Why Your AI Images Look Cheap (And 7 Fixes)

The AI look — what causes it

The unmistakable "generated by AI in 2023" look comes from a few specific defaults:

1. Over-saturated colors
2. Waxy, poreless skin
3. Symmetrical composition
4. High-contrast dramatic lighting on everything
5. Airbrushed backgrounds with no texture
6. "8k, ultra detailed" magic words applied to everything
7. Generic depth-of-field bokeh

Here's how to kill each.

Fixes

1. Saturation — add "muted colors, natural color palette" to positive; "oversaturated, vibrant, punchy" to negative.

2. Skin — add "detailed skin texture, visible pores, natural skin"; negative "plastic skin, waxy skin, airbrushed."

3. Composition — add "rule of thirds, off-center composition"; avoid "centered, symmetrical."

4. Lighting — vary it. Not everything is "dramatic cinematic side light." Try "soft overcast lighting," "flat window light," "harsh midday sun."

5. Backgrounds — describe them concretely. "Peeling paint wall" beats "blurred background."

6. Quality words — remove "8k, ultra detailed, masterpiece" from your default. Use them only when the subject actually merits it.

7. Bokeh — stop specifying "shallow depth of field" unless you actually want it. Sometimes a sharp full-focus shot is what a scene needs.

The one-word fix that helps most

Add "unretouched" or "documentary photography" to the positive prompt. It nudges the model toward the aesthetic of real cameras instead of the polished commercial style.

The over-correction trap

Don't add all seven fixes at once. Each one nudges the aesthetic; combined they can push it into a different set of clichés (the "moody desaturated documentary" look is its own AI look now). Pick the two that apply, iterate.