Module 2 of 6 · Intermediate · 9 min read

Image generation workflows

Go from one-off pictures to a repeatable pipeline: briefs, consistent style, editing, upscaling and rights checks.

Key takeaways

1Write prompts as clear sentences: subject, setting, composition, light, style, text.
2Lock consistency with reference images, style blocks and fixed parameters.
3Edit rather than regenerate when an image is nearly right.
4Check details (hands, text, logos) and rights before publishing.

01Where AI helps

The Creative AI path explains how image models work and the core prompting skills. This guide turns them into a production workflow.

Concept art, mood boards and storyboards.
Product shots, lifestyle scenes and backgrounds.
Illustrations for articles, decks and social posts.
Editing: removing objects, extending canvases, changing backgrounds.
Variations for A/B tests and different formats.

02The workflow

Save prompts, seeds and settings that worked; they are your style library.

Write a short brief: purpose, audience, format, mood and must-have elements.
Collect references: style, composition, colour, and any product or character images.
Draft a prompt with a reusable style block; generate a batch.
Pick the best, then refine through edits, not fresh generations.
Upscale and do final fixes in an image editor.
Review for errors and rights, then export in the right sizes.

03Tools to reach for

Model strengths change quickly; compare the image models on this site's Models pages before choosing.

General text-to-image models for most work, with strong prompt following and text rendering.
Models and tools with reference-image or character consistency features.
Image editors with generative fill, background removal and upscaling.
Open-weight models with node-based interfaces when you need fine control or local generation.

04Prompt: a reusable style block

Separate what changes (the subject) from what stays fixed (the style).

Example

STYLE (reuse in every prompt): soft editorial photography, natural window light from the left, muted warm palette with sage green accents, 35mm lens at eye level, shallow depth of field, clean uncluttered backgrounds. SUBJECT: {{subject and action}}, in {{setting}}. Composition: {{framing}}, with empty space on the right for text.

05Prompt: product shots with references

Attach real product photos so the model doesn't invent features.

Example

Using the attached product photo as the exact reference for shape, colour, label and proportions, place the product on {{surface}} in {{setting}}. Keep the label text unchanged and readable. Lighting: {{lighting}}. Don't add other branded items. Generate four variations with different camera angles.

06Prompt: targeted edits

Describe only the change, and what must stay the same.

Example

Edit this image: change the background to {{new background}}. Keep the person, their pose, clothing, expression and the lighting on their face exactly the same. Match the colour temperature of the new background to the existing light.

07Pitfalls

Treat generated images like stock photos you are responsible for: check them before they go out.

Detail errors: check hands, text, reflections, logos and product features.
Look-alikes: avoid prompts naming living artists or real people, and never generate misleading images of real people.
Inconsistency: without references and fixed style blocks, a series won't match.
Licences: check commercial-use terms for the tool and any stock or reference images you supply.
Disclosure: some platforms and ad networks require labelling AI-generated images. Follow their rules.

Finished reading?

Mark it complete to track your progress, then test yourself with the Build with AI: Software & Media quiz.

Next: Video generation workflows →