Step 02 — Getting Started with AI Prompts (No Fluff)

Okay, so what even IS an AI prompt? Simple – it's you telling the AI what to create using words. The catch? The AI is weirdly literal and specific. It's like talking to someone who takes everything at face value and needs detailed instructions. Understanding prompt basics is essential for anyone looking to create compelling AI-generated artwork. Here's something I learned the hard way: make me a nice cat picture gives you totally random results. But a fluffy orange tabby cat lounging on a sunny windowsill, soft afternoon light, cozy home atmosphere – now we're talking. The AI actually understands what you want. The difference? Specificity. The more visual details you include, the better your results. Think of it in layers. First, what's your subject? Then where is it? What's the lighting like? What mood are you going for? Lastly, what style do you want? When I started out, my prompts were way too simple. A sunset became a dramatic sunset over mountain peaks, vibrant orange and pink clouds, golden hour lighting, photorealistic style. New users often write prompts that are either too vague or too complex. Vague prompts like nice picture give the AI too much freedom. My advice? Don't try to write prompts from scratch yet. Use Genlab's pre-made ones first. See what works. Notice the pattern.