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With Descript, you can use Underlord to edit your content, generate custom images or video, use templates for multi-step workflows, and more—just by describing what you want in plain language. The key to good results? A clear prompt. Think of it like giving directions: the more context you provide, the better the outcome. You don’t need to be a prompt expert—you just need to be specific.

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What makes a good prompt?

A good prompt usually includes these elements:
  • Action: What job needs doing?
  • Context: Who’s this for? Where will it be used?
  • Tone: How should it feel?
  • Format: What should the output look like?
  • Constraints: What rules should it follow?
You don’t need all of these every time. Start with what’s most important, then refine from there.
Tip: Attach reference materialsAttach files to provide more context — for example, a starting image and (optionally) a last frame, a brand photo for color direction, or a PDF of your slides.

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Building a prompt

Let’s see how these elements come together for different AI features in Descript. Final prompt Turn this 60-minute podcast into 5-6 short clips for Instagram and TikTok. Keep them punchy and attention-grabbing, in vertical format with bold captions. Each clip should be 30-60 seconds and focus on one key insight. Example prompt for generating images: Generate images showing teams collaborating in modern office settings for a product demo video about our new project management software. Professional but approachable, not too corporate or staged. Cinematic-style realism, with wide-angle shots, natural lighting, 16:9 format. Show diverse teams, avoid clichés like high-fives or fist bumps. Example prompt for creating a template: Take this training recording and repurpose it as an internal training video. Remove the Q&A sections, add chapter markers, and create an intro card showing the title and chapters. Include captions throughout. Keep it clear and instructional — friendly but professional. Final video should be 12–18 minutes. Learn more about creating your own custom template.

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Add context to an Underlord prompt

When you’re working with Underlord inside a project, attach specific scenes, script passages, layers, Speakers, or files to your prompt as context. This tells Underlord exactly where to focus, instead of leaving it to guess from your description — which usually means fewer follow-ups and more accurate edits. There are three ways to add context: type @ in the prompt box, click the @ button below it, or right-click a selection in your script, scene editor, or timeline and choose Add to Underlord. What you can attach as context
  • Scenes — any scene in your composition
  • Script selections — passages of script you’ve highlighted
  • Layers — any layer on the canvas or timeline
  • Project files — files in your project
  • Speakers — any Speaker label in your project
  • Timestamps — the playhead, a specific time, or a time range
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How to improve your results

Your first prompt doesn’t need to be perfect. Start with a clear request, see what happens, then adjust.
  • If it’s close: “Make it a little more casual” or “Brighten the lighting.”
  • If it missed the mark: “Try again, but make it feel more polished.”
  • If it did too much: “Keep the captions, remove the music.”
  • Break complex edits into steps: “Summarize this into 60 seconds” → then “Now add captions.”
  • Give feedback: Click 👍 or 👎 to help improve results.
If you’re using Underlord: You can undo or roll back changes to previous versions and try again.