Turn Negatives Into Positives
When you want to exclude something from your image, resist the urge to write what you donât want. Instead, describe the positive visual opposite of what youâre trying to avoid. Ask yourself: âIf this thing wasnât there, what would I see instead?âThe Replacement Strategy
When you catch yourself writing negative phrases, use this mental process:- Identify the unwanted element: âno crowdsâ
- Ask what replaces it: âWhat would be there instead?â
- Describe the positive: âpeaceful solitudeâ or âempty spacesâ
- âno peopleâ â âemptyâ, âdesertedâ, âsolitaryâ
- âwithout clothesâ â âbare skinâ, ânatural formâ
- âno colorsâ â âmonochromeâ, âblack and whiteâ, âgrayscaleâ
- âno textâ â âclean surfacesâ, âunmarkedâ, âblankâ
- âno modern elementsâ â âtraditionalâ, âhistoricalâ, âperiod-accurateâ
Advanced Positive Framing
For atmosphere: Instead of ânot dark,â use âbrightly litâ or âsun-drenchedâ For emotions: Instead of ânot sad,â use âjoyfulâ or âcontentâ For actions: Instead of ânot running,â use âwalking peacefullyâ or âstanding stillâ For quantities: Instead of ânot many,â use âfewâ, âsingleâ, or âminimalâPractical Examples
Context & Setting
Context & Setting
-
Instead of: âa street with no carsâ
Write: âa quiet pedestrian walkway with cobblestonesâ -
Instead of: âa landscape without buildingsâ
Write: âpristine wilderness with untouched natural terrainâ -
Instead of: âa room with no furnitureâ
Write: âa spacious empty room with polished wooden floorsâ
Character & Portrait
Character & Portrait
-
Instead of: âa person without a hatâ
Write: âa person with natural hair flowing freelyâ -
Instead of: âa portrait with no glassesâ
Write: âa portrait showing clear, unobstructed eyesâ
Objects & Props
Objects & Props
- Instead of: âa table without foodâ
Write: âa clean marble table set with elegant empty platesâ
Advanced Positive Techniques
Compositional Control
Compositional Control
Instead of describing what shouldnât be in frame, describe what fills the space:Weak: âportrait with no background distractionsâ
Strong: âportrait with smooth gradient background transitioning from deep blue to blackâ
Style Specifications
Style Specifications
Instead of avoiding certain artistic elements, specify the desired aesthetic:Weak: ânot too realisticâ
Strong: âstylized illustration with simplified forms and bold color blocksâ
Mood and Atmosphere
Mood and Atmosphere
Frame emotional tone positively:Weak: ânot scary or threateningâ
Strong: âpeaceful, welcoming, and warm atmosphere with soft golden lightingâ
Strong: âpeaceful, welcoming, and warm atmosphere with soft golden lightingâ
When Positive Alternatives Donât Work
If youâre still getting unwanted elements despite positive framing:- Be more specific about what you do want in that space
- Front-load the positive description following word order principles
- Add more descriptive detail to strengthen the positive alternative
- Use environmental context to make the positive element more natural
- Basic: âA beachâ
- Enhanced: âEmpty beach with palm trees and gentle wavesâ
- Detailed: âEmpty beach with palm trees and gentle waves, golden sunset, IMAX-quality lookâ

Prompt: A beach

Prompt: Empty beach with palm trees and gentle waves

Prompt: Empty beach with palm trees and gentle waves, golden sunset, IMAX-quality look

