Step-by-step: generate an image
Navigate to the image workspace
Click Images in the topbar or go to
/studio/images. You’ll see the prompt field, controls, and your generation gallery.Write your image description
Enter a description of the image you want in the prompt field. Be specific: include the subject, style, lighting, mood, and composition.Example prompts:
A serene Japanese garden at sunset with cherry blossoms and a stone lantern, soft warm lighting, photorealisticMinimalist product shot of a white ceramic coffee mug on a marble surface, studio lighting, top-down viewFantasy landscape with floating islands and waterfalls, digital art, vibrant colors, wide establishing shot
Select a model
Open the model dropdown and choose an image model. Different models have different strengths — see image models for guidance. GPT-Image-1.5 and Imagen 4.0 are strong defaults for photorealism; Flux Pro v1.1 excels at artistic styles.
Choose a style preset (optional)
Select a style preset from the style selector. Presets add visual guidance to your prompt — for example, choosing “Watercolor” biases the output toward that aesthetic without requiring you to describe it in detail. See styles and settings for all available presets.
Set the aspect ratio
Choose the aspect ratio that matches your intended use:
- Square (1:1) — social media posts, profile images
- Landscape (16:9) — blog headers, presentations, desktop wallpapers
- Portrait (9:16) — mobile wallpapers, Instagram Stories, vertical content
- Other ratios — available depending on the selected model
Set the number of images
Choose how many images to generate — typically 1 to 4 per prompt. Generating 4 variations with the same prompt is a great way to explore different interpretations and pick the best result.
Click Generate
Click the Generate button. Generation usually takes a few seconds to about 30 seconds, depending on the model, quality setting, and number of images. A progress indicator shows while the images are being created.
Prompt tips for better images
Writing a strong prompt makes a significant difference in output quality. Here are practical techniques:Be descriptive about the subject
Instead of:a dog
Try: A golden retriever puppy sitting in a field of sunflowers, looking up at the camera, soft afternoon light
Specify the style explicitly
"in the style of watercolor illustration, soft edges, pastel tones""ultra-realistic photograph, 85mm portrait lens, shallow depth of field""Studio Ghibli anime style, lush green scenery, gentle light""oil painting, textured brush strokes, impressionist"
Describe the composition
"close-up portrait, face fills the frame""wide establishing shot, subject small in the scene""bird's-eye view looking straight down""low angle shot looking up at the subject""rule of thirds, subject slightly off-center"
Mention the lighting
Lighting has a major impact on the mood and realism of the image:"golden hour light, warm orange tones""dramatic studio lighting with deep shadows""soft diffused natural light from a north-facing window""neon city lights at night, colorful reflections""overcast flat light, even shadows"
Combine elements for best results
A strong prompt combines subject + style + composition + lighting:A weathered lighthouse on a rocky coastline at dusk, waves crashing below, dramatic storm clouds, long-exposure photograph style, cool blue-grey tones, wide establishing shot
Gallery actions
Once images are generated, hover over any image in the gallery to reveal these actions:| Action | What it does |
|---|---|
| Download | Saves the image as a PNG file to your device |
| Copy | Copies the image to your clipboard for pasting into other apps |
| Share | Generates a shareable link to the image |
Generating variations
To explore variations of a specific result:- Note the prompt used for the image you like
- Click into the prompt field and make minor adjustments (or keep it the same)
- Generate again — even the same prompt produces different outputs
Prompt changes don’t have to be large. Swapping one word (e.g., “sunny” to “overcast”) or adding a single detail (“with a red umbrella”) can significantly change the output direction.

