How to Prompt Uni-1

A Creator's Field Guide

The Big Idea: Stop Prompting. Start Directing.

Uni-1 is fundamentally different from other image generators. It doesn't just pattern-match keywords — it actually reasons

through your intent before generating a single pixel. This means:

● You don't need "prompt engineering" tricks or keyword stuffing

● Describe what you want, not what you don't want (no negative prompts supported)

● Think of yourself as a creative director giving a brief to a talented artist

● The clearer your vision, the better the result — but Uni-1 can also work with loose, exploratory prompts

The workflow is: Start → Direct → Refine → Finish

Create vs Modify: The First Decision

Everything starts with one question: Am I creating something new, or changing something that already exists?

Create Image → Generates a brand-new composition. Can be inspired by references. Modify Image → Edits a specific input

image. Preserves composition unless told otherwise.

Rule of thumb:

● "Make this photo look like nighttime" → Modify

● "Create a new scene in the style of this photo" → Create

● If the output should look like a version of your input → Modify

● If it should feel inspired but new → Create

8 Prompt Templates That Cover 90% of Use Cases

1. The Fast Start (80% of use cases)

Template: A [subject], in [style], with [lighting], [camera/composition],

[environment/background], mood: [emotion], details: [key specifics]

Example: A ceramic artist shaping a lopsided bowl, documentary photography style,

soft window lighting, close-up shot, cluttered home studio background, mood:

focused and quiet, details: clay-covered hands, imperfect texture, tools

scattered on wooden table

When to use: Exploration, first ideas, quick outputs.

2. ? The Cinematic Control

Template:

Subject: [who/what]

Style: [editorial / documentary / fine art / etc.]

Scene:

- Environment: [where]

- Time of day: [lighting conditions]

- Weather/atmosphere: [mood elements]

Camera:

None

- Shot type: [close-up / wide / medium / aerial]

- Lens: [wide angle / telephoto / macro]

- Angle: [eye level / low angle / overhead]

Details: [specific textures, colors, props]

Mood: [overall feeling]

Example:

Subject: A retired boxer sitting alone in an empty gym

Style: Documentary photography, gritty and honest

Scene:

- Environment: Aging boxing gym with peeling paint

- Time of day: Late afternoon, golden light through dusty windows

- Weather/atmosphere: Quiet, contemplative

Camera:

- Shot type: Medium shot, waist up

- Lens: 50mm natural perspective

- Angle: Slightly low, looking up at the subject

Details: Worn leather gloves hanging nearby, sweat-stained bench, faded

championship posters on walls

Mood: Dignified melancholy, the weight of a career

When to use: When you need precise visual control. Cinematic scenes, editorial work, portfolio pieces.

3. The Direct Edit

Template: Change [specific element] to [new version]. Keep everything else the

same.

Example: Change the sky to a dramatic sunset with deep orange and purple clouds.

Keep everything else the same.

Pro tip: Be surgical. The more specific you are about what to change AND what to preserve, the better the edit.

4. The Multi-Reference Fusion

Template:

IMAGE1 (STYLE): [description of style reference]

IMAGE2 (CHARACTER): [description of character reference]

IMAGE3 (COMPOSITION): [description of layout reference]

Create a [subject] that combines the visual style of IMAGE1, the character

from IMAGE2, in the composition/layout of IMAGE3. [Additional details about

the scene.]

When to use: When you need to blend multiple visual ideas — a character in a specific style in a specific pose.

5. The Layout Control

Template:

Create a [format] with the following layout:

- [Position 1]: [element description]

- [Position 2]: [element description]

- [Position 3]: [element description]

Text: "[exact text to render]"

Style: [overall aesthetic]

Example:

Create a magazine cover with the following layout:

- Top third: Title "WILDLIGHT" in bold serif font

- Center: Portrait of a woman wearing an oversized vintage denim jacket

- Bottom: Subtitle "The Future of Desert Fashion — Spring 2026"

Style: High-fashion editorial, muted earth tones, natural lighting

Pro tip: Uni-1 is exceptionally good at text rendering. Put desired text in quotes.

6. The Storyboard Generator

Template: Create a [N]-panel storyboard showing: Panel 1: [scene]. Panel 2:

[scene]. Panel 3: [scene]. Consistent character throughout. Style: [aesthetic].

Example: Create a 4-panel storyboard showing: Panel 1: A detective enters a dimly

lit bar. Panel 2: She slides a photo across the counter to the bartender. Panel

3: The bartender recognizes the person and looks nervous. Panel 4: Close-up of

the detective's knowing smile. Consistent character throughout: woman in her

40s, sharp features, dark trenchcoat. Style: Film noir, high contrast black and

white.

7. The Loose / Creative Mode

Template: [Vibe or feeling]. [A few evocative words or an abstract concept.]

Example: The feeling of waking up in a foreign city for the first time. Morning

light. Unfamiliar rooftops. Coffee steam. Possibility.

When to use: When you want to explore and be surprised. Uni-1's reasoning engine can interpret abstract concepts and moods.

8. The Structured JSON

Template:

{

"subject": "...",

"style": "...",

"composition": "...",

"lighting": "...",

"color_palette": "...",

"mood": "...",

"details": ["...", "...", "..."],

"text_elements": ["..."],

"aspect_ratio": "..."

}

When to use: When you want maximum precision and reproducibility. Great for batch work.

The Anatomy of a Great Prompt

What to Include (the building blocks)

Recommended Prompt Lengths

Weak vs Strong Prompts

❌ Weak: cat in forest

✅ Strong: A tabby cat sitting on a mossy log in an ancient forest at golden hour,

soft dappled light filtering through oak leaves, painterly impressionist style,

warm amber tones, peaceful and serene mood

❌ Weak: product photo of sneaker

✅ Strong: A single white running sneaker on a concrete surface, outdoor urban

environment, clean commercial photography, soft natural shadow, minimalist and

modern feel, shallow depth of field

❌ Weak: make a poster

✅ Strong: Create a movie poster for a sci-fi thriller. Title: "SIGNAL" in large

distressed metallic font at the top. Central image: a lone astronaut standing

before a massive alien structure on a barren planet. Color palette: deep navy,

burnt orange, silver. Mood: awe and isolation. Tagline at bottom: "They weren't

listening. They were waiting."

Working with Reference Images

Uni-1 supports up to 9 reference images in Create mode and 8 in Modify mode. Each reference has a role:

Character Consistency Workflow

1. Generate a clean, front-facing reference image of your character

2. Reuse it as IMAGE1 (CHARACTER) in every subsequent scene

3. Keep the label identical across prompts

4. Add scene-specific details in the text prompt

5. The character stays consistent; the world around them changes

5 Core Workflows

Workflow 1: Idea → Final Image

1. Start with a Fast Start prompt (loose, exploratory)

2. Pick the best result

3. Modify to refine details (lighting, color, specific elements)

4. Modify again for final polish

Workflow 2: Reference-Driven Creation

1. Gather 1–3 reference images (style, character, composition)

2. Write a Multi-Reference Fusion prompt

3. Generate

4. Modify to fine-tune

Workflow 3: Fix & Polish

1. Start with any image (generated or uploaded)

2. Use Direct Edit prompts to fix specific issues

3. Iterate: one change at a time works better than trying to fix everything at once

Workflow 4: Precision Composition

1. Sketch or describe your exact layout

2. Use Layout Control or Structured JSON prompt

3. Upload sketch as reference if available

4. Generate and refine

Workflow 5: Exploration → Lock → Iterate

1. Start loose (Creative Mode) — generate many options

2. Find a direction you love — "lock" it by saving

3. Switch to Cinematic Control for precise versions

4. Use Modify for final variations

Quick Rules (The Cheat Sheet)

✅ DO:

● Be specific about subject + style + composition

● Put key instructions early in the prompt

● Use references for consistency

● Describe spatial relationships explicitly ("to the left of", "in the foreground")

● Use quotes for text you want rendered: "SALE 50% OFF"

● Refine iteratively — don't restart from scratch

● Use layout descriptions for complex compositions

● Specify lighting! It's the single biggest quality lever.

❌ DON'T:

● Write negative prompts ("no hands", "without blur") — not supported

● Use keyword soup from other AI tools ("8k, ultra detailed, masterpiece")

● Over-constrain with conflicting instructions

● Expect one prompt to get it perfect — the power is in the workflow

● Forget to mention mood/emotion — it dramatically changes the output

What Uni-1 Is Especially Great At

Based on community feedback and benchmarks:

● Spatial reasoning — Complex multi-subject scenes with correct object placement

● Text rendering — Readable, stylized text in images (posters, signs, UI mockups)

● Character consistency — Same character across multiple generations using references

● Infographics & data visualization — Charts, diagrams, informational layouts

● Multi-panel layouts — Storyboards, comic panels, sequential art

● Cultural styles — Manga, ukiyo-e, film noir, editorial, 76+ styles

● Photo restoration — Bringing old or damaged photos back to life

● Product photography — Clean commercial shots with precise control

● Complex compositions — Multiple characters, detailed environments, layered scenes

Aspect Ratios

Choose the right canvas for your content:

Pro Tips from the Community

● "Think of Uni-1 as a chess master, not a slot machine — it plans before it generates"

● "I stopped writing 'perfect' prompts. Now I just explain what I want, and Uni-1 figures it out"

● "The biggest unlock was using references. A single style reference image is worth a thousand words of prompt

description"

● "For product shots, describe the ENVIRONMENT and LIGHTING more than the product itself — Uni-1 already

understands objects well"

● "Don't restart when you get something close. Use Modify to push it the last 20%"

● "Web search grounding is incredible for real-world subjects — landmarks, celebrities, specific products. Toggle it on"

● "Multi-panel prompts are a superpower. You can create entire storyboards in a single generation"

● "If you're coming from Midjourney, ditch the style keywords. Write like you're briefing a photographer instead"