What each part of the prompt does
- Likeness checklist
- Instead of a general "keep the face", this prompt lists face shape, eyes, hairline and expression. In a drawing, those four make a portrait recognisable, while skin detail matters much less.
- Cross-hatching
- "Fine cross-hatching for the shadows" names a real pencil technique, so the shading looks built from lines rather than airbrushed grey.
- Unfinished edges
- "Loose unfinished strokes toward the shoulders" mirrors how many artists work, finishing the face and leaving the edges rough. It also plays down the clothes and keeps attention on the face.
- A photo of the sketch
- The sketchbook edge, the smudges, the pencil in the corner and "photographed from above in soft daylight" present the result as a real object on a table rather than a filter over a photo.
Variations to try
Same idea, one thing changed. These have no example image yet.
Charcoal on white paper Turn my uploaded photo into a realistic charcoal drawing on rough white paper. Keep the likeness exact: face shape, eyes, hairline and expression. Bold, soft charcoal shading with smudged blending, loose unfinished strokes toward the shoulders, a few dark fingerprints and the edge of the drawing pad visible. A stick of charcoal rests on the page in the corner. Photographed from above in soft daylight, 3:4 frame.
Coloured pencil Turn my uploaded photo into a realistic coloured pencil drawing on cream sketchbook paper. Keep the likeness exact: face shape, eyes, hairline and expression. Layered strokes of natural skin and hair colours, loose unfinished strokes toward the shoulders, a few smudges and the edge of the sketchbook visible. A few coloured pencils rest on the page in the corner. Photographed from above in soft daylight, 3:4 frame.
Blue ballpoint in a notebook Turn my uploaded photo into a realistic blue ballpoint pen drawing on a lined notebook page. Keep the likeness exact: face shape, eyes, hairline and expression. Fine hatching and cross-hatching for the shadows, loose unfinished lines toward the shoulders and the ruled lines showing through. A ballpoint pen rests on the page in the corner. Photographed from above in soft daylight, 3:4 frame.
If the result isn't right
- If the result is just your photo turned grey, add "visible pencil strokes everywhere, no photographic detail".
- When the eyes look flat, ask for "a small white highlight in each eye, left as bare paper".
- Gemini sometimes lays the pencil across the face; specify "pencil in the bottom right corner of the page, away from the drawing".
- If heavy stylising weakens the likeness, ask for "a tighter, more detailed drawing of the face, loose only at the edges".