Craft image-to-image edit prompts for 即梦 Dreamina models 4.0+.
When to use this skill
Use this skill when the user:
- Provides a reference image and wants to modify it ("把这张图改成...")
- Asks to change an image's style, background, colors, or details
- Wants to add or remove elements from an existing image
- Mentions keywords: 图生图, image2image, 编辑图片, 换背景, 改风格, 修图, 风格迁移, 背景替换
- Describes a transformation applied TO an existing image (not creating from scratch)
Do NOT use this skill for:
- Creating images from text only (no reference image) → use jimeng-prompt-text2image
- CLI execution → use jimeng-cli-image2image
- Video prompts → use jimeng-prompt-text2video or jimeng-prompt-image2video
Core Methodology
The image-to-image prompt formula is fundamentally different from text-to-image:
[保留什么] + [改变什么] + [新元素/新风格描述] + [光影/色彩协调] + [画质要求]
The Keep/Change Principle: An I2I prompt must explicitly state what to KEEP and what to CHANGE. Failing to specify the "keep" list leads to edit cascading — the model changes elements you never intended to touch.
Key difference from text-to-image
| Text-to-Image | Image-to-Image | |
|---|---|---|
| Input | Text only | Reference image(s) + edit instruction |
| Core task | Create from scratch | Transform while preserving |
| Prompt focus | Complete scene description | Keep vs. Change separation |
| Critical component | Subject + Scene + Style | KEEP list (what stays) + CHANGE list (what transforms) |
| Reference | Optional style reference | Required — the source image IS the starting point |
| Model requirement | 3.0+ | 4.0+ only |
How to use this skill
Step 1: Identify the edit category
| Category | What User Wants | Example File |
|---|---|---|
| Style transfer | Change art style while keeping content | examples/style-transfer.md |
| Background replacement | Replace background, keep foreground | examples/background-replace.md |
| Detail enhancement | Improve quality, sharpness, texture | examples/detail-enhance.md |
| Color adjustment | Change color palette, tone, mood | examples/color-adjust.md |
| Element editing | Add or remove specific objects/elements | examples/element-edit.md |
| Season/time | Change season or time of day | examples/season-time.md |
| Repair/restoration | Restore damaged/old photos | examples/restoration.md |
| Creative transformation | Whimsical/fantasy transformations | examples/creative-transform.md |
| Outfit change/clothing | Change clothing while keeping person | examples/outfit-change.md |
| Multi-image composition | Combine elements from multiple images | examples/multi-reference.md |
Step 2: Load reference materials
Load the matched example file from examples/ for category-specific patterns.
Load references/usecase-library.md for detailed edit templates and the keep/change pattern for each use case.
Load references/word-library.md for transformation verbs, edit-specific modifiers, and coordination vocabulary.
For general descriptive vocabulary (facial features, clothing, scenes, styles, lighting, composition), cross-reference the text2image skill's word-library.md — it covers 12 major categories with 60+ subcategories not duplicated here.
Step 3: Build the prompt with the Keep/Change framework
- KEEP list (Keep): What must remain unchanged? Be specific — enumerate the elements: "保持人物面部特征、姿势、服装颜色不变"
- CHANGE instruction (Change): What specifically should transform? "将背景替换为..." "将风格转换为..."
- NEW description (New elements): Describe what the result should look like AFTER the change
- Coordination (Harmonize): How should old and new elements blend? "调整光线使新旧元素自然融合""保持整体色调统一"
- Quality (Image quality): Resolution and output specs
Step 4: Apply I2I-specific writing rules
- Keep list first — explicitly state what stays unchanged before describing changes
- Be specific about what changes — "将纯色背景替换为阳光明媚的海滩" not "换个背景"
- Describe the blend — new elements must look like they BELONG in the scene: "确保新背景的光线方向与原图人物身上的光影一致"
- Coordinate colors — "新背景的色调与人物服装的暖色调保持协调"
- Multi-reference: assign roles — "图一保留人物姿势，图二作为背景风格参考，图三作为服装材质参考"
Step 5: Validate against checklist
Run through the Validation Checklist. Every item must pass before presenting the prompt to the user.
Step 6: Present the result
Always present: KEEP list + CHANGE instruction + complete prompt + model version (4.0+) + aspect ratio recommendation + optional alternative approaches.
Writing Rules for Image-to-Image
Rule 1: Keep list is mandatory
- ✗ "把背景换成海滩" → risk: model might also change the person
- ✓ "保持人物、姿势、服装不变。将纯色背景替换为阳光明媚的海滩，调整光线方向使人物光影与海滩环境光一致"
Rule 2: The more you keep, the more you must list
For subtle edits (color tweak, detail enhancement), the keep list should be longer than the change instruction. The default behavior of I2I models is to "improve" everything — you must constrain it.
Rule 3: Describe the coordination between old and new
The most common I2I failure is new elements looking "pasted on." Always add a coordination instruction:
- "确保新背景的光影方向与人物一致"
- "保持整体色调的协调统一"
- "新元素的材质与场景中的光照自然融合"
Rule 4: Multi-reference images need role assignment
When using 2+ reference images, clearly assign each one's role:
- "图一：保留主体姿势和面部"
- "图二：作为背景风格参考"
- "图三：服装材质和颜色参考"
Rule 5: Match output resolution to input
即梦 4.0 supports up to 4K. If the input is 2K, specify 2K or 4K output. Don't upscale a low-res input to 4K — quality degrades.
Rule 6: Reference quality matters
模糊/杂乱的参考图会导致 AI 误判。If the user's reference image is low quality, recommend they use a clearer image or expect reduced quality.
Validation Checklist
- KEEP list explicitly stated (what stays unchanged)
- CHANGE instruction is specific (not vague)
- NEW element description is complete
- Coordination/blend instruction included
- Aspect ratio recommendation matches content type
- Model version noted (must be 4.0+)
- For multi-reference: each image's role is assigned
- No conflicting instructions (e.g., "change the background" + "keep the scene identical")
Gotchas
- Edit cascading is the #1 failure mode — without explicit keep constraints, I2I models tend to "improve" everything. Always write a keep list
- Background/foreground separation can fail — complex edges (hair, fur, transparent objects) may blend with the new background. Warn users about this limitation
- Multi-reference requires role clarity — up to 6-10 images supported, but each must have a clear, distinct role. "Combine these two images" without specifying WHICH elements from EACH will produce unpredictable results
- Local editing is not supported — 即梦 I2I works on the entire image. You cannot edit "only the left corner." All edits are global
- Model 4.0+ only — I2I does not work with models 3.0-3.1. Always confirm model version
- Resolution matching — 4.0 supports 2K/4K. Upscaling a low-res input degrades quality
- Style strength is controlled by prompt detail — more detailed style description = stronger style application. Less detail = subtle effect
Available Resources
| Resource | Description | When to Load |
|---|---|---|
references/usecase-library.md |
10 use case templates with keep/change patterns | When building any I2I prompt — loaded by default |
references/word-library.md |
Transformation verbs, edit modifiers, coordination vocabulary | When building any I2I prompt — loaded by default |
examples/style-transfer.md |
Style transfer examples | User wants to change art style |
examples/background-replace.md |
Background replacement examples | User wants to change/replace background |
examples/detail-enhance.md |
Detail enhancement examples | User wants higher quality, sharper details |
examples/color-adjust.md |
Color adjustment examples | User wants to change color palette/tone |
examples/element-edit.md |
Element addition/removal examples | User wants to add or remove objects |
examples/season-time.md |
Season/time transformation examples | User wants different season or time of day |
examples/restoration.md |
Repair/restoration examples | User has damaged or old photos |
examples/creative-transform.md |
Creative transformation examples | User wants whimsical/fantasy transformations |
examples/outfit-change.md |
Outfit change/clothing replacement examples | User wants to change clothing on a person |
examples/multi-reference.md |
Multi-image composition examples | User has multiple reference images |