Use a Brand Template for AI Images

By Melon Cut ·

Look at a brand whose feed feels tidy. Chances are the posts share a layout: the headline in the same place, the photo in the same frame, the logo in the same corner. You can use a brand template for AI images to get that same repeatable look without rebuilding it each time. This article covers what a template is, how to pick a good one and how to write prompts around it.

Template or model?

Two things look alike but do different jobs.

  • A Model is something that must stay the same: a mascot, a product, a person, a place.
  • A Template is a layout to follow with new content: the structure of a post, not its subject.

If you want the same bottle in every picture, use a Model. If you want every Tuesday tip post to look like a Tuesday tip post, use a Template.

Good candidates for templates

Think of posts you make again and again:

  • Weekly tip or quote post.
  • "New this week" announcement.
  • Event poster with a date block.
  • Testimonial card layout.
  • Before and after split.
  • Story with a big headline and a small footer.

Choose one that already looks right, not one you hope to fix. A template carries its flaws forward.

Preparing a good template picture

  1. Use a finished post you are proud of.
  2. Make sure its text areas are clear, so the new words have room.
  3. Prefer layouts with a strong structure over busy, decorative ones.
  4. Save it at the format you will use, such as 4:5 for feed posts or 9:16 for stories.

Writing the prompt

Name the template with @ and then supply only the new content: text, subject and any change of mood.

@TipPost Headline: "Water in the morning". Subject: a watering can on a sunny windowsill with a small basil plant.

@NewThisWeek Headline: "Lemon tart is back". Photo: a golden tart on a marble counter, soft side light.

Spell out the words you want printed exactly. Read the finished picture letter by letter, as text on pictures is the most common thing to need fixing.

Combine with brand guidelines

Add the brand with @ too, so colors, fonts and logo placement follow the guidelines as well. The template gives the structure; the guidelines give the look. If the two clash, adjust the template picture, not the prompt.

Keep the set fresh

A template that never changes becomes wallpaper. Rotate three or four layouts across the month, and review them every season. Note in your guidelines which template belongs to which kind of post. A well-made set also helps when you create images that follow your brand guidelines.

Check before posting

  • Does the text match your copy word for word?
  • Are prices and dates correct?
  • Does the layout still sit inside the safe areas for the format?

In Melon Cut

Add a layout as a Template on your brand in Melon Cut Guidelines, then name it with @ in Melon Cut Design. One prompt can also plan up to 30 posts, stories, pictures and videos together, which is handy for a month of template posts.

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