Nano Banana Prompt Guide: Write AI Image Prompts That Actually Work
Nano Banana Prompt Guide: Write AI Image Prompts That Actually Work
•AI Image Tech

Nano Banana Prompt Guide: Write AI Image Prompts That Actually Work

Ever typed "make it better" into Nano Banana and got... something weird? Yeah, we've all been there. The secret to amazing AI image edits isn't luck—it's knowing how to write good prompts. And spoiler alert: it's way easier than you think.

What's a Nano Banana Prompt?

A Nano Banana prompt is simply the text instruction you give the AI to edit your image. Think of it like ordering coffee—you wouldn't just say "coffee" and hope for the best, right? You'd say "medium iced latte with oat milk." Same deal here—be specific, get better results.

Good Nano Banana prompt structure:

[What to change] + [How you want it] + [Any style notes]

That's it. Really.

5 Types of Nano Banana Prompts You'll Actually Use

1. Background Swaps

The most popular type of Nano Banana prompt. Take your subject anywhere.

Copy-paste ready examples:

✅ "Replace background with modern cafe, warm lighting"
✅ "Change to beach at sunset, golden hour vibes"
✅ "Transform to pure white studio background"

Don't do this:

❌ "Change background" (to what??)
❌ "Make it nice" (AI has no idea what you mean)

2. Style Makeovers

Turn photos into art (or art into photos).

Examples that work:

✅ "Make it look like a watercolor painting, soft colors"
✅ "Apply 80s film photography style, grainy and warm"
✅ "Cinematic color grading, movie poster vibes"

Pro tip: Reference specific styles (vintage, moody, bright & airy) instead of just "artistic."

3. Lighting & Mood

Change the whole vibe by playing with light.

Try these:

✅ "Add golden hour lighting, warm and glowy"
✅ "Dramatic shadows, moody atmosphere"
✅ "Bright and airy, soft natural light"

4. Object Editing

Add or remove stuff without Photoshop skills.

Quick wins:

✅ "Remove people in background"
✅ "Add stylish sunglasses, aviator style"
✅ "Remove text and logos"

5. Effects & Atmosphere

Weather, time of day, special effects.

Fun ones:

✅ "Add light fog for mystery"
✅ "Make it look like sunset"
✅ "Add rain with reflections on ground"

3 Rules for Writing Great Nano Banana Prompts

Rule #1: Be Specific (But Not Crazy)

Bad: "Make it professional" Good: "Clean white background, soft studio lighting"

Bad: "Artistic" Good: "Watercolor painting style with pastel colors"

You don't need a paragraph. Just add 2-3 descriptive words.

Rule #2: Use the "AND" Trick

Want multiple changes? Use AND to separate them.

"Replace background with coffee shop AND add warm lighting AND slight film grain"

But don't go crazy! More than 3-4 ANDs and things get messy. Break it into steps instead.

Rule #3: Tell It What NOT to Do

Sometimes it's easier to say what you DON'T want.

"Professional headshot without heavy filters or fake blur"
"Enhance colors without oversaturation"
"Clean background without distracting elements"

Common Nano Banana Prompt Mistakes (We've All Made These)

❌ Being Too Vague

"Make it better" → Better how??

Fix: "Brighter lighting, sharper details, warmer tones"

❌ Contradicting Yourself

"Realistic photo but cartoon style" → Pick one!

❌ Writing an Essay

A 10-line prompt is NOT better. Keep it simple.

Instead of: "Replace the background with a professional modern corporate office space with natural lighting coming from large windows..."

Just say: "Modern office background, natural window light"

❌ No Style Info

"Change background to cafe" could give you any cafe from any era.

Better: "Modern minimalist cafe, industrial style, afternoon light"

Real-World Nano Banana Prompt Examples You Can Steal

For Product Photos

"Pure white background, soft shadows, product colors stay accurate"

For Social Media

"Instagram aesthetic, bright and airy, lifestyle magazine vibes"

For Professional Headshots

"Replace with gray studio backdrop, corporate lighting, professional style"

For Creative Projects

"Transform to oil painting style, vibrant colors, artistic look"

The Quick Start Formula

Not sure where to start? Use this template:

"Replace/Transform [SUBJECT] to/with [DESCRIPTION], [LIGHTING], [MOOD]"

Examples:

  • "Replace background with urban rooftop, sunset lighting, cinematic mood"
  • "Transform to vintage film style, warm tones, nostalgic feel"
  • "Enhance lighting with soft glow, bright atmosphere, professional look"

Pro Tips From People Who Do This All Day

💡 Start Simple, Then Add Details

Try a basic prompt first. If it's 80% there, add one more detail and try again.

💡 Save What Works

Got a prompt that nailed it? Save it! You can reuse the structure for similar images.

💡 Use Real Examples

Instead of "artistic," try "like a Wes Anderson movie" or "Instagram travel photography style."

💡 Test Lighting Words

These words dramatically change the mood:

  • Warm vs. cool
  • Soft vs. dramatic
  • Natural vs. studio
  • Golden hour vs. blue hour

💡 Be Specific About Colors

"Blue" could be navy, sky blue, or teal. Try "sky blue" or "deep navy" instead.

When Things Go Wrong

Problem: Results are inconsistent

Fix: Your prompt might be too open-ended. Add more specific details about style and lighting.

Problem: AI added weird stuff you didn't ask for

Fix: Use negative prompts: "without extra objects" or "no distortion"

Problem: Colors look off

Fix: Add "maintain accurate colors" or "natural color balance" to your prompt.

Problem: Edges look weird

Fix: Try "clean edges" or "smooth transitions" in your prompt.

Your 7-Day Challenge

Want to get good fast? Try this:

Day 1-2: Practice background replacements only Day 3-4: Experiment with lighting changes
Day 5-6: Try style transformations Day 7: Combine everything!

Each day, do 5 edits with different prompts. Save the ones that work.

Mastering Nano Banana Prompts: The Bottom Line

Good Nano Banana prompts aren't about being a "prompt engineer" or knowing magic words. It's about:

  1. Being specific (but concise)
  2. Describing what you want (not what you don't want, usually)
  3. Adding style cues (lighting, mood, era)
  4. Testing and learning (save what works!)

That's it. No secret sauce, no complex formulas. Just clear communication.

The difference between "meh" results and "wow, how'd you do that?" is usually just 3-4 extra words in your Nano Banana prompt.

Your Turn!

Start with these beginner-friendly prompts and modify them for your images:

  • "Replace background with [PLACE], [LIGHTING TYPE]"
  • "Transform to [STYLE] style, [MOOD] atmosphere"
  • "Enhance lighting with [EFFECT], [MOOD] feel"

Then experiment! The more you try, the better you'll get at knowing what words create what results.

Ready to test these Nano Banana prompt tricks? Try Nano Banana now and see how much better your results get with well-crafted prompts. Transform your images in seconds!