Blog / 8 min read · 2026-08-21
Nano Banana Master Prompt Template for Image Generation and Editing
Use this nano banana master prompt template for clear image generation and reference-image editing, with portrait, product, and retouching examples.
Nano Banana Master Prompt Template for Image Generation and Editing
A Nano Banana master prompt template is a reusable structure for turning a visual idea into a clear image-generation or image-editing request. Copy the version below, replace the bracketed fields, and remove anything that does not apply. The key is to state the task type first, then describe the details that matter most.
The Nano Banana master prompt template
Task: [Generate a new image / Edit the uploaded reference image].
[For reference-image editing only]
Use the uploaded [portrait / product / scene] image as the reference.
Change: [the exact change you want].
Keep as close as possible to the reference: [features, composition, product details, or other elements].
Main subject:
- Subject: [person, product, object, animal, place, or scene]
- Key details: [appearance, materials, colors, shape, clothing, or defining features]
- Pose / action: [pose, position, action, or arrangement]
Scene and composition:
- Setting / background: [location, backdrop, environment]
- Framing: [close-up, chest-up, full body, overhead, wide shot, etc.]
- Viewpoint: [eye level, top-down, low angle, side view]
- Layout: [centered, rule-of-thirds, space for copy, negative space]
Lighting and visual treatment:
- Lighting: [soft window light, studio light, overcast daylight, hard side light]
- Mood: [clean, relaxed, dramatic, warm, minimal]
- Style: [realistic editorial photo, commercial product photo, illustration, etc.]
Requirements:
- Include: [must-have objects, textures, colors, visual details]
- Avoid: [unwanted objects, clutter, distorted anatomy, text, watermarks]
- Priority: [the one or two details that matter most]
Output:
- Format: [square, vertical, horizontal]
- Intended use: [product listing, profile image, social post, website banner]Use the top line to make the request unambiguous. A new image does not need source-image preservation instructions. An edit does: name the uploaded image, define the intended change, and list the parts that should remain close to the reference.
How to fill the template
Start with the result, not a string of vague adjectives. “Generate a clean studio product photo of a matte black travel mug” gives a usable direction. “Generate a premium, cinematic, viral, luxurious travel mug” does not explain the product’s form, setting, or use.
Add detail where an error would be expensive. For portraits, that may mean hairstyle, clothing, expression, crop, and lighting. For products, focus on the physical form, materials, visible parts, and how the item is arranged. For edits, define a narrow change before describing any broader visual treatment.
A reliable order is:
- State whether this is generation or reference-image editing.
- Name the subject and the intended result.
- Specify framing, setting, and lighting.
- Add the few details that must be visible.
- Include practical exclusions and output requirements.
If you are new to structuring prompts, this practical Gemini prompt engineering guide explains how specificity and constraints work together. The goal is not to fill every field; it is to eliminate the ambiguity that affects your result.
Filled example: portrait from a reference photo
Use this for a professional-looking portrait edit when you have a clear reference photo of the person. Upload a well-lit image where the face, hair, and clothing are visible before using the prompt.
Task: Edit the uploaded reference image.
Use the uploaded clear portrait photo as the identity reference.
Create a polished professional portrait while keeping the face, hairstyle,
expression, and overall appearance as close as possible to the reference image.
Main subject:
- Subject: the person in the uploaded photo
- Key details: natural skin texture, tidy hair, realistic facial proportions
- Pose / action: facing the camera with a relaxed, confident expression
- Wardrobe / styling: navy blazer over a plain white shirt, no visible logos
Scene and composition:
- Setting / background: softly blurred modern office in neutral gray and warm beige tones
- Framing: chest-up portrait with comfortable space above the head
- Viewpoint: eye level
- Layout: subject centered
Lighting and visual treatment:
- Lighting: soft window-style light from the left with gentle fill light
- Mood: calm and professional
- Style: realistic editorial headshot
Requirements:
- Include: sharp eyes, believable fabric texture, subtle catchlights
- Avoid: plastic-looking skin, exaggerated smile, heavy makeup, distorted hands,
text, watermarks
- Priority: keep the person’s appearance close to the uploaded reference photo
Output:
- Format: vertical 4:5 crop
- Intended use: professional profile imageReview the result before using it publicly, especially when the crop, clothing, or background has changed. For more profile-photo directions, see these Nano Banana prompts for a professional LinkedIn profile picture.
Filled example: product photo from a product reference
Use a product reference image when the form, packaging, or visible label area matters. Upload a clear image that shows the product from a useful angle. Generated images can alter small visual details, so always check labels, logos, packaging text, and product features before publishing.
Task: Edit the uploaded product reference image.
Use the uploaded product image as the visual reference.
Create a commercial studio product image while keeping the product shape,
materials, color, and visible packaging details as close as possible to the reference.
Main subject:
- Subject: the uploaded [product name]
- Key details: [matte black body], [stainless steel rim], [attached lid],
[visible front label area]
- Pose / action: standing upright with the front of the product facing the camera
Scene and composition:
- Setting / background: seamless pale cream studio backdrop
- Framing: full product in frame
- Viewpoint: slightly above product level
- Layout: centered product with clear negative space around it
Lighting and visual treatment:
- Lighting: large soft studio light with a soft shadow below the product
- Mood: clean and restrained
- Style: realistic commercial product photography
Requirements:
- Include: crisp edges, believable material texture, controlled reflections,
accurate-looking proportions
- Avoid: extra products, hands, props covering the product, warped geometry,
unreadable text, watermarks
- Priority: retain the product’s visible form and packaging details from the reference
Output:
- Format: square 1:1 image
- Intended use: online product listingTreat this as a visual starting point, not a guarantee of exact packaging reproduction. Verify all branding and readable text against the original asset. For different layouts, including flat lays and lifestyle scenes, use these Nano Banana prompts for product photography.
Filled example: retouching and background cleanup
This example is for a focused edit. Keep the request narrow so you can judge whether the change worked before asking for further adjustments.
Task: Edit the uploaded reference image.
Use the uploaded photo as the reference image.
Remove the coffee cup from the desk and replace the background with a clean,
softly blurred office setting.
Main subject:
- Subject: the person already shown in the uploaded image
- Key details: original hairstyle, clothing, jewelry, body position, and framing
- Pose / action: keep the existing pose
Scene and composition:
- Setting / background: softly blurred modern office
- Framing: retain the original crop
- Viewpoint: retain the original viewpoint
- Layout: keep the subject in the existing position
Lighting and visual treatment:
- Lighting: match the subject’s existing lighting and shadows to the new background
- Mood: natural and unobtrusive
- Style: realistic photo retouch
Requirements:
- Include: clean edges around the subject and believable background depth
- Avoid: blur halos, changed facial features, extra limbs, altered clothing colors,
text, watermarks
- Priority: change the cup and background while keeping the rest close to the source image
Output:
- Format: retain the original image orientation
- Intended use: cleaned-up professional photoFor smaller edits, simplify further: “Remove the coffee cup from the desk. Keep the rest of the uploaded image unchanged.” Focused instructions are easier to assess and revise. More examples are available in these Gemini photo editing prompt examples.
Useful prompt modifiers
Add modifiers only when they solve a real visual problem.
- Composition: “full body with space around the feet,” “top-down flat lay,” or “subject placed on the right with room for copy.”
- Lighting: “soft overcast daylight,” “single hard side light,” or “warm lamp light against a darker background.”
- Realism: “natural skin texture,” “believable fabric folds,” “accurate-looking proportions,” or “plausible reflections.”
- Editing boundaries: “change only the background,” “retain the original crop,” or “keep the product centered.”
- Output intent: “horizontal website banner,” “vertical social post,” or “clean catalog image.”
Avoid conflicting instructions. A minimal studio background and a crowded street scene ask the image to solve two different compositions at once.
FAQ
What is a Nano Banana master prompt template?
It is a fill-in framework for image generation and editing. It covers the task type, subject, scene, composition, lighting, requirements, and output so you can reuse the same structure for many images.
Should I use the same prompt for generation and editing?
Use the same overall template, but change the opening. For generation, describe the image you want to create. For editing, begin by identifying the uploaded reference image, then state the exact change and the details you want kept close to the source.
How long should a Nano Banana prompt be?
Make it long enough to resolve important ambiguity. A simple background removal may take one or two sentences. A portrait or product scene usually benefits from more detail about framing, lighting, and the visual priorities.
How can I keep a person’s appearance close to a source photo?
Upload a clear reference photo and begin the prompt with an instruction to use it as the identity reference. State the features that should stay close to the source, then keep unrelated instructions limited.
Can I rely on a generated product image for exact labels or logos?
No. Use a clear product reference, describe the visible packaging areas, and verify every generated label, logo, and text element before publishing or using the image commercially.
Conclusion
Use this master prompt template as a working checklist: task type, subject, scene, lighting, priorities, and output. For reference-image edits, upload a clear source image and state exactly what should change. Keep each revision focused, then verify the details that matter before you use the final image.