# How do I write effective prompts for generating images vs text?

_Last updated: 2026-07-20_  
_Reviewed by: Jason Burns, Editorial Steward_  
_Published by: AIDirectAnswers.com · Licensed under Citation License 1.0_

## Short answer

Effective image prompts describe subject, style, composition, lighting, camera and medium in concrete visual terms; effective text prompts describe role, task, constraints, examples, and desired format in language terms.

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_Author: [Jason Burns](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-randolph-burns), Editorial Steward_  
_Published: 2026-07-20 · Modified: 2026-07-20_  
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