] + [Technical Details] + [Quality Markers]
Example Breakdown: 
"Professional businesswoman (SUBJECT) presenting confidently (ACTION) 
in modern glass office (ENVIRONMENT), warm afternoon lighting (MOOD), 
shot on Canon 5D, 85mm lens (TECHNICAL), photorealistic, 
high resolution (QUALITY)"

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Essential Components

Be Specific About:
  • Who or what
  • Physical details
  • Clothing/appearance
  • Expressions
  • Positioning
Good: "35-year-old Asian businesswoman in navy suit"
Bad: "person in office"

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Model-Specific Prompting

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Image Generation Prompts

Best Practices:
  • Keep under 75 words
  • Focus on main elements
  • Use simple descriptors
  • Avoid conflicting terms
Example:
"Modern tech startup office, diverse team collaborating 
around holographic display, bright natural lighting, 
clean minimalist design, professional photography"
Avoid:
  • Overly complex scenes
  • Multiple focal points
  • Contradictory styles
Strengths:
  • Creative interpretation
  • Text in images
  • Complex concepts
  • Artistic styles
Example:
"A surreal digital painting where books transform into 
butterflies in a magical library, with 'IMAGINATION' 
written in golden floating letters, dreamlike atmosphere, 
inspired by Salvador Dali and Studio Ghibli"
Tips:
  • Be imaginative
  • Reference art styles
  • Include text in quotes
Focus On:
  • Photorealism
  • Natural lighting
  • Accurate details
  • Professional quality
Example:
"Photorealistic portrait of female CEO, 40 years old, 
confident expression, window light, shallow DOF, 
shot on Canon R5 with 85mm f/1.2 lens, Rembrandt lighting, 
corporate headshot style"
Include:
  • Camera specifications
  • Lighting setup
  • Technical parameters

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Video Generation Prompts

Essential Terms:
  • Pan: Horizontal camera rotation
  • Tilt: Vertical camera rotation
  • Dolly: Camera moves forward/backward
  • Tracking: Camera moves sideways
  • Crane: Camera moves up/down
  • Orbit: Circular movement around subject
Example:
"Slow dolly forward through misty forest path, 
camera at eye level, smooth movement, revealing 
ancient temple in clearing"
Framing Options:
  • ECU: Extreme close-up (eyes only)
  • CU: Close-up (head and shoulders)
  • MS: Medium shot (waist up)
  • FS: Full shot (entire body)
  • WS: Wide shot (body with environment)
  • EWS: Extreme wide (tiny subject)
Example:
"Medium shot transitioning to close-up of chef 
carefully plating gourmet dish, shallow focus 
on hands, kitchen background blurred"
Describe Precisely:
  • Speed of movement
  • Direction
  • Physics behavior
  • Environmental effects
Example:
"Slow motion water droplet falling onto leaf, 
creating ripples, morning dew visible, macro lens, 
1000fps capture feeling"

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Advanced Techniques

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Weighted Prompts

Use emphasis to control importance: 
"Beautiful sunset over ocean (main focus), 
small sailboat on horizon (secondary), 
seagulls in sky (minor detail)"

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Negative Prompts

Specify what to avoid: 
"Corporate headshot, professional attire, 
clean background, no glasses, no jewelry, 
no busy patterns, no logos"

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Style Mixing

Combine multiple influences: 
"Product photography meets cyberpunk aesthetic, 
sleek smartphone floating in neon-lit environment, 
80% commercial style, 20% blade runner influence"

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Prompt Templates

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Marketing Content

"[Product name] on [surface/background], 
[lighting style] lighting, [angle] angle shot, 
[color scheme], professional product photography, 
clean and minimal, high resolution"

Example:
"Luxury watch on black velvet surface, dramatic 
side lighting, 45-degree angle shot, gold and black 
color scheme, professional product photography, 
clean and minimal, high resolution"

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Educational Content

Template:
"[Concept] visualization, [complexity level] diagram/illustration, 
[color coding for elements], [labels/annotations style], 
educational infographic style, clear and informative"

Example:
"Photosynthesis process visualization, simplified diagram, 
green for chloroplasts, blue for water, yellow for sunlight, 
clean labels with arrows, educational infographic style, 
clear and informative"

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Entertainment

Template:
"[Genre] scene: [character/subject] [action] in [setting], 
[mood/atmosphere], [cinematography style], [color grading], 
[film reference] inspired"

Example:
"Sci-fi scene: lone astronaut discovering alien artifact 
in derelict spaceship, mysterious and tense atmosphere, 
wide-angle cinematography, blue-teal color grading, 
Alien and Interstellar inspired"

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Common Prompt Mistakes

Avoid these common pitfalls:

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1. Being Too Vague

❌ Bad: “Make a nice picture of a dog” ✅ Good: “Golden retriever puppy playing with red ball in sunny backyard, shallow depth of field, warm afternoon light”

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2. Contradictory Instructions

❌ Bad: “Dark bright colorful monochrome image” ✅ Good: “High contrast black and white photograph with dramatic lighting”

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3. Overcomplicating

❌ Bad: “A person who is simultaneously young and old standing and sitting in multiple locations with various emotions in different weather conditions” ✅ Good: “Split-screen portrait showing same person as child and elderly, representing passage of time”

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4. Wrong Technical Terms

❌ Bad: “Zoom in while staying wide angle” ✅ Good: “Dolly zoom effect (vertigo effect) maintaining subject size while background changes”

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Prompt Optimization Workflow

1

Start Simple

Begin with basic description: “Woman working on laptop in office”
2

Add Details

Enhance with specifics: “Professional woman in her 30s working on laptop in modern office”
3

Include Environment

Describe the setting: “Professional woman in her 30s working on laptop in modern glass office with city view”
4

Specify Style

Add visual style: “Professional woman in her 30s working on laptop in modern glass office with city view, corporate photography style, natural lighting”
5

Polish Technical

Include quality markers: “Professional woman in her 30s working on laptop in modern glass office with city view, corporate photography style, natural lighting, sharp focus, high resolution”

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Testing and Iteration

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A/B Testing Prompts

Test variations:
  1. Different word order
  2. Synonym substitution
  3. Detail level changes
  4. Style variations
Example Test:
  • V1: “Sunset over mountains, dramatic lighting”
  • V2: “Mountain range silhouette against vibrant sunset”
  • V3: “Golden hour alpine landscape, sun setting behind peaks”

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Iterative Refinement

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Industry-Specific Prompts

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Real Estate

"Bright and airy living room, modern staging, wide angle lens, 
natural daylight, real estate photography style, inviting atmosphere, 
highlight space and natural light"

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Food & Beverage

"Gourmet burger with melting cheese, steam rising, macro shot, 
rustic wooden background, food photography lighting, 
appetizing and mouth-watering, shallow DOF on burger"

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Fashion

"Model in designer dress, editorial fashion photography, 
minimalist studio backdrop, dramatic lighting, high fashion pose, 
Vogue magazine style, elegant and sophisticated"

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Technology

"Futuristic smartphone interface, holographic display, 
clean tech aesthetic, blue and white color scheme, 
product visualization, innovative and cutting-edge feel"

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Troubleshooting Guide

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Problem: Inconsistent Results

Solution: Add more specific details
  • Include exact colors (hex codes)
  • Specify exact positioning
  • Reference consistent style

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Problem: Wrong Composition

Solution: Use photography terms
  • “Rule of thirds”
  • “Center weighted”
  • “Leading lines”
  • “Golden ratio”

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Problem: Incorrect Lighting

Solution: Specify light source and quality
  • “Soft window light from left”
  • “Hard studio flash”
  • “Golden hour backlight”
  • “Overcast diffused lighting”

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Quick Reference

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Power Words for Quality

  • Sharpness: crisp, sharp, detailed, high-definition
  • Lighting: dramatic, soft, natural, studio, cinematic
  • Mood: ethereal, moody, vibrant, serene, dynamic
  • Style: photorealistic, artistic, minimalist, ornate
  • Quality: professional, polished, refined, premium

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Camera Settings Reference

  • Aperture: f/1.4 (very shallow DOF), f/8 (sharp throughout)
  • Lens: 24mm (wide), 50mm (natural), 85mm (portrait), 200mm (compressed)
  • Angle: eye-level, low angle, high angle, bird’s eye, worm’s eye

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Best Practices Checklist

  • Subject clearly defined
  • Action/state specified
  • Environment described
  • Lighting mentioned
  • Style indicated
  • Technical details included
  • Quality markers added
  • No contradictions
  • Appropriate length
  • Model-appropriate language

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Next Steps

Practice Prompts

Try our interactive prompt builder

Prompt Library

Browse proven prompts

Start Creating

Apply your skills now
Keep a personal library of successful prompts. When you find a formula that works, save it as a template and build variations from it!