PROMPT GUIDE
How to Look Up Danbooru Tags (Finding the Correct Tag Name)
Many anime models, including Illustrious, NoobAI, Pony and Animagine, were trained on tags from a site called Danbooru. Writing prompts with those tags is the shortcut, and using the correct tag name brings the picture much closer to what you imagine. This guide shows how to find the tag name for what you want to draw.
Last updated: approx. 4 min read
The short answer
To find a Danbooru tag, turn what you want into short English words and confirm it with the Danbooru wiki or tag search. Tags with more posts are better known to the model and work better; if two tags mean the same thing, pick the one with more posts. Write tags containing parentheses as \( \).
What are Danbooru tags?
Danbooru tags are short English labels that describe what is in an illustration, and many anime models were trained on them.
Danbooru tags are short English labels for the contents of an illustration (long hair, smile, school uniform and so on). Many anime models learned from pairs of these tags and pictures, so prompts written in tags work well. Wording that is not a tag, even with the same meaning (such as long length hair), works poorly.
Rinka's tips
- Danbooru itself hosts a lot of adult art. If you only want to see all-ages pictures, use the search on its sister site that collects only all-ages art (Safebooru)
- Checking the tag name and its description (the wiki) is enough. You do not need to open many pictures to look things up
How do you look up a Danbooru tag? (Steps)
Turn it into short English words, search the wiki, check the post count and similar tags, and choose the closest tag.
- Turn what you want to draw into short English words (for example, a ponytail is ponytail)
- Search the Danbooru wiki or tag search and check whether a tag with that name exists
- Look at the post count (how many pictures have the tag). The higher it is, the better the model knows it
- Read the wiki description and the related or similar tags, and look for an even closer tag
- Add the tag you found to your prompt and check its effect with a fixed seed
How can you tell which tags work well?
The more pictures a tag has (its post count), the better the model knows it and the better it works.
The number of pictures with a tag is a rough measure of how much the model saw and learned that tag. Tags with very few posts may do almost nothing. When two tags mean the same thing, choosing the one with more posts is the basic rule.
Aliases and tag group pages
On Danbooru, tags with the same meaning are merged into one (aliases). Even if you search with an alias, you are guided to the correct tag name. Write that correct name in your prompt. Pages called "tag groups" list tags by type, such as hairstyles, clothing and poses, and are useful for discovering tags you did not know.
How do you write underscores and parentheses?
Underscores can become spaces, and parentheses need a backslash in front, like \( \).
Danbooru tag names use underscores instead of spaces (long_hair). In most interfaces, writing them with spaces works the same way in prompts. If unsure, write spaces, and follow the model page if it says otherwise.
Tag names that contain parentheses (for example, tags with a series name) are read as weight syntax if written as they are. In AUTOMATIC1111 and Forge, put a backslash before each parenthesis and write \( \).
long hair, school uniform, holding book, looking at vieweroil painting \(medium\), 1girl, solo, portraitHow do you find the English tag for something you can describe?
Describe it as "body part plus state" in English, then look for a close tag in the tag group lists.
- First put the look into plain English (a braid is braid; some tags come from Japanese words, such as tareme for drooping eyes)
- Think in body part plus state (hair moving in the wind is floating hair, waving a hand is waving)
- Write colors as color plus part (pink hair, blue eyes, white dress)
- If you cannot find it, picture a similar image and scan the tag group lists from the top
- Tools that turn descriptions into English tags can also help
What if it does not work? (Common mistakes and fixes)
Here are common problems with their causes and fixes. Change only one thing at a time and compare with the same seed, which makes the cause easier to find.
For the basics of listing tags: Prompt Writing Basics: Tag Order, Emphasis, and Tips →
For the tag order on Danbooru-tag models: Illustrious and NoobAI Prompt Order →
For tag combination recipes: Tag Combination Dictionary (What to Add to Each Tag) →
For parentheses and weight syntax: The Complete Guide to Prompt Weight Syntax and BREAK →
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I look up Danbooru tags?
The Danbooru wiki and tag search show the tag name, description and post count. If you only want to see all-ages pictures, the all-ages sister site (Safebooru) is a safer choice.
Should I write underscores or spaces?
In most interfaces, spaces work the same way. If the model page specifies one, follow it.
How can I tell how well a tag works?
The number of pictures with the tag (the post count) is a good guide. The more posts, the better the model knows the tag and the better it works.
How do I write a tag that contains parentheses?
Written as is, the parentheses are read as weight syntax, so in AUTOMATIC1111 or Forge put a backslash before each one, like \( \).
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