Skip to guide content
Morten A. Giraffe
AI Media Field Guide

07 / Direct the visual

Describe materials and surfaces

Specific materials, texture, finish, age, scale, and physical behavior outperform empty words like premium or stunning.

Visual-production diagram for Describe materials and surfaces.

Failure mode

The prompt asks for “cinematic,” “premium,” or “make it better” without defining the output job, source/reference constraints, physical details, composition, motion, or verification. The result may look impressive while being unusable, inaccurate, off-brand, or misleading.

Applied correction

Start simple. Add details only when they control a visible decision. When editing, make the requested transformation bounded and keep a preservation lock.

Field test

Could a photographer, stylist, or 3D artist understand the surface from the prompt?

Verification