Creating visually stunning video outputs using AI tools like Kling AI, ChatGPT-powered video generators, and others requires one essential skill—effective prompting.
Your prompts are the bridge between an idea in your mind and the visual masterpiece the AI creates. When prompts are vague, overly complicated, or missing key details, the result is often disappointing.
If you’ve struggled to get high-quality video outputs, you're not alone. Here are the five most common mistakes people make during prompting—and how to fix them.
Key Takeaways
| Mistake | Why It Happens | Fix | Example (Bad → Good) | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overcomplicating Your Prompts | AI gets confused by lengthy or overly detailed instructions. | Keep prompts short and clear. | ❌ "A panda in a dense forest, sitting under a tall oak tree, with sunlight..."✅ "A panda in a forest, sunlight beams through trees." | Focus on the main subject and keep extra details minimal but precise. |
| Ignoring Subject Details | Vague subjects make AI guess, often leading to poor visuals. | Describe the subject's appearance, actions, and setting clearly. | ❌ "A panda reading."✅ "A panda wearing black-rimmed glasses, reading a book on a wooden table with steaming coffee nearby." | Use descriptors (like size, color, clothing) to personalize the subject. |
| Forgetting Scene Context | Without scene description, videos lack realism or engagement. | Add brief, relevant details about environment and setting. | ❌ "A panda reading a book."✅ "A panda in a cozy café, blurred background, warm sunlight shining through the window." | Briefly describe both foreground and background to add depth. |
| Neglecting Camera and Lighting | Missing camera or lighting cues results in flat or bland visuals. | Specify camera angles and lighting mood. | ❌ "A panda under soft light."✅ "Low-angle close-up of a panda, soft ambient lighting with a cinematic color palette." | Try terms like "close-up," "bokeh," or "golden hour" to enhance cinematic feel. |
| Unrealistic Movements | Illogical or physics-defying motions break the AI's understanding of realism. | Keep movements grounded and simple. | ❌ "A panda juggling books mid-air while riding a bike."✅ "A panda sitting at a table, turning a page of a book." | Stick to believable, natural actions to get usable outputs. |
1. Overcomplicating Your Prompts
A common mistake is cramming too much information into a single prompt. Overcomplicated language and lengthy sentences confuse the AI, leaving it unable to parse your instructions.
Why This Happens:
AI tools like Kling AI work best when prompts are straightforward and to the point. Overloading them with details often results in a chaotic video output that misses the mark.
🛠️ Fix:
Keep prompts simple and clear.
Example:
❌ Bad: "A panda in a dense forest, sitting under a tall oak tree, with sunlight cascading through the dense canopy above and birds chirping."
✅ Good: "A panda in a forest, sunlight beams through trees."
Pro Tip:
Focus on primary elements (what must appear in the video) and keep details short to ensure clarity.
2. Ignoring Subject Details
A generic or vague subject description is another common misstep. If you fail to provide enough context about the subject—its attributes, actions, or appearance—the AI will fill in the blanks, often with inaccurate or bland results.
Why This Happens:
AI tools rely heavily on subject details to construct scenes. Vague prompts force the system to guess, often leading to mismatched visuals.
🛠️ Fix:
Be specific about the subject’s appearance, actions, and surroundings.
Example:
❌ Bad: "A panda reading."
✅ Good: "A panda wearing black-rimmed glasses, reading a book on a wooden table with steaming coffee nearby."
Pro Tip:
Use descriptors like size, colors, clothing, or accessories to customize the subject to your vision.
3. Forgetting Scene Context
Your audience will notice if the background or setting lacks depth and context. Leaving out scene details makes videos feel incomplete or unengaging.
Why This Happens:
AI relies on your prompt to understand the context in which the action occurs. Without a scene description, the generated video often feels generic.
🛠️ Fix:
Add concise descriptions of the scene and environment.
Example:
❌ Bad: "A panda reading a book."
✅ Good: "A panda in a cozy café, blurred background, warm sunlight shining through the window."
Pro Tip:
Balance brevity with detail. Describe the foreground and background without overwhelming the AI or sacrificing clarity.
4. Neglecting Camera and Lighting Language
One overlooked element in AI-generated visuals is the cinematic quality. By ignoring how the “camera” should move or how light should affect the mood, users lose the opportunity to elevate their video outputs.
Why This Happens:
AI models like Kling AI excel in replicating real-world cinematography, but they need guidance. Without input on angles or lighting, the result may look flat or uninspired.
🛠️ Fix:
Include details about camera angles and lighting.
Example:
❌ Bad: "A panda under soft light."
✅ Good: "Low-angle close-up of a panda, soft ambient lighting with a cinematic color palette."
Pro Tip:
Experiment with terms like "close-up," "wide shot," or "bokeh" (blurred background) and lighting moods like "golden hour."
5. Unrealistic Movements
Another critical error is describing movements or actions that defy physics or logical constraints. This frustrates the AI and leads to unusable outputs.
Why This Happens:
AI tools are trained to simulate realistic motion. Unrealistic actions—like juggling multiple objects while flying—are outside their scope.
🛠️ Fix:
Describe movements that are natural and simple.
Example:
❌ Bad: "A panda juggling books mid-air while riding a bike."
✅ Good: "A panda sitting at a table, turning a page of a book."
Pro Tip:
Test simpler motion templates first, such as walking, standing, or sitting, before expanding the complexity.
How to Create Better Prompts with Kling AI
Now that you know what not to do, here’s how to create professional-grade AI-generated videos with Kling AI:
- Follow the Formula:
Use this structured approach for effective prompting:
Prompt = Subject + Movement + Scene + (Camera + Lighting + Atmosphere)
For example, "A giant panda in a café, wearing glasses, reading a book on a table. Close-up shot, warm lighting, cinematic color palette."
- Iterate and Test:
Start with general prompts, review the output, and fine-tune for more precise results.
- Use Kling AI’s Tools:
Take advantage of advanced features like camera movement, start/end frames, and motion brushes to enhance your videos.
Final Thoughts
Prompting is an art and a science. By avoiding these five common mistakes and using structured, clear prompts, you can drastically enhance the quality of your AI-generated videos. Tools like Kling AI offer robust functionalities, but they require thoughtful inputs to unlock their full potential.
Want to try it yourself?
Head over to Kling AI and experiment with creating your next masterpiece.
What are your biggest challenges with prompting? Share your experiences or tips in the comments below!
