Skip to main content
$1 on usClaim your $1 + trialTerms apply

cinematic prompt library

Composition & Framing

Priority 6 of 6 — reference stills lock it harder

Composition and framing define how elements are arranged and how the eye moves through the frame. Text addresses it partially; reference stills lock it harder, especially spatial layout.

Choose one compositional rule plus a depth or balance cue. Keep it consistent shot to shot.

See it applied

variant
rule-of-thirds placement, subject off-center — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
rule-of-thirds placement, subject off-center — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Compositional rules

rule-of-thirds placement, subject off-centerTry it ▸
centered symmetrical composition, Wes-Anderson balance — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
centered symmetrical composition, Wes-Anderson balance — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Compositional rules

centered symmetrical composition, Wes-Anderson balanceTry it ▸
leading lines drawing the eye to the subject — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
leading lines drawing the eye to the subject — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Compositional rules

leading lines drawing the eye to the subjectTry it ▸
strong foreground/midground/background layering — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
strong foreground/midground/background layering — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Compositional rules

strong foreground/midground/background layeringTry it ▸
negative space, isolated subject in empty frame — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
negative space, isolated subject in empty frame — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Compositional rules

negative space, isolated subject in empty frameTry it ▸
frame-within-a-frame, subject framed by doorway/window — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
frame-within-a-frame, subject framed by doorway/window — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Compositional rules

frame-within-a-frame, subject framed by doorway/windowTry it ▸
golden-ratio spiral composition — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
golden-ratio spiral composition — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Compositional rules

golden-ratio spiral compositionTry it ▸
diagonal dynamic composition, tension and movement — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
diagonal dynamic composition, tension and movement — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Compositional rules

diagonal dynamic composition, tension and movementTry it ▸
deep layered composition, clear fore/mid/background — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
deep layered composition, clear fore/mid/background — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Depth & layering

deep layered composition, clear fore/mid/backgroundTry it ▸
compressed flat composition, stacked planes — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
compressed flat composition, stacked planes — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Depth & layering

compressed flat composition, stacked planesTry it ▸
atmospheric depth, fading layers into haze — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
atmospheric depth, fading layers into haze — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Depth & layering

atmospheric depth, fading layers into hazeTry it ▸
foreground object framing the shot — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
foreground object framing the shot — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Depth & layering

foreground object framing the shotTry it ▸
strong depth cues, receding parallel lines — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
strong depth cues, receding parallel lines — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Depth & layering

strong depth cues, receding parallel linesTry it ▸
balanced symmetrical frame — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
balanced symmetrical frame — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Balance & weight

balanced symmetrical frameTry it ▸
asymmetrical off-balance tension — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
asymmetrical off-balance tension — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Balance & weight

asymmetrical off-balance tensionTry it ▸
subject weighted to one side, room to move into — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
subject weighted to one side, room to move into — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Balance & weight

subject weighted to one side, room to move intoTry it ▸
tight claustrophobic framing, edges crowding in — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
tight claustrophobic framing, edges crowding in — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Balance & weight

tight claustrophobic framing, edges crowding inTry it ▸
open airy framing, generous breathing room — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
open airy framing, generous breathing room — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Balance & weight

open airy framing, generous breathing roomTry it ▸
generous headroom, subject low in frame — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
generous headroom, subject low in frame — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Subject placement & headroom

generous headroom, subject low in frameTry it ▸
tight headroom, eyes near the top third — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
tight headroom, eyes near the top third — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Subject placement & headroom

tight headroom, eyes near the top thirdTry it ▸
looking room ahead of the subject's gaze — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
looking room ahead of the subject's gaze — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Subject placement & headroom

looking room ahead of the subject's gazeTry it ▸
subject pressed to frame edge, unease — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
subject pressed to frame edge, unease — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Subject placement & headroom

subject pressed to frame edge, uneaseTry it ▸
dead-center portrait framing — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
dead-center portrait framing — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Subject placement & headroom

dead-center portrait framingTry it ▸
low horizon line, dominant sky — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
low horizon line, dominant sky — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Horizon & orientation

low horizon line, dominant skyTry it ▸
high horizon line, dominant foreground — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
high horizon line, dominant foreground — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Horizon & orientation

high horizon line, dominant foregroundTry it ▸
level stable horizon — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
level stable horizon — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Horizon & orientation

level stable horizonTry it ▸
canted dutch horizon, unsettled — Nano Banana 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
Nano Banana 2· v1/2
canted dutch horizon, unsettled — GPT Image 2
original reference photo
beforeafter
GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Horizon & orientation

canted dutch horizon, unsettledTry it ▸

Questions

How do I prompt composition for AI video?

Choose one rule plus a depth or balance cue ('rule-of-thirds placement, layered foreground and background') and keep it consistent shot to shot.

Does text fully control composition?

Only partially. Reference stills lock spatial layout harder than text alone, especially for precise framing.

explore the library

Try these on the Artifio canvas

Every generate side by side in one workspace. Priced for iteration — you only pay for what you run.

Open the canvas →