In this guide, we’re going to help you master prompting inside Nano Banana, the most popular AI image generation and editing tool now.
If you’ve ever tried working with AI, you know how frustrating it can be when it produces the opposite of what you want. But with the right prompts, that problem disappears. Here’s a complete guide to creating precise prompts for both image generation and image editing, including real-life examples, specific formulas, and practical tips from my experience.
What is a Prompt?
A prompt is essentially how you communicate with AI to get the results you want. Think of it like having a conversation: the clearer your instructions, the better AI understands your intent. In Nano Banana, mastering prompts is the key to producing high-quality images that match your vision. Incorrect or vague prompts often lead to unexpected outcomes, which is why understanding the structure of prompts is critical.
Mastering Prompting in Nano Banana
When using Nano Banana, most users focus on two main tasks:
- Image Generation – creating new images from scratch.
- Editing Images – modifying existing images for style, objects, or details.
While AI can do much more, these two areas are the foundation for achieving professional results.
Mastering Image Generation in Nano Banana
For creating images, Nano Banana uses a simple but highly effective formula:
Subject + Action + Environment + Art Style + Lighting + Details
Here’s what each element means:
- Subject – the main character or object in your image.
- Action – what the subject is doing.
- Environment – the location or background setting.
- Art Style – the visual aesthetic, including camera type or digital style.
- Lighting – type and source of light.
- Details – mood, texture, or other finishing touches.
Real-Life Example: Cozy Café Portrait
Prompt Breakdown:
- Subject: young woman with freckles
- Action: smiling thoughtfully, sitting on a bench
- Environment: cozy café
- Art Style: shot on Canon 5D
- Lighting: natural light
- Details: warm and inviting
Result: Nano Banana generates an image where the woman’s smile, seating position, café setting, lighting, and mood all match perfectly. According to Google Gemini AI, this formula is one of the best ways to ensure accurate AI output.
Practical Tip: Always include specific details for the subject, environment, and style—this prevents generic or unexpected outputs.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Open Google Gemini Flash 2.5 and select Nano Banana from the tools dropdown.
- Input a prompt using the formula above.
- Check the generated image and adjust details if necessary.
You can even create your own Prompt Sheet to reuse successful formulas for future projects.
Mastering Image Editing in Nano Banana
Editing images in Nano Banana requires a slightly different approach:
Action / Change Specific Element + Desired Style/Effect + Relevant Details
The key here is action words. The five most effective ones are:
- Add
- Change
- Make
- Remove
- Replace
These five action words are essential for controlling AI edits with precision.
Example 1: Replacing a Sky with Nano Banana
- Prompt: “Replace the sky in the image with a light blue sky and fluffy white clouds. Photo realistic.”
- Result: The sky is replaced accurately without affecting other parts of the image.
Example 2: Replacing Clothing Without Affecting the Face using Nano Banana
We’ll take the café girl we generated above as an example.
- Prompt: “Replace the woman’s white top with a black t-shirt.”
- Result: The woman’s face remains identical, while the clothing is replaced perfectly.
Example 3: Complex Scenario with Multiple People Using Nano Banana
- Prompt: “Replace the woman’s pink top specific color with the red dress.”
- Result: Nano Banana correctly identifies the target person, preserves her face, and accurately generates missing details like arms and skin.
Practical Experience: Being specific about the person, the element to change, and the replacement ensures high-quality results even in multi-person images.
Tips for Nano Banana Success
- Be specific: Include clear descriptions of subjects, objects, and desired results.
- Use the five key action words for edits: add, change, make, remove, replace.
- Reuse formulas: Consistency in prompts leads to more predictable and professional outputs.
- Bonus: You can change clothes or objects on a person without altering their face—a common issue solved by following the editing formula.
Conclusion
Mastering prompting in Nano Banana allows you to:
- Generate detailed, realistic images from scratch
- Edit photos precisely without unwanted changes
- Maintain character consistency and quality across multiple edits
- There are even more wild ways to use Nano Banana, such as AI face swapping, outfit changes, cosplay ，3D AI Figurine，and altering a character’s pose.
For advanced users, future tutorials could cover advanced prompting techniques or a ChatGPT vs Nano Banana image generation comparison.
