Turn Negatives Into Positives
When you want to exclude something from your image, resist the urge to write what you don’t want. Instead, describe the positive visual opposite of what you’re trying to avoid. Ask yourself: “If this thing wasn’t there, what would I see instead?”The Replacement Strategy
When you catch yourself writing negative phrases, use this mental process:- Identify the unwanted element: “no crowds”
- Ask what replaces it: “What would be there instead?”
- Describe the positive: “peaceful solitude” or “empty spaces”
- “no people” → “empty”, “deserted”, “solitary”
- “without clothes” → “bare skin”, “natural form”
- “no colors” → “monochrome”, “black and white”, “grayscale”
- “no text” → “clean surfaces”, “unmarked”, “blank”
- “no modern elements” → “traditional”, “historical”, “period-accurate”
Advanced Positive Framing
For atmosphere: Instead of “not dark,” use “brightly lit” or “sun-drenched” For emotions: Instead of “not sad,” use “joyful” or “content” For actions: Instead of “not running,” use “walking peacefully” or “standing still” For quantities: Instead of “not many,” use “few”, “single”, or “minimal”Practical Examples
Context & Setting
Context & Setting
-
Instead of: “a street with no cars”
Write: “a quiet pedestrian walkway with cobblestones” -
Instead of: “a landscape without buildings”
Write: “pristine wilderness with untouched natural terrain” -
Instead of: “a room with no furniture”
Write: “a spacious empty room with polished wooden floors”
Character & Portrait
Character & Portrait
-
Instead of: “a person without a hat”
Write: “a person with natural hair flowing freely” -
Instead of: “a portrait with no glasses”
Write: “a portrait showing clear, unobstructed eyes”
Objects & Props
Objects & Props
- Instead of: “a table without food”
Write: “a clean marble table set with elegant empty plates”
When building prompts with positive alternatives, maintain the Subject + Action + Style + Context framework for best results.
Advanced Positive Techniques
Compositional Control
Compositional Control
Instead of describing what shouldn’t be in frame, describe what fills the space:Weak: “portrait with no background distractions”
Strong: “portrait with smooth gradient background transitioning from deep blue to black”
Style Specifications
Style Specifications
Instead of avoiding certain artistic elements, specify the desired aesthetic:Weak: “not too realistic”
Strong: “stylized illustration with simplified forms and bold color blocks”
Mood and Atmosphere
Mood and Atmosphere
Frame emotional tone positively:Weak: “not scary or threatening”
Strong: “peaceful, welcoming, and warm atmosphere with soft golden lighting”
Strong: “peaceful, welcoming, and warm atmosphere with soft golden lighting”
When Positive Alternatives Don’t Work
If you’re 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: “A beach”
- Enhanced: “Empty beach with palm trees and gentle waves”
- Detailed: “Empty beach with palm trees and gentle waves, golden sunset, IMAX-quality look”
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
Think visually about what you want to see, not what to avoid.