# Prompt Patterns — General Image Generation Reference

## Universal Prompt Structure

Every prompt follows this skeleton. Adapt per style and project.

```
[Medium/Format] + [Style Reference] + [Subject] + [Composition] + [Materials/Texture] + [Lighting] + [Background] + [Negative Constraints]
```

### Slot Descriptions

| Slot | Purpose | Examples |
|------|---------|---------|
| **Medium** | What kind of image | "3D render", "photograph", "watercolor painting", "flat vector" |
| **Style Reference** | Whose visual language | "in the style of [artist]", "aesthetic of [brand]", "[era] design" |
| **Subject** | What's depicted | Characters, objects, scenes with specific details |
| **Composition** | How it's arranged | "centered", "rule of thirds", "diagonal flow", "fan layout" |
| **Materials/Texture** | Surface quality | "matte vinyl", "glossy ceramic", "rough watercolor paper" |
| **Lighting** | Light setup | "soft studio", "dramatic rim light", "flat even", "golden hour" |
| **Background** | Behind the subject | "solid [color]", "gradient", "environmental", "transparent" |
| **Negatives** | What to avoid | Model-specific problem areas, unwanted elements |

---

## Common Style Templates

### 3D Vinyl Toy / Designer Collectible
```
3D rendered [subject] in designer vinyl toy collectible style, [artist reference], 
[character description with clothing/accessories], matte ABS plastic finish, 
smooth rounded forms, [hand treatment], soft studio lighting with gentle contact shadows, 
solid [color] background, professional commercial render, Cinema 4D aesthetic
```

**Key modifiers:**
- More toy-like: "DRAMATICALLY OVERSIZED HEADS, 1:3 head-to-body ratio, stubby limbs, no visible necks, bean-shaped torsos"
- Personality: "EXPRESSIVE FEATURES: round sunglasses, styled hair or hats, confident expressions"
- Hands (common issue): "smooth rounded stump hands" or "LEGO mitten hands" or "hands hidden in pockets/sleeves"

### Flat/2D Illustration
```
Clean flat illustration of [subject], modern [style] aesthetic, 
bold geometric shapes, limited color palette of [colors], 
clean edges, minimal detail, [composition], white/solid background, 
vector-style rendering
```

### Photorealistic Product
```
Professional product photograph of [subject], studio lighting setup, 
[surface material] finish, [angle] view, shallow depth of field, 
[background treatment], high-end commercial photography aesthetic, 
shot on medium format camera
```

### Isometric Scene
```
Isometric 3D rendering of [scene], clean geometric shapes, 
pastel/vibrant color palette, soft ambient occlusion, 
no perspective distortion, floating on [color] background, 
playful miniature diorama aesthetic
```

---

## Prompt Modifiers (Append to Any Style)

### Composition
| Need | Add to Prompt |
|------|--------------|
| Single focal point | "centered composition, single subject, generous negative space" |
| Group scene | "[N] figures arranged [layout], clear spatial relationships" |
| Progression/timeline | "left-to-right progression, [small→large / simple→complex]" |
| Slide-ready | "clean composition, readable at presentation scale, room for text on [side]" |

### Mood/Energy
| Mood | Prompt Fragment |
|------|----------------|
| Professional/corporate | "polished, refined, premium feel, muted sophisticated palette" |
| Playful/youth | "vibrant colors, dynamic poses, energetic, bold" |
| Trust/security | "stable composition, cool blues, shield/lock imagery, solid forms" |
| Growth/opportunity | "upward motion, warm golds, ascending elements, expansive" |

### Technical Quality
| Need | Add |
|------|-----|
| Higher detail | "intricate details, sharp focus, 8K rendering" |
| Cleaner/simpler | "simplified forms, minimal detail, clean silhouettes" |
| More contrast | "high contrast, dramatic shadows, bold color blocking" |
| Softer | "soft gradients, gentle transitions, pastel tones, diffused light" |

---

## Known Model Limitations & Workarounds

### Gemini (via nano-banana-pro)
| Issue | Severity | Workaround |
|-------|----------|------------|
| Adds fingers despite instructions | High | Use "smooth rounded stump hands", "LEGO mitten", or hide hands |
| Generates text/labels in images | High | Never mention text content in prompt; say "no text, no labels" |
| Adds gradients to "solid" backgrounds | Medium | Post-process with background flattening script |
| Inconsistent character proportions across generations | Medium | Always include reference image input alongside prompt |
| Over-details clothing/textures | Low | Emphasize "simplified", "solid color", "flat clothing" |

### General Tips (Any Model)
- Dual reference inputs improve consistency dramatically
- "photograph" produces more realistic results than "illustration" even for stylized work
- Negative prompts ("no X") are weaker than positive reframes ("smooth rounded hands" > "no fingers")
- Shorter, more focused prompts often outperform long detailed ones
- After 2-3 approvals, include best previous output as a reference image

---

## Iteration Protocol

1. **v1:** Full prompt from Tatiana's analysis
2. **v2:** Adjust based on Anton's specific critique (change only the flagged elements)
3. **v3:** Fine-tune — minor prompt adjustments for polish
4. **v4-v5:** Last attempts with current approach
5. **After v5:** Tatiana proposes fundamentally different angle — new composition, new approach

### What to Change Per Iteration
- **Wrong composition** → Restructure the subject/composition slot
- **Wrong style** → Adjust style reference and materials slots
- **Wrong colors** → Explicitly name desired colors, add "NOT [unwanted color]"
- **Artifact/quality issues** → Add quality modifiers, try different medium framing
- **Persistent model limitation** → Work around it (hide the problem area, reframe the prompt)

---

## Project-Specific Patterns

Store project-specific prompt patterns in the project's own reference directory:
```
projects/<project>/references/prompt-patterns.md
```

When a project-specific pattern proves universally useful, promote it to this file.

### Archived Project Patterns
- **Colin Ozawa / Vinyl Toy** → `projects/bonanzo/references/ozawa-prompt-patterns.md`