Skip to main content

​
Camera & Lens Cheat Sheet

TermEffect
f/1.4 – f/2.8Blurry background (shallow depth of field)
f/8 – f/16Everything sharp (deep depth of field)
24mmWide angle — shows more of the scene
35mmNatural, documentary-style perspective
50mmEye-level, neutral perspective
85mmPortrait-ideal, slight background compression
135mm+Telephoto — strong background compression
ISO 100Clean image, low noise
ISO 1600–3200Brighter but grainy — useful for film-style looks
Macro lensExtreme close-up detail
Anamorphic lensWidescreen cinematic look with oval bokeh
Example: “Shot on Hasselblad X2D, 80mm lens, f/2.8, natural lighting”

​
Lighting Keywords

TermEffect
Golden hourWarm, soft, flattering — just after sunrise or before sunset
Blue hourCool, moody — just before sunrise or after sunset
OvercastFlat, even, shadow-free — great for product shots
Rembrandt lightingDramatic triangle of light on the face
Split lightingHigh contrast, half-face illuminated
ChiaroscuroStrong light/shadow drama
Backlit / rim lightSubject glowing at the edges
Soft box / key lightStudio, controlled, even
Practical lightingLight sources visible in the scene (lamps, neon, fire)
Diffused lightSoft, wrap-around, minimal shadows
Harsh direct lightStrong shadows, high contrast
Example lighting phrases:
  • “soft, diffused natural light filtering through sheer curtains”
  • “dramatic side lighting creating deep shadows and highlights”
  • “golden hour backlighting with lens flare”
  • “overcast light creating even, shadow-free illumination”

​
Style Keywords

CategoryKeywords
Photographic”shot on Kodak Portra 400”, “35mm film”, “IMAX camera”, “Sony A7IV”, “Hasselblad X2D”, “Canon 5D”
Cinematic”cinematic”, “anamorphic lens flare”, “teal and orange color grading”, “film noir”, “Roger Deakins cinematography”
Artistic”oil painting”, “watercolor”, “pencil sketch”, “impasto texture”, “Art Nouveau”, “Bauhaus”
Digital art”concept art”, “matte painting”, “octane render”, “unreal engine”, “stylized 3D”
Illustration”flat design”, “vector illustration”, “comic art”, “anime style”, “graphic novel”, “whimsical”
Vintage”80s vintage photo”, “2000s digicam”, “VHS aesthetic”, “polaroid”, “sepia tone”

​
Composition Techniques

TechniqueWhen to UseExample Phrase
Rule of thirdsNatural, balanced framing”composed using rule of thirds”
Leading linesGuide the eye through the image”diagonal lines leading to main entrance”
Foreground/background layersAdd depth and dimension”strong foreground boulder, background mountains”
Low angle (worm’s eye)Make subjects powerful and dominant”low angle worm’s eye view, dramatic diagonal lines”
High angle (bird’s eye)Show patterns and spatial relationships”bird’s eye view, geometric patterns of city blocks”
Dutch angleTension and psychological unease”dutch angle, psychological tension”
SymmetricalFormal, balanced, architectural”perfectly symmetrical composition”
Negative spaceMinimal, focused, product”minimalist composition with generous negative space”

​
Model-Specific Quick Reference

  • No negative prompts supported
  • Excellent typography — use quotation marks for exact text
  • HEX color codes for brand-precise color matching: "in color #FF5733"
  • JSON structured prompts supported for production workflows
  • Reference specific camera models for authentic photorealistic looks
See: JSON Prompting → · Typography & Design → · HEX Color Prompting →
  • What you write is exactly what the model receives
  • Write in prose, not keyword lists — describe scenes like a novelist
  • Lighting descriptions have the highest single impact on output quality
  • Supports image editing with single and multi-reference inputs
  • Add Style: [style]. Mood: [mood]. at the end for consistent aesthetics
See: Single-Reference Editing → · Multi-Reference Editing →
  • Specify what should change — the input image provides all other visual context
  • Use quotation marks for text editing: Replace 'joy' with 'BFL'
  • Be explicit about preservation: “while maintaining the same facial features and hairstyle”
  • Prefer specific verbs: “change the clothes” over “transform the person”
  • For multiple changes, add as many explicit details as possible