The Art of Style Selection: When to Use Each Open Journey Style

Choosing the Perfect Style

Open Journey offers over 20 carefully tuned artistic styles. Each produces distinctly different results from the same prompt. Understanding when to use each style will dramatically improve your creative output.

Auto Mode: Let AI Decide

Best for: When you're unsure or want to experiment

Auto mode analyzes your prompt and selects the most appropriate style. It's smart about context—a prompt about "anime character" will lean toward anime style, while "professional headshot" will use photographic.

Photographic Style

Best for:

• Product photography


• Realistic portraits


• Stock photo alternatives


• Documentary-style images

Characteristics:

• True-to-life colors


• Realistic lighting and shadows


• Proper human anatomy


• Natural textures

Example prompts:

• "Professional headshot of a business executive, studio lighting"


• "Coffee cup on marble countertop, morning light, lifestyle photography"

Cinematic Style

Best for:

• Movie scene concepts


• Dramatic storytelling


• Epic landscapes


• Emotional portraits

Characteristics:

• Film-like color grading


• Dramatic lighting


• Widescreen composition feel


• Atmospheric depth

Example prompts:

• "Lone astronaut on alien planet, two moons in the sky, cinematic wide shot"


• "Detective in rain-soaked alley, neon signs, film noir atmosphere"

Anime Style

Best for:

• Character design


• Manga illustrations


• Japanese-inspired art


• Expressive characters

Characteristics:

• Large expressive eyes


• Clean line work


• Vibrant colors


• Dynamic poses

Example prompts:

• "Young mage with blue hair casting a spell, fantasy anime style"


• "Cozy ramen shop interior, slice of life anime aesthetic"

Digital Art Style

Best for:

• Concept art


• Game assets


• Modern illustrations


• Social media graphics

Characteristics:

• Clean, polished look


• Vibrant color palette


• Contemporary aesthetic


• Versatile applications

Example prompts:

• "Futuristic city skyline at sunset, concept art"


• "Mythical phoenix rising, digital illustration"

Oil Painting Style

Best for:

• Classical aesthetics


• Portrait commissions


• Fine art reproductions


• Elegant presentations

Characteristics:

• Visible brushstroke texture


• Rich, layered colors


• Classical composition


• Timeless elegance

Example prompts:

• "Baroque style portrait of a noble woman, oil painting"


• "Pastoral landscape with rolling hills, impressionist oil painting"

Watercolor Style

Best for:

• Soft, dreamy aesthetics


• Nature illustrations


• Children's book art


• Greeting cards

Characteristics:

• Soft edges and bleeding colors


• Transparent, luminous quality


• Organic, flowing forms


• Gentle, calming mood

Example prompts:

• "Garden with blooming roses, loose watercolor style"


• "Whimsical forest creatures, children's book watercolor"

3D Render Style

Best for:

• Product visualization


• Character modeling


• Architectural concepts


• Tech and gaming content

Characteristics:

• Smooth, rendered surfaces


• Accurate lighting simulation


• Modern, polished look


• Three-dimensional depth

Example prompts:

• "Cute robot character, Pixar style 3D render"


• "Minimalist smart home device, product 3D visualization"

Pixel Art Style

Best for:

• Retro gaming content


• Nostalgic aesthetics


• Icons and sprites


• 8-bit/16-bit era tributes

Characteristics:

• Blocky, pixelated appearance


• Limited color palette


• Nostalgic charm


• Clean, deliberate design

Example prompts:

• "Fantasy warrior sprite, 16-bit JRPG style"


• "Retro sunset cityscape, synthwave pixel art"

Comic Book Style

Best for:

• Superhero content


• Action scenes


• Pop art aesthetics


• Bold, graphic designs

Characteristics:

• Bold outlines


• Halftone dots


• Dynamic action poses


• Vivid, flat colors

Example prompts:

• "Superhero landing pose, Marvel comic style"


• "Pop art portrait, Roy Lichtenstein inspired"

Minimalist Style

Best for:

• Clean branding


• Modern design


• Abstract concepts


• Professional presentations

Characteristics:

• Reduced elements


• Ample white space


• Simple shapes


• Focused composition

Example prompts:

• "Abstract geometric shapes, minimalist wall art"


• "Simple line drawing of a coffee cup, minimalist illustration"

Fantasy Style

Best for:

• Epic scenes


• Mythical creatures


• World-building


• Book covers

Characteristics:

• Magical atmospheres


• Rich, detailed environments


• Otherworldly elements


• Epic scale

Example prompts:

• "Ancient dragon perched on crystal mountain, high fantasy"


• "Elven city in giant tree, magical lighting"

Style Combination Tips

You can influence the style further with your prompt:

• Add "highly detailed" for more intricate results


• Use "simple" or "clean" for less busy images


• Mention specific artists for style influence


• Include lighting descriptions to set mood

Style Selection Flowchart

What's your primary use case?

• Marketing/Business → Photographic or Digital Art


• Entertainment/Gaming → Anime, Fantasy, or Pixel Art


• Fine Art/Decoration → Oil Painting or Watercolor


• Social Media → Digital Art or Cinematic


• Children's Content → Watercolor or Anime


• Tech/Product → 3D Render or Minimalist

Experimentation is Key

The best way to learn is to try the same prompt across multiple styles. You'll quickly develop intuition for which styles work best for your creative needs.

Save your favorite style + prompt combinations for consistent results in future projects.