Chiaroscuro — AI lighting setup prompt
Chiaroscuro is a lighting design you can name directly in the prompt. Here is the phrase to use, what it changes, and which models render it reliably.
The prompt phrase
Chiaroscuro
chiaroscuro lighting, a single hard source carving deep pools of shadowLighting decides the mood of a shot more than any other single choice, and it is the instruction models respond to most reliably.
A worked example
A barista pouring latte art beside a rain-streaked window, chiaroscuro lighting, a single hard source carving deep pools of shadowYour subject comes first, then the technique, then anything else. Models weight the front of a prompt most heavily, so keep the subject there and let the lighting setup modify it.
Models that render it
| Model | Credits | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Flux Schnell | 1 | instant drafts, lowest cost |
| Flux Dev | 2 | good quality without the top price |
| Nano Banana | 2 | follows instructions most closely |
| Recraft v3 | 3 | logos, icons and clean vector art |
| Seedream 4.5 | 3 | photoreal, and gets text right |
| Flux 2 | 4 | newest model, most realistic results |
| Flux Pro | 4 | sharpest detail of the Flux family |
| Ideogram 3 | 4 | posters and anything with words in it |
In video
The same phrase works in video prompts. These models accept it alongside a camera move:
| Model | Credits | Native audio |
|---|---|---|
| Veo 3.1 Lite | 6 | Yes |
| Veo 3.1 Fast | 12 | Yes |
| Wan 2.6 | 14 | Yes |
| Veo 3.1 | 22 | Yes |
| Hailuo 02 | 8 | Yes |
Related lighting setups
- Golden Hour lighting setup
- Blue Hour lighting setup
- Harsh Noon lighting setup
- Overcast lighting setup
- Rim Light lighting setup
- Studio Softbox lighting setup
- Neon Practical lighting setup
- Candlelit lighting setup
- Volumetric Rays lighting setup
- Silhouette lighting setup
- Moonlight lighting setup
Common questions
What exactly do I put in the prompt?
The phrase above, word for word: "chiaroscuro lighting, a single hard source carving deep pools of shadow". Put it after your subject, separated by a comma.
Which models handle this best?
The 8 models in the table all support it. Flux Schnell is the cheapest way to test it at 1 credits, then move up a tier once the shot works.
Can I combine it with other lighting setups?
Yes. Stacking two or three related instructions is normal; stacking six competing ones is where results start to fall apart.