Painted Tales 2: 16 Photo Styles and Their Prompts
Build a painted version of your photo through brushwork, colored shapes and visible surface texture. The examples range from soft illustration to more graphic, expressive painting.
Make your look in Vidream
- Open Cartoon and choose Painted Tales 2.
- Browse the examples below and select the filter with the matching name.
- Upload a clear photo with the face and main subject fully visible.
- Generate your image, then check the face, hands, outfit and background before saving it.
Choose your photo: Photos with a clear light direction, visible outfit shapes and a few distinct background layers.
How to use the prompts
Each prompt below is a self-contained recipe for one uploaded photo plus written style instructions. Use it in an image-editing tool that accepts a photo and a text prompt. No second style image is needed. In Vidream, choosing the named filter uses its preset treatment.
The gallery shows the current Vidream filter examples in a 3:4 display crop. The written recipes describe those looks; a new generation can vary in fine detail and likeness.
All 16 looks
1. Blue-Gray Dream Narrative Figure
Look for: Unified light-to-dark blue-gray palette, hazy soft light and finely broken painterly strokes, deep layered shadows, lightly simplified facial rendering and a quiet dreamlike mood.
Copy this prompt:
Restyle the uploaded photo using this visual treatment: Unified light-to-dark blue-gray palette, hazy soft light and finely broken painterly strokes, deep layered shadows, lightly simplified facial rendering and a quiet dreamlike mood.
Keep the original people, facial identity, age, skin-tone relationships, hairstyle, pose, clothing, objects and setting. Translate the same facial features into this treatment while retaining their proportions and emotional intent. If the photo has no people, apply the treatment to its existing scene and objects.
Apply the described look consistently across the subject and background. Preserve the main spatial relationships and keep the face and important details fully visible in a single 3:4 vertical composition. Do not add people, props, text, logos, watermarks or panels.
2. Poetic Urban Dreambook Illustration
Look for: Blue-violet shadows against orange-pink light, finely broken pastel-like layers, soft dot eyes and warm cheek accents with a luminous dreamlike surface.
Copy this prompt:
Restyle the uploaded photo using this visual treatment: Blue-violet shadows against orange-pink light, finely broken pastel-like layers, soft dot eyes and warm cheek accents with a luminous dreamlike surface.
Keep the original people, facial identity, age, skin-tone relationships, hairstyle, pose, clothing, objects and setting. Translate the same facial features into this treatment while retaining their proportions and emotional intent. If the photo has no people, apply the treatment to its existing scene and objects.
Apply the described look consistently across the subject and background. Preserve the main spatial relationships and keep the face and important details fully visible in a single 3:4 vertical composition. Do not add people, props, text, logos, watermarks or panels.
3. Dreamy Youth Picturebook Color
Look for: Fresh blue and warm white-gold highlights, soft broken oil-paint strokes, rounded economical features, low-contrast volume and natural light.
Copy this prompt:
Restyle the uploaded photo using this visual treatment: Fresh blue and warm white-gold highlights, soft broken oil-paint strokes, rounded economical features, low-contrast volume and natural light.
Keep the original people, facial identity, age, skin-tone relationships, hairstyle, pose, clothing, objects and setting. Translate the same facial features into this treatment while retaining their proportions and emotional intent. If the photo has no people, apply the treatment to its existing scene and objects.
Apply the described look consistently across the subject and background. Preserve the main spatial relationships and keep the face and important details fully visible in a single 3:4 vertical composition. Do not add people, props, text, logos, watermarks or panels.
4. Dry-Brush Editorial
Look for: Blue-green-brown dry-brush impasto, scraped broken strokes and exposed ground, softly painted face planes and matte gouache blocks modeling the whole scene.
Copy this prompt:
Restyle the uploaded photo using this visual treatment: Blue-green-brown dry-brush impasto, scraped broken strokes and exposed ground, softly painted face planes and matte gouache blocks modeling the whole scene.
Keep the original people, facial identity, age, skin-tone relationships, hairstyle, pose, clothing, objects and setting. Translate the same facial features into this treatment while retaining their proportions and emotional intent. If the photo has no people, apply the treatment to its existing scene and objects.
Apply the described look consistently across the subject and background. Preserve the main spatial relationships and keep the face and important details fully visible in a single 3:4 vertical composition. Do not add people, props, text, logos, watermarks or panels.
5. Creamy Social-Media Doodle
Look for: Warm cream colored pencil and gouache, rounded facial planes and expressive curved eyes, ochre-yellow and pale green pastels, soft paper grain and understated shading.
Copy this prompt:
Restyle the uploaded photo using this visual treatment: Warm cream colored pencil and gouache, rounded facial planes and expressive curved eyes, ochre-yellow and pale green pastels, soft paper grain and understated shading.
Keep the original people, facial identity, age, skin-tone relationships, hairstyle, pose, clothing, objects and setting. Translate the same facial features into this treatment while retaining their proportions and emotional intent. If the photo has no people, apply the treatment to its existing scene and objects.
Apply the described look consistently across the subject and background. Preserve the main spatial relationships and keep the face and important details fully visible in a single 3:4 vertical composition. Do not add people, props, text, logos, watermarks or panels.
6. Modern Dunhuang Illustration
Look for: Mineral teal-green, vermilion and ochre mural pigments, flowing elongated contour strokes, matte weathered paint, fine grain and simplified eye rendering.
Copy this prompt:
Restyle the uploaded photo using this visual treatment: Mineral teal-green, vermilion and ochre mural pigments, flowing elongated contour strokes, matte weathered paint, fine grain and simplified eye rendering.
Keep the original people, facial identity, age, skin-tone relationships, hairstyle, pose, clothing, objects and setting. Translate the same facial features into this treatment while retaining their proportions and emotional intent. If the photo has no people, apply the treatment to its existing scene and objects.
Apply the described look consistently across the subject and background. Preserve the main spatial relationships and keep the face and important details fully visible in a single 3:4 vertical composition. Do not add people, props, text, logos, watermarks or panels.
7. Oil-Pastel Healing Illustration
Look for: Thick soft green-blue-gold oil pastel, granular layered coloring, warm expressive curved eye marks and gently overlapping broad strokes.
Copy this prompt:
Restyle the uploaded photo using this visual treatment: Thick soft green-blue-gold oil pastel, granular layered coloring, warm expressive curved eye marks and gently overlapping broad strokes.
Keep the original people, facial identity, age, skin-tone relationships, hairstyle, pose, clothing, objects and setting. Translate the same facial features into this treatment while retaining their proportions and emotional intent. If the photo has no people, apply the treatment to its existing scene and objects.
Apply the described look consistently across the subject and background. Preserve the main spatial relationships and keep the face and important details fully visible in a single 3:4 vertical composition. Do not add people, props, text, logos, watermarks or panels.
8. Sunny Cute Storybook
Look for: Bright green-blue and warm yellow gouache picture-book treatment, rounded expressive facial planes, broad soft brush surfaces, warm clear color and matte paper texture.
Copy this prompt:
Restyle the uploaded photo using this visual treatment: Bright green-blue and warm yellow gouache picture-book treatment, rounded expressive facial planes, broad soft brush surfaces, warm clear color and matte paper texture.
Keep the original people, facial identity, age, skin-tone relationships, hairstyle, pose, clothing, objects and setting. Translate the same facial features into this treatment while retaining their proportions and emotional intent. If the photo has no people, apply the treatment to its existing scene and objects.
Apply the described look consistently across the subject and background. Preserve the main spatial relationships and keep the face and important details fully visible in a single 3:4 vertical composition. Do not add people, props, text, logos, watermarks or panels.
9. Poetic Youth Illustration
Look for: Lyrical hand painting with interwoven thin and thick color, fine flowing detail, restrained expressive eyes, warm light and tiny dabs combined with soft colored strokes.
Copy this prompt:
Restyle the uploaded photo using this visual treatment: Lyrical hand painting with interwoven thin and thick color, fine flowing detail, restrained expressive eyes, warm light and tiny dabs combined with soft colored strokes.
Keep the original people, facial identity, age, skin-tone relationships, hairstyle, pose, clothing, objects and setting. Translate the same facial features into this treatment while retaining their proportions and emotional intent. If the photo has no people, apply the treatment to its existing scene and objects.
Apply the described look consistently across the subject and background. Preserve the main spatial relationships and keep the face and important details fully visible in a single 3:4 vertical composition. Do not add people, props, text, logos, watermarks or panels.
10. Eastern Fantasy Picturebook
Look for: Dark decorative painting in deep green, dark brown and ochre with sparse red, small facial marks, alternating thick and thin paint on textured aged paper.
Copy this prompt:
Restyle the uploaded photo using this visual treatment: Dark decorative painting in deep green, dark brown and ochre with sparse red, small facial marks, alternating thick and thin paint on textured aged paper.
Keep the original people, facial identity, age, skin-tone relationships, hairstyle, pose, clothing, objects and setting. Translate the same facial features into this treatment while retaining their proportions and emotional intent. If the photo has no people, apply the treatment to its existing scene and objects.
Apply the described look consistently across the subject and background. Preserve the main spatial relationships and keep the face and important details fully visible in a single 3:4 vertical composition. Do not add people, props, text, logos, watermarks or panels.
11. Soft Laughing Storybook
Look for: Soft pastel cartoon gouache, rounded facial planes and lively expression marks, fine brown contours, warm pale colors and soft paper brush texture.
Copy this prompt:
Restyle the uploaded photo using this visual treatment: Soft pastel cartoon gouache, rounded facial planes and lively expression marks, fine brown contours, warm pale colors and soft paper brush texture.
Keep the original people, facial identity, age, skin-tone relationships, hairstyle, pose, clothing, objects and setting. Translate the same facial features into this treatment while retaining their proportions and emotional intent. If the photo has no people, apply the treatment to its existing scene and objects.
Apply the described look consistently across the subject and background. Preserve the main spatial relationships and keep the face and important details fully visible in a single 3:4 vertical composition. Do not add people, props, text, logos, watermarks or panels.
12. Chinese Fantasy Illustration
Look for: Detailed picture-book painting combining thin and opaque color, gray-green and warm brown, small shaping strokes, softly rendered large eyes, fine contours and tiny highlights.
Copy this prompt:
Restyle the uploaded photo using this visual treatment: Detailed picture-book painting combining thin and opaque color, gray-green and warm brown, small shaping strokes, softly rendered large eyes, fine contours and tiny highlights.
Keep the original people, facial identity, age, skin-tone relationships, hairstyle, pose, clothing, objects and setting. Translate the same facial features into this treatment while retaining their proportions and emotional intent. If the photo has no people, apply the treatment to its existing scene and objects.
Apply the described look consistently across the subject and background. Preserve the main spatial relationships and keep the face and important details fully visible in a single 3:4 vertical composition. Do not add people, props, text, logos, watermarks or panels.
13. Comforting Everyday Illustration
Look for: Sunlit picture-book gouache, blue-green and warm cream, clear small dark eyes and gentle cheek accents, transparent washes beneath matte short strokes.
Copy this prompt:
Restyle the uploaded photo using this visual treatment: Sunlit picture-book gouache, blue-green and warm cream, clear small dark eyes and gentle cheek accents, transparent washes beneath matte short strokes.
Keep the original people, facial identity, age, skin-tone relationships, hairstyle, pose, clothing, objects and setting. Translate the same facial features into this treatment while retaining their proportions and emotional intent. If the photo has no people, apply the treatment to its existing scene and objects.
Apply the described look consistently across the subject and background. Preserve the main spatial relationships and keep the face and important details fully visible in a single 3:4 vertical composition. Do not add people, props, text, logos, watermarks or panels.
14. Painterly Gouache Animation Storybook
Look for: Warm gouache animation, blue-yellow-green broken dry strokes, large clear dark eyes and soft facial planes, visible painted facets throughout light and shadow.
Copy this prompt:
Restyle the uploaded photo using this visual treatment: Warm gouache animation, blue-yellow-green broken dry strokes, large clear dark eyes and soft facial planes, visible painted facets throughout light and shadow.
Keep the original people, facial identity, age, skin-tone relationships, hairstyle, pose, clothing, objects and setting. Translate the same facial features into this treatment while retaining their proportions and emotional intent. If the photo has no people, apply the treatment to its existing scene and objects.
Apply the described look consistently across the subject and background. Preserve the main spatial relationships and keep the face and important details fully visible in a single 3:4 vertical composition. Do not add people, props, text, logos, watermarks or panels.
15. Loose Ink & Gouache Storybook Studio
Look for: Free ink-and-gouache painting, forceful brush gestures and visible yellow-green-blue strokes, lively round graphic eyes, variable-weight broken ink contours.
Copy this prompt:
Restyle the uploaded photo using this visual treatment: Free ink-and-gouache painting, forceful brush gestures and visible yellow-green-blue strokes, lively round graphic eyes, variable-weight broken ink contours.
Keep the original people, facial identity, age, skin-tone relationships, hairstyle, pose, clothing, objects and setting. Translate the same facial features into this treatment while retaining their proportions and emotional intent. If the photo has no people, apply the treatment to its existing scene and objects.
Apply the described look consistently across the subject and background. Preserve the main spatial relationships and keep the face and important details fully visible in a single 3:4 vertical composition. Do not add people, props, text, logos, watermarks or panels.
16. Retro Gouache Narrative Character Illustration
Look for: Rough vintage gouache, ochre-yellow, green, blue and rust, matte opaque grain, rounded tiny eyes, broad painted color shapes and visible exposed paper.
Copy this prompt:
Restyle the uploaded photo using this visual treatment: Rough vintage gouache, ochre-yellow, green, blue and rust, matte opaque grain, rounded tiny eyes, broad painted color shapes and visible exposed paper.
Keep the original people, facial identity, age, skin-tone relationships, hairstyle, pose, clothing, objects and setting. Translate the same facial features into this treatment while retaining their proportions and emotional intent. If the photo has no people, apply the treatment to its existing scene and objects.
Apply the described look consistently across the subject and background. Preserve the main spatial relationships and keep the face and important details fully visible in a single 3:4 vertical composition. Do not add people, props, text, logos, watermarks or panels.
Refine the result
Name the brush behavior in the chosen recipe. Broad opaque strokes, soft blended areas and dry edges create different results, even with the same colors.
A grain overlay alone will not create a painted scene. The shapes and transitions should also follow the painting style.
Keep the same source photo when comparing recipes. Change one style instruction at a time so you can see what actually changed.