🏷️ Tag-Based Prompts Explained – Why ViVid Works Differently than Nova

Why this matters

If you've used Nova, you're probably used to writing prompts in full sentences like:

"A young woman walking in a forest with cinematic lighting."

ViVid Models, however, work differently. Instead of sentences, they use tags—short, structured keywords separated by commas. Each tag acts like a building block, telling the AI exactly what to include (or exclude).

This tag-based system is what makes ViVid so powerful:

• ✅ More control over details
• ✅ Less guesswork by the AI
• ✅ Easier experimentation with styles and variations

The Core of ViVid: The Score System

Every ViVid prompt begins with score tags. These are unique to ViVid and define the quality baseline of the image.

Positive score tags → score_9, score_8_up, score_7_up

(Boosts quality and detail. Always start with them.)

Negative score tags → score_6, score_5, score_4

(Used in your negative prompt to filter out low-quality results.)

👉 Think of it as grading your image: encourage the best, reject the worst.

Example: Same Idea, Different Systems

Nova-style sentence prompt:

A young woman in a red dress, cinematic lighting, depth of field

ViVid-style tag prompt:

score_9, score_8_up, score_7_up, young woman, red dress, cinematic lighting, depth of field

Negative prompt:

score_6, score_5, score_4, blurry, bad anatomy

👉 Both prompts describe the same thing—but ViVid's tag version gives cleaner, more reliable results.

Copy & Paste Examples

🎯 Realistic Portrait Prompt

score_9, score_8_up, score_7_up, masterpiece, photorealistic, young man, leather jacket, street background, cinematic lighting, 35mm lens

Negative prompt:

score_6, score_5, score_4, blurry, lowres, bad hands

🎯 Anime Prompt (Animated)

score_9, score_8_up, score_7_up, masterpiece, anime-style, schoolgirl, cherry blossoms, dynamic action pose, cel shading

Negative prompt:

score_6, score_5, score_4, poorly drawn, flat, missing limbs

🎯 NSFW Prompt (Hentai)

score_9, score_8_up, score_7_up, masterpiece, hentai, anime girl, purple hair, lingerie, bedroom setting, soft glow

Negative prompt:

score_6, score_5, score_4, censored, poorly drawn hands, bad anatomy

➡️ Test these prompts right now on the xipics Playground

Beginner Tips for Tags

✅ Always start with score tags to boost quality.

✅ Use descriptive tags (clothing, mood, pose, setting).

✅ Don't skip the negative prompt—it's essential for clean results.

✅ Tag order matters—important details should appear earlier.

✅ Experiment! Swap one or two tags to see how dramatically results can change.

Summary – Why ViVid's Tag System Works

Unlike sentence-based models, ViVid gives you precision and control with tags.

• Score tags set the quality baseline
• Tags describe your subject, style, and details
• Negative tags clean up unwanted results

Try it out yourself with the examples above on the xipics Playground.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about ViVid Tags

Q: What are tags in ViVid prompts?

A: Tags are short keywords that describe subjects, styles, and details in ViVid Models. Unlike full sentences in Nova, tags give the AI clearer, more structured instructions.

Q: What are score tags in ViVid?

A: Score tags (score_9, score_8_up, score_7_up) boost quality, while (score_6, score_5, score_4) are used in negative prompts to filter out low-quality results.

Q: Do tag orders matter in ViVid prompts?

A: Yes. Tags at the beginning are often treated as more important by the model. Place key details early in your prompt for stronger results.

Q: Can I mix ViVid tags with normal sentences?

A: It's possible, but not recommended. ViVid Models are optimized for tag-based prompts. Sticking to tags gives the most consistent and highest-quality outputs.

Q: Where can I test ViVid prompts?

A: Directly on the xipics Playground—you can copy & paste the examples in this article and see how they work instantly.

✨ Coming up next in the ViVid Prompting Masterclass:

In Part 3, we'll break down The Anatomy of a Good ViVid Prompt. You'll learn the exact structure—score tags, subject, details, style, atmosphere, and negatives—and how to build prompts that consistently deliver professional results.

📖 Continue to: The Anatomy of a Good ViVid Prompt