> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.qolaba.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.qolaba.ai/image-generation/input-controls/keywords.md).

# Keywords

How to use keywords in Qolaba's Image Generation workspace — all keyword categories with examples, negative keywords, and combination recommendations by use case.

Keywords are structured visual modifiers that extend and refine what your prompt describes. Where a prompt sets the scene in natural language, keywords give you precise, reliable control over focus, lighting, shot composition, lens characteristics, and output quality — producing more consistent results across generations.

***

#### How Keywords Work

Keywords are selected from categorized sections in the input controls area and appended to your prompt as structured visual directives. They work alongside your prompt — not instead of it. A strong prompt combined with well-chosen keywords produces significantly more consistent and controlled output than either alone.

{% hint style="info" %}
Use your prompt to describe *what* is in the image. Use keywords to control *how* it looks — the lighting, depth, framing, and quality.
{% endhint %}

***

#### Focus & Depth Keywords

Control depth of field and subject sharpness.

| Keyword                    | Effect                                                                |
| -------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Shallow Depth of Field** | Background blurred, subject sharp — isolates subject from environment |
| **Deep Focus**             | Full scene in sharp focus — everything is equally clear               |
| **Bokeh**                  | Soft, circular background blur — aesthetic and cinematic              |
| **Soft Focus**             | Gentle overall blur — dreamy, romantic quality                        |
| **Background Blur**        | Blurs the background while keeping foreground sharp                   |
| **Sharp Foreground**       | Ensures foreground elements are crisp and detailed                    |

***

#### Shot Size Keywords

Control how tightly the subject is framed within the image.

| Keyword         | Effect                                                 |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Close-Up**    | Tight framing on subject detail — face, hands, product |
| **Medium Shot** | Subject from waist up — standard portrait framing      |
| **Wide Angle**  | Broad view with subject in environmental context       |
| **Overhead**    | Bird's-eye view looking straight down                  |
| **Low Angle**   | Camera positioned below subject — adds drama and scale |
| **Macro Shot**  | Extreme close-up — fine detail and texture             |

***

#### Lens Keywords

Simulate different camera lens types and their visual characteristics.

| Keyword                   | Effect                                                           |
| ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **35mm Lens**             | Natural, true-to-life perspective — standard photographic look   |
| **85mm Portrait Lens**    | Flattering compression, shallow depth — classic portrait lens    |
| **Fisheye**               | Extreme wide-angle with barrel distortion — dramatic and surreal |
| **Tilt-Shift**            | Selective focus with a miniature-like effect                     |
| **Wide-Angle Distortion** | Exaggerated perspective at edges — dynamic and expansive         |

***

#### Lighting Keywords

Define how the scene is lit — affecting mood, contrast, and visual tone.

| Keyword                | Effect                                                           |
| ---------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Golden Hour**        | Warm, orange-tinted natural light — sunrise or sunset atmosphere |
| **Studio Lighting**    | Clean, controlled light — professional and even                  |
| **Cinematic Lighting** | Dramatic, high-contrast — filmic and atmospheric                 |
| **Soft Ambient**       | Diffused, gentle light — natural and flattering                  |
| **Neon Lighting**      | Vivid artificial colored light — urban and cyberpunk aesthetic   |
| **High Contrast**      | Strong highlights and deep shadows — bold and graphic            |
| **Dramatic Shadows**   | Hard shadows with defined edges — intense and moody              |
| **Flat Lighting**      | Minimal shadows — clean, even, product-photography style         |

***

#### Artistic Style Keywords

Define the visual medium, aesthetic, or rendering approach.

| Keyword            | Effect                                                |
| ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| **Photorealistic** | Pushes output toward real-world visual accuracy       |
| **Oil Painting**   | Rich texture, visible brushstrokes, painterly quality |
| **Watercolor**     | Soft edges, translucent washes, textured paper feel   |
| **Anime**          | Japanese animation aesthetic — cel-shaded, expressive |
| **Cyberpunk**      | Neon-lit, futuristic urban dystopia aesthetic         |
| **Minimalist**     | Clean, simple composition — reduced to essentials     |
| **3D Render**      | Computer-generated three-dimensional aesthetic        |

***

#### Enhancement Keywords

Improve overall visual quality and production value.

| Keyword                 | Effect                                             |
| ----------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| **Ultra-Detailed**      | Maximum surface texture and environmental detail   |
| **Hyper-Realistic**     | Extreme photographic accuracy and fine detail      |
| **8K Resolution**       | Signals highest fidelity and sharpness             |
| **High Texture Detail** | Emphasizes surface materials and tactile qualities |
| **Sharp Focus**         | Ensures crisp, clear subject edges and detail      |
| **4K**                  | High-resolution, detailed output                   |

***

#### Negative Keywords

Negative keywords tell the model what to **exclude** from the generation. They are as important as positive keywords for controlling output quality and eliminating unwanted elements.

Enter negative keywords in the dedicated **Negative Prompt** field — not in the main prompt.

**Common negative keywords:**

| Negative Keyword          | What It Removes                                      |
| ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| **No extra fingers**      | Reduces anatomical errors in hands                   |
| **No distorted face**     | Improves facial accuracy                             |
| **No background clutter** | Produces cleaner, more focused compositions          |
| **No text**               | Removes unintended text appearing in the image       |
| **No watermark**          | Removes visible watermarks                           |
| **No grain**              | Reduces noise and film grain                         |
| **No artifacts**          | Removes rendering glitches and compression artifacts |
| **No blur**               | Reduces unwanted soft focus or motion blur           |

{% hint style="info" %}
Always include negative keywords when generating human subjects — `no extra fingers`, `no distorted face`, and `no artifacts` significantly reduce the most common generation errors for portraits and figure images.
{% endhint %}

***

#### Combining Keywords Effectively

Keywords work best in coordinated sets. Here are recommended combinations by use case:

1. **Professional product photography:** `Studio Lighting` + `Sharp Focus` + `Flat Lighting` + `4K` + `No Background Clutter` + `No Artifacts`
2. **Cinematic portrait:** `85mm Portrait Lens` + `Shallow Depth of Field` + `Cinematic Lighting` + `Dramatic Shadows` + `Ultra-Detailed`
3. **Editorial lifestyle image:** `Golden Hour` + `35mm Lens` + `Soft Ambient` + `Wide Angle` + `Photorealistic` + `4K`
4. **Fantasy concept art:** `Cinematic Lighting` + `Deep Focus` + `Oil Painting` + `Ultra-Detailed` + `High Texture Detail` + `No Artifacts`
5. **Minimalist brand visual:** `Flat Lighting` + `Studio Lighting` + `Minimalist` + `Sharp Focus` + `4K` + `No Background Clutter` + `No Shadows`
6. **Urban night scene:** `Neon Lighting` + `Cinematic Lighting` + `35mm Lens` + `Shallow Depth of Field` + `Hyper-Realistic`