Creating Web Novel Covers: NanoBanana 'Villainess' Prompt Recipes (Dress & Uniform Editions)

Have you tried the recently released “NanoBanana Pro”? Hearing the news about its improved performance, I immediately challenged myself to create a web novel cover with it.

I specifically wanted to create the trending “Villainess” style. But what happens when you just run the AI? Instead of the “fatal and arrogant villainess” we want, it just generates a “pretty character.” The reason is simple: it lacks “Direction.”

Today, I will reveal the key points for reproducing the “Villainess” style to instantly boost the quality of your web novel covers, along with practical prompts you can copy and use immediately.

The Classic Villainess: “Don’t just look, look down on them!”

First up is the “Romance Fantasy Standard: Villainess in a Dress.”
A common mistake is simply adding “Angry eyes” or “Red eyes.” This just makes the character look annoyed. Here are three points to create a truly charming villainess.

1. Gaze Control

A villainess should look at others like they are insects. In anime illustrations, this is often called “Jitome” (half-lidded eyes) or “Sanpaku” eyes. Narrowing the eyes and looking down creates a sense of pressure for the viewer.

Looking at viewer (X) → Scornful gaze, looking down at viewer (O)
Angry eyes (X) → Narrowed sanpaku eyes (O)

Comparison image of two black-haired female characters with glasses standing side by side. The left shows a cold expression looking straight ahead, while the right shows a scornful gaze looking down.

2. Composition (Angle)

The decisive reason why covers look flat is the “horizontal composition.” Try using a “Dutch Angle” to tilt the screen slightly. Adding a “Low Angle” shot from below enhances the character’s oppressive atmosphere.

Portrait (X) → Dutch angle, Low angle shot (O)

[Practical Prompt] Villainess in Dress Ver.

(NanoBanana Pro understands sentences well. Try copying this as is.)

A high-quality web novel cover illustration of a villainess noble lady with a scornful gaze.
She has luxurious platinum blonde ringlet curls and sharp golden sanpaku eyes.
She is looking down at the viewer with an arrogant smirk, partially covering her mouth with a black lace folding fan. 

[Outfit]
She is wearing a lavish black Victorian gothic dress with deep purple ribbons and gold embroidery.
She is wearing elegant black lace gloves. 

[Atmosphere]
Dutch angle shot, Low angle perspective.
The background is a dark, dimly lit palace ballroom with a broken chandelier.
Dramatic rim lighting illuminates her silhouette from behind.
Rose petals are scattering in the air.
Intricate details, anime style.
--ar 2:3

A blonde villainess character holding a black lace fan and wearing elegant lace gloves, smiling in a dark room wearing an elegant dress.

Academy Villainess: “Don’t wear it, drape it!”

Now, it would be a shame to stop at dresses. Next is the [Academy: Student Council President Villainess] version. Here is the secret to looking like a “Queen” even in a school uniform.

1. Symbol of Authority

A student council president wearing a jacket normally? No. A true power player doesn’t wear clothes; they “drape” them. Let’s drape the jacket over the shoulders like a cape and add an armband.

Wearing school uniform (X) → School uniform blazer draped over shoulders like a cape (O)
Student council (X) → Wearing a red Armband on left arm (O)

2. Dominant Posture

Sitting quietly in a chair makes you a model student. A villainess should sit on the desk or cross her legs and rest her chin on her hand. Set the background with sunlight streaming through a window to create backlighting (rim light). The charisma is complete.

Sitting on chair (X) → Sitting on the desk with legs crossed, arrogant posture (O)

[Practical Prompt] Student Council President Ver.

(Combination of Black Hime-cut hair + Glasses + Uniform)

A high-quality anime illustration of a Student Council President Villainess.
She has long, straight black hime-cut hair and sharp, cold blue sanpaku eyes behind rimless glasses.
She is sitting arrogantly on the edge of a desk with her legs crossed, looking down at the viewer with a scornful expression. 

[Outfit]
She wears a modified, luxurious elite academy uniform with gold embroidery.
A black blazer is draped over her shoulders like a cape.
She wears a red armband on her left arm indicating 'President'.
She is wearing black pantyhose. 

[Atmosphere]
Dutch angle shot, Low angle perspective.
The background is an ornate, antique student council room.
Afternoon sunlight streams through large windows behind her (God rays), creating a dramatic silhouette.
Floating dust motes, intellectual but oppressive atmosphere.
--ar 2:3

A female character dressed in a black military-style student council uniform sitting on a desk with crossed arms in a dark study, staring with a sharp gaze.

Conclusion

Aspect Ratio is Life (–ar 2:3)
Web novel covers are vertically long. Be sure to add [–ar 2:3] at the end of your prompt or include [Portrait] in the prompt. If you generate a square image, cropping it later will ruin the image quality.

What do you think? You should get results that are on a completely different level than just asking to “draw a villainess.”

A light novel cover illustration featuring a black-haired girl with glasses in a student council uniform and a blonde girl in a black dress with a purple ribbon standing together in a sunlit antique office. Japanese title typography is prominently placed at the top.

FAQ

A. Simply using “Angry eyes” just makes the character look like they are in a bad mood. To create a fatal atmosphere, you should use “Narrowed sanpaku eyes” or “Scornful gaze.” Adding “Looking down at viewer” to make them look at the reader like an insect allows for a much more oppressive presentation.

A. Try using a “Dutch angle” to tilt the screen slightly instead of an honest horizontal composition. It gives an unstable yet dynamic feeling. Also, using a “Low angle,” where the camera looks up from below, can maximize the arrogant and dominant atmosphere unique to a villainess character.

A. Web novel covers must be vertically long to fit mobile environments. If you generate a square image, the quality may degrade when cropping later, so be sure to include the prompts –ar 2:3 or Portrait at the end.

Creating Web Novel Covers: NanoBanana ‘Villainess’ Prompt Recipes (Dress & Uniform Editions)