Prompting Guide - FLUX.2 - Black Forest Labs

No negative prompts: FLUX.2 does not support negative prompts. Focus on describing what you want, not what you don’t want.

Prompt Structure

Use this framework for consistent results: Subject + Action + Style + Context

Subject: The main focus (person, object, character)
Action: What the subject is doing or their pose
Style: Artistic approach, medium, or aesthetic
Context: Setting, lighting, time, mood, or atmospheric conditions

Example 1
Example 2

“Black cat hiding behind a watermelon slice, professional studio shot, bright red and turquoise background with summer mystery vibe”

Example 1

Breakdown:

Subject: Black cat
Action: hiding behind a watermelon slice
Style: professional studio shot
Context: bright red and turquoise background with summer mystery vibe

Word order matters - FLUX.2 pays more attention to what comes first. Put your most important elements at the beginning: Priority order: Main subject → Key action → Critical style → Essential context → Secondary details Prompt length guidance:

Short (10-30 words): Quick concepts and style exploration
Medium (30-80 words): Usually ideal for most projects
Long (80+ words): Complex scenes requiring detailed specifications

Photorealistic Styles

FLUX.2 generates photorealistic images from simple, natural language prompts. Reference specific eras, cameras, and techniques for distinctive looks.

Style Reference Guide

Style	Key Descriptors
Modern Digital	”shot on Sony A7IV, clean sharp, high dynamic range”
2000s Digicam	”early digital camera, slight noise, flash photography, candid, 2000s digicam style”
80s Vintage	”film grain, warm color cast, soft focus, 80s vintage photo”
Analog Film	”shot on Kodak Portra 400, natural grain, organic colors”

Tiger cub under banana leaf in rainy jungle

Modern Photorealism

Sloth in Bangkok nightlife, digicam style

2000s Digicam

80s Vintage

Modern Photorealism: “Soaking wet tiger cub taking shelter under a banana leaf in the rainy jungle, close up photo” 2000s Digicam: “Sloth out drinking in Bangkok at night in a street full of party folks, 2000s digicam style, people in the background fading” 80s Vintage: “A group of baby penguins in a trampoline park, having the time of their lives, 80s vintage photo”

Camera and Lens Simulation

Be specific about camera settings for authentic results:

Shot on Hasselblad X2D, 80mm lens, f/2.8, natural lighting

Canon 5D Mark IV, 24-70mm at 35mm, golden hour, shallow depth of field

For photorealism, specify camera models, lenses, and film stocks. “Shot on Fujifilm X-T5, 35mm f/1.4” produces more authentic results than just “professional photo.”

Typography and Design

FLUX.2 generates clean typography, product marketing materials, and magazine layouts.

Product advertisement with clean typography

Magazine cover layout

Product Ad: “Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra product advertisement, ‘Ultra-strong titanium’ headline, ‘Shielded in a strong titanium frame, your Galaxy S25 Ultra always stays protected’ subtext, close-up of phone edge showing titanium frame, dark gradient background, clean minimalist tech aesthetic, professional product photography” Magazine Cover: “Women’s Health magazine cover, April 2025 issue, ‘Spring forward’ headline, woman in green outfit sitting on orange blocks, white sneakers, ‘Covid: five years on’ feature text, ‘15 skincare habits’ callout, professional editorial photography, magazine layout with multiple text elements”

Text Rendering Tips

FLUX.2 can generate readable text when you describe it clearly:

Use quotation marks: “The text ‘OPEN’ appears in red neon letters above the door”
Specify placement: Where text appears relative to other elements
Describe style: “elegant serif typography”, “bold industrial lettering”, “handwritten script”
Font size: “large headline text”, “small body copy”, “medium subheading”
Color: Use hex codes for brand text: “The logo text ‘ACME’ in color #FF5733”

Quotation marks
Specify placement
Describe style

Prompt: “The text ‘OPEN’ appears in red neon letters above the door” 'Open' neon sign

HEX Color Code Prompting

FLUX.2 supports precise color matching using hex codes. Useful for brand consistency and design work.

Basic Syntax

Signal hex colors with keywords like “color” or “hex” followed by the code:

The vase has color #02eb3c
The background is hex #1a1a2e

Gradient Colors

Apply gradients by specifying start and end colors: Prompt: “A vase on a table in living room, the color of the vase is a gradient, starting with color #02eb3c and finishing with color #edfa3c. The flowers inside the vase have the color #ff0088”

Hex colors applied to vase and flowers

Brand color matching for product design

Color in JSON Prompts

Combine hex colors with structured prompts for maximum control:

{
  "scene": "Makeup flat lay on marble surface",
  "subjects": [
    {
      "description": "eyeshadow palette",
      "colors": ["#E91E63", "#9C27B0", "#673AB7", "#3F51B5"]
    }
  ],
  "style": "beauty product photography",
  "lighting": "soft diffused overhead lighting"
}

Hex codes work best when clearly associated with specific objects. Vague references like “use #FF0000 somewhere” may produce inconsistent results.

Infographics and Data Visualization

FLUX.2 can generate infographics with clean typography and structured layouts.

Infographic Template

{
  "type": "infographic",
  "title": "Your Main Title",
  "subtitle": "Supporting context",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Section 1",
      "content": "Key information",
      "visual": "icon or chart type"
    }
  ],
  "color_scheme": ["#primary", "#secondary", "#accent"],
  "style": "modern, clean, corporate"
}

Example Prompt: “Create a vertical infographic about coffee consumption worldwide. Title: ‘Global Coffee Culture’. Include 3 sections with statistics, use icons for each country, color scheme #4A2C2A (brown) and #F5E6D3 (cream). Modern minimalist style with clean typography.”

Data visualization with clean typography

Multi-Language Prompting

FLUX.2 understands multiple languages. Prompt in your native language for more culturally authentic results.

French prompt: Normandy countryside food market at sunrise

French: Un marché alimentaire dans la campagne normande

Thai prompt: Morning food market in rural Bangkok area

Thai: ตลาดอาหารเช้าในชนบทใกล้กรุงเทพฯ

Korean prompt: Seoul rooftop garden at sunset

Korean: 서울 도심의 옥상 정원

French: “Un marché alimentaire dans la campagne normande, des marchands vendent divers légumes, fruits. Lever de soleil, temps un peu brumeux” Thai: “ตลาดอาหารเช้าในชนบทใกล้กรุงเทพฯ พ่อค้าแม่ค้ากำลังขายผักและผลไม้นานาชนิด บรรยากาศยามพระอาทิตย์ขึ้น มีหมอกจาง ๆ ปกคลุม สงบและอบอุ่น” Korean: “서울 도심의 옥상 정원, 저녁 노을이 지는 하늘 아래에서 사람들이 작은 등불을 켜고 있다. 화려한 네온사인이 멀리 반짝이고, 정원에는 다양한 꽃들이 피어 있다. 분위기는 따뜻하고 낭만적이다”

Prompting in the native language of the content you’re creating often produces more culturally authentic results - local markets, architecture, and atmosphere are rendered with greater accuracy.

Comic Strips and Sequential Art

Create consistent comic panels with character continuity. The key is to define your character in detail and maintain that description across panels.

The Diffusion Man Story

Generate each panel separately while keeping character descriptions consistent:

Panel 1: The Crisis

Panel 2: The Transformation

Panel 3: The Battle

Panel 4: Victory

Panel 1 Prompt: The Crisis

“Style: Classic superhero comic Character: Worried scientist frantically typing on glowing holographic keyboard, face illuminated by blue light showing deep concern Setting: Massive computer server room with sparking circuits and red warning lights flashing on monitors Text: ‘The AI models are corrupting! We need Diffusion Man!’ Mood: Tense, urgent + dramatic blue and red tones”

Panel 2 Prompt: The Transformation

“Style: Classic superhero comic with dynamic action lines and electric energy effects Character: Diffusion Man/Mild-mannered programmer (30 years old, brown skin tone, short natural fade haircut with black hair, black-framed glasses, light blue button-up shirt, athletic build, strong jawline) body begins to glow with swirling gradients of deep purple, electric blue, and hot pink energy, mathematical equations and neural network patterns flowing around him in glowing lines Setting: Small office with computer monitors displaying code and error messages Text: ‘When noise becomes signal, I am… DIFFUSION MAN!’ Mood: Powerful, transformative + dramatic backlighting and energy radiating outward in waves”

Panel 3 Prompt: The Battle

“Style: Classic superhero comic with explosive action and dynamic composition Character: Diffusion Man (athletic 30-year-old with brown skin tone and short natural fade haircut with black hair, wearing sleek bodysuit with gradient patterns from deep purple to electric blue to hot pink, glowing neural network emblem on chest with interconnected nodes, short gradient cape, purple half-mask showing strong jawline and confident expression) extends both hands forward in powerful stance, shooting beams of structured noise and latent space energy at corrupted digital monsters made of glitching pixels and broken code Setting: Digital cyberspace environment with floating data cubes and cascading binary code Text: ‘Time to DENOISE this chaos!’ Mood: Intense, action-packed + bright energy flashes and electric effects”

Panel 4 Prompt: Victory

“Style: Classic superhero comic with warm, triumphant colors and clean composition Character: Diffusion Man (athletic 30-year-old with brown skin tone and short natural fade haircut with black hair, wearing sleek gradient bodysuit from deep purple to electric blue to hot pink, glowing neural network emblem on chest, short gradient cape flowing behind him, purple half-mask, strong jawline, confident heroic smile) stands heroically giving thumbs up gesture to grateful scientist beside him, her computer screens now showing stable green indicators and success messages Setting: Calm server room with soft blue ambient lighting and orderly data streams flowing smoothly in organized patterns Text: ‘You saved us, Diffusion Man! The models are generating perfectly again!’ Mood: Victorious, hopeful + golden sunset-like tones streaming through windows”

Character Consistency: Notice how Diffusion Man’s description stays detailed and consistent across panels—brown skin tone, short natural fade haircut, gradient bodysuit from purple to blue to pink, neural network emblem, purple half-mask. Repeat these details in every panel prompt.

JSON Structured Prompting

For complex scenes and production workflows, FLUX.2 interprets structured JSON prompts, giving you precise control over every aspect of your image. When to use JSON:

Production workflows requiring consistent structure
Automation and programmatic generation
Complex scenes with multiple subjects and relationships
When you need to iterate on specific elements independently

When natural language works better:

Quick iterations and exploration
Simple, single-subject scenes
When prompt length isn’t a concern
Creative workflows where flexibility matters

FLUX.2 understands both formats equally well—choose based on your workflow needs.

The Base Schema

{
  "scene": "overall scene description",
  "subjects": [
    {
      "description": "detailed subject description",
      "position": "where in frame",
      "action": "what they're doing"
    }
  ],
  "style": "artistic style",
  "color_palette": ["#hex1", "#hex2", "#hex3"],
  "lighting": "lighting description",
  "mood": "emotional tone",
  "background": "background details",
  "composition": "framing and layout",
  "camera": {
    "angle": "camera angle",
    "lens": "lens type",
    "depth_of_field": "focus behavior"
  }
}

Precise Color Control Example

Break down products into components and assign exact hex colors to each part for brand consistency:

Input reference

Adidas sweatshirt generated with precise colors

Generated output with exact color matching

View JSON Prompt

{
  "scene": "A front-facing, studio product shot of an adidas sweatshirt, isolated on a clean white background",
  "subjects": [
    {
      "type": "Main Torso",
      "description": "The central chest and stomach panel of the sweatshirt, strictly in color #FFFFFF white",
      "position": "center body",
      "color_match": "exact"
    },
    {
      "type": "Shoulder Panels",
      "description": "The panels on the top of the shoulders (raglan style), strictly in color #000000 black",
      "position": "shoulders",
      "color_match": "exact"
    },
    {
      "type": "Sleeves",
      "description": "The long sleeves extending from the shoulder panels, strictly in color #86E04A lime green",
      "position": "arms",
      "color_match": "exact"
    },
    {
      "type": "Middle Sleeve Patch",
      "description": "Geometric rectangular patch on the middle sleeves, strictly in color #615E5E gray",
      "position": "middle sleeves",
      "color_match": "exact"
    },
    {
      "type": "Brand Logo",
      "description": "The Adidas Trefoil logo embroidered on the upper center chest, strictly in color #000000 black",
      "position": "upper chest center",
      "detail_preservation": "high"
    },
    {
      "type": "Trims and Stripes",
      "description": "The three-stripes on the sleeves, the ribbed neck collar, and the wrist cuffs, strictly in color #000000 black",
      "position": "trims",
      "color_match": "exact"
    },
    {
      "type": "Background",
      "description": "A flat, seamless white studio background, identical to the source",
      "position": "background",
      "color_match": "exact"
    }
  ],
  "color_palette": [
    "#FFFFFF",
    "#86E04A",
    "#615E5E",
    "#000000"
  ]
}

Each subject has a type, description with explicit color specification, position, and color_match: "exact" for precise control.

Building a Prompt Step by Step

Let’s build a product shot incrementally to see how each element contributes. Step 1: Generating a coffee mug

{
  "scene": "Professional studio product photography setup with polished concrete surface",
  "subjects": [
    {
      "description": "Minimalist ceramic coffee mug with steam rising from hot coffee inside",
      "pose": "Stationary on surface",
      "position": "Center foreground on polished concrete surface",
      "color_palette": ["matte black ceramic"]
    }
  ],
  "style": "Ultra-realistic product photography with commercial quality",
  "color_palette": ["matte black", "concrete gray", "soft white highlights"],
  "lighting": "Three-point softbox setup creating soft, diffused highlights with no harsh shadows",
  "mood": "Clean, professional, minimalist",
  "background": "Polished concrete surface with studio backdrop",
  "composition": "rule of thirds",
  "camera": {
    "angle": "high angle",
    "distance": "medium shot",
    "focus": "Sharp focus on steam rising from coffee and mug details",
    "lens-mm": 85,
    "f-number": "f/5.6",
    "ISO": 200
  }
}

Professional product shot of a single black coffee mug with steam

Step 1: Single matte black mug with steam

Step 2: Adding a second mug in a different color

{
  "scene": "Professional studio product photography setup with polished concrete surface",
  "subjects": [
    {
      "description": "Minimalist ceramic coffee mug with steam rising from hot coffee inside",
      "pose": "Stationary on surface",
      "position": "Center foreground on polished concrete surface",
      "color_palette": ["matte black ceramic"]
    },
    {
      "description": "Minimalist ceramic coffee mug, matching design to the black mug",
      "pose": "Stationary on surface",
      "position": "Right side of the black mug on polished concrete surface",
      "color_palette": ["matte yellow ceramic"]
    }
  ],
  "style": "Ultra-realistic product photography with commercial quality",
  "color_palette": ["matte black", "matte yellow", "concrete gray", "soft white highlights"],
  "lighting": "Three-point softbox setup creating soft, diffused highlights with no harsh shadows",
  "mood": "Clean, professional, minimalist",
  "background": "Polished concrete surface with studio backdrop",
  "composition": "rule of thirds",
  "camera": {
    "angle": "high angle",
    "distance": "medium shot",
    "focus": "Sharp focus on steam rising from coffee and both mugs in frame",
    "lens-mm": 85,
    "f-number": "f/5.6",
    "ISO": 200
  }
}

Product shot with black and yellow coffee mugs

Step 2: Added a yellow mug to the composition

Step 3: Change the color of the steam

{
  "scene": "Professional studio product photography setup with polished concrete surface",
  "subjects": [
    {
      "description": "Minimalist ceramic coffee mug with bright red steam rising from hot coffee inside",
      "pose": "Stationary on surface",
      "position": "Center foreground on polished concrete surface",
      "color_palette": ["matte black ceramic", "bright red steam"]
    },
    {
      "description": "Minimalist ceramic coffee mug, matching design to the black mug",
      "pose": "Stationary on surface",
      "position": "Right side of the black mug on polished concrete surface",
      "color_palette": ["matte yellow ceramic"]
    }
  ],
  "style": "Ultra-realistic product photography with commercial quality",
  "color_palette": ["matte black", "matte yellow", "bright red", "concrete gray", "soft white highlights"],
  "lighting": "Three-point softbox setup creating soft, diffused highlights with no harsh shadows",
  "mood": "Clean, professional, minimalist",
  "background": "Polished concrete surface with studio backdrop",
  "composition": "rule of thirds",
  "camera": {
    "angle": "high angle",
    "distance": "medium shot",
    "focus": "Sharp focus on steam rising from coffee and both mugs in frame",
    "lens-mm": 85,
    "f-number": "f/5.6",
    "ISO": 200
  }
}

Product shot with black and yellow mugs, red steam rising from the black mug

Step 3: Changed the steam color to bright red

You can include the JSON directly in your prompt, or flatten it into natural language. FLUX.2 understands both formats.

Multi-Reference Image Editing

*[pro] API has a 9MP total limit for input+output. At 1MP output you can use up to 8 reference images, at 2MP output up to 7, and so on.

Multi-reference works well for:

Fashion shoots: Combine clothing items into styled outfits
Interior design: Place furniture and decor in rooms
Product composites: Combine multiple products in scenes
Character consistency: Maintain identity across variations

Fashion Editorial Example (8 references)

Prompt: “A spiritual architectural photograph captured on expired Kodak Ektachrome 64 slide film cross-processed from 1987 with a 35mm spherical lens at f/5.6, featuring model standing before small forest chapel in clearing. The model wears the outfit, positioned on stone steps leading to wooden chapel, red creating stark contrast against weathered brown timber. Background shows traditional Schwarzwald chapel - dark wood construction with small bell tower, carved wooden door, religious paintings under eaves, surrounding clearing with wild flowers, tall firs creating natural cathedral, small cemetery with wooden crosses. Dappled forest light at 1/125. Cross-processed Ektachrome showing extreme color shifts - cyan-magenta split, warm wood tones pushed to orange-brown, oversaturated red, crushed black shadows, blown highlights, heavy grain creating mysterious atmosphere. Composition emphasizes sacred spaces and pilgrimage. Thomas Struth church interiors, Candida Höfer architectural documentation, religious tourism meets fashion editorial, spiritual Schwarzwald mysticism.”

Eight input reference images with generated output

8 input references (clothing, accessories, style elements) → combined output

For multi-reference editing, describe how each input should be used. The model combines clothing items, accessories, and style references into a cohesive scene based on your prompt.

Prompt Upsampling

FLUX.2 includes a prompt_upsampling parameter that automatically enhances your prompt. Use it for:

Quick iterations without crafting detailed prompts
Exploring creative variations
When you have a basic concept but want richer output

Prompt upsampling adds detail and context to your prompt automatically. Your original intent is preserved while the model expands on visual elements.

Aspect Ratios and Resolution

Choose aspect ratios based on your use case:

Aspect Ratio	Use Case	Example Dimensions
1:1 (Square)	Social media, product shots	1024×1024, 1536×1536
16:9 (Widescreen)	Landscapes, cinematic shots	1920×1080, 1536×864
9:16 (Portrait)	Mobile content, portraits	1080×1920, 864×1536
4:3 (Classic)	Magazine layouts, presentations	1536×1152, 1024×768
21:9 (Ultrawide)	Panoramas, wide scenes	2048×864

Resolution limits: Minimum 64×64, maximum 4MP (e.g., 2048×2048). Output dimensions must be multiples of 16. Recommended up to 2MP for most use cases.

Best Practices Summary

Structure for Control

Use JSON structured prompts when you need precise control over multiple elements. Start simple and add complexity as needed.

Be Specific with Colors

Always associate hex codes with specific objects. “The car is #FF0000” works better than “use red #FF0000 in the image.”

Describe What You Want

FLUX.2 has no negative prompts. Instead of “no blur,” say “sharp focus throughout.” Instead of “no people,” describe an “empty scene.”

Reference Camera and Style

For photorealism, specify camera models, lenses, and film stocks. “Shot on Fujifilm X-T5, 35mm f/1.4” produces more authentic results than “professional photo.”

Use Native Languages

Prompt in the language that best describes your desired cultural context. French for Parisian scenes, Japanese for anime styles.

Layer Multi-Reference Carefully

When using multiple input images, clearly describe the role of each: subject from image 1, style from image 2, background from image 3.

Quick Reference

Technique	When to Use	Key Syntax
JSON Prompts	Complex scenes, automation	`{"scene": "...", "style": "..."}`
Hex Colors	Brand work, precise matching	`color #FF5733` or `hex #FF5733`
Camera References	Photorealism	`shot on [camera], [lens], [settings]`
Style Eras	Period-specific looks	`80s vintage`, `2000s digicam`
Multi-Reference	Composite images	[pro]: 8, [flex]: 10, [dev]: ~6
Seed	Reproducible results	`seed: 42`
Guidance [flex]	Prompt adherence	`guidance: 4.5` (1.5-10)
Steps [flex]	Quality vs speed	`steps: 50` (max 50)
Aspect Ratios	Use case optimization	1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 4:3, 21:9

Try FLUX.2

Test these prompting techniques in the playground.

FLUX.2 Prompting

FLUX.1 Text-to-Image Prompting

FLUX.1 Kontext Prompting

Prompting Guide - FLUX.2

Prompt Structure

Photorealistic Styles

Style Reference Guide

Camera and Lens Simulation

Typography and Design

Text Rendering Tips

HEX Color Code Prompting

Basic Syntax

Gradient Colors

Color in JSON Prompts

Infographics and Data Visualization

Infographic Template

Multi-Language Prompting

Comic Strips and Sequential Art

The Diffusion Man Story

JSON Structured Prompting

The Base Schema

Precise Color Control Example

Building a Prompt Step by Step

Multi-Reference Image Editing

Fashion Editorial Example (8 references)

Prompt Upsampling

Aspect Ratios and Resolution

Best Practices Summary

Quick Reference

Try FLUX.2

FLUX.2 Prompting

FLUX.1 Text-to-Image Prompting

FLUX.1 Kontext Prompting

​Prompt Structure

​Photorealistic Styles

​Style Reference Guide

​Camera and Lens Simulation

​Typography and Design

​Text Rendering Tips

​HEX Color Code Prompting

​Basic Syntax

​Gradient Colors

​Color in JSON Prompts

​Infographics and Data Visualization

​Infographic Template

​Multi-Language Prompting

​Comic Strips and Sequential Art

​The Diffusion Man Story

​JSON Structured Prompting

​The Base Schema

​Precise Color Control Example

​Building a Prompt Step by Step

​Multi-Reference Image Editing

​Fashion Editorial Example (8 references)

​Prompt Upsampling

​Aspect Ratios and Resolution

​Best Practices Summary

​Quick Reference

Try FLUX.2

Prompt Structure

Photorealistic Styles

Style Reference Guide

Camera and Lens Simulation

Typography and Design

Text Rendering Tips

HEX Color Code Prompting

Basic Syntax

Gradient Colors

Color in JSON Prompts

Infographics and Data Visualization

Infographic Template

Multi-Language Prompting

Comic Strips and Sequential Art

The Diffusion Man Story

JSON Structured Prompting

The Base Schema

Precise Color Control Example

Building a Prompt Step by Step

Multi-Reference Image Editing

Fashion Editorial Example (8 references)

Prompt Upsampling

Aspect Ratios and Resolution

Best Practices Summary

Quick Reference