The Ultimate AI Art Dictionary: 200+ Keywords to Master Your Prompts

The difference between a beginner and a master in Generative AI isn't the model they use; it's their vocabulary. AI models are linguists. They speak a specific visual language derived from art history, photography, and 3D rendering. If you don't know the word for "light passing through fog" (Volumetric) or "dots used in comic shading" (Halftone), you cannot generate them intentionally.

This guide is your Rosetta Stone. We have compiled over 200 high-impact keywords categorized by function. From Chiaroscuro to Octane Render, this list is designed to be your daily cheat sheet. Bookmark this page, press Ctrl+F, and find the exact word you need to unlock your vision.

1. How to Use This Dictionary

Do not keyword stuff. The "Keyword Salad" approach (pasting 50 random words) confuses modern AI models like Midjourney v6 or DALL-E 3. Instead, pick one or two keywords from each category below to build a structured prompt.

The Formula: [Subject] + [Art Style] + [Lighting] + [Camera] + [Render Engine]

2. Lighting & Atmosphere (The Mood)

Lighting defines the emotion of the scene. Use these to move away from flat, boring illumination.

Natural & Atmospheric

Golden Hour (Warm, sunset), Blue Hour (Twilight, moody), Overcast (Soft, diffuse), God Rays / Crepuscular Rays (Light shafts), Volumetric Fog (Hazy depth), Bioluminescence (Glowing organic), Aurora Borealis (Northern lights), Dappled Light (Through trees).

Cinematic & Artificial

Cyberpunk Neon (Pink/Blue), Rim Lighting (Halo effect), Rembrandt Lighting (Triangle shadow on cheek), Chiaroscuro (High contrast), Studio Softbox (Professional portrait), Hard Flash (Paparazzi style), Candlelight (Warm, intimate), Lens Flare (JJ Abrams style).

3. Art Styles & Aesthetics (The Vibe)

Define the era and the cultural movement. This is crucial for Style Fusion.

Historical & Traditional

Baroque (Ornate, gold), Renaissance (Da Vinci style), Impressionism (Monet, blurry), Art Nouveau (Flowing lines, Mucha), Art Deco (Geometric, 1920s), Ukiyo-e (Japanese woodblock), Gothic (Dark, pointed), Bauhaus (Minimalist, functional).

Modern & Pop Culture

Cyberpunk (High tech, low life), Steampunk (Brass, gears), Synthwave (80s grid, neon), Vaporwave (Pastel, statues), SolarPunk (Nature + Tech), Dieselpunk (WWII tech), Grimdark (Warhammer style), Kawaii (Cute, pastel), Pop Art (Warhol style).

4. Camera Angles & Lenses (The View)

Stop using "default view." Take control of the director's chair with these terms.

Angles & Composition

Low Angle (Heroic), High Angle (Vulnerable), Dutch Angle (Chaos/Tilt), Bird's Eye View (Top down), Worm's Eye View (Ground level), Over-the-shoulder (Dialogue), Isometric View (3D Game style), Knolling (Flat lay organization), Rule of Thirds (Off-center).

Lenses & Film Stocks

Wide Angle 16mm (Architecture), Portrait 85mm (Faces), Macro 100mm (Insects/Eyes), Fisheye Lens (Distortion), Telephoto (Compression), Bokeh (Blurred background), Kodak Portra 400 (Grainy vintage), Polaroid (Instant film look), GoPro Footage (Action).

5. 3D Render Engines & Materials (The Texture)

Essential for making images look like high-end CGI or video game assets.

Engines & Techniques

Unreal Engine 5 (Real-time realism), Octane Render (Glossy, high contrast), Blender Cycles (Raytracing), V-Ray (Architectural), C4D (Motion graphics), Ray Tracing (Realistic light reflections), Global Illumination (Soft shadows).

Materials & Textures

Translucent (See-through), Iridescent (Color shifting), Matte (No shine), Glossy (Shiny), Brushed Metal, Carbon Fiber, Obsidian, Porcelain, Subsurface Scattering (Skin/Wax light penetration).

6. Digital Art & Illustration (The Medium)

For when you want a drawing, not a photo. Great for Anime and Logos.

Vector Art (Clean lines, SVG), Cel-Shading (Anime style), Line Art (Black and white), Ink Wash (Sumi-e), Watercolor (Soft, bleed), Oil Painting (Impasto), Pixel Art (16-bit, 32-bit), Voxel Art (Minecraft style), Low Poly (Playstation 1 style), Halftone (Comic book dots).

7. The "Ban List" (Negative Prompts)

Copy these into your Negative Prompt to instantly improve quality.

Universal Quality Fixes

Blurry, Low Quality, Low Resolution, Pixelated, JPEG Artifacts, Grainy, Noise, Watermark, Signature, Text, Username, Logo, Cropped, Out of Frame.

Anatomy Fixes (For Humans)

Deformed, Mutated, Ugly, Disfigured, Extra Limbs, Missing Limbs, Floating Limbs, Disconnected Limbs, Long Neck, Long Body, Extra Fingers, Bad Anatomy, Bad Hands, Mutated Hands, Fused Fingers.

8. Frequently Asked Questions

Do these keywords work on Midjourney?

Yes. Midjourney v6 is excellent at understanding style descriptors like "16mm film" or "Octane Render." While you might use --style raw parameters, the keywords themselves remain the same across models.

How many keywords should I use?

Less is often more. A prompt with 50 conflicting keywords (e.g., "Minimalist, Intricate, Detailed, Simple") will confuse the AI. Choose one lighting style, one art style, and one camera angle.

Can I mix these styles?

Absolutely. Mixing "Cyberpunk" with "Baroque" creates a unique fusion. Use our Prompt Fusion Tool to balance the weights between them.

9. Tools You Can Use

Don't memorize this list—automate it. Use our tools to apply these keywords instantly:

• Prefix/Suffix Tool: Automatically wraps your prompt with the "Universal Quality" keywords.
• Cinematic Studio: Pre-loaded with the best lighting and camera angle keywords.
• Negative Helper: Instantly applies the "Ban List" to your generations.

Conclusion

This dictionary is your arsenal. By understanding the specific terminology of visual arts—knowing the difference between Bokeh and Blur, or Isometric and Orthographic—you gain surgical control over the AI. Stop guessing words and start designing with intent.