Prompt Anatomy

A better prompt is not longer; every layer has a job.

Subject

What the image is about and what identity must remain.

golden-hour side light, warm amber highlights, long soft shadows

Place, time, weather and spatial relationships.

single-direction rim light, clean subject separation, subdued background

Placement, negative space, aspect ratio and reading order.

macro photography, extremely shallow depth of field, frame-filling texture detail

Focal length, angle, depth of field and perspective.

isometric view, orthographic projection, clear structure, modular layout

Direction, softness, temperature and contrast.

layered paper-cut construction, crisp cut edges, stacked paper shadows

How surfaces reflect, refract, absorb and show texture.

transparent glass material, realistic refraction, highlighted edges, inner caustics

Palette, saturation, warm-cool balance and grading.

cinematic teal-orange grade, cool shadows, warm highlights, restrained saturation