The Napkin AI Cheat Sheet - Turn Any Idea Into a Visual in Seconds

Hey {{first name | there}}! 👋

You have met Napkin AI. You know what it does. Now let us create something beautiful.

This cheat sheet gives you copy-paste texts for every situation, a guide on which visual type to use when, and the tips that make your diagrams look genuinely polished. Screenshot it. Save it. Open it every time you need to turn an idea into a visual. ✏️

A polished visual ready in under 60 seconds. Let us go! 👇

"There are five steps to writing a great newsletter. Step 1: Choose your topic. Step 2: Research the latest news. Step 3: Write the main content. Step 4: Add a tool recommendation. Step 5: Proofread and publish."

"The customer journey has four stages. First, the customer discovers the product. Then they consider whether to buy it. Next they make a purchase decision. Finally they become a loyal returning customer."

"To set up a Zapier automation, follow these steps. First, log in to Zapier. Second, click Create Zap. Third, choose your trigger app. Fourth, choose your action app. Fifth, test the Zap. Sixth, turn it on."

"There are two approaches to learning a new skill. The fast approach involves intensive short sessions, quick wins, and external accountability. The deep approach involves longer focused sessions, understanding fundamentals, and self-directed practice. The fast approach is better for motivation. The deep approach is better for retention."

"AI tools can be divided into three categories. Free tools are accessible to everyone but have usage limits. Freemium tools offer a free tier with paid upgrades for more features. Paid tools offer the most power but require a monthly subscription."

"The history of AI tools for everyday people. In 2020, AI was mostly used by researchers. In 2022, ChatGPT launched and AI went mainstream. In 2023, hundreds of new AI tools launched across every category. In 2024, AI became part of everyday apps like Gmail, Word and Canva. In 2025, AI agents began doing tasks automatically. In 2026, AI became the primary interface for computing."

"AI Made Simple has three phases. Phase 1 is the launch phase, focused on building the first 100 subscribers. Phase 2 is the growth phase, focused on reaching 1,000 subscribers and first sponsorships. Phase 3 is the monetization phase, focused on paid tiers, products, and sustainable revenue."

"There are four pillars of a great AI newsletter. The first pillar is useful content that readers can act on immediately. The second pillar is consistent publishing on a regular schedule. The third pillar is a growing subscriber list. The fourth pillar is a clear monetization strategy."

"The three things that determine whether an AI tool is worth using. First, is it genuinely useful for everyday tasks? Second, is the free plan good enough to get real value? Third, is it simple enough for a complete beginner to use without instructions?"

"AI tools work best when they are used for the right jobs. Use AI for repetitive tasks you do regularly. Use AI for first drafts you will then improve yourself. Use AI for research and summarization. Do not use AI to replace your own thinking and judgement."

"There are three ways AI can help students. First, it can help with research by finding and summarising sources quickly. Second, it can help with understanding by explaining complex concepts in simple language. Third, it can help with revision by generating flashcards, quizzes, and summaries automatically."

"A good AI prompt has four parts. The role tells the AI who to be. The task tells the AI what to do. The context gives background information. The format tells the AI how to structure the answer."

Pro tip: If Napkin generates a visual type you did not expect, do not dismiss it immediately. Sometimes the AI spots a structure in your text that you had not consciously noticed. Try the unexpected version - it is often the clearest.

1. Write in complete sentences - not just bullet points

Napkin reads your text for meaning and relationships. "Step 1: Research" gives it less to work with than "The first step is research, where you identify reliable sources for your topic." More context produces better visuals.

2. Use transition words to signal structure

Words like "first", "then", "finally", "on the other hand", "in contrast", "as a result" - these signal relationships between ideas and help Napkin choose the right visual structure.

3. Always look at all the layout options

Napkin gives you multiple visual layouts for the same content. Scroll through all of them before picking one - the second or third option is often clearer than the first.

4. Edit the labels after generating

The AI reads your text accurately but sometimes uses more words than you need in a diagram. Click labels and trim them down - short, punchy labels always look better in visuals.

5. Match your brand colours after generating

Click any element and change the colour to match your newsletter or business palette. This single step makes a big difference to how professional the final result looks.

6. Import your existing documents

Have a report, presentation, or document already written? Import it directly into Napkin - it can generate visuals from content you have already created. Great for repurposing your work.

7. Export as PNG for newsletter use

For including visuals in your Beehiiv newsletter, export as PNG. It is the most compatible format and looks great on both desktop and mobile email clients.

1. Pasting content that is too vague

"AI is useful" produces nothing. "AI is useful for three reasons: it saves time, reduces errors, and handles repetitive tasks" produces a clean three-point visual. Structure your text before pasting.

2. Only trying one layout

Always scroll through all the layout suggestions. The first one is rarely the best one.

3. Sharing visuals with Napkin branding for professional use

The free plan adds Napkin branding to exports. For anything shared externally with clients or sponsors, upgrade to the Plus plan to remove the branding. It makes a significant difference to how professional the visual looks.

4. Forgetting to use it for social media

A well-designed Napkin visual posted on LinkedIn or X performs significantly better than a text-only post. The extra visual layer gets more attention and shares. Make a habit of generating one visual per week to accompany your newsletter posts.

That is your Napkin AI cheat sheet! 🎉

In the next edition we will be covering a brand new tool - watch the next Weekly Digest to find out what is coming!

Until then - give Napkin AI a try and hit reply to show me what you created. I genuinely love seeing what readers make! ✏️

Jatin Chawla
Founder, AI Made Simple