> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ideogram.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ideogram.ai/prompting/refine-and-iterate.md). # Refine and Iterate Change one thing at a time, word your prompt precisely, and pick the right tool to move an image closer to what you want. Your first image is a draft. Small, deliberate changes to the prompt, or a quick edit on the image itself, usually get you closer than starting over. ## Change one thing at a time Change a single word or phrase per round, so you can see what each change did. Fix the [seed](/create/image-settings.md#seed) and turn Magic Prompt off while you do this: with the same seed and settings, the only thing that moves is your wording. > **Start:** "A black cat sitting on a windowsill during a storm" > > 1. "A black cat sitting on a windowsill during a **light drizzle**" > 2. "A black **dog** sitting on a windowsill during a light drizzle" ## Build up in steps Start short and add one detail per generation. You catch the moment a new detail pulls the image off course. > 1. "A medieval castle" > 2. "A medieval castle on a hilltop" > 3. "A medieval castle on a hilltop at sunset" > 4. "A medieval castle on a hilltop at sunset with a dragon flying overhead" ## Be precise Ideogram reads every word. "A painting of a cat" gets you something painterly; naming the kind of painting decides which one.
Traditional painting of a black-and-white cat sleeping on a red armchair beside a lit fireplace in a cozy room

Prompt:

A painting figuring a cat sleeping next to the fireplace.

Thick impasto painting with heavy brushstrokes of an orange tabby cat curled asleep on the floor beside a fireplace

Prompt:

An abstract impasto painting figuring a cat sleeping next to the fireplace.

Soft minimalist watercolor of a calico cat sleeping by a fireplace, with a teal sofa and small side table nearby

Prompt:

A soft minimalist watercolor painting figuring a cat sleeping next to the fireplace.

Bold pop art illustration of a black-and-white cat curled on a red armchair beside a fireplace and striped wallpaper

Prompt:

A pop art painting figuring a cat sleeping next to the fireplace.

Precision covers position too. Say where each thing sits and in what order, and Ideogram tends to follow:
Three jars on a kitchen counter labelled Blueberry Jam, Strawberry Jam and Orange Marmalade, each topped with its fruit

"...The first jar on the left, in the foreground, is a blueberry jam jar, with a blueberry adorning its lid. The second jar, in the middle and slightly recessed, is a jar of strawberry jam... The third jar, on the right and farthest back, is a jar of orange marmalade..."

## Describe only what should show If you describe something, Ideogram tries to show it, even when that breaks the framing you asked for. Below, the goal was a portrait. Mentioning boots, or even just jeans, forced a full-length shot; cutting everything below the waist brought the camera in close.
Full-length photo of a young woman with copper hair in a mustard raincoat, dark jeans and white rain boots outside a flower shop

Prompt:

Portrait photo of a young woman with copper hair, wearing a mustard raincoat, wide-leg jeans, and white rain boots, in front of a flower shop.

Still a full-length photo of the woman in the mustard raincoat and light wide-leg jeans in front of the flower shop

Prompt:

Portrait photo of a young woman with copper hair, wearing a mustard raincoat, wide-leg jeans, and white rain boots, in front of a flower shop.

Close head-and-shoulders portrait of the woman with copper hair in the mustard raincoat, flower buckets behind her

Prompt:

Portrait photo of a young woman with copper hair, wearing a mustard raincoat, wide-leg jeans, and white rain boots, in front of a flower shop.

## Try other words Some words just don't produce the look you want. Swap in a synonym or describe the idea in plain visual terms: > **Instead of** "lush jungle", **try** "dense rainforest" > > **Instead of** "sad expression", **try** "a face with downturned eyes and a slight frown" If one swap doesn't help, change the related words around it too; a neighbor may be pulling the other way. A thesaurus or a chat assistant can suggest options. ## Emphasize what matters When the image is right overall but a key detail comes out small or goes missing, give it more weight. **Mention it more than once.** Refer to the same subject in the summary, the details and the framing: > "A product photo of a men's perfume bottle named "Nightlife for men" in a sleek studio setup. The bottle is tall and rectangular with dark glass... The bottle stands upright... The bottle is centered in the frame..." **Describe it more fully.** Add size, color, texture or placement, and tie it to the rest of the scene. If a person's shoes come out missing or odd, "wearing black leather boots that cast a shadow on the sidewalk" gives Ideogram both the object and where it sits. ## Pick the right tool Rewording isn't always the fastest fix. Once you have an image you mostly like, edit it instead of rolling the dice again. | Goal | What to do | | ------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | See what one word changes | Fix the [seed](/create/image-settings.md#seed), change one word, generate again | | Get more options from a prompt that works | Generate again, or select **Recreate** on a result to restore its settings | | Keep the look, try a variation | **Remix** it in the [Remix app](/edit/remix.md) with a tweaked prompt | | Change one thing in a finished image | **AI edit** in [Studio](/edit/studio.md), describing the change in words | | Fix a small area (a hand, a face, a word of text) | **Select area** in Studio (paid plans), then describe what should be there | | Show more of the scene or change the shape | **Reframe** in Studio, or **Extend** (paid plans) | | Turn a short idea into a full prompt | Write a few words and let [Magic Prompt](/create/image-settings.md#magic-prompt) expand them | | Keep your exact wording | Turn Magic Prompt off | | Control the layout exactly | Write a [JSON prompt](/prompting/json-prompting.md) | If something keeps going wrong, check [Fix Common Problems](/prompting/fix-common-problems.md).