GPT Image 2 Prompt Guide — Tips for Better AI Images (2026)

Last updated: April 2026

GPT Image 2 Prompt Guide

GPT Image 2 is powerful, but the quality of your output depends heavily on how you write your prompts. This guide covers practical techniques for getting better results.

Core Principles

1. Be Specific, Not Vague

GPT Image 2 responds well to detailed descriptions and poorly to vague instructions.

Bad: "A nice sunset"

Good: "A sunset over the Pacific Ocean seen from a cliff, warm golden hour light, scattered cirrus clouds catching pink and orange tones, shot with a 35mm lens, slight lens flare"

2. Describe What You See, Not What You Feel

Instead of abstract concepts, describe the visual elements that create the feeling.

Bad: "A peaceful scene"

Good: "A quiet Japanese garden with a stone path, moss-covered rocks, a small wooden bridge over still water, soft overcast light, no people"

Text Rendering Prompts

GPT Image 2's strongest feature is text rendering. Here's how to use it:

Put Text in Quotes

Always put the exact text you want in "quotes":

A coffee shop menu board with the text "COLD BREW — $4.50" in white chalk
lettering on a dark green background, rustic wooden frame

Describe Typography

Specify font style, weight, size, and positioning:

A modern minimalist logo with the text "NOVA" in thin uppercase sans-serif
letters, extra letter-spacing, centered on white background, black text

Complex Text Layouts

For infographics or UI with multiple text elements, describe each one:

A mobile app notification card showing: title "Order Confirmed" in bold
16px, subtitle "Your package ships tomorrow" in regular 14px gray text,
a green checkmark icon on the left, white card with subtle shadow on
light gray background

Photorealism Prompts

Use Photography Language

GPT Image 2 understands camera and lighting terminology:

• Lens: "shot with a 50mm f/1.4", "85mm portrait lens", "wide angle 24mm"
• Lighting: "soft window light", "golden hour", "studio softbox", "rim lighting"
• Depth: "shallow depth of field", "bokeh background", "everything in focus"
• Perspective: "eye level", "overhead flat lay", "low angle looking up"

Example: Product Photography

A wireless earbuds case on a marble surface, shot with an 85mm lens,
shallow depth of field, soft studio lighting from the upper left,
the brand name "PULSE" embossed on the case lid, minimal white
background, commercial product photography style

Example: Food Photography

A bowl of ramen with soft-boiled egg, nori, and green onions, shot
from 45 degrees above, warm tungsten lighting, steam rising, dark
wood table background, shallow depth of field on the toppings,
editorial food photography

Image Editing Prompts

Lock What Shouldn't Change

When editing, explicitly state what must be preserved:

Change only the background to a beach sunset. Keep the person's face,
hair, clothing, pose, and expression exactly the same. Maintain the
same lighting direction on the subject.

One Change at a Time

For best results, make incremental edits rather than multiple changes at once:

1. First: "Change the shirt color from red to navy blue"
2. Then: "Add a subtle pattern to the shirt"
3. Then: "Adjust the lighting to be warmer"

Style Control Prompts

Reference Specific Styles

In the style of 1970s film photography — warm color grading, slight
grain, soft focus edges, muted earth tones

Clean vector illustration style, flat colors, no gradients, bold
outlines, limited color palette of navy, coral, and cream

Consistency Across Multiple Images

When creating a series, include a style description you reuse:

Style guide: minimalist editorial, white background, soft directional
light from upper right, muted earth tone color palette, shot with
50mm lens, clean composition with negative space

Use this same style block in every prompt of the series.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Too many instructions — Focus on 3-4 key aspects rather than describing every detail
2. Conflicting styles — "Photorealistic watercolor painting" confuses the model
3. Forgetting to lock elements — During edits, always state what should not change
4. Generic quality words — "High quality" and "beautiful" add nothing. Describe the specific visual qualities you want
5. Not using quotes for text — Text outside quotes may be interpreted as style instructions rather than content to render

Quick Reference

Try these prompts on ImageGen2 →