Seedream 4.0 Prompt Engineering Guide
Mastering the art of prompt writing is key to getting exceptional results from Seedream 4.0. This comprehensive guide will teach you how to craft effective prompts that consistently produce high-quality images.
Understanding Prompt Structure
The Foundation: Natural Language Description
Seedream 4.0 works best with clear, natural language descriptions. Structure your prompts using this formula:
Subject + Action + Environment + Style/Aesthetic Elements
✅ Good Example:
A girl in elegant costume, walking with a parasol on a tree-lined avenue, Monet oil painting style
❌ Avoid:
A girl, parasol, tree-lined street, oil painting-like delicate brushstrokes
Core Components Breakdown
1. Subject (Who/What)
- People: "A young woman", "An elderly man", "A child"
- Objects: "A vintage car", "A magical sword", "A blooming flower"
- Animals: "A majestic lion", "A playful kitten", "A soaring eagle"
2. Action (What's Happening)
- Movement: walking, running, dancing, flying
- Poses: sitting, standing, leaning, reaching
- Interactions: holding, touching, looking at, playing with
3. Environment (Where)
- Locations: forest, city street, beach, mountain top
- Settings: indoor/outdoor, time of day, weather
- Context: historical period, fantasy world, modern setting
4. Style and Aesthetics
- Art Styles: oil painting, watercolor, digital art, photography
- Color Schemes: warm tones, cool colors, monochrome, vibrant
- Lighting: soft lighting, dramatic shadows, golden hour, neon lights
- Composition: close-up, wide shot, bird's eye view, low angle
Advanced Prompt Techniques
Specify Application Context
When you have a specific use case, mention it in your prompt for better results:
✅ Effective:
Design a gaming company logo featuring a dog playing with a game controller, with the company name "PITBULL" incorporated
❌ Less Effective:
An abstract image, dog holding game controller, dog with PITBULL text
Style Enhancement Methods
Method 1: Precise Style Keywords
Use specific, descriptive style terms:
- Instead of "cartoon" → "Disney animation style"
- Instead of "painting" → "Renaissance oil painting"
- Instead of "modern" → "minimalist contemporary design"
Method 2: Reference Images
When you have a specific style in mind:
- Upload a reference image that captures the desired style
- Describe your subject in the prompt
- Let Seedream 4.0 blend your subject with the reference style
Text Rendering Optimization
For prompts that include text elements:
Best Practice: Use Quotation Marks
A vintage poster with the text "WELCOME TO PARIS" in elegant typography
Why This Works:
- Quotation marks clearly separate text content from descriptive elements
- Helps the AI understand exactly what text to render
- Improves text accuracy and legibility
Prompt Categories and Examples
Portrait Photography
A professional headshot of a confident businesswoman in a modern office, natural lighting, shot with 85mm lens, shallow depth of field
Landscape Art
A serene mountain lake at sunrise, mist rising from the water, pine trees reflected in the still surface, painted in the style of Albert Bierstadt
Product Design
A sleek smartphone mockup on a clean white background, minimalist design, soft studio lighting, product photography style
Fantasy Art
A mystical forest guardian, an ancient tree spirit with glowing eyes, surrounded by floating magical orbs, digital fantasy art style
Logo Design
A modern tech company logo featuring a stylized circuit pattern forming a brain shape, with the text "NEURAL TECH", clean vector design
Common Prompt Patterns
The Detailed Scene Pattern
[Subject] [doing action] in [environment], [time/weather], [camera angle], [art style]
Example:
A street musician playing violin in a busy city square, golden hour lighting, low angle shot, impressionist painting style
The Concept Art Pattern
[Concept] for [purpose], [key visual elements], [mood/atmosphere], [artistic medium]
Example:
Concept art for a sci-fi movie, a futuristic cityscape with flying cars, neon-lit atmosphere, digital matte painting
The Product Shot Pattern
[Product] on [background], [lighting setup], [photography style], [specific details]
Example:
Luxury watch on marble surface, dramatic side lighting, commercial photography style, focus on metallic details
Prompt Optimization Strategies
1. Start Simple, Then Refine
- Begin with basic subject + action + environment
- Generate and evaluate results
- Add style and detail refinements
- Iterate until satisfied
2. Use Descriptive Adjectives
- Instead of "car" → "sleek sports car"
- Instead of "house" → "cozy cottage"
- Instead of "person" → "elegant woman"
3. Balance Specificity and Flexibility
- Be specific about important elements
- Leave room for creative interpretation
- Avoid over-constraining the AI
4. Consider Composition
- Mention framing: "close-up", "wide shot", "medium shot"
- Specify angles: "from above", "low angle", "side view"
- Include depth: "shallow focus", "everything in focus"
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Problem: Generated image doesn't match the description
Solutions:
- Make key elements more specific
- Break complex scenes into simpler components
- Use more concrete, visual language
- Add reference images for style guidance
Problem: Style not applied correctly
Solutions:
- Use more specific style terminology
- Provide reference images
- Adjust style intensity in settings
- Try alternative style descriptions
Problem: Text in image is illegible
Solutions:
- Put text in quotation marks
- Specify font style or typography approach
- Mention text placement explicitly
- Use simpler, shorter text phrases
Problem: Inconsistent results
Solutions:
- Use more descriptive language
- Add specific details about important elements
- Include composition and framing instructions
- Experiment with different prompt structures
Advanced Tips for Professional Results
1. Layer Your Descriptions
Base: A woman in a garden
Action: watering flowers
Environment: surrounded by blooming roses
Style: soft watercolor painting
Details: morning light, peaceful atmosphere
2. Use Artistic References
- "in the style of Van Gogh"
- "reminiscent of Studio Ghibli animation"
- "inspired by Art Nouveau posters"
3. Technical Photography Terms
- Aperture: "shot at f/1.4 for shallow depth"
- Lighting: "golden hour backlighting"
- Lens: "wide-angle perspective", "telephoto compression"
4. Emotional and Atmospheric Descriptors
- Mood: serene, dramatic, mysterious, joyful
- Atmosphere: misty, bright, moody, ethereal
- Energy: dynamic, calm, intense, playful
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Basic Structure
Take this simple prompt and enhance it:
Basic: "A cat"
Enhanced: "A fluffy orange tabby cat sitting by a sunny window, soft natural lighting, cozy home atmosphere, painted in watercolor style"
Exercise 2: Style Transformation
Write the same scene in different styles:
Realistic: "A busy coffee shop with people working on laptops, natural lighting, documentary photography style"
Fantasy: "A magical tavern with wizards studying ancient scrolls, candlelight ambiance, fantasy art illustration"
Minimalist: "A clean café interior with simple furniture, bright white lighting, architectural photography style"
Exercise 3: Application-Specific
Create prompts for different purposes:
Social Media: "An Instagram-worthy flat lay of healthy breakfast items, bright natural lighting, food photography style"
Business: "A professional team meeting in a modern conference room, corporate photography, clean and bright"
Art: "An abstract representation of music through flowing colors and shapes, digital art, vibrant and dynamic"
Remember, great prompts are the foundation of great AI-generated art. Practice these techniques, experiment with different approaches, and don't be afraid to iterate and refine your prompts until you achieve the results you envision.
Ready to put these techniques into practice? Check out our Tips and Tricks guide for advanced workflows and professional techniques.