This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Rakesh Bisht
If you’ve played with AI image tools, you probably know the frustration: sometimes you type something simple and the result looks nothing like what you imagined 
. That’s where** ***prompt engineering* comes in. It sounds fancy, but honestly, it’s just learning how to give AI the right instructions so you get better results.
So, what is Prompt Engineering?
Think of AI like a waiter at a restaurant 
. If you just say,** “I want food,” you might get something random. But if you say, **“I’d like a cheeseburger with extra cheese, no onions, and crispy fries on the side,” you’re way more likely to get exactly what you want.
Prompt engineering works the same way — the clearer your prompt, the better the image.
Simple Tips for Better Prompts
- Be Clear, Be Specific
“Dog in park”
“Golden retriever puppy sitting on fresh green grass, park background, soft sunlight, DSLR photo style”
- Mention Style or Vibe
Want it to look like a painting, 3D art, or a cartoon? Just say it.
“A neon cyberpunk city at night, drawn in anime style”
- Play with Mood & Lighting
Lighting changes everything!
“Portrait of a woman, soft warm light, cinematic mood, dramatic shadows”
- Add Camera or Art References
“Landscape of snowy mountains, wide-angle lens, sunrise, National Geographic style”
- Experiment, Don’t Stop at One
Your first prompt won’t always be perfect. Tweak words, change the order, and see what happens. AI responds well to trial and error.
A Handy Formula
Here’s a simple formula I use for almost every prompt:
[Subject] + [Action] + [Details] + [Style/Lighting/Camera]
Example:
“Astronaut riding a horse on Mars, detailed spacesuit, glowing sunset, cinematic 8K photo” 
Why It Matters
- Saves you time (no endless re-generating)
- Makes your images look more professional
- Gives you more creative control instead of leaving it all to chance
Final Thoughts
Prompt engineering isn’t some “expert-only” skill. It’s just practice. The more you play around with your prompts, the more natural it feels — and the better your AI images get.
So next time, don’t just type** **“dog in park.” Add a little extra detail, throw in a style, mention the vibe you’re going for, and watch the magic happen 
.
At the end of the day, it’s not about the AI. It’s about how** **you talk to it.
If this helped, share it with a friend who’s also messing around with AI art. Trust me, they’ll thank you later!
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Rakesh Bisht