Prompt chaining: creating short visual narratives with sequential generations

Generating a single, striking image is one thing, but telling a sequence story across multiple images requires a technique known as prompt chaining. This method involves using the output of a previous generation as the input or reference for the next, ensuring visual consistency and narrative flow across a series of images.

This technique is invaluable for creating comic book panels, visual novels, or character development sequences.

The core principle: consistency is key

The biggest challenge in sequential AI generation is maintaining the appearance of the subject and the environment. Prompt chaining overcomes this by locking down crucial visual descriptors, such as the character’s clothing, lighting style, and camera angle, while only changing the action or setting in the subsequent prompt.

Cita

"Prompt chaining is the director’s cut of AI art. It ensures the continuity that makes a series believable."

To start, you must first create a Master Prompt detailing the subject, style, and camera.

Step 1: establish the visual anchor

Your very first prompt must be the most detailed. It should clearly define the main character, the art style (e.g., cel-shaded anime, oil painting), and the base aesthetic.

Code

// The Master Prompt establishes the anchor
A female android with glowing blue eyes, worn leather jacket, cyberpunk city background, detailed matte painting, volumetric light.

This Master Prompt acts as the base seed or visual reference for every subsequent image

Step 2: sequential modification and action

Once you have your anchor image, the follow-up prompts should be short modifications of the master. You only change the verb or the immediate environment. This is where the narrative unfolds.

1. Image 2 Prompt: The android is running across a wet rooftop, chasing a drone, rain effects. (The setting changes).
2. Image 3 Prompt: Close-up shot of the android’s hand reaching for the drone, dramatic rim lighting, shallow depth of field. (The camera changes).
3. Image 4 Prompt: The android standing victorious on a damaged hovercar, a glowing orange sunset. (The action and lighting change).

Notice that the core descriptive elements (android with glowing blue eyes, worn leather jacket) remain untouched, ensuring the subject's identity is preserved across the sequence.

Leveraging image-to-image

Many platforms offer an image-to-image (img2img) feature. When creating Image 2, you feed the generated Image 1 back into the generator and lower the noise/creativity setting. This instructs the AI to adhere closely to the previous image's composition, further reinforcing continuity. ~~Avoid generating entirely new characters in the middle of a chain.~~

You can learn more advanced chaining techniques by exploring tutorials onThe AI Storyteller Blog.