Seedream is ByteDance's flagship text-to-image and image-editing model. Seedream 4.5 is the current default, with 5.0 Pro the newest (released July 8, 2026). You prompt it in natural language — descriptive sentences, not tag soup — and it ships best-in-class text rendering at up to 4K, which makes it unusually good at posters, product shots, and infographics.
The 40 prompts below are grouped by job. Each is written the way Seedream likes — a flowing description with an explicit aspect ratio and resolution, and quoted exact text wherever typography matters. Paste any one in, swap the bracketed parts, and iterate. Keep the Seedream prompt cheat sheet open for the modifier tables, and read how to prompt Seedream for photorealism for the lighting and lens language behind the portrait section.
Photorealistic portraits
Portraits live and die on lighting and lens. Lead with the person, name a real light setup, and set a tall ratio.
1. Weathered lighthouse keeper portrait
A weathered lighthouse keeper in his late sixties with a grey beard and a heavy oilskin coat, tight head-and-shoulders portrait looking just off-camera, standing on a windswept jetty at dawn with soft sea mist behind him, lit by warm golden-hour backlight and a gentle rim light on his cheek, photorealistic editorial style with natural skin texture and shallow depth of field, shot on an 85mm lens. 4:5 aspect ratio, render in 4K.Why it works: the subject leads, the light is a real setup, and one clean line of lens and resolution keeps it readable to the model.
2. High-key beauty headshot
A confident woman in her early thirties with glowing skin, freckles, and short dark curls, straight-on beauty headshot smiling softly at the camera, against a seamless pale-cream backdrop, lit with bright high-key studio lighting and a large soft beauty dish for even, flattering light with no harsh shadows, crisp commercial retouched look with true-to-life color, shot on a 100mm lens. 1:1 square, render in 4K.Best for: cosmetics, skincare, and clean profile shots that need bright, even light.
3. Cinematic noir portrait
A man in his forties in a dark tailored suit, half his face in shadow, three-quarter portrait gazing into the distance, in a dim room with a single window casting a hard slash of light, low-key chiaroscuro lighting with deep blacks and one bright highlight, moody cinematic film-grade color with subtle grain, shot on a 50mm lens with shallow focus. 4:5 aspect ratio, render in 2K.Why it works: low-key light and a named grade do the drama; the tight framing keeps focus on mood.
4. Environmental craftsman portrait
A ceramicist in her fifties with clay-dusted hands and an apron, medium environmental portrait as she looks up from her wheel, in a sunlit workshop full of shelves of drying pots, lit by soft directional window light with warm bounce fill, natural documentary photography style with honest color and fine detail, deep depth of field, shot on a 35mm lens. 3:2 aspect ratio, render in 4K.Best for: founder stories, About pages, and craft-brand features. See more Seedream portrait prompts for lighting variations.
Product & e-commerce shots
Clean studio light, a defined surface, and a macro lens make materials read as premium. Center the product and keep the background simple.
5. Skincare bottle hero shot
A frosted-glass serum bottle with a matte gold dropper cap, centered three-quarter view on a wet polished stone slab with a single water droplet beside it, in a minimalist studio, lit with a soft three-point setup and a subtle rim light to define the edges, photorealistic product-studio style with crisp reflections and a seamless sage-green backdrop, shot on a 100mm macro lens with shallow depth of field. 4:5 aspect ratio, render in 4K.Best for: e-commerce hero images. For a deeper walkthrough see Seedream product photography prompts.
6. Sneaker levitation shot
A single white-and-orange running sneaker floating mid-air at a dynamic angle with laces gently trailing, centered composition against a bold gradient studio backdrop of coral to peach, lit with punchy directional light and a bright rim to separate it from the background, high-contrast commercial product style with sharp texture on the mesh and rubber, shot on a 50mm lens. 1:1 square, render in 4K.Why it works: the floating angle and rim light give energy while keeping the product the clear hero.
7. Watch macro on marble
A luxury automatic wristwatch with a deep-blue sunburst dial and a steel bracelet, extreme macro three-quarter view showing the texture of the dial and the beveled case, resting on a slab of white Carrara marble, lit with soft grazing light that catches the polished edges and a controlled reflection, premium photorealistic product style with true metal tones, shot on a 100mm macro lens. 3:2 aspect ratio, render in 4K.Best for: watches, jewelry, and any product where surface detail sells.
8. Coffee bag flat-lay
A kraft-paper coffee bag lying flat on a rustic dark-wood table, top-down flat-lay surrounded by scattered roasted beans, a burlap cloth, and a small brass scoop, lit with soft overcast diffusion for even, natural light and gentle shadows, warm editorial food-brand style with rich texture, shot on a 35mm lens with deep depth of field. 4:5 aspect ratio, render in 2K.Why it works: the top-down layout and props tell a brand story without clutter fighting the bag.
Posters, text & typography
This is where Seedream shines. Put the exact words in double quotes, keep them short, name the font, and describe placement. Lead with the text so the model plans layout first.
9. Concert gig poster with headline
A bold indie-rock gig poster with the headline "NIGHT SIGNAL" in a heavy condensed sans-serif across the top and the subtitle "LIVE FRIDAY" in a smaller grotesk beneath it. Below the type, a silhouetted band on a smoky stage lit by magenta and cyan spotlights, high-contrast risograph-inspired print style with a limited three-color palette. Headline top-center, subtitle just below, everything sharp and legible. 2:3 aspect ratio, render in 4K.Why it works: two short quoted strings, named fonts, and clear placement let Seedream render crisp type and build the art around it.
10. Minimalist sale banner
A clean minimalist promo banner with the giant headline "50% OFF" in a bold geometric sans-serif centered on the canvas, and the small line "ENDS SUNDAY" in a light grotesk directly below. Solid warm-coral background with a single subtle drop shadow under the letters, lots of negative space, modern flat marketing style. Text sharp and perfectly centered. 16:9 aspect ratio, render in 2K.Best for: email headers and web banners where the offer is the whole image.
11. Retro travel poster
A mid-century travel poster with the ALL-CAPS headline "VISIT KYOTO" in a warm hand-lettered serif across the bottom banner. Above it, a stylized illustration of a red pagoda among autumn maples under a soft gradient sky, flat limited palette of vermilion, mustard, and cream, vintage screen-print texture. Headline bottom-center, clean and legible. 2:3 aspect ratio, render in 4K.Why it works: a short two-word place name in quotes renders cleanly, and the illustration style keeps it cohesive.
12. Event save-the-date typography
An elegant save-the-date card with the script headline "Save the Date" in a flowing handwritten style centered near the top, and the line "June 2027" in a fine elegant serif below it. Soft blush-and-ivory watercolor wash background with delicate gold botanical accents in the corners, refined wedding-stationery style. Text centered, crisp, and readable. 4:5 aspect ratio, render in 4K.Best for: invitations and stationery. Explore more in the Seedream posters and text prompts.
Logos & brand marks
Ask for flat, simple marks on a solid background. Quote the brand name when you want lettering, and keep the palette to one or two colors.
13. Coffee roastery wordmark logo
A flat vector logo for a specialty coffee roastery, a simplified single coffee-cherry branch above the wordmark "EMBER & OAK" in a clean bold serif, one warm terracotta color on a solid cream background, centered and symmetrical, minimal graphic style with no gradients, shadows, or 3D. Keep the lettering crisp and evenly spaced. 1:1 square, render in 4K.Why it works: a short quoted name plus one simple symbol is exactly the kind of mark Seedream renders cleanly.
14. Geometric tech app mark
A flat vector logo for a tech startup, an abstract geometric mark of two overlapping triangles suggesting upward motion, single deep-indigo color on a solid white background, centered, bold and minimal with clean edges and no text, no gradient or shadow, modern app-icon feel. 1:1 square, render in 2K.Best for: software brands wanting an abstract, trustworthy symbol without lettering.
15. Vintage bakery badge logo
A vintage circular badge logo for a bakery with the curved text "GOLDEN CRUST" around the top edge and "EST. 2019" along the bottom, a simplified wheat-and-rolling-pin emblem in the center, flat two-tone design in warm brown and cream, retro monoline style on a solid background, all lettering sharp and legible. 1:1 square, render in 4K.Why it works: curved badge text is short and structured, so Seedream keeps it readable at 4K.
Characters & consistent sets
Seedream's standout is consistency. Supply a reference photo to lock a face and clothing, label each reference's role, and use sequential generation for on-model sets.
16. Consistent mascot base sheet
Design a friendly cartoon fox mascot for a kids' learning app, a round-cheeked orange fox with a teal scarf and big curious eyes, front-facing full-body pose on a plain light-grey background, clean flat-shaded illustration style with bold outlines and a simple palette. This is the master reference for a consistent set — keep the design simple and memorable. 1:1 square, render in 2K.Why it works: a clean, simple base on a plain background is the reference you will reuse to keep the character on-model.
17. Character turnaround set
Using image 1 as the character reference, generate a consistent turnaround of the same fox mascot in four poses on one sheet — front, three-quarter, side profile, and back — keeping the scarf color, proportions, and face identical across all four. Plain light-grey background, matching flat-shaded illustration style and outlines. Even spacing between poses. 16:9 aspect ratio, render in 2K.Best for: building a reusable character sheet. The "keep identical" instruction is what holds it on-model.
18. Story-consistent scene pair
Using image 1 for the character's face and outfit, place the same young woman with red glasses and a mustard raincoat in a new scene: waiting at a rainy bus stop at dusk, medium shot, cinematic soft light with neon reflections on the wet pavement. Keep her face, hair, and clothing exactly consistent with the reference; only the setting and pose change. 3:2 aspect ratio, render in 4K.Why it works: naming what to keep versus what to change is the reliable path to consistent story frames.
19. Brand style-consistent icon set
Generate a set of six matching line-icons for a finance app — wallet, chart, card, coin, lock, and bell — all in the same rounded monoline style, two-pixel even stroke weight, single deep-teal color on a solid white background, arranged in a neat two-by-three grid with consistent sizing and padding. Keep every icon visually consistent as one family. 3:2 aspect ratio, render in 2K.Best for: UI kits and design systems that need a cohesive icon family in one pass.
Photo editing & multi-image fusion
Feed one image plus an instruction, using Action + Object + Attributes: say what to change and what to keep identical. For fusion, supply multiple images and label each one's job.
20. Change jacket color, keep everything
Keep the model's pose, face, hair, lighting, and background exactly the same. Change only the denim jacket to a deep burgundy leather jacket with a slightly worn matte finish. Match the original lighting so the new jacket looks naturally lit and photorealistic, with no change to skin tone or shadows. Preserve the original resolution and framing. Render in 4K.Why it works: naming everything to keep first, then the single change, is the editing pattern Seedream rewards.
21. Remove background for product
Remove the background from this product photo and place the item on a clean seamless pure-white studio backdrop. Keep the product's shape, color, texture, and reflections exactly as in the original, add a soft natural contact shadow beneath it, and keep the edges crisp with no halo. Do not alter the product itself. 1:1 square, render in 4K.Best for: turning any snapshot into a clean marketplace listing image.
22. Two-image product fusion
Combine two references: use image 1 for the perfume bottle and image 2 for the background style — a sunlit marble bathroom with soft morning light and green foliage. Place the bottle from image 1 naturally on the marble surface, matching the lighting, reflections, and shadow direction of the background so it looks like one real photograph. Keep the bottle's label and shape identical. 4:5 aspect ratio, render in 4K.Why it works: labeling image 1 as the product and image 2 as the style is the fusion pattern Seedream handles best.
23. Restore and colorize old photo
Restore this old damaged black-and-white photograph: remove scratches, creases, and dust, repair the torn corner, and gently sharpen the faces while keeping them natural. Then colorize it with realistic, period-accurate tones — soft skin, muted 1950s clothing colors, and warm natural light. Preserve the original composition, expressions, and every facial feature exactly. Render in 4K.Best for: family archives and heritage projects where faces must stay true.
24. Try-on outfit swap
Use image 1 for the person and image 2 for the garment. Dress the person from image 1 in the beige trench coat from image 2, fitting it naturally to their pose and body with realistic folds and drape. Keep the person's face, hairstyle, background, and lighting exactly the same; only the outfit changes. Match the coat's color and texture to image 2. 3:4 aspect ratio, render in 4K.Why it works: two labeled references plus a clear keep-list gives clean virtual try-on results. More in Seedream photo editing prompts.
Infographics & diagrams
Seedream's text rendering makes it viable for simple, labeled graphics. Keep labels short and quoted, name the layout, and ask for 4K for crisp small text.
25. Process flow infographic
A clean four-step process infographic titled "HOW IT WORKS" in a bold sans-serif at the top. Four numbered rounded cards left to right, each with a simple line icon and a short label: "1 Sign Up", "2 Upload", "3 Review", "4 Publish", connected by thin arrows. Flat modern style, calm blue-and-white palette, generous spacing, all text sharp and legible. 16:9 aspect ratio, render in 4K.Why it works: short quoted labels and a named left-to-right layout keep the type clean and the structure clear.
26. Stat-card data visual
A minimalist stat-card graphic with the big number "87%" in a heavy sans-serif centered on the card, the caption "of users renew" in a light grotesk directly below it, and a simple thin circular progress ring around the number. Soft mint background, flat modern dashboard style, lots of negative space, text crisp and perfectly centered. 1:1 square, render in 4K.Best for: social stat posts and slide graphics that hinge on one number.
27. Labeled anatomy diagram
A clean educational diagram of a coffee plant with three short quoted labels connected by thin leader lines: "Cherry", "Leaf", and "Roots". Simple flat botanical illustration in green and brown on a soft off-white background, title "COFFEE PLANT" in a bold serif at the top, textbook-style layout with legible sans-serif labels. 4:5 aspect ratio, render in 4K.Why it works: few, short labels avoid the garbling that long strings cause; leader lines keep the layout tidy.
28. Comparison table graphic
A simple two-column comparison graphic titled "FREE VS PRO" in a bold sans-serif at the top, two rounded columns headed "FREE" and "PRO", each with three short bullet lines and a simple checkmark icon per row. Flat modern style, muted grey and green palette, even spacing, clean readable type throughout. 4:5 aspect ratio, render in 4K.Best for: pricing and feature comparisons in a shareable card.
Social ads & thumbnails
Big, short, high-contrast text wins the feed and the thumbnail grid. Lead with the words, name the font, and match the platform ratio.
29. YouTube thumbnail with big text
A high-energy YouTube thumbnail with the huge headline "I TRIED IT" in a heavy bold sans-serif with a thick outline, top-left. To the right, a surprised person pointing at a glowing gadget, bright punchy studio lighting, saturated high-contrast colors and a bold yellow accent stripe behind the text. Text large, sharp, and readable at small size. 16:9 aspect ratio, render in 2K.Why it works: two short outlined words stay legible when the thumbnail shrinks in the grid.
30. Instagram carousel cover
An Instagram carousel cover with the headline "5 QUICK TIPS" in a bold rounded sans-serif centered, and a small "SWIPE →" hint in the bottom-right corner. Soft gradient background from lavender to pink, one simple line icon of a lightbulb above the headline, clean modern social style with generous padding, text sharp and centered. 4:5 aspect ratio, render in 2K.Best for: educational carousels where the cover has to earn the swipe.
31. App store feature graphic
A polished app store feature banner with the headline "PLAN YOUR WEEK" in a clean bold sans-serif on the left, and a floating smartphone showing a simple calendar UI on the right, tilted slightly with a soft shadow. Deep-blue gradient background with subtle abstract shapes, modern product-marketing style, text crisp and well-spaced. 16:9 aspect ratio, render in 4K.Why it works: a short quoted headline plus a clean device mockup reads instantly at banner size.
Scenes, landscapes & interiors
For environments, set the light and time of day first, then the ratio. Wide ratios sell scale; deep depth of field keeps everything sharp.
32. Misty mountain landscape
A sweeping landscape of layered pine-covered mountain ridges fading into morning mist, a single small cabin glowing warm in the foreground valley, wide establishing shot at dawn with soft golden light breaking through low fog, cool blue shadows and warm highlights, photorealistic nature photography with deep depth of field and fine detail, shot on a 24mm wide-angle lens. 21:9 aspect ratio, render in 4K.Why it works: the 21:9 ratio plus atmospheric mist gives cinematic scale without any extra tricks.
33. Cyberpunk street scene
A rain-slicked neon backstreet in a futuristic megacity at night, a lone figure in a hooded coat walking away from camera, wide low-angle shot, dense magenta and cyan neon signs reflecting off wet asphalt and puddles, drifting steam from vents, moody cinematic color grade with atmospheric haze and shallow focus, shot on a 35mm lens. 16:9 aspect ratio, render in 4K.Best for: wallpapers and story frames with a strong sci-fi mood.
34. Scandinavian living room interior
A bright Scandinavian living room with a pale oak floor, a light-grey linen sofa, a woven rug, and a few trailing plants, wide interior shot at eye level, flooded with soft natural daylight from a large window, airy neutral palette with warm wood accents, photorealistic architectural-digest style with clean lines and deep depth of field, shot on a 24mm lens. 3:2 aspect ratio, render in 4K.Why it works: soft daylight and a wide lens make the space feel open and true to a real interior shoot.
35. Golden-hour coastal aerial
A top-down aerial drone shot of a curving turquoise coastline meeting white sand, a few small boats leaving wakes in the shallows, captured at golden hour with warm low sunlight and long soft shadows, rich saturated water tones and fine texture in the surf, photorealistic aerial photography style, deep depth of field. 16:9 aspect ratio, render in 4K.Best for: travel headers and desktop wallpaper with a strong sense of place.
Food & 3D/CGI
Food wants appetizing light and macro detail; 3D and CGI want named render styles and clean studio setups.
36. Gourmet burger food shot
A stacked gourmet cheeseburger with a glossy brioche bun, melting cheddar, and fresh toppings, close-up three-quarter view on a slate board with a few scattered fries, in a warm rustic setting, lit with soft directional side light and a gentle backlight to catch the steam and the glisten on the cheese, appetizing photorealistic food-photography style with rich texture, shot on a 100mm macro lens with shallow depth of field. 4:5 aspect ratio, render in 4K.Why it works: side light plus backlight is the classic food setup that makes texture and steam read as delicious.
37. Splashing drink pour
A tall glass of iced orange soda with a dramatic splash frozen mid-pour, ice cubes and droplets suspended in the air, centered on a clean gradient studio background of amber to cream, lit with crisp high-speed strobe light and a bright rim to catch the liquid, vibrant high-contrast commercial beverage style with razor-sharp motion, shot on a 100mm lens. 4:5 aspect ratio, render in 4K.Best for: beverage ads where a frozen splash sells freshness.
38. Isometric 3D room render
A cute isometric 3D render of a cozy home office cutaway room, a small desk with a laptop, a plant, a bookshelf, and a warm lamp, soft pastel palette of cream, sage, and blush, clean stylized low-poly style with soft global-illumination lighting and gentle ambient shadows, rendered like a polished Blender scene on a plain light background. 1:1 square, render in 4K.Why it works: naming the isometric low-poly look and soft GI lighting gives a clean, consistent 3D style.
39. Clay 3D character render
A charming 3D clay-render character of a round little robot with big friendly eyes and stubby arms, standing on a plain pastel-blue backdrop, soft matte clay-like material with subtle fingerprint texture, gentle studio lighting with a soft key and soft shadow, playful stylized CGI style like a polished character render. Centered, full body. 1:1 square, render in 4K.Best for: mascots and app characters with a tactile, toy-like feel.
40. Glossy product 3D CGI
A high-end 3D CGI render of a sleek wireless earbud case floating at a three-quarter angle, glossy white ceramic finish with a chrome hinge, on a soft gradient studio background of pale grey to white, clean Octane-style rendering with crisp studio reflections, soft rim light, and realistic material response, premium product-visualization look. 1:1 square, render in 4K.Why it works: naming the render engine style and reflections pushes Seedream toward polished, ad-ready CGI. For the full toolkit, keep the Seedream prompt cheat sheet handy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Seedream and who makes it?
Seedream is ByteDance's flagship text-to-image and image-editing model. The current lineup is Seedream 4.0, 4.5, and 5.0 Pro, which released July 8, 2026. Seedream 4.5 is the sensible default; 5.0 Pro is the newest and strongest. You can use it through ByteDance and BytePlus ModelArk, the Doubao, Dreamina, and Jimeng apps, and third-party platforms like fal.ai, WaveSpeed, Replicate, Picsart, and Freepik.
How do I set the aspect ratio and resolution in Seedream?
State both in plain English inside the prompt — Seedream has no --ar or --v flags. Write something like "9:16 aspect ratio" and "render in 4K" or "2K resolution." Seedream 4.5 outputs up to 2048x2048 and 4K, so ask for 2K for screen and social work and 4K for print or anything you will crop into. Common ratios are 1:1, 4:5, 3:4, 2:3, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9, 9:16, and 21:9.
Why does Seedream want natural language instead of tag lists?
Seedream reads full descriptive sentences and reasons about them, so you brief it like a photographer rather than stacking Midjourney-style tags. Word order matters — elements earlier in the prompt get priority, so lead with your most important subject and detail. The sweet spot is 30 to 100 words: under about 15 leaves too much to interpretation, and over about 150 stacks conflicting instructions.
How do I get clean text in a Seedream image?
Put the exact words in double quotes, keep them short (3 to 5 words render cleanest, longer strings garble), name the font style like "bold sans-serif" or "elegant serif," and describe placement such as "headline top-center, subtitle below." Seedream has best-in-class text rendering in both English and Chinese, and asking for 4K gives crisper letterforms.
Can Seedream keep a character consistent across a set of images?
Yes — that is one of its standout features. Supply a reference photo and Seedream preserves the face and clothing, so you can generate a whole set that stays on-model. It also does sequential batch generation with theme and character consistency. Label each reference's role in the prompt and lead with identity, then style, then palette, then material or layout.
How does image editing work in Seedream?
Feed it one image plus an instruction and use the Action + Object + Attributes pattern: say what to change and what to keep identical. For example, "keep the pose, lighting, and background the same; change only the jacket to red." Seedream also accepts multiple images — up to about six references — for multi-image fusion, so you can combine a product, a face, and a background style in one shot.
How many reference images can Seedream use at once?
Seedream accepts text, one image, or multiple images — up to about six references in a single prompt. This powers multi-image fusion and consistent sets. A reference order that works well is identity first, then style, then palette, then material or layout, and you should name each reference's job, for example "use image 1 for the product and image 2 for the background style."
Which Seedream model should I use in 2026?
Use Seedream 4.5 as your everyday default — it balances quality, speed, and cost, and handles text, editing, and multi-image work well. Reach for 5.0 Pro, released July 8, 2026, when you need the highest fidelity, the cleanest typography, or the most reliable character consistency across a large set. All of these prompts work on both; 4.5 is where most people should start.