# Environment Concept Art for Small Game Projects

Indie and jam teams often need mood pieces before any 3D work starts. These notes cover how I generate environment concepts with [Raphael AI](https://raphael.app).

## Start from gameplay, not looks

Write what the player does in the space: "climbs ruined towers to reach a lighthouse". The image should show paths, landmarks and scale, not just a pretty sky.

## Prompt pattern

```
wide establishing shot of [location], [time of day and weather],
clear focal landmark, readable path for the player, painterly concept art,
muted palette with one accent color
```

## Variations worth generating

- Same place at **three times of day** to test lighting moods.
- Same place in **two art styles** (painterly vs. low-poly) to agree on direction.
- A **close-up prop sheet** ("ancient stone lanterns, several variations, white background").

## Using the results

Paint over the chosen concept, mark gameplay paths, and share it in the design document. Keep generated images as references only; final assets are made by the team.

## Things to avoid

- Very busy prompts with many landmarks; pick one hero element.
- Asking for UI or text inside the image.
- Treating a concept as a promise of final quality to players.

Tool: https://raphael.app