> 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/using-ideogram/getting-started/the-basics-step-by-step.md). # The Basics This guide teaches you how to write your first prompts in natural language — and how each detail you add shapes the image. We'll build one image step by step, from a bare-bones prompt to a finished book cover. {% hint style="info" %} **You don't need prompt-writing skills to get good images anymore.** On Ideogram 4.0, [Magic Prompt](/using-ideogram/generation-settings/magic-prompt.md) automatically expands plain descriptions into detailed prompts. What this guide teaches is still the foundation: knowing *which details matter* — subject, clothing, pose, setting, style, text — lets you steer any generation, whether you write the details yourself or let Magic Prompt fill in the rest. {% endhint %} Throughout this guide, prompt changes are marked like this: **Prompt:**\ *A rough pencil sketch featuring a boy with sandy hair and blue eyes, wearing a *~~*hoodie*~~ *checked shirt and jeans, playing with a friendly Golden Retriever, in a park on a sunny day.* * Green text is new or added compared to the previous prompt. * ~~Strikethrough purple text~~ was removed or replaced. This formatting is just for the guide — **you write prompts in Ideogram as plain text.** {% hint style="warning" %} The example images below were generated on an older Ideogram model (2.0) with Magic Prompt off, so the effect of each wording change is visible directly. On current models your results will look better than these — but the prompting principles are identical. {% endhint %} ## 1. A very basic prompt Let's start with a very basic prompt. This way, we can see what the model generates and build on that step-by-step. **Prompt:**\ *A boy with blond hair on a grey background.*
Photorealistic portrait of a blond boy in a navy suit and patterned bow tie against a plain grey studio background
Nothing complicated here. The image of a boy and a grey background as requested. Everything you didn't specify — age, clothing, pose, lighting — the model chose for you. Now let's start choosing some of it ourselves... ## 2. Adding details Next, let's add some specific details like eye color, clothing, and a more interesting background. **Prompt:**\ *A boy with blond hair and blue eyes,* ~~*on a grey background.*~~ *wearing a denim jacket and a checked shirt, against a backdrop of wooden planks.*
Blond, blue-eyed boy in a denim jacket over a checked shirt, facing the camera in front of a rustic wooden plank wall
Nice! Now let's try to make it a bit more dynamic... ## 3. A point of view Let's play around with the perspective of the image! Maybe changing the angle or the point of view would produce a more interesting image? We're all about experimentation here! **Prompt:**\ *A boy with blond hair and blue eyes, wearing a denim jacket and a checked shirt, seen partially in profile, against a backdrop of wooden planks.*
The same blond boy in a denim jacket seen partially in profile, smiling and looking to the side against wooden planks
Wow! Almost a studio photo, but it still looks very natural! {% hint style="info" %} Note: there are also other terms used to achieve this pose, such as three-quarter pose, or slightly turned to the left, etc. {% endhint %} ## 4. Adding Elements Let's add a few elements to make the overall image more attractive? **Prompt:**\ *A boy with blond hair and blue eyes, wearing a denim jacket, a checked shirt and jeans, sitting cross-legged on the floor, beside a friendly dog. Between them both there is a house plant in a pot. The entire scene is set against a backdrop of wooden planks.*
Boy in a denim jacket sitting cross-legged beside a black-and-white dog, with a potted plant between them, on a wooden plank backdrop
I'd love to point out how effectively the model has rendered the requested elements and their precise positioning within the image composition. Now, let’s try adding details that will liven up the mood! ## 5. Make a lively scene **Prompt:**\ *A boy with blond hair and blue eyes, wearing* ~~*a denim jacket,*~~* a checked shirt and jeans, playing with a friendly Golden Retriever, in a park on a sunny day.*
Blond boy in a checked shirt and jeans playing on sunlit grass next to a Golden Retriever in a park
Super cute, now the boy we were working with originally has a fluffy buddy to pose with! Adding other elements and an environment really helps make your images feel alive and natural. ## 6. Using available options Prompts aren't the only lever. [Aspect ratio](/using-ideogram/generation-settings/aspect-ratio-and-dimensions.md), [Color palette](/using-ideogram/generation-settings/color-palette.md), style descriptions, and other settings are invaluable for creating unique and diverse visuals from the same idea. Let’s explore some of these possibilities to create various outputs.
Soft pastel watercolor painting of the blond boy walking through a park beside a Golden Retriever

Prompt:

Washed-out soft watercolor painting featuring a boy with blond hair and blue eyes, wearing a checked shirt and jeans, playing with a friendly Golden Retriever, in a park on a sunny day.
Model: 2.0
Style: General
Aspect ratio: 4:5
Color Palette: Pastel

Anime-style illustration of the boy in a yellow checked shirt running across a park lawn petting a fluffy dog under a blue sky

Prompt:

An anime illustration featuring a boy with blond hair and blue eyes, wearing a checked shirt and jeans, playing with a friendly Golden Retriever, in a park on a sunny day.
Model: 2.0
Style: Anime
Aspect ratio: 4:5
Color Palette: None

Cartoon-like 3D render of a big-eyed boy in a blue checked shirt standing on grass next to a playful puppy

Prompt:

A cartoon-like 3D boy with sandy hair and blue eyes, wearing a checked shirt and jeans, playing with a friendly Golden Retriever, in a paper-art park on a sunny day.
Model: 2.0
Style: 3D
Aspect ratio: 4:5
Color Palette: None

{% hint style="info" %} The **Style** setting shown in these examples applies to older models — on current models, describe the style you want directly in the prompt (as these prompts also do). See [Styles in Older Models](/using-ideogram/features-and-tools/reference-features/style-reference/styles-in-older-models.md) if you're using 2.0 or earlier. {% endhint %} ## 7. Add some text Ideogram excels at rendering text. Let's say you want to make a cover for a children's book, give it a title and also add the author's name. **Prompt:**\ *Washed-out soft watercolor painting featuring a boy with blond hair and blue eyes, wearing a checked shirt and jeans, playing with a friendly Golden Retriever, in a park on a sunny day. At the top of the image, the book title is: "Michael and his dog" in a fun painted typography. At the bottom, the author's name: "John Johnson".* **Model**: 2.0\ **Style**: General\ **Aspect ratio**: 3:4\ **Color Palette**: None
Watercolor book cover of the boy and Golden Retriever in a park, titled Michael and his dog with author name John Johnson below
## 8. Other examples Here are some other subjects:
Minimalist line-art logo of a crowned cat sitting beside a small palace, with the wordmark PetPalace underneath

Prompt:

A sleek and modern illustration of a logo for "PetPalace" featuring a minimalist stylized image of a regal cat wearing a crown, sitting next to a luxurious palace.

Model: 2.0
Style: Design
Aspect ratio: 1:1
Color Palette: None
Close-up photo of a beer can with an anchor logo reading Mariner's Brew, next to a full glass of beer on a pub counter

Prompt:

Close up photo of a beer can with a big modern sailor's anchor inspired logo named "Mariner's Brew" in big letters, a full glass of beer in the background, on the counter of an Irish pub, dynamic view, studio photography, food photography.

Model: 2.0
Style: General
Aspect ratio: 1:1
Color Palette: None
White cat in a hat, sunglasses, and suit playing saxophone on a dark stage, with a neon sign reading Cool Cat Jazz behind it

Prompt:

A cool cat with wearing a hat and sunglasses playing the saxophone with his paws on the stage of a jazz club, a neon sign in the background saying: "Cool Cat Jazz". Intense atmosphere, dark ambience, dark tones, jazz club genre, 40's and 50's look.

Model: 2.0
Style: Realistic
Aspect ratio: 1:1
Color Palette: Ultramarine
{% hint style="info" %} Please note: **Text enclosed in quotes “ ” helps the AI understand that it needs to render the text in the image.** {% endhint %} ## What's next? As you've seen, **great results come from building your prompt gradually**. We started simple and continued layering in details, perspective, elements, style, and text step by step. Each addition shapes the final image in a meaningful way, and small changes can have a big impact. On current models, [Magic Prompt](/using-ideogram/generation-settings/magic-prompt.md) does much of this layering for you — but knowing the layers is how you take control when the result isn't quite right. Now that you're familiar with the basics, here are some great next steps to deepen your skills: * Read the [Prompting Guide](/using-ideogram/getting-started/prompting-guide.md) for the full treatment, including [JSON prompting on Ideogram 4.0](/using-ideogram/getting-started/prompting-guide/4.-json-prompting-ideogram-4.0.md) * Explore the full range of **models, styles, and color palettes** available * Try [reference features](/using-ideogram/features-and-tools/reference-features/style-reference.md) to guide the AI using existing images * Dive into more advanced prompting techniques through experimentation and interacting with the community at [discord.gg/ideogram](https://discord.gg/ideogram). **The best way to improve is simply to keep experimenting** — every generation teaches you something new!