Create new and better AI images with camera techniques, lighting setups, and artistic styles
Created with Help and Research from Claude.AI, with direction by Tim Eaton.
NOTE: Some of these involve using Python commands, however, the majority of advice for creation can work in GUI interfaces like Night Cafe or other image generators using Flux AI.
- Getting Started
- Flux Models & Configuration
- Seeds & Reproducibility
- Start Images & Img2Img
- Text Rendering & Typography
- Prompt Structure & Word Order
- Camera Techniques
- Lighting Mastery
- Art Styles & Movements
- Advanced Prompting
- Quality Modifiers
- Ethical Considerations
- Common Mistakes
- Example Prompts
- Contributing
Flux AI excels at understanding detailed photographic and artistic terminology. The key to stunning results is combining specific technical language with creative vision. This guide provides the vocabulary and techniques to unlock Flux's full potential.
[Subject] + [Camera/Lens] + [Lighting] + [Art Style] + [Quality Modifiers]
Example:
Portrait of a woman, shot with 85mm lens, golden hour lighting, dramatic studio lighting style, highly detailed, professional photography
- Best for: Highest quality, commercial work, complex scenes
- Strengths: Superior detail, better prompt adherence, advanced lighting
- Use case: Professional photography, advertising, detailed artwork
- Access: API only, paid tier
- Best for: High-quality generation, creative projects
- Strengths: Excellent balance of quality and speed, great for experimentation
- Use case: Most general purposes, artistic creation, prototyping
- Access: HuggingFace, RunPod, local installation
- Best for: Rapid iteration, testing prompts, batch generation
- Strengths: Very fast generation (2-4 steps), good quality for speed
- Use case: Quick concepts, prompt testing, high-volume generation
- Access: Free tier on many platforms
| Use Case | Recommended Model | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Professional photography | Flux.1 [pro] | Maximum detail and realism |
| Artistic creation | Flux.1 [dev] | Best quality/time balance |
| Concept exploration | Flux.1 [schnell] | Fast iteration cycles |
| Batch processing | Flux.1 [schnell] | Speed and efficiency |
| Commercial work | Flux.1 [pro] | Highest quality output |
# Typical parameter ranges
steps: 20-50 # More steps = higher quality (diminishing returns after 30)
guidance_scale: 3.5-7.5 # Higher = more prompt adherence (7.5 is standard)
width: 512-1536 # Image width in pixels
height: 512-1536 # Image height in pixels
seed: 0-4294967295 # For reproducible results# Fine-tuning options
scheduler: "euler_a" # Sampling method (euler_a, dpm++, etc.)
num_inference_steps: 28 # Quality vs speed trade-off
strength: 0.7 # For img2img - how much to change (0.1-1.0)
controlnet_conditioning_scale: 1.0 # ControlNet influenceA seed is a number that controls the randomness in AI generation. Same seed + same prompt + same settings = identical image.
- Range: 0 to 4,294,967,295 (32-bit integer)
- Default: Random seed if not specified
- Purpose: Reproduce exact results or create variations
For Exploration:
# Let system choose random seeds
seed: -1 # or omit seed parameter
# Good for: Initial exploration, finding good compositionsFor Refinement:
# Use specific seed from good result
seed: 42891057
# Good for: Tweaking prompts while keeping compositionFor Variations:
# Increment seed for similar but different results
seed: 42891057 # Original
seed: 42891058 # Slight variation
seed: 42891059 # Another variation-
Initial Generation (Random Seeds)
Prompt: "Portrait of a woman, golden hour lighting" Seed: Random Generate: 4-8 images -
Identify Best Composition
Best result seed: 1847362819 Save this seed for refinement -
Prompt Refinement (Fixed Seed)
Seed: 1847362819 (kept constant) Prompt iterations: - "Portrait of a woman, golden hour lighting, 85mm lens" - "Portrait of a woman, golden hour lighting, 85mm lens, film photography" - "Portrait of a woman, golden hour lighting, 85mm lens, Kodak Portra 400" -
Final Variations (Seed Range)
Final prompt + seeds: 1847362819, 1847362820, 1847362821 Choose best final result
Project: Fashion Shoot
├── Exploration Seeds: Random (discovery phase)
├── Golden Seeds: 1847362819, 2956184730 (keeper compositions)
├── Variation Seeds: +1, +2, +3 from golden seeds
└── Final Seeds: Selected seeds for delivery
Img2Img uses an existing image as a starting point, allowing you to transform photos into different styles while maintaining composition.
Optimal Start Images:
- Resolution: Match your target output (1024x1024, 1536x1024, etc.)
- Composition: Strong, clear composition translates better
- Lighting: Good contrast and defined shadows/highlights
- Subject: Clear subject definition for better transformation
Image Preprocessing:
# Resize to target dimensions
target_size: (1024, 1024)
resize_method: "crop_center" # or "stretch", "pad"
# Optional: Enhance contrast/clarity before input
preprocessing: "auto_contrast"The strength parameter controls how much the AI changes your start image:
| Strength | Effect | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| 0.1-0.3 | Minimal changes | Color correction, lighting adjustment |
| 0.4-0.6 | Moderate transformation | Style transfer, artistic interpretation |
| 0.7-0.8 | Major changes | Complete style overhaul |
| 0.9-1.0 | Nearly from scratch | Use composition only |
Style Transfer:
start_image: "portrait_photo.jpg"
prompt: "Oil painting style, thick brushstrokes, Renaissance lighting"
strength: 0.6
seed: 1234567Photo Enhancement:
start_image: "smartphone_photo.jpg"
prompt: "Professional photography, studio lighting, high detail, DSLR quality"
strength: 0.4
seed: 1234567Artistic Interpretation:
start_image: "landscape_photo.jpg"
prompt: "Van Gogh style, swirling brushstrokes, vivid colors, post-impressionist"
strength: 0.7
seed: 1234567Composition Preservation:
start_image: "rough_sketch.jpg"
prompt: "Photorealistic portrait, professional lighting, detailed features"
strength: 0.8
seed: 1234567Stage 1: Base Transformation
input: original_photo.jpg
prompt: "Digital painting style, fantasy art"
strength: 0.7
output: stage1_result.jpgStage 2: Detail Enhancement
input: stage1_result.jpg
prompt: "Highly detailed, sharp focus, professional digital art"
strength: 0.3
output: stage2_result.jpgStage 3: Final Polish
input: stage2_result.jpg
prompt: "Award-winning artwork, perfect lighting, masterpiece quality"
strength: 0.2
output: final_result.jpgBase Setup:
start_image: "portrait_base.jpg"
seed: 987654321 # Keep constant for comparison
strength: 0.6 # Moderate transformationStyle Variations:
# Photographic styles
prompt: "Film noir lighting, black and white, dramatic shadows"
prompt: "Golden hour portrait, warm lighting, film photography"
prompt: "Studio portrait, professional lighting, fashion photography"
# Artistic styles
prompt: "Oil painting, Renaissance style, classical lighting"
prompt: "Watercolor painting, soft edges, impressionist style"
prompt: "Digital art, concept art style, fantasy lighting"From Rough Sketch:
start_image: "rough_pencil_sketch.jpg"
prompt: "Detailed character design, professional concept art, full color"
strength: 0.8
guidance_scale: 7.5From Photo Reference:
start_image: "reference_photo.jpg"
prompt: "Anime character design, cel shading, studio lighting"
strength: 0.7
guidance_scale: 8.0Canny Edge Detection:
controlnet: "canny"
start_image: "photo.jpg"
prompt: "Line art, clean linework, black and white illustration"
controlnet_conditioning_scale: 1.0Depth Map:
controlnet: "depth"
start_image: "photo.jpg"
prompt: "3D render, volumetric lighting, octane render"
controlnet_conditioning_scale: 0.8Pose Detection:
controlnet: "openpose"
start_image: "person_photo.jpg"
prompt: "Fantasy character, detailed armor, epic lighting"
controlnet_conditioning_scale: 1.0# Base configuration
start_image: "base_photo.jpg"
prompt: "Professional portrait, studio lighting"
strength: 0.6
# Seed batch for variations
seeds: [12345, 12346, 12347, 12348, 12349]
# Generates 5 variations with same prompt and start image
# Alternative: Prompt variations with fixed seed
seed: 12345
prompts: [
"Professional portrait, studio lighting, warm tones",
"Professional portrait, studio lighting, cool tones",
"Professional portrait, studio lighting, dramatic contrast",
"Professional portrait, studio lighting, soft and dreamy"
]35mm film photography- Classic grain and color renditionLeica aesthetic- Sharp, contrasty, premium lookKodak Portra 400- Warm, natural skin tonesFuji film stock- Vibrant colors, distinctive characterblack and white film- Timeless, dramatic contrast
shot on Canon 5D Mark IV- Professional DSLR qualitySony A7R IV photography- High resolution, excellent detailFujifilm X-T4 aesthetic- Film-inspired color sciencemedium format camera- Exceptional detail and dynamic rangelarge format photography- Ultimate sharpness and depth
Polaroid instant photo- Vintage, square format, faded colorsdisposable camera aesthetic- Lo-fi, overexposed, casualfilm camera with flash- Harsh shadows, authentic snapshot feeldrone photography- Aerial perspective, vast landscapessecurity camera footage- Grainy, surveillance aesthetic
14mm ultra-wide lens- Dramatic perspective, environmental context24mm wide angle- Expansive view, slight distortion35mm lens- Natural perspective, street photography feelfisheye lens- Extreme distortion, creative effectarchitectural photography lens- Corrected perspective lines
50mm lens- Natural human vision perspective85mm portrait lens- Beautiful bokeh, subject isolation135mm telephoto- Compressed perspective, intimate feelmacro lens photography- Extreme close-up detailtilt-shift lens- Selective focus, miniature effect
200mm telephoto- Compressed background, wildlife feel400mm super telephoto- Sports photography aestheticvintage lens character- Soft rendering, character flawsanamorphic lens- Cinematic bokeh, horizontal flaresinfrared photography- Surreal, otherworldly colors
shot at f/1.4- Extremely shallow depth of fieldf/2.8 aperture- Good subject separationf/8 aperture- Sharp throughout, landscape idealf/16 small aperture- Everything in focus, sunstar effectslong exposure- Motion blur, light trailshigh shutter speed- Frozen action, crisp movement
shallow depth of field- Blurred background, subject focusbokeh photography- Beautiful out-of-focus areasdeep focus- Everything sharp, environmental storytellingrack focus- Shifting focus between subjectshyperfocal distance- Maximum sharpness throughout scene
rule of thirds composition- Balanced, pleasing arrangementleading lines- Guide viewer's eye through imagesymmetrical composition- Formal, architectural feelgolden ratio composition- Naturally pleasing proportionsnegative space- Minimalist, breathing roomdutch angle- Tilted, dynamic tension
golden hour lighting- Warm, soft, magical qualityblue hour photography- Deep blue sky, city lightsharsh midday sun- Strong shadows, high contrastovercast lighting- Soft, even, natural diffusionsunrise lighting- Fresh, hopeful, warm tonessunset glow- Romantic, dramatic, orange hues
dramatic storm lighting- Dark clouds, shaft of lightfog photography- Mysterious, ethereal atmospherebacklighting- Rim light, silhouettes, dramatic contrastdiffused sunlight- Soft, flattering, even illuminationdappled light- Filtered through leaves, spotted patternswindow light portrait- Natural, soft, directional
studio lighting setup- Controlled, professional qualitykey light and fill light- Classic portrait lighting ratioRembrandt lighting- Triangular cheek highlightbutterfly lighting- Symmetrical nose shadowsplit lighting- Half face in shadow, dramaticrim lighting- Edge light separation from background
chiaroscuro lighting- Strong light/dark contrastfilm noir lighting- Venetian blind shadows, mysterysingle light source- Dramatic, moody atmospherecandlelight- Warm, flickering, intimateneon lighting- Colorful, urban, contemporarypractical lighting- Lights visible in scene
warm tungsten lighting- Orange/yellow, cozy feelcool daylight- Blue tone, crisp and cleanmixed color temperature- Creative color contrastLED panel lighting- Even, controllable, modernfluorescent lighting- Green tint, office aestheticHMI lighting- Daylight balanced, professional film
volumetric lighting- Visible light beams, atmosphericlens flare- Sun hitting lens, authentic feellight painting- Long exposure light trailsstrobe lighting- Frozen motion, party atmospherecolored gels- Creative color effectsgobo patterns- Projected shadows and shapes
moody lighting- Low key, atmospherichigh key lighting- Bright, even, optimisticdramatic side lighting- Strong directional shadowsuplighting- Theatrical, unnatural directionbacklighting silhouette- Subject as dark shapeedge lighting- Outline subject with light
film noir photography- High contrast black and white, dramatic shadowsstreet photography aesthetic- Candid moments, authentic human emotionfashion photography style- High-end editorial, dramatic poses and lightingdocumentary photography- Authentic storytelling, natural momentsfine art photography- Gallery-worthy composition and techniquevintage portrait photography- Classic techniques and timeless appeal
cinematic photography- Film-like composition and lightingarchitectural photography- Clean lines, geometric precisionconceptual photography- Artistic interpretation, creative visionhyperreal photography- Vivid colors, surreal perfectioneditorial fashion photography- High-end magazine aestheticminimalist photography- Clean composition, natural beauty
digital painting- Painterly, artistic interpretationphotorealistic rendering- 3D quality, perfect detailconcept art style- Gaming/film development aestheticmatte painting- Digital environment creationHDR photography- High dynamic range, vivid colorsfocus stacking- Perfect sharpness throughout
cyberpunk aesthetic- Neon, dark, futuristicvaporwave style- Retro-futuristic, pink/purplesynthwave art- 80s nostalgia, neon gridsminimalist photography- Clean, simple, negative spacemaximalist composition- Busy, detailed, overwhelmingglitch art aesthetic- Digital errors, corruption
oil painting style- Rich colors, visible brushstrokeswatercolor painting- Transparent, flowing, delicatecharcoal drawing- Dramatic blacks, soft grayspencil sketch- Detailed linework, realistic renderingink wash painting- Asian aesthetic, flowing brushworkpastel drawing- Soft colors, impressionistic
Renaissance painting- Classical composition, religious themesBaroque style- Dramatic lighting, emotional intensityImpressionist painting- Loose brushwork, light studiesArt Nouveau- Organic forms, decorative elementsArt Deco style- Geometric patterns, luxury aestheticPop art style- Bold colors, commercial imagery
post-impressionist style- Bold colors, emotional expressioncubist composition- Geometric forms, multiple perspectivesimpressionist painting- Light studies, atmospheric effectssurrealist art- Dreamlike, impossible imagerypop art aesthetic- Bold colors, commercial techniquesexpressionist painting- Raw emotion, dynamic brushwork
Portrait of a jazz musician, shot with vintage film camera,
Kodak Tri-X film, available light from club window,
classic documentary photography style, high contrast black and white,
film grain visible, authentic 1960s aesthetic
Cyberpunk street scene, shot on medium format film camera,
neon lighting mixed with natural fog,
Blade Runner aesthetic meets candid street photography composition,
high detail, cinematic color grading
16:9 cinematic- Widescreen, film aesthetic4:3 classic- Traditional photography format1:1 square- Instagram, symmetrical composition9:16 vertical- Mobile, portrait orientation21:9 ultrawide- Panoramic, epic landscapes2.35:1 anamorphic- Cinema scope, dramatic
8K resolution- Maximum detail and sharpnessRAW file quality- Unprocessed, maximum dataprofessional color grading- Polished, cinematic lookfilm grain texture- Authentic analog characterperfect exposure- Technically excellent capturetack sharp focus- Crystal clear subject detail
melancholic atmosphere- Sad, contemplative feelingeuphoric energy- Joyful, uplifting emotiontense anticipation- Suspenseful, dramatic momentserene tranquility- Peaceful, calming presencenostalgic warmth- Memory-evoking, sentimentalmysterious intrigue- Enigmatic, thought-provoking
urban decay- Abandoned, post-industrial aestheticpristine nature- Untouched, natural beautycozy interior- Warm, inviting indoor spacevast landscape- Epic scale, environmental grandeurintimate setting- Close, personal, private momentbustling crowd- Energy, movement, human activity
highly detailed- Maximum texture and definitionphotorealistic- Believable, real-world qualityprofessional photography- Commercial, polished resultaward-winning- Exhibition quality, exceptionalmasterpiece- Artistic excellence, museum qualitytrending on ArtStation- Contemporary digital art quality
tack sharp- Perfect focus, crisp detailperfect composition- Ideal arrangement of elementsstudio quality- Professional lighting and setupcolor accurate- True-to-life color reproductiondynamic range- Full spectrum of tonesno digital artifacts- Clean, artifact-free rendering
in the style of [artist name]- Specific artistic influencereminiscent of [photographer]- Photographic style reference[art movement] inspired- Historical art referencecontemporary [style]- Modern interpretationvintage [era] aesthetic- Period-specific lookfine art photography- Gallery-worthy artistic quality
When using AI to generate images inspired by specific artists, it's important to approach this responsibly and ethically.
Living Artists:
- Consider impact: Be mindful that copying a living artist's style may affect their livelihood
- Give credit: Always acknowledge the artist when sharing AI-generated work inspired by them
- Use sparingly: Avoid saturating platforms with imitations of a specific artist's work
- Educational use: Focus on learning techniques rather than commercial exploitation
Historical Artists:
- Public domain: Most classical artists (pre-1900s) are in public domain
- Cultural respect: Approach cultural and religious art with sensitivity
- Context matters: Understand the historical and cultural significance of the style
✅ DO:
- Study and learn from artistic techniques and movements
- Use artist references for personal education and experimentation
- Combine multiple influences to create something new
- Credit artists when sharing work inspired by them
- Focus on technical aspects (lighting, composition) rather than direct copying
- Use historical styles and movements as inspiration
❌ DON'T:
- Mass-produce work in a living artist's exact style for commercial gain
- Claim AI-generated work as original when directly copying an artist's style
- Ignore artist requests to not use their style for AI training/generation
- Flood markets with imitations that could devalue original work
- Use AI to replicate an artist's work without understanding or respecting their contribution
Instead of: "in the style of [living artist name]"
Try:
"Portrait photography with dramatic lighting and rich color palette"
"Fashion photography with bold composition and striking contrasts"
"Contemporary digital art with surreal elements and vivid colors"
Genre-based alternatives:
"Film noir photography" instead of copying a specific photographer
"Impressionist painting style" instead of "in the style of Monet"
"Street photography aesthetic" instead of copying Vivian Maier specifically
"Renaissance portrait lighting" instead of copying a specific master
Learning from masters:
- Study what makes their work distinctive (lighting, composition, color theory)
- Understand the historical context and techniques they pioneered
- Apply these learnings to create your own unique vision
- Build upon artistic traditions rather than simply copying them
Example of respectful learning:
Original prompt: "Portrait in celebrity photography style"
Educational approach: "Celebrity portrait with dramatic studio lighting,
strong directional shadows, and bold composition reminiscent of high-end
fashion photography"
As AI art creators, we have a responsibility to:
- Foster creativity rather than replace human artists
- Support the art community by purchasing original work when possible
- Educate others about ethical AI art practices
- Advocate for artists' rights in the age of AI
- Create responsibly with consideration for the broader impact
Remember: The goal is to learn from the masters and create new art, not to replace or diminish their contributions to the artistic world.
BAD: "Ultra realistic 8K HDR professional award-winning masterpiece
highly detailed photorealistic perfect composition studio lighting
portrait of a woman with perfect skin and beautiful eyes..."
GOOD: "Portrait of a woman, shot with 85mm lens,
natural window light, in the style of Annie Leibovitz"
BAD: "Shallow depth of field with everything in sharp focus"
GOOD: "Shallow depth of field, subject in focus, background bokeh"
BAD: "Nice lighting, good quality, beautiful"
GOOD: "Golden hour backlighting, film photography, warm tones"
- Be Specific: Use precise technical terms
- Layer Information: Build complexity gradually
- Reference Masters: Name specific artists or photographers
- Balance Elements: Don't overload with modifiers
- Test Variations: Iterate and refine your prompts
Professional headshot of a business executive, shot with 85mm lens,
soft studio lighting with key and fill lights,
in the style of Peter Hurley, clean background,
sharp focus, corporate photography
Portrait of an elderly craftsman in his workshop,
natural window light, shot with 35mm lens,
shallow depth of field, authentic documentary style,
in the style of Steve McCurry, warm tones, storytelling
High fashion portrait, shot with medium format camera,
dramatic studio lighting, Rembrandt lighting setup,
in the style of Richard Avedon, high contrast black and white,
elegant pose, luxury aesthetic
Mountain landscape at sunrise, shot with wide-angle lens,
golden hour lighting, dramatic clouds,
in the style of Ansel Adams, high dynamic range,
black and white, fine art photography
Cyberpunk cityscape at night, neon lighting,
rain-soaked streets reflecting lights,
shot with 24mm lens, long exposure for light trails,
Blade Runner aesthetic, cinematic color grading
Street photography, candid moment of people crossing busy intersection,
shot with 35mm lens, available light,
in the style of Henri Cartier-Bresson, decisive moment,
black and white, human geometry
NYC street scene, golden hour side lighting,
shot with vintage film camera, Kodak Portra 400,
in the style of Vivian Maier, authentic grain,
warm color palette, slice of life
Surreal portrait with floating elements,
dramatic studio lighting, impossible architecture,
in the style of René Magritte meets Gregory Crewdson,
hyperrealistic rendering, dreamlike atmosphere
Minimalist architectural photography,
clean geometric lines, negative space,
shot with tilt-shift lens, even lighting,
in the style of Andreas Gursky, contemporary art
We welcome contributions to improve this guide! Please:
- Fork the repository
- Create a feature branch (
git checkout -b feature/new-technique) - Add your improvements with examples
- Test prompts with Flux AI
- Submit a pull request
- New camera techniques and lenses
- Additional lighting setups
- Emerging art styles and trends
- Cultural and regional photography styles
- Specialized photography genres (macro, astrophotography, etc.)
- More example prompts with results
- Seed databases for different styles
- ControlNet technique guides
- Advanced img2img workflows
- Model comparison studies
- Typography and text rendering examples
- Word order optimization strategies
- Prompt structure templates
This guide is released under the MIT License. Feel free to use, modify, and distribute.
Happy creating with Flux AI! Remember: the best prompt is the one that captures your creative vision.
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