Writing Effective Prompts
Tips for crafting descriptions that generate exactly the look you want.
The Art of Describing Color
The key to getting great presets from Hyperfocal is learning to describe visual aesthetics in words. The more specific and descriptive your prompt, the closer the result will match your vision. Think of it as commissioning a colorist who can't see your screen: the clearer your directions, the better the outcome.
Anatomy of a Good Prompt
Effective prompts typically include several elements:
- Overall mood/style: The general feeling (warm, moody, clean, vintage, etc.)
- Color characteristics: Specific color shifts, temperature, saturation levels
- Tonal qualities: Contrast, shadows, highlights, blacks/whites
- Special effects: Grain, vignette, fade, etc.
Example: Basic vs. Detailed Prompt
Basic: "warm tones"
Better: "warm golden hour tones with lifted shadows, slightly faded blacks, and desaturated greens. Subtle orange tint in the highlights and cream-colored whites."
Describing Color Temperature
Color temperature words the AI understands well:
Warm Tones
- Golden, amber, honey
- Orange, copper, rust
- Sunset, golden hour
- Cozy, inviting
Cool Tones
- Blue, teal, cyan
- Icy, cold, crisp
- Moonlit, twilight
- Clinical, modern
Describing Contrast & Tones
Words for describing the tonal range:
- High contrast: Punchy, bold, dramatic, deep blacks, bright whites
- Low contrast: Soft, flat, muted, lifted shadows, compressed
- Faded: Lifted blacks, milky shadows, washed out
- Rich: Deep shadows, strong blacks, full tonal range
Style References That Work Well
The AI recognizes many common photography styles:
Film Stocks
- Kodak Portra (warm, soft)
- Fuji 400H (pastel, airy)
- Kodak Ektar (vibrant, saturated)
- Cinestill 800T (tungsten, blue shadows)
- Ilford HP5 (black & white, contrasty)
Aesthetic Styles
- Cinematic (teal & orange)
- Editorial (clean, magazine-like)
- Moody (dark, atmospheric)
- Light & airy (bright, soft)
- Dark & moody (rich shadows)
Describing Specific Colors
Be specific about how you want individual colors treated:
- Greens: "muted greens," "olive tones," "teal-shifted greens," "lush vibrant greens"
- Blues: "deep navy shadows," "aqua highlights," "powder blue skies"
- Skin tones: "warm skin tones," "natural skin," "slightly tanned," "porcelain"
- Oranges/Reds: "burnt orange," "coral accents," "crimson," "rust colored"
Example Prompts
Portrait Photography
"Soft, creamy portrait tones with warm highlights and gentle contrast. Skin tones should be natural with a slight warmth. Faded blacks for a dreamy feel, minimal grain."
Landscape Photography
"Dramatic landscape look with deep, rich shadows and vibrant but not oversaturated colors. Slightly cooler overall with enhanced blues in the sky. Strong clarity for detail."
Street Photography
"Gritty urban street photography style. High contrast, deep blacks, slightly desaturated with teal shadows. Film grain for texture. Cinematic vignette."
Wedding Photography
"Light and airy wedding style. Bright exposure, lifted shadows, soft pastel tones. Whites should be clean but not blown. Gentle fade in the blacks, very low contrast."
Vintage/Film Look
"70s film photography aesthetic. Warm color cast, lifted blacks with a green tint, slightly faded highlights. Heavy grain, muted reds shifting toward orange, desaturated greens."
Literal Settings with @syntax
For precise control over specific Lightroom settings, use the @setting syntax. These values are applied exactly as specified, bypassing AI interpretation entirely.
Example Usage
"Warm cinematic look @clarity 0 @denoise 50 @grain 25"
Common settings you can use:
Basic Adjustments
@exposure(-5 to +5)@contrast(-100 to +100)@highlights(-100 to +100)@shadows(-100 to +100)@clarity(-100 to +100)@texture(-100 to +100)@vibrance(-100 to +100)@saturation(-100 to +100)
Effects & Detail
@denoise(0 to 100)@sharpness(0 to 150)@grain(0 to 100)@vignette(-100 to +100)@dehaze(-100 to +100)@temperature(-100 to +100)@tint(-100 to +100)
Pro Tip: Combine with Descriptions
Use @settings alongside regular descriptions for the best of both worlds. Let the AI interpret your creative vision while locking in specific technical values.
Words to Avoid
Some descriptions are too vague or subjective to translate well:
- "Make it pop": Instead, specify: increase contrast, add vibrance, or boost clarity
- "Professional looking": Be specific about what professional means to you
- "Like [specific photographer]": Describe their style instead of naming them
- "Good colors": Describe the specific color characteristics you want
Iterating on Results
If your first result isn't quite right, try:
- Adding more detail: Specify what you want changed
- Using reference images: Show the AI what you mean
- Creating variations: Explore different directions from a good starting point
- Tweaking manually: Fine-tune in Lightroom after generating
Related Guides
- How Hyperfocal Works: Understand what the AI does with your prompts
- Using Reference Images: Show instead of tell
- Remixing & Variations: Explore different directions
- Community Gallery: See what prompts others have used