The Basic Principle of Nano Banana Prompts: "Describe the Scene"
Like other image generation models, the most important principle for Nano Banana is to "describe the scene." A narrative, descriptive paragraph will almost always produce a better, more coherent image than a simple list of disconnected keywords.
For example, instead of a prompt like "a beautiful city at night," a more specific description like "wet asphalt, a zebra crosswalk, and neon signs reflecting in puddles" will generate a much more realistic and captivating image.
Practical Nano Banana Prompt Examples: 6 Scene-Based Templates
1. Photorealistic Portraits
Template:
> A photorealistic [shot type] of [subject], [action or expression], set in [environment]. The scene is illuminated by [lighting description], creating a [mood] atmosphere. Captured with a [camera/lens details], emphasizing [key textures and details]. The image should be in a [aspect ratio] format.
Actual Prompt Example:
> A photorealistic close-up portrait of an elderly Japanese ceramicist with deep, sun-etched wrinkles and a warm, knowing smile. He is carefully inspecting a freshly glazed tea bowl. The setting is his rustic, sun-drenched workshop. The scene is illuminated by soft, golden hour light streaming through a window, highlighting the fine texture of the clay and the fabric of his apron. Captured with an 85mm portrait lens, resulting in a soft, blurred background (bokeh). The overall mood is serene and masterful. Vertical portrait orientation.
2. Kawaii-Style Stickers and Illustrations
Template:
> A [style] sticker of a [subject], featuring [key characteristics] and a [color palette]. The design should have [line style] and [shading style]. The background must be white.
Actual Prompt Example:
> A kawaii-style sticker of a happy red panda wearing a tiny bamboo hat. It's munching on a green bamboo leaf. The design features bold, clean outlines, simple cel-shading, and a vibrant color palette. The background must be white.
3. Images with Accurate Text
Template:
> Create a [image type] for [brand/concept] with the text "[text to render]" in a [font style]. The design should be [style description], with a [color scheme].
Actual Prompt Example:
> Create a modern, minimalist logo for a coffee shop called 'The Daily Grind'. The text should be in a clean, bold, sans-serif font. The design should feature a simple, stylized icon of a coffee bean seamlessly integrated with the text. The color scheme is black and white.
4. Product Mockups and Commercial Photography
Template:
> A high-resolution, studio-lit product photograph of a [product description] on a [background surface/description]. The lighting is a [lighting setup, e.g., three-point softbox setup] to [lighting purpose]. The camera angle is a [angle type] to showcase [specific feature]. Ultra-realistic, with sharp focus on [key detail]. [Aspect ratio].
Actual Prompt Example:
> A high-resolution, studio-lit product photograph of a minimalist ceramic coffee mug in matte black, presented on a polished concrete surface. The lighting is a three-point softbox setup designed to create soft, diffused highlights and eliminate harsh shadows. The camera angle is a slightly elevated 45-degree shot to showcase its clean lines. Ultra-realistic, with sharp focus on the steam rising from the coffee. Square image.
5. Minimalist and Negative Space Design
Template:
> A minimalist composition featuring a single [subject] positioned in the [bottom-right/top-left/etc.] of the frame. The background is a vast, empty [color] canvas, creating significant negative space. Soft, subtle lighting. [Aspect ratio].
Actual Prompt Example:
> A minimalist composition featuring a single, delicate red maple leaf positioned in the bottom-right of the frame. The background is a vast, empty off-white canvas, creating significant negative space for text. Soft, diffused lighting from the top left. Square image.
6. Sequential Art (Comic Panel / Storyboard)
Template:
> A single comic book panel in a [art style] style. In the foreground, [character description and action]. In the background, [setting details]. The panel has a [dialogue/caption box] with the text "[Text]". The lighting creates a [mood] mood. [Aspect ratio].
Actual Prompt Example:
> A single comic book panel in a gritty, noir art style with high-contrast black and white inks. In the foreground, a detective in a trench coat stands under a flickering streetlamp, rain soaking his shoulders. In the background, the neon sign of a desolate bar reflects in a puddle. A caption box at the top reads "The city was a tough place to keep secrets." The lighting is harsh, creating a dramatic, somber mood. Landscape.
Advanced Techniques for Nano Banana Prompts
Iterative Refinement
One of Nano Banana's strengths is its ability to iteratively refine an image through conversation. You can make small adjustments over multiple turns to perfect it. For example, you can get more accurate results by making specific, one-at-a-time changes like "change the color to orange" or "a second monster comes out right after."
Precise Control with Image Input
For even finer control over composition and style, you can use an existing image as a visual reference. You can use photos, digital art, or AI-generated visuals to lock in elements like character design, wardrobe, set dressing, or the overall aesthetic. The model uses the image as an anchor for the first frame, while your text prompt defines what happens next.
Practical Advice: Tips for Successful Prompts
Clarity Wins
A specific description like "wet asphalt, a zebra crosswalk, and neon signs reflecting in puddles" will produce a much clearer and more consistent output than a vague phrase like "a beautiful city."
Camera Work and Framing
A wide shot emphasizes space and context, while an eye-level close-up focuses attention on emotion. Depth of field adds another layer, with a shallow focus making the subject stand out against a blurred background, or a deep focus keeping both foreground and background sharp.
Controlling Motion and Timing
Each shot should have one clear camera move and one clear subject action. Actions work best when described in beats or counts—small steps, gestures, or pauses—to ground them in time.
A More Efficient Approach: What If You Didn't Have to Write Prompts?
These detailed templates are powerful, but let's be real—filling them out every time you have a new idea can feel like a chore.
Wouldn't it be great if you could just state your core idea, like "a cat walking in space," and have a detailed, well-structured prompt appear automatically?
That's where a tool I've been using lately, Dativus, comes in handy. It's designed for exactly this scenario. You give it a simple idea, and it generates a structured prompt for you, filling in professional details like camera angles and artistic styles. You can use the result directly or tweak it like a pre-filled template.
The best part is it's free, requires no sign-up, and runs entirely in your browser, so you don't have to worry about privacy. If you want to focus more on your ideas and less on the manual work of writing prompts, it's worth a look.
I hope you find it helpful: Dativus Official Website
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*References:*
- *Google AI Studio Documentation - Six text-to-image prompting tips for Nano Banana*
- *Prompt Engineering Best Practices for Gemini 2.5 Flash Image*