Generative AI is probabilistic. The same prompt won't produce the same design twice, and your first result may not always be exactly what you want. Iterating is part of how the tool works, and a natural part of the design process. Here are some tips to try to get where you're going faster.
Writing better prompts
Be specific about the subject. "A bald eagle with outstretched wings overlaid on an American flag" gives the generator far more to work with than "eagle."
Describe the style. Say whether you want something bold and simple, detailed and realistic, geometric, cartoonish, or vintage. Style words steer the result more than almost anything else.
Say what you're making. Mentioning that it's a sign, a plaque, a coaster, or a relief helps the generator produce something shaped for the job.
Think about carving as you write. Bold shapes and clear silhouettes carve well. Very fine detail, thin lines, and heavy texture often don't. Asking for "clean, bold shapes" tends to produce more carvable results than asking for "highly detailed."
Change one thing at a time when you iterate. Rewriting the whole prompt can give you an entirely new design. Adjusting one element gets you closer to the one you already liked.
Starting from an image (3D)
For 3D generations, you can upload a reference image instead of writing a description. This is useful when you already have an image or a photo of the thing you want turned into a relief.
What works best:
- A clear, well-defined subject. High contrast between the subject and its background converts more cleanly into a relief.
- A simple background. Busy or cluttered scenes tend to muddy the result. An isolated subject reads better.
- Moderate detail. Very fine texture in the source image often ends up too small to carve.
You can iterate on an image-based generation the same way you would a written one.
Iterating effectively
Each iteration costs 1 token, so it pays to be deliberate:
- Decide what specifically is wrong before you iterate — composition, style, subject, or detail level.
- If a result is close, refine it. If it's far off, it's often faster to start over with a rewritten prompt.
- If you like a result, import it before experimenting further. Importing is free, and it means you keep the version you liked.
Potential issues
My prompt was rejected.
Prompts that ask for copyrighted characters, trademarked logos, or certain restricted content will be declined by the model. Try describing the design in your own terms rather than referencing a specific brand or character.
The design doesn't look like what I described.
Add detail to your prompt — subject, style, composition — and iterate. Vague prompts produce unpredictable results. If you're stuck, try describing what you don't want as well.
The design won't carve well.
Too much fine detail is the most common cause. Iterate with a prompt asking for bolder, simpler shapes, or scale the design up so the detail is larger than your bit.
I closed the window and lost my work.
We recommend importing designs you like as you go — once a design is in your project, it's saved with the project.
Coming Soon: You’ll soon be able to see all of your previously generated designs in Easel with the ability to add them to your projects or continue iterating on them with Easel Generate.
I'm out of tokens.
Your tokens reset on your Easel Generate billing date. You can also upgrade your token plan from your Account page for more tokens per month. See How tokens work in Easel Generate.
Have another issue? Contact support — we're happy to help.