Best Practices

Master prompting techniques, advanced settings, and troubleshooting tips to create stunning, professional-quality images with Seedream 4.0.

Prompting Best Practices

1Be Specific and Detailed

✗

Bad:

"a car"
✓

Good:

red Ferrari sports car, sleek aerodynamic design, parked on coastal highway at sunset, dramatic lighting, professional automotive photography

2Describe Materials and Textures

Include specific material descriptions for more realistic results:

  • "polished marble surface"
  • "brushed aluminum finish"
  • "soft velvet fabric"
  • "weathered wood texture"

3Specify Lighting

Lighting dramatically affects the mood and quality of your images:

  • "soft natural window light"
  • "dramatic studio lighting with rim light"
  • "golden hour sunset glow"
  • "neon cyberpunk lighting"

4Include Photography Terms

Professional photography terms help guide the AI:

  • "shallow depth of field"
  • "bokeh background"
  • "professional product photography"
  • "8k detail, high resolution"

5Define Composition

Guide the layout and framing of your image:

  • "centered composition"
  • "rule of thirds"
  • "minimalist composition"
  • "dynamic angle"

6Specify Style or Mood

Set the overall aesthetic and emotional tone:

  • "cinematic style"
  • "instagram aesthetic"
  • "minimalist modern"
  • "vintage retro"

Example Prompt Breakdown

luxury swiss watch on marble surface,

[SUBJECT + CONTEXT]

professional product photography, studio lighting,

[PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE + LIGHTING]

reflections on polished surface,

[MATERIAL DETAILS]

high-end jewelry photography, dramatic shadows,

[STYLE + MOOD]

commercial quality, 8k detail

[QUALITY SPECIFICATIONS]

Advanced Settings

Guidance Scale (1-20)

The Guidance Scale controls how closely the AI follows your prompt:

Low (1-5)

More creative freedom, unexpected results, artistic interpretation

Medium (6-12)

Balanced between creativity and accuracy (default: 7)

High (13-20)

Strict adherence to prompt, more predictable results

When to Adjust:

  • Lower:Artistic projects, abstract concepts, when you want surprises
  • Higher:Product photography, specific requirements, brand consistency

Example:

  • 3:Creative, artistic interpretation of "futuristic city"
  • 15:Precise, literal interpretation of "futuristic city"

Tips & Troubleshooting

Getting Better Results

  1. 1
    Iterate on Prompts:

    Start simple, then add details based on results

  2. 2
    Use Batch Generation:

    Generate 4-10 variations to get more options

  3. 3
    Test Quality Levels:

    Start with Low quality to test prompts, then use High for finals

  4. 4
    Save Good Prompts:

    Keep a library of prompts that work well for you

  5. 5
    Study Examples:

    Look at the gallery to see what prompts others use

Common Issues & Solutions

Issue: Results don't match my vision

  • Add more specific details to your prompt
  • Include photography terms and lighting descriptions
  • Try adjusting Guidance Scale higher for more accuracy

Issue: Text in images is misspelled

  • Seedream 4.0 has improved text rendering, but verify spelling
  • For critical text (logos, signs), consider post-processing
  • Generate multiple variations and choose the best

Issue: Inconsistent results in batch

  • This is normal - each image is a unique generation
  • Use reference images for consistency
  • Increase Guidance Scale for more predictable results

Issue: Want same character across multiple images

  • Use Reference Images feature (see Reference Images Guide)
  • Upload your best result as a reference
  • Use @image1 syntax in your prompts

Best Practices for Efficiency

  1. 1
    Test First:

    Use Low quality (1 credit) to test prompts before High quality

  2. 2
    Batch Wisely:

    Generate 4 images at once for variety without overspending

  3. 3
    Use References:

    Save credits by maintaining consistency with reference images

  4. 4
    Refine Iteratively:

    Each generation teaches you what works - adjust and improve

Ready to Master Image Generation?

Apply these best practices to create stunning, professional-quality images with Seedream 4.0. Start generating today!

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