Prompt Pack V3: Illustration Styles
This pack contains prompts for various illustration styles designed for use with AI image
generators. Each section begins with a Master Prompt outlining the key elements and
structure of the style, followed by specific example prompts.
1. Retro Cartoon Illustrations
Master Prompt:
Create a retro cartoon illustration with a clear focus on [Main Subject/Character Description].
The style is characterized by vintage aesthetics, bold outlines, expressive characters/faces,
and often a limited or muted color palette. Incorporate typical screenprint imperfections such
as halftone grain, slight outline offset, faded ink, and a textured background (e.g., cream,
paper). Typography, if included, should use retro fonts, funky display fonts, or
techno-inspired lettering to complete the look.
Example Prompts:
Example 1
Create a retro cartoon illustration featuring a confident vintage-style robot standing at the
center. The robot should have boxy limbs, knobs, a glowing panel, and a slightly smug
expression. One hand is resting on its hip, the other holding a crushed prompt paper or
smoldering keyboard. Above the character—clearly spaced from the top edge—place the
phrase: "YOU CAN'T PROMPT THIS" in bold techno-serif or pixel-inspired lettering. Ensure
the full sentence is fully visible and integrated into the layout. Below, add in smaller text:
"Built different since 1984" in a compact, clean font. Use a soft textured cream background
with screenprint-style imperfections: halftone grain, slight outline offset, faded ink. Include
sparks, little floating error icons, and glowy wires to enhance the analog-digital feel. All
elements should be clearly legible and centered, with enough margin around the text to
avoid clipping.
Example 2
Create a retro cartoon illustration featuring a chocolate chip cookie character standing in
front of a mirror, looking at its own reflection with a mix of pride and self-doubt. The cookie
has big eyes, expressive cartoon eyebrows, white gloves, and oversized boots. Add a few
crumbs falling off and a slightly cracked edge. Its reflection should mimic its pose but with a
raised brow, as if judging—or admiring—itself. Above the scene, curve the phrase "WHO BIT
YOU?" in bold, rounded retro serif or funky display font. Below, in a straighter condensed
type: "ME." Use flat muted tones: cookie brown, cream background, dark chocolate spots,
and light blue or silver tones for the mirror. Add sparkles on the glass, subtle shadows, and a
grainy halftone paper texture. Apply light color misregistration between fill and outline to
mimic old screen-printed merch.
Example 3
Create a retro cartoon illustration featuring a metallic suitcase inspired by Rimowa, standing
slightly tilted in the center. The suitcase should have thick black outlines, ribbed surface
texture, and stylized latches. From the edges and between the cracks, exaggerated dollar
bills should peek out—green with classic money markings, fluttering slightly as if caught in
motion. The suitcase has arms on its sides, wearing gloves, with one hand doing a "shh"
gesture and the other casually holding a gold coin. Above the case, in bold retro-serif or
collegiate font, curve the phrase: "PACKED DIFFERENT", and below, smaller in funky
condensed font: "SECURITY DON'T NEED TO KNOW". Use a limited color palette: metallic
grays, cream background, bright green cash, and gold accents. Add vintage-style sparkles, a
subtle shadow under the suitcase, and a soft retro halftone texture with light misalignment
for a screen-printed, worn merch look.
2. Flat Design Vector Illustrations
Master Prompt:
Create a flat vector illustration of [Scene/Subject Description]. Emphasize geometric
simplicity, bold, flat color fills, and clean shapes. Strictly avoid outlines, shadows, and
gradients. The style is minimalist, often Mid-Century inspired, focusing on strong silhouettes
and balanced composition. Add minimal but sharp details to provide depth or context without
breaking the flat aesthetic.
Example Prompts:
Example 1
Create a flat vector illustration of a stylized cat standing in a desert setting, wearing a large
cowboy hat. The cat should be designed with geometric simplicity but rich detail: round
head, almond-shaped eyes, small nose, and a long, elegant tail with a slight curve. Its fur
should be a bold color like black or pink, with optional lighter patches on the face or paws.
The cowboy hat must be oversized and cartoonish—wide brim, decorative band, maybe a
sheriff star—and tilted slightly for personality. Position the cat slightly off-center, standing or
sitting with a confident expression. To its side, add a stylized dust cloud formed from soft,
layered beige and gray vector shapes—almost like cotton balls or puffs of smoke, but
abstract and clean. This dust should suggest recent movement, like something dramatic just
happened (e.g. a standoff or arrival). The desert background should feature minimal but
sharp details: flat rock formations, cacti made from simple green shapes, and a soft orange
or beige ground with a pale blue or yellow sky above. Include a strong sun shape—large
circle or abstract rays—but keep everything fully flat and shadowless. Color palette should
evoke heat: dusty reds, oranges, browns, and accents of green and pink.
Example 2
Create a clean, flat vector illustration of the Bangkok cityscape, without characters or text.
Focus on iconic architecture and structural elements only. Use bold, simplified geometric
shapes to depict landmarks like Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, and the modern silhouette of
King Power Mahanakhon. The Chao Phraya River should flow smoothly through the
foreground, stylized as a simple curved blue shape with no reflections or gradients. Color the
scene in rich but flat fills—orange, gold, teal, and muted reds for the temples, grey and navy
for modern buildings, and soft pink or sunset purple for the sky. Do not add any humans,
animals, or figures. Add minor background details like stylized palm trees, abstract clouds,
and flat boats on the river for ambient depth—but keep the overall composition structured
and architectural. The style should remain ultra-clean, mid-century inspired, with no outlines,
shadows, or gradients. It should feel like a minimalist city postcard or a stylish travel sticker
sheet, purely architectural and iconic.
Example 3
Create a flat vector illustration of a stylized monkey perched on top of a cartoon palm tree.
The monkey should be constructed from modular geometric shapes—round head,
bean-shaped body, tube arms and legs, and a spiraled tail made from concentric curves.
Use a warm and bold color palette: chocolate brown and cream for the monkey, with accents
in pink or red for cheeks or accessories. Its face should be minimal but expressive: large
round eyes, a small nose, and a cheeky open smile. Add fun details like a banana in one
hand or a tiny cowboy hat on its head for personality. The palm tree should be tall and
cleanly designed—its trunk made from stacked rectangles or rounded segments, and palm
leaves composed of thick, fan-like flat shapes in saturated green. Place coconuts near the
top in simple oval clusters, and maybe add a hanging vine or stylized bird in the background
for atmosphere. Everything must remain clean, bold, and shadow-free—pure flat fills with no
outlines. The background can be a pale sky gradient (flat style), or even abstract sun
shapes, clouds, or tropical hills. Position the monkey slightly off-center or tilted for playful
energy. The full scene should feel like a children's illustration with strong silhouettes and just
the right amount of clever detail.
3. Illustrations Embedded in Real Photos
Master Prompt:
Overlay a hand-drawn cartoon-style element (e.g., character, object) onto a real photograph
of [Describe photo setting/environment]. The illustration itself should feature stylistic traits
like textured brush strokes, visible outlines, analog imperfections (ink grain, bleed), and a
distinct color palette (often warm, muted, or specific to the character). Crucially, the prompt
must specify the integration of the drawing with the photo using realistic lighting, shadows,
and occlusion (parts hidden behind real objects), ensuring the illustrated element interacts
believably with the photographic environment. Maintain the contrast between the illustrated
and photographic parts, keeping the background photo untouched.
Example Prompts:
Example 1
Place a single, oversized hand-drawn cartoon-style man into a real photograph of a dark,
empty field at night. The environment—grass, dirt, trees, and sky—should remain fully
photographic and untouched. Only the illustrated man and the glowing object he is
uncovering should be stylized. The man is crouched low to the ground, lifting a flat stone
slab. Beneath it lies a mysterious glowing tablet or plate inscribed with mythic symbols that
softly illuminate the man's hands and face. His expression shows a mix of concentration and
shock—he's clearly found something no one was supposed to see. The illustration style
should feature soft, textured brush strokes, visible pen outlines, and warm, muted colors:
dusty green shirt, dark brown pants, faded tattoos. The object under the slab glows in
electric blue or ancient gold, casting real-looking light onto nearby grass and partially onto
his skin. The illustrated elements must be integrated with realistic lighting, shadows, and
occlusion—his knees press into the real soil, fingers curl around a real slab, and light reflects
naturally onto the surrounding real textures. Do not illustrate the background. The field,
trees, stars, and grass must stay fully photographic to create a believable contrast between
the magical and the mundane.
Example 2
Overlay a giant, hand-drawn cartoon-style man into a real photograph of a small, confined
room—such as a cramped bedroom, office, or vintage kitchen. The illustrated man is clearly
far too large for the space: his knees are bent to fit under the ceiling, shoulders pressed
against the walls, or head tilted awkwardly to avoid a light fixture. Every part of his body
appears in uncomfortable proximity to real furniture—feet wedged behind a table, one arm
pushing against a cabinet, or his tattooed back pressed into peeling wallpaper. He has a
well-built body with detailed full-sleeve and torso tattoos, drawn in fine black
linework—mixing traditional motifs like snakes, daggers, skulls, and baroque patterning. His
outfit is minimal: boxers, or loose sweatpants, possibly shirtless. The color palette should
feel lived-in and warm—cream, beige, muted teal, and worn red—matching the real interior
tones. The illustration style is bold but textured, with thick outlines, soft shadows, and strong
ink grain visible in hair and tattoo detail. Add analog imperfections such as ink bleed, uneven
fills, and speckled paper texture. Blend the character tightly into the photo using occlusion
logic—parts of the man hidden behind real objects, like a desk lamp casting a glow on his
shoulder, or ceiling beams shadowing his torso. Add small touches of discomfort: flexed toes
pushing against a doorframe, a cracked ceiling above his head, or items on a shelf knocked
slightly out of place. Avoid visual exaggeration—emphasize physical tension, spatial realism,
and subtle humor.
Example 3
Overlay a giant, hand-drawn cartoon-style man into a real photograph of a vast,
sun-drenched desert—featuring cracked ground, scattered boulders, distant mesas, and a
pale blue sky with heat haze. The character is mid-run, captured in a dynamic stride, kicking
up dust behind him. His exaggerated movement should feel fluid and powerful, with limbs
slightly motion-blurred and sand dispersing at his heels. He appears in full motion, either
moving across a dry lakebed or leaping across a small canyon. Outfit him in rugged explorer
gear: loose, off-white t-shirt, light brown utility pants, hiking boots, headband, and a
backpack flapping open as he runs. Illustration style is gritty and expressive—thick black
outlines, sketchy ink lines, limited color palette (ochre, burnt sienna, sun-bleached blue), and
strong directional hatching to convey speed and terrain. Apply warm grain texture, visible
brush overlap, and analog imperfections in the coloring. Physically integrate him with the
photo through accurate shadow angles, motion dust trails that blur into the desert floor, and
environmental occlusion—e.g. rocks partially blocking a leg or a dust cloud hiding part of his
arm. Add comic-style movement lines or drawn debris if desired, but avoid excess
decoration. The focus is on kinetic force and scale.
4. Paper Collage / Cut Paper Illustrations
Master Prompt:
Create a handcrafted collage illustration simulating analog-cut paper shapes. Focus on
[Subject Description, e.g., a single fruit, an animal on an object]. Elements should appear
softly deformed, irregular, and constructed from layered paper pieces featuring visible
texture (e.g., fiber texture, paper grain, gouache-like grain, pigment blotches, specks,
micro-creases). Use muted, desaturated, or natural paper tones with subtle pigment
variation. Emphasize tactile, physical qualities: soft or rough cut edges (never
vector-smooth), slight misalignment, and material weight. Avoid digital shading; use layering
for depth. The background should be neutral and textured (e.g., textured beige, off-white
paper, grainy paper tone) to maintain the analog aesthetic.
Example Prompts:
Example 1
Render a handcrafted collage illustration of a single orange hanging from a branch,
composed of softly deformed, analog-cut paper shapes. The orange should appear plump
but slightly irregular — not a perfect circle — with gentle bumps or flat spots, and a muted
orange tone layered with subtle gouache-like grain or slight pigment blotches. Use multiple
layers or fragments to build the fruit's surface, creating a soft sense of depth without digital
shading. Attach the orange to a thin, gently curving branch made from cut brown paper with
fiber texture and visible grain direction. The branch should connect organically at the top of
the orange and extend out of frame or diagonally across the composition. Include 1–2
desaturated green leaves: asymmetrical, paper-cut, and lightly wrinkled or bent. The leaves
may overlap or curl naturally to reinforce the analog aesthetic. Background should remain
neutral — such as textured beige, off-white, or pale gray — with paper specks,
micro-creases, or faint marks to maintain the handcrafted atmosphere. Light, layered
shadow edges may be used beneath the fruit or branch to suggest dimensional layering, but
everything must remain physical and tactile in nature.
Example 2
Create a detailed paper collage illustration of a snail resting on a fly agaric mushroom
(Amanita muscaria), with visible gills beneath the cap and a small patch of grass at the base.
The mushroom should have a wide, slightly tilted red cap with soft white paper spots, cut
unevenly and placed with gentle asymmetry. The cap's edges should lift slightly to reveal
creamy white gills underneath — rendered as soft, radial paper lines or overlapping strips
with subtle misalignment. The thick stem should be cut from warm beige paper with a
bulbous base and natural texture, slightly bent or warped for a grounded, organic posture.
The snail should sit naturally on the cap — not centered, but slightly off-balance — with its
body gently curving to follow the shape. Use dusty brown or olive paper for the body, and
create a soft-spiraled shell from layered pieces in beige, ochre, or reddish tones with
irregular cut edges and hand-built symmetry. Let the antennae be delicate cut paper lines
that feel slightly unstable, adding life. At the base, add a patch of grass made from
individually cut, desaturated green blades in layered textures — some leaning, some
crossing, to simulate natural growth. Background should remain muted: a soft, grainy paper
tone in warm beige or light gray with faint imperfections. Every element must feel analog and
physical: no digital polish, no smooth shading — only tactile layering, rough edges, and
material weight.
Example 3
Illustrate a single beetroot as a handcrafted cut-paper collage with soft asymmetry and
tactile depth. The beet should have an uneven, slightly bulbous form — not perfectly round,
but lopsided, with gentle bumps and dents, as if freshly pulled from the earth. Use deep
burgundy and plum-colored paper textures for the root body, with visible grain, subtle
pigment variation, and a matte, painted surface. Cut edges should feel soft and irregular,
never vector-smooth — as if shaped with dull scissors by hand. Add a few fine root filaments
at the base using thin, beige or brown paper lines, loosely attached or slightly misaligned.
The stems and leaves should be layered from muted green, dusty pink, or reddish-purple
paper, loosely resembling real beet leaves — large, floppy, gently curling, and imperfectly
cut. Let one or two leaves hang low or tilt slightly out of balance to add realism and rhythm.
The background should remain warm and analog — such as a textured off-white,
recycled-paper beige, or a grainy kraft paper. Maintain quiet contrast and analog charm,
keeping focus on the rich, layered beet shape and its natural irregularities.
