AI image generation best practices
September 26, 2026
Scene-based prompting, iteration, model choice, and brand consistency — a field guide for ads and product imagery on IQON.
These practices apply across Nano Banana Pro, Nano Banana 2, and GPT Image 2 in IQON. They come from production use and Google's image prompt guidance.
1. Write scenes, not bags of tags
Models parse language. A short paragraph with subject, setting, light, and camera beats a comma list.
2. Be specific about materials
"Product on table" is weak. "Matte ceramic mug on polished concrete, steam rising, three-point softbox" is actionable.
3. Give context and intent
Say who the image serves: ecommerce hero, Instagram story, pitch deck cover. The model infers styling from purpose.
4. Control the camera explicitly
Wide vs close-up, lens length, angle, depth of field. Photography vocabulary is not decoration — it steers composition.
5. Iterate one variable at a time
When a render is 80% right, change lighting OR background OR wardrobe — not all three. You will not know what worked.
6. Use references for brand, not guesswork
Upload product shots, packaging, or site screenshots. Ask for variations in the style of your references. IQON stores onboarding screenshots as brand references automatically.
7. Match model to job
| Job | Starting point |
|---|---|
| Hero ad still | Nano Banana Pro, 2K+ |
| Quick concept | Nano Banana 2 or GPT Image Mini |
| Reference-heavy edit | GPT Image 2 edit mode |
| Talking-head still | See talking-head guide — iPhone framing, fictional face |
8. Respect aspect ratio at generation time
Generate 9:16 for Stories, 1:1 for feed, 16:9 for YouTube. Cropping after wastes composition the model planned for another frame.
9. Enrichment is a collaborator
IQON's enricher expands your short prompt with brand kit context. Write the creative intent; let enrichment handle palette, voice, and guardrails. If output drifts off-brand, fix the brand kit or add a reference — do not spam negative keywords.
10. Know when to stop generating
AI images compound. Set a bar: "readable product label," "on-brand gold accent," "no extra fingers." Ship at good enough, polish in Figma if needed.
Checklist before you hit Generate
- One clear subject
- Environment described
- Light source named
- Camera / format specified
- Brand refs attached if color-critical
- Aspect ratio matches placement
How to prompt Nano Banana Pro → · How to art direct with AI →