3. AI Image Generation Troubleshooting Guide

#AI#Image Generation#Digital Art

When generating illustrations with AI, characters or settings may appear differently across scenes. This happens because AI fills gaps in your prompts with random details from its training data. Here’s how to fix the most common issues.

Common Issues and Solutions

1. Character Changes Between Scenes | Usually fixed in 2-3 attempts

  • Problem: Character’s skin looks darker in one image, lighter in another.
  • Cause: Missing character traits in prompt. AI models randomly fill missing details.
  • Solution: Create a master character description and reuse it.
Prompt Evolution:
❌ Vague: "Draw a cow"
⚠️ Better: "White cow, cartoon style"
✅ Best: "White cow, natural proportions, pinkish nose, brown ear tone, no garland, Pixar-style 3D"

2. Unwanted Accessories | Quick fix

  • Problem: Garlands, jewelry, or decorations appear when you don’t want them.
  • Cause: AI training data often shows decorated characters, so it adds accessories to fill visual gaps.
  • Solution: Tell the AI what NOT to include.
Refined Prompt: "No garland, no tilak, no ornaments"

3. Wrong Character or Species | Needs detailed prompts

  • Problem: Your calf looks like a puppy, or your character changes completely.
  • Cause: Vague descriptions let AI interpret freely.
  • Solution: Be specific about physical features and reference other prompting techniques.
Refined Prompt: "White calf, small body, big eyes, pinkish nose, no horns, Pixar-style 3D"

4. Inconsistent Backgrounds | Requires scene templates

  • Problem: Your forest path looks completely different in each scene.
  • Cause: Environmental details get randomized without consistent descriptions.
  • Solution: Create a background template and use it for every scene.
Refined Prompt: "Narrow forest path, twilight golden sunset, tall trees"

5. Wrong Expressions and Moods | Easy to fix

  • Problem: Character looks angry in a sad scene, or emotions don’t match the story.
  • Cause: AI doesn’t understand your story context without explicit emotional cues.
  • Solution: Always specify the exact expression you need.
Refined Prompt: "Cow with teary eyes, head bowed, gentle expression"

6. Editing Images in ChatGPT | Advanced technique

  • Problem: You have a good image but need to fix one specific part.
  • Cause: Starting over wastes time when you only need small changes.
  • Solution: Use ChatGPT’s built-in editing tools instead of starting over.

Click on your image and find the Select tool in the top-right corner. Select the area you want to change and describe what you want instead.

Edit Image in ChatGPT
Example: For the image above, the prompt was simply "No Red Tilak"

Quick Troubleshooting Flow

Step-by-step diagnostic process:

  1. Character looks different? → Use the same character description every time
  2. Still inconsistent? → Add more physical details (skin tone, size, features)
  3. Unwanted accessories? → Add "no [item]" to your prompt
  4. Wrong mood? → Specify exact facial expression and body language
  5. Background changes? → Create a scene template and reuse it

Best Practices

What actually works in practice:

  • Create a Character Style Guide before starting your project
  • Create smaller scenes for illustrations with one action per prompt
  • Save successful prompts in a Prompt Library for future reference
  • Regenerate up to 3–4 times before rewriting the prompt completely
  • Test one variable at a time (style, lighting, or mood) to isolate issues

Next: AI Prompt Patterns for Consistent Illustrations