Can you guess which are the actual image references and the Magic Mirror- generated images in this collage?

Okay so I've been obsessing over documentary-style AI images lately and FLUX.2 [max] has been my go-to for this.

I love how well it handles texture...that grainy film quality that makes an image feel like it was actually shot on location. Most models I've tried make historical scenes look too clean. This one doesn't.

Tip: treat it like you're briefing a photographer, not describing a picture. 'Overcast sky, harsh shadows, 35mm grain, photojournalism' gets you somewhere. 'War scene, realistic' doesn't.

Drop your prompts in the comments! Curious what others are getting with FLUX.2 [max].

Hey everyone 👋

I’ve noticed a lot of people struggling with getting consistent, high-quality portrait outputs, so here are some practical prompt-building tips based on what actually improves results in Fiddl.art (and similar AI image tools).

1. Think in structured layers, not random descriptions

The biggest upgrade comes from organizing your prompt into clear sections:

• Format (aspect ratio, resolution, quality level)
• Subject details (face, expression, pose, body, skin)
• Hair + makeup specifics
• Outfit + accessories
• Environment
• Camera setup
• Lighting
• Style + mood

This prevents the model from “guessing” and keeps outputs consistent.

2. Face details matter more than anything

If you're aiming for realistic portraits:

• Keep facial description consistent and controlled
• Avoid conflicting traits (e.g., too many style changes at once)
• Always prioritize expressions, skin finish, and eye detail early in the prompt

Small changes here = big visual differences.

3. Lighting is doing more work than you think

Instead of just saying “good lighting,” be specific:

• light source direction (front, side, natural, flash)
• lighting mood (soft glow, dramatic shadow, etc.)
• skin interaction (dewy, reflective, matte balance)

Lighting often determines whether an image looks “AI” or cinematic.

4. Camera framing = instant realism boost

Specify:

• distance (close-up vs full body)
• angle (eye-level, slight side angle, top-down)
• composition focus (face-centered, symmetrical framing)

This alone can drastically improve portrait quality.

5. Don’t overload the prompt with contradictions

A common mistake is stacking too many extremes at once (e.g., ultra-soft + harsh shadow + overly stylized + hyper-realistic).

Pick a dominant direction:

• realistic editorial look or
• stylized aesthetic portrait

Then build around it.

6. Separate “must-haves” from “enhancers”

A useful mental model:

• Must-haves: face, expression, lighting, composition
• Enhancers: accessories, subtle effects, background blur, aesthetic tags

This helps the model prioritize correctly.

7. Keep identity consistency tight

If you're trying to preserve a subject’s look across generations:

• lock in facial structure early
• avoid changing multiple attributes at once (hair + face + style all together)

Small incremental edits work better than full rewrites.