Felix Pinkston
Jan 20, 2026 06:51
Leonardo.Ai releases detailed prompting workflows for Google’s Nano Banana AI models, covering image editing, character consistency, and 4K production techniques.
Leonardo.Ai has published an extensive guide breaking down prompting strategies for Google’s Nano Banana models, the AI image generation tools that went viral after their internal codename stuck. The guide distinguishes between the standard Nano Banana (Gemini 2.5 Flash) and Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro), each requiring fundamentally different approaches.
The timing matters for creators. Since the name “Nano Banana” officially replaced Gemini 2.5 Flash Image earlier this month—reportedly derived from a Google product manager’s nickname combinations—adoption has accelerated. Leonardo.Ai’s platform now lets users toggle between both variants alongside competitors like GPT Image 1.5 and Flux 2 Pro.
Two Models, Two Mindsets
Standard Nano Banana excels at rapid edits and style transfers through pattern-matching. Think of it as a pixel-level predictor—you feed it an image, describe changes, and it calculates how pixels should shift. The Pro version operates differently, using what Leonardo.Ai calls a “Deep Think” reasoning engine that plans scene logic before generating anything.
For the standard model, conversational prompts work best. Object removal requires specificity: “Using this image, remove the stone bust from the foreground. Keep everything else exactly the same.” Vague instructions cause the model to guess, often changing elements you wanted preserved.
Style transfers follow a similar template. You describe the target aesthetic explicitly—”sleek, minimalist futurism with smooth white polymer and chrome”—while anchoring composition to the original. The model repaints rather than reconstructs.
Character Consistency Through Reference Sheets
Maintaining the same character across multiple images remains notoriously difficult with generative AI. Leonardo.Ai’s solution bypasses the typical “anchor string” approach (describing features repeatedly) in favor of 360-degree character sheets.
The workflow: generate 2-3 images showing your subject from multiple angles—left profile, right profile, back view—within a single session. These become reference material for subsequent prompts. When placing that character in new scenes, you point the model back to the sheet rather than relying on text descriptions alone.
Pro Model for Typography and Data
Nano Banana Pro handles tasks where the standard version fails. Text rendering across multiple languages, infographic layouts, and data visualization all benefit from its reasoning architecture.
For typography, double quotation marks signal literal text rendering. Keep phrases short—success rates drop with longer strings. The model also integrates live Google Search results, grounding generations in real-world data for maps, weather overlays, or verified historical details.
Native 4K output makes Pro the choice for production work where micro-textures matter. Brushed steel, fabric weaves, intricate mechanical components—these demand resolution that standard models can’t deliver.
Leonardo.Ai users can select resolution directly from the interface rather than specifying it in prompts, streamlining the workflow for commercial applications.
Image source: Shutterstock
Source: https://blockchain.news/news/leonardo-ai-nano-banana-prompting-guide-workflows
