Describe the place and subject first. Add one visual direction and one event. The examples here are original starting points, not tested Genie 4 outputs.
Start with a small, legible scene
Google’s existing prompt guide is explicitly about Genie 3. It separates environment, character, and the sketch preview, and encourages direct descriptions. We use that as general guidance, not as proof of a final Genie 4 interface.
Our suggested structure is place → subject → viewpoint → atmosphere → one event. You do not need to fill every slot. Start with enough information to recognize whether the scene is doing what you intended.
Six original prompts to adapt
These prompts have not been run by this site in Genie 4. Copy one, change the setting or subject, and save your own observation after testing. The follow-up instructions require a model that supports live steering.
A quiet coastal walk
A coastal village at sunrise. A person walks along a stone pier beside small fishing boats. First-person view at a steady walking pace. Gentle waves and distant gulls.
Then change one thing: A light rain begins over the harbor.
A greenhouse visit
A greenhouse with a clear central path, terracotta pots, and tall tomato plants. A gardener checks the leaves in soft afternoon light. View from behind the gardener.
Then change one thing: A bird lands on the open window.
A paper city
A miniature city made from folded paper. A red tram follows a single track between simple buildings. Street-level camera. Paper leaves move gently in the breeze.
Then change one thing: Move the camera slowly above the rooftops.
A snowy trail
A narrow forest trail after fresh snow. A fox walks ahead between dark pine trees. Low morning light and a calm atmosphere. The camera follows at a distance.
Then change one thing: The fox stops beside a fallen branch.
A workshop
A small wooden workshop with a workbench beside a window. A craftsperson sands a wooden bowl. Side view, natural daylight, quiet room ambience.
Then change one thing: The craftsperson places the bowl on the table.
A glass landscape
A stylized landscape made from colored glass. A river winds between rounded green hills. Move slowly along the river at eye level. Keep the materials consistent.
Then change one thing: Cloud shadows pass over the hills.
Edit one variable, then look again
- Baseline: create a scene and note the main landmark.
- One edit: change only the lighting, camera, weather, or a single event.
- Check: look for the same subject and landmark, then listen to the atmosphere if audio is available.
- Record: save the prompt, edit, expected outcome, and observed outcome.
This is our testing method. For example, “make it cinematic, change to winter, add five people, and move to a roof” makes it hard to know which request caused a failure. A single edit gives you a clearer next revision.
If you start from an image
Choose an image you have the right to use. Make the intended subject easy to distinguish from the background. Before generating, decide what the image should control: composition, the subject’s appearance, or the general setting.
If the result drifts, simplify the request and test again. Do not interpret a convincing output as an accurate reconstruction of a real place or event.
A short prompt review
- Can you identify the one main subject?
- Is its movement compatible with the setting?
- Does the camera instruction agree with the chosen perspective?
- Are you asking for an observable event rather than an abstract feeling alone?
- Could you remove half the adjectives and still understand the scene?
Keep a successful version before changing it. A useful prompt library includes notes about what failed, not just polished examples.
Sources & method
Checked against the official sources below on 30 October 2026. Screenshots document public pages or official demos. We have not claimed firsthand Genie 4 access; suggested exercises, examples, and decision checklists are our editorial guidance.
Access, product limits, and eligibility can change. Follow the current message in Google’s product and its published terms.