Leonardo AI Prompts: Structure, Examples, Negative Prompts, & Tips

Summary: The success of generating compelling artwork through Leonardo AI largely depends on how well you craft your prompts. Effective prompts can significantly improve the quality of the generated artwork, while vague or poorly written prompts may result in disappointing results. Explore the importance of effective prompts, the structure of a good prompt, common mistakes to avoid, and strategies to refine your prompts for better AI-generated artwork.

Crafting effective Leonardo AI prompts is both an art and a science. By understanding the key components of a well-structured prompt, choosing the right keywords, and avoiding common mistakes, you can greatly enhance the quality of the artwork generated by the AI. Experiment with the following Leonardo AI prompts, tips, have fun exploring the endless possibilities that Leonardo AI offers.

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The Structure of Effective Leonardo AI Prompts

One of the most crucial aspects of using Leonardo AI is understanding how to structure your prompts. A well-structured prompt is key to obtaining high-quality artwork, as it helps the AI generate an image that aligns with your vision. Let’s break down the essential components of an effective prompt.

Key Dimensions of an Effective Prompt

A good prompt should cover the following dimensions to give Leonardo AI clear guidance:

Basic Theme: The core idea or subject of the image.
Style Instructions: Defines the artistic style you want (e.g., "Impressionist," "Cyberpunk").
Composition/Action: The layout, movement, or scene setup.
Detailed Elements: Specific objects, subjects, or features you want in the image.
Camera Angles/Shot Instructions: Perspective or framing preferences (e.g., "bird’s-eye view," "close-up").
Negative Instructions: Words that indicate what should NOT appear in the image.

Build Your Prompt Step-by-Step

Step 1. Simple Basic Description

Start with a simple, clear description of the main theme. This gives the AI the most basic understanding of what to generate.

Prompt Example:

A mountain landscape.

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This simple prompt will generate a general image of mountains, leaving room for creative freedom and further refinements.

Step 2. Add Style Instructions

Enhance the prompt by specifying the style. This could be an art movement, famous artist's style, or other visual themes that guide the overall look.

Prompt Example:

A snow-covered mountain at sunset, in the style of Romanticism.

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This adds a specific mood to the landscape, influenced by Romanticism’s dramatic and emotional qualities.

Step 3. Include Detailed Elements

Now, specify key elements you want in the image, such as specific objects, characters, or other details.

Prompt Example:

This gives the AI a clearer direction, ensuring it includes both the environment and a human subject, adding to the story and mood of the scene.

Step 4. Add Camera Instructions

For a more dynamic and visually compelling image, consider specifying camera angles or perspectives to control the composition.

Prompt Example:

A snow-covered mountain at sunset, in the style of Romanticism, with a lone hiker on the trail, viewed from a low-angle perspective.

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Here, the low-angle view adds drama and makes the hiker seem more heroic against the vast landscape.

Step 5. Negative Instructions

To fine-tune your image, specify what should be excluded from the prompt. For example, you can prevent unwanted objects, colors, or themes from appearing.

Prompt Example:

A snow-covered mountain at sunset, in the style of Romanticism, with a lone hiker on the trail, viewed from a low-angle perspective, without clutter or blurry details, no messy or unclear elements, devoid of scattered and out-of-focus objects, clean and sharp composition.

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The negative instruction ensures the scene stays true to the desired historical or natural theme, without distractions.

Summary: From Simple to Complex

By following these steps, you can start with a basic idea and progressively refine it with more specific instructions, making your prompts both clear and detailed. This process allows you to craft complex and precise imagery, giving you full control over the AI's output.

Leonardo AI Prompts Examples List to Spark Your Imagination

These prompts should provide clarity on how to leverage the AI’s capabilities in specific contexts like image generation, text generation, and creative writing. Here's a list of detailed prompt examples that align with what users typically discuss and ask about:

Image Generation for Specific Themes

This type of prompt is common for users exploring futuristic or genre-specific artwork, especially those looking to create unique visual content with specific stylistic guidelines.

Prompt Example:

“Generate a futuristic cityscape with towering skyscrapers, neon lights, flying vehicles, and bustling streets during sunset. The atmosphere should feel vibrant and busy, with a focus on the contrast between warm orange hues from the sunset and the cool blues of the city lights. The scene should convey a sense of high-tech innovation and urban excitement. The style should resemble cyberpunk.”

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Character Design for Fantasy Worlds

Fantasy character designs are popular among users looking for visually captivating and story-rich concepts. This detailed prompt gives clear direction to the AI on the specific traits, environment, and visual elements.

Prompt Example:

“Create a detailed character design for a female warrior in a medieval fantasy world. She should be wearing a mix of armor and leather, carrying a large enchanted sword, with intricate runic designs on her armor. Her long, flowing hair should have a silver tint, and her piercing green eyes should reflect a mysterious aura. The character’s stance should suggest confidence and readiness for battle. The background should be a forest setting, with a faint mist rising around her.”

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Product Visualization for E-commerce

E-commerce businesses and product designers often use AI to create realistic and appealing product visualizations. This prompt includes precise details about design, material, and environment, making it ideal for showcasing products.

Prompt Example:

“Generate a high-quality image of a new eco-friendly backpack made from recycled materials. The backpack should have a sleek, modern design with multiple compartments, and the color scheme should include earth tones like green, brown, and beige. The image should be clear, with good lighting that highlights the textures of the material. The background should be a minimalistic outdoor setting, such as a hiking trail or forest, to emphasize its eco-conscious design.”

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Realistic Portraits with Emotional Expressions

This is a common prompt among artists or users looking to generate realistic human portraits with emotional depth, helping them explore facial expressions and portraiture with AI.

Prompt Example:

“Generate a realistic portrait of a middle-aged man with an intense, focused expression. He should have short dark hair, a slight beard, and sharp features. His eyes should be gazing directly at the viewer with an air of determination. The lighting should highlight the contours of his face, casting soft shadows. The background should be a muted dark color to ensure the focus remains on his expression.”

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Science Fiction Scene with Alien Landscapes

Sci-fi fans and world-building enthusiasts often look for AI-generated scenes to visualize strange, imaginative environments. This prompt helps set a detailed foundation for creating alien worlds.

Prompt Example:

“Create an otherworldly alien landscape on a distant planet. The planet’s sky should have two suns, casting unique shadows across the terrain. The landscape should be a mix of jagged rock formations, strange glowing flora, and rivers of liquid that shimmer with unusual colors. In the distance, there should be alien creatures grazing near a body of water. The atmosphere should feel both serene and mysterious, with the overall color palette leaning toward purples, blues, and greens.”

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Abstract Art with Emotional Impact

Abstract art generation is popular in creative forums, with many users seeking unique representations of abstract concepts or emotions. This prompt specifies emotional depth and color theory for a visually and emotionally engaging result.

Prompt Example:

“Create an abstract piece of art that represents the theme of 'inner conflict.' Use contrasting colors like fiery red and deep blue to symbolize opposing emotions. The composition should include swirling patterns that seem to pull apart at the center, creating a sense of tension. The overall feeling of the piece should be chaotic yet somewhat harmonious, as if the emotions are in a constant state of flux.”

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Fantasy Creature Concept Art

Fantasy creatures are often a favorite among users interested in conceptual art or designing characters for stories. This prompt offers specific details on physical traits and surroundings, allowing for intricate visual representation.

Prompt Example:

“Design a fantasy creature that blends elements of both dragon and bird. The creature should have the body of a large, muscular dragon with bright iridescent scales. Its wings should resemble those of an eagle but with translucent, shimmering feathers. The creature should have a regal, majestic appearance with a long, elegant tail. The scene should depict it soaring through the sky, with a stormy backdrop of dark clouds and lightning.”

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Architectural Rendering of Modern Homes

Real estate agents, interior designers, and architecture enthusiasts can use this prompt to generate realistic depictions of modern homes. The detailed focus on materials, lighting, and environment helps create a polished image.

Prompt Example:

“Generate a 3D architectural rendering of a modern, minimalist home with large glass windows and clean lines. The exterior should be a mix of concrete and natural wood, with a flat roof and a spacious balcony. The setting should be in a lush suburban area with greenery surrounding the house. There should be a small pool in the backyard, and the home should be lit by soft evening light, creating a welcoming, tranquil atmosphere.”

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Fantasy Setting with Mythological Elements

Many users are drawn to mythical and fantasy-themed settings, and this prompt provides a rich, detailed environment that allows the AI to generate a full, immersive experience for the viewer.

Prompt Example:

“Create a mystical forest setting where ancient, towering trees with bioluminescent leaves glow in the moonlight. The forest should have an ethereal quality, with fog rolling through the underbrush. In the foreground, there should be a stone altar, covered in moss, with intricate carvings of mythical creatures. The atmosphere should feel magical, with a faint glow coming from within the trees and subtle hints of distant ruins in the background.”

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Retro-Futuristic Vehicles

This prompt is great for users interested in blending nostalgia with modern sci-fi. It focuses on detailed design elements, allowing users to generate vehicles that fuse past and future influences.

Prompt Example:

“Design a retro-futuristic flying car inspired by 1950s automobile aesthetics but with modern, sci-fi technological enhancements. The car should have smooth chrome surfaces, rounded edges, and large fins. The interior should be high-tech, with holographic displays and sleek leather seats. The vehicle should be flying above a futuristic city with neon lights, and the background should reflect a combination of vintage and futuristic elements.”

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Leonardo AI Negative Prompts for Superior Results

Negative prompts are crucial when you want to exclude specific elements or features from your generated images. By effectively using negative prompts, you can significantly enhance the quality and accuracy of the results. Even if a model doesn’t support negative prompts, you can still indirectly influence the results by phrasing your prompt carefully. Here are a few examples of Leonardo AI negative prompts you can use:

No text – Prevents text from appearing in the image.
No logos – Ensures the absence of logos or trademarks.
No distortions – Avoids any warped or distorted elements.
No blurriness – Eliminates blurry or unclear images.
No hands – Stops the model from generating hands in the image.
No watermarks – Prevents any watermarks from appearing.
No background noise – Ensures a clean and clear background without any distractions.
No dark shadows – Avoids overly dark shadows that could obscure details.
No low resolution – Helps ensure the image is high-quality and not pixelated.
No anatomical errors – Prevents incorrect human or animal anatomy, such as extra limbs or misplaced features.
No unrealistic proportions – Avoids bizarre or exaggerated body proportions.
No wrinkles – Clear blemishes on faces.
No surrealism - avoids style issues.
No clutter - eliminating excessive details, also enter remove distractions.

Negative prompts should be clear and concise. Too many modifiers can confuse the AI and hinder the results. Even for models that don’t officially support negative prompts, you can still integrate negative statements within the original prompt. You might need to tweak the prompt a few times to get the desired results, but with some adjustments, you should be able to achieve better image quality.

Step-by-step Guide to Formatting Leonardo AI Prompts

Now, use the following guide to formatting Leonardo AI prompts for image generation. By following these steps, you can create compelling visuals that match your vision. You’re encouraged to experiment with different styles, elements, and compositions to refine your unique approach.

Step 1: Define the Style

Start by specifying the visual style you want for the image. Different styles affect the mood, texture, and overall aesthetics.

Examples:

Cinematic
Anime
3D Render
Photorealistic
Digital Painting
Oil Painting
Selfie

Choosing a style will set the foundation for the image’s artistic direction.

How to Format Leonardo AI Prompts — Leonardo AI Negtive Prompts

Step 2: Identify the Main Subject and Actions

Define the focal point of your image—who or what is the main subject? Also, include any actions the subject is performing.

Examples:

"Young woman, wearing a hoodie and backpack, sitting on a bench."
"Superhero in a cape, flying through the city skyline."
"Majestic tiger, roaring in the jungle."
"Astronaut, floating in zero gravity inside a spaceship."

Being specific about the subject’s appearance, clothing, and posture will refine the image output.

Step 3: Describe the Scene and Background

The setting provides context and atmosphere to the image. A well-defined background enhances the storytelling aspect.

Examples:

"Futuristic city at night, filled with neon lights."

"Mystical forest with glowing mushrooms and fog."

"Ancient Greek temple under a bright blue sky."

"Cyberpunk alleyway with rain-soaked streets."

A detailed scene description helps create a rich and immersive environment.

Step 4: Enhance with Composition, Lighting, and Framing

These elements add depth and realism to your image. You can specify angles, lighting effects, and artistic techniques.

Composition & Framing:

"Rule of thirds"
"Close-up shot"
"Aerial view"
"Over-the-shoulder perspective"

Lighting Effects:

"Golden hour sunset"
"Soft candlelight"
"Harsh neon glow"
"Dramatic shadows"

Combining these details refines the visual storytelling of your generated image.

Step 5: Generate Your Image

Once you’ve structured your prompt, enter it into the generator and hit the "Generate" button. Review the output and make adjustments as needed.

Common Leonardo AI Prompts Pitfalls to Avoid

While crafting prompts for Leonardo AI, it’s essential to avoid certain mistakes that could result in suboptimal outputs. Here are some common pitfalls to watch out for:

Overcomplicating the Prompt

While it may be tempting to include every possible detail, overly complex prompts can confuse the AI, leading to cluttered and unfocused images. Reddit users recommend keeping your prompts simple at first, then refining them as needed. If the result is not quite right, iterate by adding more specifics.

Example:

Bad Prompt: "A snowy mountain range with towering peaks, a flowing river winding through the valleys, a castle in the distance, a forest at the base of the mountain, a bird flying overhead, and a dragon flying in the sky at sunset."

Better Prompt: "A snowy mountain range at sunset, with a dragon flying in the sky."

Over-Reliance on Art Styles

While specifying an art style can be helpful, too many style instructions can limit creativity and result in a less imaginative piece. Instead of relying heavily on one specific style, consider using broader terms like "futuristic" or "dreamlike" to leave room for artistic exploration.

NSFW or Inappropriate Terms

Avoid using NSFW or inappropriate words. These may lead to unpredictable results, and you’ll have to experiment to find out which terms work best.

Conclusion

Leonardo AI offers a powerful and versatile platform for generating high-quality AI art using detailed prompts. By crafting well-structured prompts with clear descriptions, styles, and modifiers, users can maximize the potential of Leonardo AI to create stunning visuals. Whether for digital art, game design, marketing, or personal creativity, mastering prompt engineering enhances both efficiency and artistic output. As AI-generated art continues to evolve, experimenting with different prompt techniques will help users achieve more refined and personalized results.

Leonardo AI Prompts: Structure, Examples & Negative Prompts

The Structure of Effective Leonardo AI Prompts

Key Dimensions of an Effective Prompt

Build Your Prompt Step-by-Step

Summary: From Simple to Complex

Leonardo AI Prompts Examples List to Spark Your Imagination

Leonardo AI Negative Prompts for Superior Results

Step-by-step Guide to Formatting Leonardo AI Prompts

Common Leonardo AI Prompts Pitfalls to Avoid

Conclusion

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