How to prompt Ideogram 4.0

How to structure your prompt

Natural-language description in Ideogram's documented order, using only the parts the request needs: a one-sentence image summary naming the image type, main subject and tone; main subject details, with exact text in double quotation marks placed early; pose or action; secondary elements; setting and background; lighting and atmosphere; framing and composition; technical finishing details. Put the most important details first. Describe anything to exclude as its positive visual opposite (for example 'an empty beach at sunrise' instead of 'a beach without people').

Length and syntax

Up to 160 words. Longer prompts are not better if the extra words do not change what appears on screen.

Exact in-image text goes in double quotation marks, early in the prompt, with its placement and typography described. No parameter flags. Model, aspect ratio, Magic Prompt and style controls are set in the Ideogram prompt box.

Prompt skeleton

[Image type] of [main subject], [tone]. [Main subject details, with exact text in "quotes" and its typography]. [Pose or action]. [Secondary elements]. [Setting and background]. [Lighting and atmosphere]. [Framing and composition]. [Technical finish].

What it’s best at

• legible, accurate text in images
• posters, campaigns and graphic design
• logos and brand assets
• prompt fidelity
• design-quality outputs for print-on-demand and interface assets

Known limitations

• natural-language prompts beyond roughly 150-160 words may be partly ignored
• available controls vary by account, plan and rollout
• negation words tend to add the unwanted item
• precise layout, hex color control and repeatable compositions require JSON prompting, which this card does not produce

Avoid in your prompt

• unsupported parameter flags
• invented copy or text
• negative phrasing such as 'no' or 'without'
• placing requested text late in the prompt
• prompts longer than about 160 words