Introduction
Creating high-quality AI images takes patience, clear prompting, and iteration. By structuring your prompts well and testing variations, you can produce images that are both visually striking and authentic to your vision.
This article is part of our Community Series, where we share tips and workflows from Gamma’s power users.
This guide is based on the SPLICE rubric, a structured image prompting framework created by community member Dr. Deepak Bhootra. He developed SPLICE while using Gamma to illustrate a book, combining AI-generated visuals with practical storytelling techniques.
Plan Your Image Concept
Before you start generating images, take a moment to plan what you want to create.
Define the subject and purpose. Know what you want the image to represent: characters, products, landscapes, or conceptual visuals.
Determine the context or environment. Consider setting, time period, or activity to make your image more realistic and engaging.
Select a visual style. Decide on a style like watercolor, sketch, abstract art, or photorealistic to match your creative goal.
🔷 Note: Picking a forgiving style like watercolor or line art can help smooth over small AI imperfections.
Learn more about using the visual menu (choosing themes, image sources, AI image models and art styles) here:
Structure Your AI Prompts with the SPLICE Rubric
Well-structured prompts lead to better results. Use Deepak's SPLICE rubric to create clear, detailed prompts:
S – Style and medium
S – Style and medium
What visual style or medium should the image emulate?
Examples: watercolor, sketch, oil painting
Purpose: Sets the tone and texture
P – Perspective and composition
P – Perspective and composition
What angle, zoom level, or layout should it have?
Examples: close-up, wide angle, cinematic framing
Purpose: Directs the eye and composition
L – Lighting and atmosphere
L – Lighting and atmosphere
What lighting and mood should the image convey?
Examples: soft moonlight, golden hour, foggy dusk, dramatic shadows
Purpose: Creates emotional tone and depth
I – Identity of the subject
I – Identity of the subject
Who/what is the subject, and what are they doing?
Examples: A monk meditating, a crow perched
Purpose: Establishes the central character or action
C – Cultural and contextual details
C – Cultural and contextual details
What specific details make the image authentic?
Examples: traditional jewelry, mosaic floor, period-specific clothing
Purpose: Adds richness and accuracy
E – Emotion and energy
E – Emotion and energy
What feeling should the image convey?
Examples: quiet peace, rapturous joy, tragic longing
Purpose: Guides expressions, posture, and scene tone
💎 Pro Tip: Using the SPLICE rubric ensures your images are visually rich and less likely to produce unusable results.
Generate and Iterate on Images
AI image generation is a process of experimentation.
Start with a clear, simple prompt. Generate a first version to get a baseline.
Evaluate the result. Look for strengths (composition, colors, lighting) and weaknesses (distortions, missing elements).
Refine the prompt. Adjust style, perspective, or emotional cues to move closer to your ideal image.
Expect multiple iterations. High-quality images often take dozens of attempts.
🌀 Insight: Iteration is normal. As your prompting skills improve, you’ll need fewer attempts to achieve high-quality results.
Enhance and Finalize Your Images
After generating a strong base image:
Use AI enhancement tools. Sharpen facial features, refine edges, or add subtle lighting adjustments.
Check for visual consistency. Ensure elements like limbs, accessories, and background details look natural.
Prioritize emotion over perfection. A slightly imperfect image that captures the right feeling is often more impactful than a technically perfect but flat image.
Takeaways
➡️ Iteration is essential. Expect trial and error to get professional-quality results.
➡️ SPLICE adds structure. Detailed prompts improve accuracy, reduce errors, and save time.
➡️ AI output improves with experience. Better prompting leads to fewer unusable images over time.
➡️ Focus on storytelling or purpose. Strong images communicate emotion or context, not just aesthetics.
🔦 Community Spotlight: Dr. Deepak Bhootra
Dr. Deepak Bhootra is a power user of Gamma and a seasoned sales strategist and coach. He helps sales professionals, leaders, and entrepreneurs improve their sales performance, close bigger deals, and build sustainable long-term success.
With decades of experience in B2B sales and team development, he focuses on creating systems and strategies that make selling more effective and repeatable.
Gamma helps him produce professional, scalable materials quickly, and he used it to develop the SPLICE rubric featured in this guide.