Cheat sheet · Earn independently
AI video and design for clients cheat sheet (AI images and design)
Opens with creditsA quick-revision companion to the AI images edition of the roadmap: image work clients buy, composition and type, generators and generative editing, style references and consistency, rights and labels, offers, clients, and the sizes and file types each platform wants.
Curated by Tauseef Fayyaz8 chapters56 concepts107 glossary termsChapters
8 chapters · 56 concepts
1What clients buyThe formats businesses pay for, how they judge them and what the demand data really says.6 concepts
- 1Demand signalEvidence that clients pay for a service: dated reports such as Upwork In-Demand Skills 2026 (AI video generation and editing +329 percent, AI images +95…
- 2Ad creativeThe image or video an advertiser runs in a paid placement, usually made in several sizes and versions so the best one can be found by testing.
- 3Product photographyImages of a product for shops, marketplaces and ads: clean packshots on white plus lifestyle scenes showing it in use.
- 4ThumbnailThe small image that represents a video and decides whether people click.
- 5Brand kitA brand's logo files, colour codes, fonts, image style, tone of voice and examples of what to do and avoid.
- 6Creative testingRunning several versions of an ad, each changing one thing such as the hook or image, and keeping the winner by numbers like click-through rate and conversions.
6 in this chapterOpen this chapter2Creative fundamentalsThe decisions AI does not make for you: what the viewer sees first, the story, the pace, colour, type and brand consistency.7 concepts
- 1HookWhatever stops someone scrolling: the first one to three seconds of a video, or the single element that reads instantly in an image.
- 2Story structureA simple shape for the message: problem, product, proof, call to action for ads; what it is, how it works, why it matters for explainers.
- 3CompositionWhere things sit in the frame: one clear focal point, supporting elements, and white space (empty space) around them.
- 4Visual hierarchyThe order in which the eye finds things, controlled by size, contrast, colour and position: first the hook, then the product, then the call to action.
- 5Colour and contrastPalettes built from harmonies (complementary, analogous, triadic), brand colours given as HEX codes, contrast that keeps text readable, and grading that makes…
- 6TypographyHow text looks: typeface, size, weight, leading (line spacing) and kerning (letter spacing).
- 7Brand consistencyUsing the same colours, fonts, logo placement, tone and image style in every asset, checked against the brand kit.
7 in this chapterOpen this chapter- The tool stackWhich kind of tool does which job. Names and versions are as of October 2026; plans, prices and terms change, so check the official page before client work.5 conceptsOpens with credits
- Prompting and consistencyPrompt patterns, references and habits that give the same character, product and style every time.7 conceptsOpens with credits
- Rights, consent and labelsWhat you may do with what you make. Not legal advice: a checklist that tells you when to read the official terms or ask a lawyer.10 conceptsOpens with credits
- Portfolio and offersProof first, then packages with clear deliverables, turnaround, revisions and usage rights.7 conceptsOpens with credits
- Finding and keeping clientsMarketplace gigs, outreach to businesses already advertising and retainers. Platform setup lives in the Freelancing roadmap.7 conceptsOpens with credits
- Delivery and specsBriefs, versions, the sizes and formats each platform wants, and a clean handover. Specs read on official pages in October 2026: recheck before big jobs.7 conceptsOpens with credits
- 9Glossary, A to ZEvery concept in the sheet and the smaller terms it uses, in one list.107 terms
About this sheet
Ads, shorts and visuals made with AI tools.
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- How do I use AI to become a better engineer instead of becoming dependent on it?Decide the job AI does before you open it. Use it as a tutor, reviewer and sparring partner that explains and challenges, not a vending machine that hands you finished code. Attempt first, ask second, and always be able to explain and defend what you ship.
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