Firefly Image

Model 4 Guide

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 1

Master new Firefly image models and maximize your creativity. 3

Table of How to choose between Image Model 4 and Image Model 4 Ultra.
Tips for selecting the subject of your image.
4
5

Content How to make the most out of Firefly Image 4.

Prompting: Get descriptive and receive detailed results.
6

General guidelines
Prompting formula 7
Examples 8

Controls: Guide the Image Model. 14

Visual intensity slider
Effects 16
Style references 17
Composition references 19
Upload your references 20

Further enhance your image in Creative Cloud. 22

What to avoid. 23

Get social. 24

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 2

Master new Firefly image
models and maximize
your creativity.

When you choose Adobe Firefly, you get an all-in-one creative AI solution, built for limitless
ideation and control.
Setting a new standard for visual content generation, our newest models of the Firefly
family, Image Model 4 and Image Model 4 Ultra, deliver unmatched definition and realism
for images. Plus, you’ll always create confidently knowing it’s commercially safe. Firefly
models are trained only on content we have permission to use — including Adobe Stock,
public domain, and licensed material.
Ease of use is just as important to us as the quality of the generated content. So we've
created this detailed guide to help you leverage commands that fit your needs, select
subjects our models excel at, and refine your prompt to get exactly what you want —
pushing your creative potential to new heights.

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 3

How to choose between Image
Model 4 and Image Model 4 Ultra.
Image Model 4: A fast tool for
everyday needs.
Generate simple, high-quality content like illustrations,
icons, photos of basic objects, single subject portraits,
and images of individual animals — checking off 90%
of your typical creative requirements with speed.

Image Model 4 Ultra: Your go-to for

realism and detail.
Handle complex needs with ease — rendering
photorealistic scenes, human portraits, and medium
groups. As this tool prioritizes precision over speed,
it’s ideal for your highest-end creative needs.

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 4

Tips for selecting the subject
of your image.
Ready to pick your subject? Choose anything from a single person or animal, an object, architecture, an abstract
background, a landscape, and more. Use the grid below to see which model works best for what you have in mind.

Note: The best results are achieved when choosing images of a single subject. We are finessing the capabilities for you to achieve
high-quality results for medium and large groups of people, people in action, and complex text renderings. We’ll update this guide
as our model capabilities evolve.

Image Description Image Model 4 Image Model 4 Ultra

Landscapes

Seasonal
background with
space for copy

Abstract background

Single object or
simple food

Single animal

Single human portrait

Simple text rendering

Medium group
of humans

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 5

How to make the most
out of Firefly Image 4.

Prompting: Get descriptive and receive

detailed results.
Prompting a generative AI model involves clearly
describing the image you have in mind. Generative AI
takes your prompt literally, illustrating each and every
one of the words of your prompt to allow for more
creative control.
Before typing your prompt, just visualize the image
you want to generate, then describe it precisely, with
as many factual details as needed.

General guidelines

Be descriptive Guide the model

Describe the subject, context, background, perspective, Leverage the controls available, so that the model will
colors, atmosphere, light, and style. Avoid using words give you exactly what you pictured. This could even
like “generate” or “create”, instead opt for precise include uploading your own art to use as reference.
language with at least three words that include a
subject, descriptor, and keywords.
Tip: To make your image more engaging, mention
Iterate and further refine with your
words that evoke emotions. Use words like love, gentle,
favorite Creative Cloud applications
and playful to generate a heartwarming image, or Like in all creative endeavors, working with Firefly
powerful, strong, and uplifting to create an inspiring one. Image 4 and Image 4 Ultra is an iterative process and
it might take a few tries before you get exactly what
you want. To further refine your image and complete
It's not a conversation your project, bring it into your favorite Creative Cloud
application, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, or Express.
Firefly image models do not work like chatbots —
they output images based on a single prompt.

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 6

PROMPTING

Prompting formula
What’s the secret to strong prompting? Including as many of the
following elements as possible. The more you add, the more precise
the results. We’ve included examples to help you pinpoint what
you’re visualizing.

[Image type] An illustration, a magazine-style image, or a panoramic image.

[Subject] An animal, a person, a building. (Don’t forget to describe the person’s

features, feelings in their facial expression, a building’s architectural style,
an animal’s size, etc…)

[Action] Walking, jumping, flying.

[Angle] Portrait, side profile, landscape shot.

[Lighting] Soft light, dark, exposed.

[Background] Butterflies flying in the background, a soft focus background, context.

[Color palette] Warm tones, pastels, black and white.

[Style] Cinematic, realism, hyper-realistic photography, product feature, atmosphere.

*Anything else you include, like the camera lens type, the settings used
to take the photo, and more, is helpful in getting you closer to what you
are picturing.

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 7

PROMPTING

Examples
Twilight portrait [image type]
of a snow‑flecked Himalayan
Animals snow leopard [subject] poised
on a jagged granite outcrop
[action], icy breath visible in the
crisp mountain air; the sinking
sun casts a cool blue‑violet
ambiance while a warm rim‑light
skims the feline’s dense spotted
fur, revealing intricate texture
and piercing steel‑blue eyes
[context]. Shot on a full‑frame
DSLR [frame], 300 mm prime
[lens], f/4, ISO 320, 1/2000 s
[light settings on camera],
capturing pin‑sharp detail, subtle
color contrast between cold
shadows and amber highlights
[colors], and a rugged, nature
photojournalism magazine style
wilderness aesthetic [style].

A polar bear [subject]

walking across ice floes
[action] in the Arctic in the
evening with sun in the
back [background, time
of the day, atmosphere].

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 8

PROMPTING

Illustrations

Art illustration [image type]

of a moonlit jungle clearing
where luminous giant
mushrooms tower over a
lone wanderer [subject] in
a crimson cloak , fireflies
tracing golden spirals through
misty air [context]; illustrated
as a rich digital painting with
painterly brush‑work [style],
soft rim‑lighting, and deep
teal‑violet shadows [light] for
a dreamy, storybook fantasy
mood [atmosphere].

Illustration [image type] of a

giant fantasy monster made
of clouds and mist [subject]
rampaging through a
modern city [action],
dramatic perspective,
detailed illustration, vibrant
colors, cinematic lighting,
anime-inspired style [style],
dynamic action, people
running, blue sky with fluffy
clouds [context].

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 9

PROMPTING

Portraits

A portrait [image type] of

children [subject] enjoying
their summer holiday
while playing games
[action] outside with big
smiles on their faces [facial
expressions], surrounded by
nature [background].

hyper-realistic [style], an
Asian woman in her mid
40s with a couple age lines
[subject], hand to her face
in front of an oval framed
mirror on the wall [pose], she
is looking at a reflection of
herself [action]. The reflection
is her with smoother skin and
she looks happy [feelings].

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 10

PROMPTING

Architecture

Architectural magazine image [image

type] of a very modern building
[subject] beside a pond [context].

A luxurious Mediterranean-style villa with

terracotta roof tiles, arched wooden doors, and
white stucco walls [subject]. The house is set on
a hillside overlooking the sea, with a stone-paved
terrace, an infinity pool reflecting the sunset, and
lush bougainvillea framing the entrance [context].

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 11

PROMPTING

Landscapes

An avalanche [subject]
rushing down a forest
mountain, burying a
winding road below [action],
snow clouds billowing and
sunlight filtering through the
trees [context], 35mm film
grain [texture], cinematic
snow realism [style], no
people, motion freeze
[context], cold analog film
tone [color palette] [light],
epic landscape shot [angle].

Pre‑dawn panorama [image

type] of jagged granite peaks
looming over a mirror‑still
turquoise glacial lake [subject],
low fog wisping across
wildflower‑strewn alpine
meadows, sky igniting with
fiery magenta‑to‑gold sunrise
hues [context] long‑exposure
HDR [photography technique]
for razor‑sharp detail, rich tonal
contrast [light], and an epic,
cinematic sweep [atmosphere].

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 12

PROMPTING

Objects

A bottle of olive oil [subject] photographed on

rustic wood with a torn linen cloth, fresh herbs
and garlic subtly arranged [context], golden light
from the side enhancing texture [light], shot like a
gourmet product feature [style].

A designer lipstick with a velvet red bullet

[subject], standing upright on a reflective black
acrylic surface [position], surrounded by broken
rose petals [context], moody light vignette and
sharp high-contrast highlights [light].

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 13

Controls: Guide the Image Model.
Now that you’ve learned a few tips to write good prompts, leverage the controls that best fit your needs —
so you can reinforce the intention you described in your prompt, add visual references, and select a specific
style or composition.

Visual intensity slider

The visual intensity slider controls the aesthetics of the image.
Keep the cursor all the way on the left if you want an unedited,
snapshot-like result.
Bring the slider to the right for a more stylized and tuned image.
There are nine levels between the two extremes on the slider,
play with them to find the level that best suits your needs.

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 14

CONTROLS

Animals
Prompt: A polar bear walking across ice floes in the Arctic in the early morning with sun in the back.

Portraits
Prompt: A close-up studio portrait photo of a 60-year-old woman with short gray hair, modern haircut, haze eyes,
thin nose and fair complexion. Fine wrinkles around the eyes and the mouth. She wears a stylish pair of sight glasses
with thick electric blue frame and an ivory silk blouse. She is happy and self-confident. Soft box light and backlit flair
on gray background.

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 15

CONTROLS

Effects

This control is a productivity booster. If you are unsure about which words to
use to specify in the prompt for the light, texture, and the art type you want to
achieve, you can simply select the Effect that best corresponds to your needs.

Pro tip: Try the Scandinavian, Minimalism, and Simple effects to explore
beautiful variations on photorealistic images.

Examples of Effects applied to the same prompt.

Prompt: Minimalistic
picture of a man riding
a bicycle in the street.
Shot from the side.
The building behind
him is light yellow.
The light is flat.

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 16

CONTROLS

Reinforce in the prompt the Effect you want to achieve.

Prompt: Simple Line

Doodle [reinforce the
effect in the prompt]
of a monster made
out of clouds stomping
through buildings
at dawn.

Style references

If you have a specific style in mind

but are unsure about how to
describe it in the prompt, select
one of the Style references from the
image gallery or upload your own
image as a Style reference.

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 17

CONTROLS

Example
Explore multiple variations on the same prompt applying different Style references. The images below were
generated using the same prompt (below) and playing with the Style references available in the interface.

Prompt: A race truck in mid-drifting brake turns atop cliff plateau, canary-yellow chassis sliding sideways at 45-degree
angle, massive dust clouds erupting from locked tires, suspension fully articulated under centrifugal force, two drivers
leaning against inertia visible through dust-streaked windshield, golden sunset backlighting the swirling debris like liquid
metal. Huge puff of dust.

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 18

CONTROLS

Composition references

You can also guide the model by being specific about the composition you
have in mind. You can either select a composition type from the image
gallery or upload your own composition reference.

Prompt: Sun‑drenched
castle salon with vaulted
stone arches, sapphire
velvet sofas around a
carved marble fireplace,
crystal chandelier glinting
over inlaid parquet and
antique tapestries in
regal elegance.

Apply both Composition and Style references.

Prompt: Verdant alpine valley at dawn beneath swirling
violet‑rose clouds; river ribboned with mist, wildflower‑dotted
meadows and distant snow peaks aglow with dreamlike color.

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 19

CONTROLS

Upload your references

If you’d like to keep the structure or the style of your own image(s) but want to change the subject or other elements,
upload your image(s) as a Composition and/or Style reference and then type a specific and detailed prompt about
the image you want to see generated.

Example
Let’s assume you want to make images of a tiger, and you really like the
composition and the style of some photos of cats you’ve produced before.
You can upload one or multiple images as Style and/or Composition
reference (depending on what you want to keep: The style of your image,
the composition, or both) and then write your prompt.

Below are some examples of prompts and images generated with the cat
images above, used both as Style and Composition references.

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 20

CONTROLS

A high-resolution picture of a tiger

mid-jump with dramatic lighting
emphasizing its muscular form.

A cinematic photograph of a baby tiger

jumping forward illuminated by gelled
lights casting warm and cool tones with
a smoky background adding intensity.
Tiger on the right side of the image.

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 21

Further enhance the generated
image with Creative Cloud.
Image Model 4 and Image Model 1.
4 Ultra are great at generating
stunning photorealistic and artistic
images. If you wish, you can
continue to refine the generated
image by bringing it to Photoshop,
Illustrator, Express, or other Creative
Cloud apps you generally use in
your work.
3. 4.
Example of workflow 2.
1. Upload a photo of a
mysterious landscape into
Text to Image in Firefly to start
generating multiple design
variations with text prompts
using Image Model 4.
2. Refine the design by using
style reference and select
visual intensity to match the
desired aesthetic. 6.
3. Visually refine further by
selecting color and tone,
lighting, and camera angle.
5.
4. Create multiple variations,
by selecting one and click
Generate Similar.
5. You select one to further edit
with Generative Fill/Generative
Expand to match your desired
aspect ratio and add elements
to the composition.
6. Export these into Adobe
Express/Photoshop/Illustrator
to create the cover for a
thriller novel.

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 22

What to avoid.

Avoid working across purposes. Reinforce your intention across the control tools available.

Example
If you selected a cartoon art style from the control panel, make sure the
prompt doesn’t ask for a photorealistic image.

Firefly Image Model 4 Guide 23

Get social.

Follow Adobe Firefly on social media for more tips on our image,
video, vector and audio models.
We've included recommended creator accounts to follow for more tips on Firefly:

Adobe Firefly Kris Kashtanova Jad Kassis

adobefirefly kris.kashtanova jadkassis

@adobefirefly @kriskashtanova Jad Kassis

Adobe Firefly Kris Kashtanova

@icreatelife

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