Nano Banana Prompting Guide

Technique 1: Narrative Prompts

Start with a simpler narrative approach if no need to provide detailed specifications.

Scene Narrative

Describe a moment or action happening in the scene:

"A young woman stands almost sideways, slightly bent forward, during the final preparation for the show. Makeup artists apply lipstick to her."

End with a style summary to anchor the aesthetic:

"Victoria's Secret style: sensuality, luxury, glamour."

Direct attention to specific elements:

"The main emphasis is on the girl's face and the details of her costume. Emphasize the expressiveness of the gaze."

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Technique 2: Structured Prompts

Use structured formats (YAML/JSON) when you need to provide more detailed specifications.

Reference Preservation (when reference image available)

Use multiple reinforcing signals to preserve details from a reference image:

face:
  preserve_original: true
  reference_match: true
  description: "The girl's facial features, expression, and identity must remain exactly the same as the reference image."

Multi-Subject Handling

When a scene has multiple distinct elements, define each as a separate object:

subject:
  girl:
    age: "young"
    hair: "long, wavy brown hair"
    expression: "puckering her lips toward the camera"
    clothing: "black hooded sweatshirt"
  puppy:
    type: "small white puppy"
    eyes: "light blue"
    expression: "calm, looking forward"

Example: 2000s Mirror Selfie

subject:
  description: "A young woman taking a mirror selfie with very long voluminous dark waves and soft wispy bangs"
  age: "young adult"
  expression: "confident and slightly playful"
  hair:
    color: "dark"
    style: "very long, voluminous waves with soft wispy bangs"
  clothing:
    top:
      type: "fitted cropped t-shirt"
      color: "cream white"
      details: "features a large cute anime-style cat face graphic with big blue eyes, whiskers, and a small pink mouth"
  face:
    preserve_original: true
    makeup: "natural glam makeup with soft pink dewy blush and glossy red pouty lips"

accessories:
  earrings:
    type: "gold geometric hoop earrings"
  jewelry:
    waistchain: "silver waistchain"
  device:
    type: "smartphone"
    details: "patterned case"

photography:
  camera_style: "early-2000s digital camera aesthetic"
  lighting: "harsh super-flash with bright blown-out highlights but subject still visible"
  angle: "mirror selfie"
  shot_type: "tight selfie composition"
  texture: "subtle grain, retro highlights, V6 realism, crisp details, soft shadows"

background:
  setting: "nostalgic early-2000s bedroom"
  wall_color: "pastel tones"
  elements:
    - "chunky wooden dresser"
    - "CD player"
    - "posters of 2000s pop icons"
    - "hanging beaded door curtain"
    - "cluttered vanity with lip glosses"
  atmosphere: "authentic 2000s nostalgic vibe"
  lighting: "retro"

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Technique 3: Vibe Library

The vibe is determined by signature details - specific elements that define an era or style. Knowing these elements is key to authentic results.

Mood/Atmosphere Words

Use evocative words to set the emotional tone:

"dreamy, storytelling vibe", "warm, nostalgic", "cinematic, emotional"

Candid Actions

Natural poses and actions add authenticity:

"The subject is looking slightly away from the camera, holding a coffee cup, with a relaxed, candid expression."

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Technique 4: Photography Terminology

Technical camera/lighting terms add realism and control.

Camera/Lens Specs

Name specific gear to suggest quality and style:

"Shot on a Sony A7III with an 85mm f/1.4 lens, creating a flattering portrait compression."

Named Lighting Setups

Use known photography terms:

"Use a classic three-point lighting setup. The main key light should create soft, defining shadows on the face. A subtle rim light should separate the subject's shoulders and hair from the dark background."

Texture Realism

Explicitly request textures for authenticity:

"Render natural skin texture with visible pores. The fabric of the suit should show a subtle wool texture."

Time of Day

Specify lighting conditions by time:

"Golden Hour (sunset). Warm, nostalgic lighting hitting the side of the face."

Other options: blue hour, harsh noon light, overcast diffused light, night with artificial lights.

Framing & Composition

Specify how the subject is framed:

"The subject is framed from the chest up, with ample headroom. Shot from a high angle. The person looks directly at the camera."

Focus Target

Direct where sharpest focus should be:

"exquisite focus on the eyes"

Color Grading

Describe the overall color treatment:

"Clean and bright cinematic color grading with subtle warmth and balanced tones, ensuring a polished and contemporary feel."

Era-Specific Camera Styles

Reference camera aesthetics from specific eras:

• camera_style: "early-2000s digital camera aesthetic"
• lighting: "harsh super-flash with bright blown-out highlights but subject still visible"
• texture: "subtle grain, retro highlights, crisp details, soft shadows"

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Technique 5: Physical Object Framing

Generate an image OF a physical object (magazine, poster, photo on desk) rather than just the content itself.

"A photo of a glossy magazine cover... The magazine is on a white shelf against a wall."

Typography Instructions

Specify font style for text in images:

"The text is in a serif font, black on white, and fills the view."

Realistic Details

Add authenticity with real-world elements:

"Put the issue number and today's date in the corner along with a barcode and a price."

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Technique 6: Perspective Framing

Ask for an interpretation from a specific viewpoint rather than a literal image.

"How engineers see the San Francisco Bridge"

The model infers what that perspective would emphasize (structural elements, blueprints, stress diagrams, etc.).

Other examples:

• "How a child sees a hospital"
• "How a chef sees a kitchen"
• "How an architect sees a city"

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Technique 7: Educational/Instructional Imagery

Create infographics, diagrams, and educational visuals.

Educational Framing

Start with the purpose:

"Create an educational infographic explaining [Photosynthesis]."

Visual Elements List

Explicitly list components to include:

"Illustrate the key components: The Sun, a green Plant, Water (H2O) entering roots, Carbon Dioxide (CO2) entering leaves, and Oxygen (O2) being released."

Audience Reference

Target the complexity level:

"suitable for a high school science textbook"

Flow & Labeling

Add structure and annotations:

"Use arrows to show the flow of energy and matter. Label each element clearly."

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Technique 8: Image Transformation

Transform a reference image by specifying operations to perform.

Task-Based Verbs

Use action words to direct the transformation:

"Identify the main product... Cleanly extract the product... Recreate it as a premium e-commerce product shot... Place the product on a pure white studio background."

Removal Instructions

Specify what to remove from the reference:

"automatically removing any hands holding it or messy background details" "completely removing any fingers, hands, or clutter"

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Technique 9: Multi-Panel/Collage Output

Generate multiple views or panels in a single image.

Layout Specification

Define the panel arrangement:

"a collage with one large main image at the top, and several smaller images below it"

Numbered Panel Content

Specify what each panel shows:

"1. Main Image (Top): A wide-angle perspective view of the main living area" "2. Small Image (Bottom Left): A view of the Master Bedroom" "3. Small Image (Bottom Right): A 3D top-down floor plan view"

Consistent Style Across Panels

Ensure visual coherence:

"Apply a consistent Modern Minimalist style with warm oak wood flooring and off-white walls across ALL images."

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Technique 10: Negative Prompts

Tell the model what NOT to include to avoid unwanted elements.

"no date stamp" "no text" "not rustic" "No monkeys"

Useful for stopping repeated unwanted outputs.

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Technique 11: Aspect Ratio & Resolution

Specify canvas dimensions and output quality.

Aspect Ratio

"A 9:16 vertical poster" "A cinematic 21:9 wide shot" "4:5 Instagram format"

Resolution

"Upscale to 4K" "1K, 2K or 4K resolution"

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Technique 12: Reference Role Assignment

When using multiple reference images, assign specific roles to each.

"Use Image A for the character's pose, Image B for the art style, and Image C for the background environment."

"Put the logo from image 1 onto the device in image 2. The woman from image 3 is holding it. Use the color palette from image 4."

Common roles:

• Character/subject reference
• Style/aesthetic reference
• Color palette reference
• Background/environment reference
• Branding/logo reference

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Technique 13: Character Consistency

Maintain the same character across multiple outputs.

Single Reference

Start with one image, generate variations to build a reference library.

"A 360 turnaround view in 4 different angles, full body pose"

Multiple References (up to 5)

Use diverse references for better consistency:

• Close-ups
• Full body shots
• Different clothes/poses
• Different expressions/orientations

"She is giving a talk at a large tech conference"

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Technique 14: Image Blending

Combine multiple input images into a single output.

"Combine these images into one appropriately arranged cinematic image in 16:9 format"

"Take the subjects from images 1-3 and place them in the environment from image 4"

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Technique 15: Upscaling & Restoration

Enhance image quality or restore old photos.

Upscaling

"Upscale to 4K"

Works with images as small as 150x150.

Restoration

"Faithfully restore this old photo"

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Technique 16: Translation & Localization

Translate or adapt text within images.

"Translate all the English text on the cans into Korean, while keeping everything else the same"

"Generate localized text for international markets"