cinematic prompt library

Lighting

Priority 1 of 6 — highest text leverage

Lighting describes the source, direction, and quality of light in your scene. In an AI video DNA block it is the single most effective thing you can lock with text, because consistent light direction is what makes separate generations feel like the same place.

Append one lighting fragment, naming a real source and direction. Keep it identical across every generate.

See it applied

variant

soft golden-hour sunlight, low warm sun raking from the side — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

original reference photo — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

soft golden-hour sunlight, low warm sun raking from the side — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Natural light by time of day

soft golden-hour sunlight, low warm sun raking from the sideTry it ▸

harsh midday sun, hard overhead light, short dark shadows — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

harsh midday sun, hard overhead light, short dark shadows — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Natural light by time of day

harsh midday sun, hard overhead light, short dark shadowsTry it ▸

blue-hour twilight, cool ambient skylight, no direct sun — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

blue-hour twilight, cool ambient skylight, no direct sun — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Natural light by time of day

blue-hour twilight, cool ambient skylight, no direct sunTry it ▸

overcast diffused daylight, flat soft shadows, even exposure — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

overcast diffused daylight, flat soft shadows, even exposure — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Natural light by time of day

overcast diffused daylight, flat soft shadows, even exposureTry it ▸

pre-dawn cool light, faint warm glow on the horizon — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

pre-dawn cool light, faint warm glow on the horizon — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Natural light by time of day

pre-dawn cool light, faint warm glow on the horizonTry it ▸

late-afternoon window light, long warm shadows — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

late-afternoon window light, long warm shadows — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Natural light by time of day

late-afternoon window light, long warm shadowsTry it ▸

dappled light through leaves, shifting soft patches — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

dappled light through leaves, shifting soft patches — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Natural light by time of day

dappled light through leaves, shifting soft patchesTry it ▸

bright hazy daylight, milky diffused sky, low contrast — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

bright hazy daylight, milky diffused sky, low contrast — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Natural light by time of day

bright hazy daylight, milky diffused sky, low contrastTry it ▸

soft wraparound light, gentle shadow falloff, no harsh edges — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

soft wraparound light, gentle shadow falloff, no harsh edges — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Quality (hard vs soft)

soft wraparound light, gentle shadow falloff, no harsh edgesTry it ▸

hard directional light, crisp-edged shadows, high contrast — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

hard directional light, crisp-edged shadows, high contrast — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Quality (hard vs soft)

hard directional light, crisp-edged shadows, high contrastTry it ▸

diffused bounced light, shadowless and even — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

diffused bounced light, shadowless and even — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Quality (hard vs soft)

diffused bounced light, shadowless and evenTry it ▸

semi-hard key with soft fill, controlled contrast ratio — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

semi-hard key with soft fill, controlled contrast ratio — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Quality (hard vs soft)

semi-hard key with soft fill, controlled contrast ratioTry it ▸

key light from screen left, soft fill from right — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

key light from screen left, soft fill from right — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Direction

key light from screen left, soft fill from rightTry it ▸

backlit subject, rim glow separating from background — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

backlit subject, rim glow separating from background — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Direction

backlit subject, rim glow separating from backgroundTry it ▸

top-down key light, shadows pooling under features — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

top-down key light, shadows pooling under features — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Direction

top-down key light, shadows pooling under featuresTry it ▸

low frontal light, lifted shadows, flat dimension — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

low frontal light, lifted shadows, flat dimension — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Direction

low frontal light, lifted shadows, flat dimensionTry it ▸

3/4 Rembrandt key, triangle of light on the cheek — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

3/4 Rembrandt key, triangle of light on the cheek — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Direction

3/4 Rembrandt key, triangle of light on the cheekTry it ▸

side light (split lighting), half the face in shadow — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

side light (split lighting), half the face in shadow — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Direction

side light (split lighting), half the face in shadowTry it ▸

underlighting, dramatic upward shadows — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

underlighting, dramatic upward shadows — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Direction

underlighting, dramatic upward shadowsTry it ▸

warm practical lamp as key, pooled tungsten glow — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

warm practical lamp as key, pooled tungsten glow — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Practical / motivated sources

warm practical lamp as key, pooled tungsten glowTry it ▸

single bare bulb, harsh falloff into darkness — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

single bare bulb, harsh falloff into darkness — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Practical / motivated sources

single bare bulb, harsh falloff into darknessTry it ▸

neon signage spill, magenta and cyan reflections — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

neon signage spill, magenta and cyan reflections — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Practical / motivated sources

neon signage spill, magenta and cyan reflectionsTry it ▸

screen glow on the face, cool blue key from a monitor — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

screen glow on the face, cool blue key from a monitor — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Practical / motivated sources

screen glow on the face, cool blue key from a monitorTry it ▸

street-lamp sodium-vapor orange pools at night — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

street-lamp sodium-vapor orange pools at night — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Practical / motivated sources

street-lamp sodium-vapor orange pools at nightTry it ▸

fluorescent overhead, cool greenish institutional cast — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

fluorescent overhead, cool greenish institutional cast — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Practical / motivated sources

fluorescent overhead, cool greenish institutional castTry it ▸

three-point lighting, balanced key/fill/back — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

three-point lighting, balanced key/fill/back — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Named cinematic setups

three-point lighting, balanced key/fill/backTry it ▸

Rembrandt lighting, classic portrait shadow triangle — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

Rembrandt lighting, classic portrait shadow triangle — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Named cinematic setups

Rembrandt lighting, classic portrait shadow triangleTry it ▸

chiaroscuro, extreme light-to-dark, sculpted highlights — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

chiaroscuro, extreme light-to-dark, sculpted highlights — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Named cinematic setups

chiaroscuro, extreme light-to-dark, sculpted highlightsTry it ▸

high-key lighting, bright airy minimal shadow — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

high-key lighting, bright airy minimal shadow — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Named cinematic setups

high-key lighting, bright airy minimal shadowTry it ▸

low-key lighting, deep shadows, single dominant source — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

low-key lighting, deep shadows, single dominant source — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Named cinematic setups

low-key lighting, deep shadows, single dominant sourceTry it ▸

film-noir lighting, hard slats of light, venetian-blind shadows — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

film-noir lighting, hard slats of light, venetian-blind shadows — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Named cinematic setups

film-noir lighting, hard slats of light, venetian-blind shadowsTry it ▸

butterfly/glamour lighting, soft frontal beauty key — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

butterfly/glamour lighting, soft frontal beauty key — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Named cinematic setups

butterfly/glamour lighting, soft frontal beauty keyTry it ▸

motivated practical lighting, every source justified in-frame — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

motivated practical lighting, every source justified in-frame — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Named cinematic setups

motivated practical lighting, every source justified in-frameTry it ▸

warm tungsten key against cool ambient shadow (mixed temp) — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

warm tungsten key against cool ambient shadow (mixed temp) — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Color temperature & contrast

warm tungsten key against cool ambient shadow (mixed temp)Try it ▸

cool daylight-balanced, neutral white point — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

cool daylight-balanced, neutral white point — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Color temperature & contrast

cool daylight-balanced, neutral white pointTry it ▸

amber-to-teal contrast, warm subject on cool ground — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

amber-to-teal contrast, warm subject on cool ground — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Color temperature & contrast

amber-to-teal contrast, warm subject on cool groundTry it ▸

monochromatic warm wash, single-temperature scene — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

monochromatic warm wash, single-temperature scene — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Color temperature & contrast

monochromatic warm wash, single-temperature sceneTry it ▸

high dynamic range, retained highlight and shadow detail — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

high dynamic range, retained highlight and shadow detail — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Color temperature & contrast

high dynamic range, retained highlight and shadow detailTry it ▸

crushed shadows, lifted blacks, low contrast — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

crushed shadows, lifted blacks, low contrast — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Color temperature & contrast

crushed shadows, lifted blacks, low contrastTry it ▸

silhouette against a bright window, subject in shadow — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

silhouette against a bright window, subject in shadow — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Dramatic / stylized

silhouette against a bright window, subject in shadowTry it ▸

color-gel lighting, saturated red key, blue rim — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

color-gel lighting, saturated red key, blue rim — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Dramatic / stylized

color-gel lighting, saturated red key, blue rimTry it ▸

bioluminescent / glowing ambient source — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

bioluminescent / glowing ambient source — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Dramatic / stylized

bioluminescent / glowing ambient sourceTry it ▸

harsh interrogation light, single overhead bulb — Nano Banana 2 — Nano Banana 2· v1/2

harsh interrogation light, single overhead bulb — GPT Image 2 — GPT Image 2· v1/2

Prompt DNA · Dramatic / stylized

harsh interrogation light, single overhead bulbTry it ▸

In motion

candlelight flicker, warm low-key intimacyTry it ▸

single hard shaft of light through fog (god rays / volumetric)Try it ▸

strobing / pulsing light, rhythmic exposure shiftsTry it ▸

Questions

What is the best lighting prompt for consistent AI video?

Name a real source and direction and repeat it identically across generations — e.g. 'overcast daylight as key from screen left, soft fill from right.' Consistent light direction is the strongest text anchor for continuity.

Why does lighting change between AI video generations?

Each generation starts fresh, so unspecified lighting drifts. Locking source, direction, and quality in a DNA block keeps separate clips reading as the same place.

explore the library

Color & GradePriority 2 of 6 — most visible drift Camera & LensPriority 3 of 6 — sets optical character Mood & AtmospherePriority 4 of 6 — wide reach, soft control Texture & GrainPriority 5 of 6 — finalize in the grade Composition & FramingPriority 6 of 6 — reference stills lock it harder Format Presets Negative Prompts

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