Tide Pool with Starfish
ChatGPT (DALL·E)Tide Pool with Starfish is a GPT Image 2 prompt that renders a single tide pool in clean detailed illustration. It uses overcast coastal light to keep the underwater forms visible.
Last tested: July 2026 with ChatGPT (DALL·E) GPT Image 2
Part of the ChatGPT (DALL·E) prompt library · see more watercolor prompts .
Prompt
A clear shallow tide pool in dark volcanic rock, a single orange starfish and a few green anemones on the rock beneath the water, small ripples catching the light, a hermit crab at the edge, bright overcast coastal light, clean detailed illustration with careful attention to the underwater forms
Settings
- Model
- ChatGPT (DALL·E) GPT Image 2
- Aspect ratio
- 3:2
How to use this prompt
A tide pool reads through its water, and water over rock needs a light that does not glare, so the prompt specifies bright overcast coastal light — overcast sky gives a soft even illumination that lets you see into the pool rather than reflecting off it. One starfish and a few anemones is a countable, reliable number, so it is safe to state. The dark volcanic rock is the right setting and gives the orange starfish something to stand against. Keep the ripples small so they suggest water without hiding the creatures. The hermit crab at the edge adds a second point of life without crowding the pool.
Variations to try
- A close-up of the starfish alone on the wet rock
- The same pool at a lower tide with more rock exposed
Explore collections
What to do next
Adapt it →
Open this prompt in the ChatGPT (DALL·E) builder, pre-filled, and change one layer at a time.
Explore more →
Browse the full ChatGPT (DALL·E) prompt library — every entry tested with its settings.
For developers — copy this prompt as JSON
{
"title": "Tide Pool with Starfish",
"prompt": "A clear shallow tide pool in dark volcanic rock, a single orange starfish and a few green anemones on the rock beneath the water, small ripples catching the light, a hermit crab at the edge, bright overcast coastal light, clean detailed illustration with careful attention to the underwater forms",
"model": "ChatGPT (DALL·E)",
"model_version": "GPT Image 2 (ChatGPT)",
"settings": {
"aspect_ratio": "3:2"
},
"style_tags": [
"watercolor",
"botanical"
],
"use_case_tags": [
"childrens-book",
"illustration"
],
"source_url": "https://promptkoi.com/prompts/dalle/tide-pool-starfish/"
}The whole library is available as an open JSON dataset · developer docs.
