Tell the image what job it has
“Make an AI picture” gives no editorial direction. Begin with the article's central idea and the role of the image. Is it a cover that must read at thumbnail size, a step-by-step demonstration or a conceptual illustration? State the subject and the one relationship the reader should notice. For an article about checking AI output, an evidence trail and a magnifying glass tell a clearer story than a generic glowing robot.
Specify format, aspect ratio and focal point. Describe lighting and materials in a few deliberate words. Reserve quiet space if a publication will overlay a headline, but do not ask the generator to render tiny text unless that text is essential and can be checked. Add constraints: no logos, no invented interface screenshots, no watermarks and no photorealistic depiction of a real incident that did not occur.
Check the editorial truth
Illustrations can mislead even without false captions. A fabricated image of a company's headquarters, a scientist or a launch might be mistaken for documentary photography. Label conceptual work appropriately and use alt text that describes what is visible rather than asserting an event. For a news story, avoid details that imply a specific device, experiment or result unless verified. A symbolic composition is often safer than an invented “photo” of a real announcement.
Inspect anatomy, objects, perspective and incidental text. Generated art can hide nonsense on a screen or in a document. Crop and compress the selected image for the page; keep its subject visible on a phone. Test it next to the headline and in dark and light modes.
Make it repeatable
Save a compact brief template: article idea, visual metaphor, medium, crop, palette, factual constraints and alt-text draft. Keep style consistent across a publication while varying the subject. The aim is not to make every cover shout “AI.” It is to help a reader understand the piece before the first paragraph, without sacrificing speed or credibility.
