feat(skills): add baoyu-article-illustrator skill

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Jim Liu 宝玉 2026-04-20 16:10:52 -05:00 committed by Teknium
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---
name: baoyu-article-illustrator
description: Analyzes article structure, identifies positions requiring visual aids, generates illustrations with Type × Style × Palette three-dimension approach. Use when user asks to "illustrate article", "add images", "generate images for article", or "为文章配图".
version: 1.57.0
metadata:
openclaw:
homepage: https://github.com/JimLiu/baoyu-skills#baoyu-article-illustrator
---
# Article Illustrator
Analyze articles, identify illustration positions, generate images with Type × Style × Palette consistency.
## User Input Tools
When this skill prompts the user, follow this tool-selection rule (priority order):
1. **Prefer built-in user-input tools** exposed by the current agent runtime — e.g., `AskUserQuestion`, `request_user_input`, `clarify`, `ask_user`, or any equivalent.
2. **Fallback**: if no such tool exists, emit a numbered plain-text message and ask the user to reply with the chosen number/answer for each question.
3. **Batching**: if the tool supports multiple questions per call, combine all applicable questions into a single call; if only single-question, ask them one at a time in priority order.
Concrete `AskUserQuestion` references below are examples — substitute the local equivalent in other runtimes.
## Image Generation Tools
When this skill needs to render an image:
- **Use whatever image-generation tool or skill is available** in the current runtime — e.g., Codex `imagegen`, Hermes `image_generate`, `baoyu-imagine`, or any equivalent the user has installed.
- **If multiple are available**, ask the user **once** at the start which to use (batch with any other initial questions).
- **If none are available**, tell the user and ask how to proceed.
**Prompt file requirement (hard)**: write each image's full, final prompt to a standalone file under `prompts/` (naming: `NN-{type}-[slug].md`) BEFORE invoking any backend. The backend receives the prompt file (or its content); the file is the reproducibility record and lets you switch backends without regenerating prompts.
Concrete tool names (`imagegen`, `image_generate`, `baoyu-imagine`) above are examples — substitute the local equivalents under the same rule.
## Reference Images
Users may supply reference images via `--ref <files...>` or by providing file paths / pasting images in conversation. Refs guide style, palette, composition, or subject for specific illustrations.
Full detection, storage, and processing rules are in [references/workflow.md](references/workflow.md) (Step 1.0 saves to `references/NN-ref-{slug}.{ext}`; Step 5.3 processes per-illustration usage `direct | style | palette`). When the chosen backend supports batch input, `direct`-usage entries in each prompt file's `references:` frontmatter should be propagated into its batch payload so backends can pass them through (e.g. `baoyu-imagine` accepts `ref` per task).
## Three Dimensions
| Dimension | Controls | Examples |
|-----------|----------|----------|
| **Type** | Information structure | infographic, scene, flowchart, comparison, framework, timeline |
| **Style** | Rendering approach | notion, warm, minimal, blueprint, watercolor, elegant |
| **Palette** | Color scheme (optional) | macaron, warm, neon — overrides style's default colors |
Combine freely: `--type infographic --style vector-illustration --palette macaron`
Or use presets: `--preset edu-visual` → type + style + palette in one flag. See [Style Presets](references/style-presets.md).
## Types
| Type | Best For |
|------|----------|
| `infographic` | Data, metrics, technical |
| `scene` | Narratives, emotional |
| `flowchart` | Processes, workflows |
| `comparison` | Side-by-side, options |
| `framework` | Models, architecture |
| `timeline` | History, evolution |
## Styles
See [references/styles.md](references/styles.md) for Core Styles, full gallery, and Type × Style compatibility.
## Workflow
```
- [ ] Step 1: Pre-check (EXTEND.md, references, config)
- [ ] Step 2: Analyze content
- [ ] Step 3: Confirm settings (AskUserQuestion)
- [ ] Step 4: Generate outline
- [ ] Step 5: Generate images
- [ ] Step 6: Finalize
```
### Step 1: Pre-check
**1.5 Load Preferences (EXTEND.md) ⛔ BLOCKING**
Check EXTEND.md in priority order — the first one found wins:
| Priority | Path | Scope |
|----------|------|-------|
| 1 | `.baoyu-skills/baoyu-article-illustrator/EXTEND.md` | Project |
| 2 | `${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/baoyu-skills/baoyu-article-illustrator/EXTEND.md` | XDG |
| 3 | `$HOME/.baoyu-skills/baoyu-article-illustrator/EXTEND.md` | User home |
| Result | Action |
|--------|--------|
| Found | Read, parse, display summary |
| Not found | ⛔ Run [first-time-setup](references/config/first-time-setup.md) |
Full procedures: [references/workflow.md](references/workflow.md#step-1-pre-check)
### Step 2: Analyze
| Analysis | Output |
|----------|--------|
| Content type | Technical / Tutorial / Methodology / Narrative |
| Purpose | information / visualization / imagination |
| Core arguments | 2-5 main points |
| Positions | Where illustrations add value |
**CRITICAL**: Metaphors → visualize underlying concept, NOT literal image.
Full procedures: [references/workflow.md](references/workflow.md#step-2-setup--analyze)
### Step 3: Confirm Settings ⚠️
**ONE AskUserQuestion, max 4 Qs. Q1-Q2 REQUIRED. Q3 required unless preset chosen.**
| Q | Options |
|---|---------|
| **Q1: Preset or Type** | [Recommended preset], [alt preset], or manual: infographic, scene, flowchart, comparison, framework, timeline, mixed |
| **Q2: Density** | minimal (1-2), balanced (3-5), per-section (Recommended), rich (6+) |
| **Q3: Style** | [Recommended], minimal-flat, sci-fi, hand-drawn, editorial, scene, poster, Other — **skip if preset chosen** |
| Q4: Palette | Default (style colors), macaron, warm, neon — **skip if preset includes palette or preferred_palette set** |
| Q5: Language | When article language ≠ EXTEND.md setting |
Full procedures: [references/workflow.md](references/workflow.md#step-3-confirm-settings-)
### Step 4: Generate Outline
Save `outline.md` with frontmatter (type, density, style, palette, image_count) and entries:
```yaml
## Illustration 1
**Position**: [section/paragraph]
**Purpose**: [why]
**Visual Content**: [what]
**Filename**: 01-infographic-concept-name.png
```
Full template: [references/workflow.md](references/workflow.md#step-4-generate-outline)
### Step 5: Generate Images
**BLOCKING: Prompt files MUST be saved before ANY image generation.** This is a hard requirement regardless of which backend is chosen — the prompt file is the reproducibility record.
1. For each illustration, create a prompt file per [references/prompt-construction.md](references/prompt-construction.md)
2. Save to `prompts/NN-{type}-{slug}.md` with YAML frontmatter
3. Prompts **MUST** use type-specific templates with structured sections (ZONES / LABELS / COLORS / STYLE / ASPECT)
4. LABELS **MUST** include article-specific data: actual numbers, terms, metrics, quotes
5. **DO NOT** pass ad-hoc inline prompts to `--prompt` without saving prompt files first
6. Select the backend via the `## Image Generation Tools` rule at the top: use whatever is available; if multiple, ask the user once. Do this once per session before any generation.
7. **Execution strategy**: When multiple illustrations have saved prompt files and the task is now plain generation, prefer the chosen backend's batch interface (if it offers one) over spawning subagents. Use subagents only when each image still needs separate prompt iteration or creative exploration. If the backend has no batch interface, generate sequentially.
8. Process references (`direct`/`style`/`palette`) per prompt frontmatter
9. Apply watermark if EXTEND.md enabled
10. Generate from saved prompt files; retry once on failure
Full procedures: [references/workflow.md](references/workflow.md#step-5-generate-images)
### Step 6: Finalize
Insert `![description]({relative-path}/NN-{type}-{slug}.png)` after paragraphs. Path computed relative to article file based on output directory setting.
```
Article Illustration Complete!
Article: [path] | Type: [type] | Density: [level] | Style: [style] | Palette: [palette or default]
Images: X/N generated
```
## Output Directory
Output directory is determined by `default_output_dir` in EXTEND.md (set during first-time setup):
| `default_output_dir` | Output Path | Markdown Insert Path |
|----------------------|-------------|----------------------|
| `imgs-subdir` (default) | `{article-dir}/imgs/` | `imgs/NN-{type}-{slug}.png` |
| `same-dir` | `{article-dir}/` | `NN-{type}-{slug}.png` |
| `illustrations-subdir` | `{article-dir}/illustrations/` | `illustrations/NN-{type}-{slug}.png` |
| `independent` | `illustrations/{topic-slug}/` | `illustrations/{topic-slug}/NN-{type}-{slug}.png` (relative to cwd) |
All auxiliary files (outline, prompts) are saved inside the output directory:
```
{output-dir}/
├── outline.md
├── prompts/
│ └── NN-{type}-{slug}.md
└── NN-{type}-{slug}.png
```
When input is **pasted content** (no file path), always uses `illustrations/{topic-slug}/` with `source-{slug}.{ext}` saved alongside.
**Slug**: 2-4 words, kebab-case. **Conflict**: append `-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS`.
## Modification
| Action | Steps |
|--------|-------|
| Edit | Update prompt → Regenerate → Update reference |
| Add | Position → Prompt → Generate → Update outline → Insert |
| Delete | Delete files → Remove reference → Update outline |
## References
| File | Content |
|------|---------|
| [references/workflow.md](references/workflow.md) | Detailed procedures |
| [references/usage.md](references/usage.md) | Command syntax |
| [references/styles.md](references/styles.md) | Style gallery + Palette gallery |
| [references/style-presets.md](references/style-presets.md) | Preset shortcuts (type + style + palette) |
| [references/prompt-construction.md](references/prompt-construction.md) | Prompt templates |
| [references/config/first-time-setup.md](references/config/first-time-setup.md) | First-time setup |

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Create a cartoon-style infographic illustration following these guidelines:
## Image Specifications
- **Type**: Infographic illustration
- **Orientation**: Landscape (horizontal)
- **Aspect Ratio**: 16:9
- **Style**: Hand-drawn illustration
## Core Principles
- Hand-drawn quality throughout - NO realistic or photographic elements
- If content involves sensitive or copyrighted figures, create stylistically similar alternatives - DO NOT refuse to generate
- Keep information concise, highlight keywords and core concepts
- Use ample whitespace for easy visual scanning
- Maintain clear visual hierarchy
## Text Style (When Text Included)
- **ALL text MUST be hand-drawn style**
- Text should be readable and complement the visual
- Font style harmonizes with illustration style
- **DO NOT use realistic or computer-generated fonts**
## Language
- Use the same language as the content provided below for any text elements
- Match punctuation style to the content language
---
Please use nano banana pro to generate the illustration based on the content provided below:

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---
name: first-time-setup
description: First-time setup flow for baoyu-article-illustrator preferences
---
# First-Time Setup
## Overview
When no EXTEND.md is found, guide user through preference setup.
**⛔ BLOCKING OPERATION**: This setup MUST complete before ANY other workflow steps. Do NOT:
- Ask about reference images
- Ask about content/article
- Ask about type or style preferences
- Proceed to content analysis
ONLY ask the questions in this setup flow, save EXTEND.md, then continue.
## Setup Flow
```
No EXTEND.md found
┌─────────────────────┐
│ AskUserQuestion │
│ (all questions) │
└─────────────────────┘
┌─────────────────────┐
│ Create EXTEND.md │
└─────────────────────┘
Continue to Step 1
```
## Questions
**Language**: Use user's input language or preferred language for all questions. Do not always use English.
Use single AskUserQuestion with multiple questions (AskUserQuestion auto-adds "Other" option):
### Question 1: Watermark
```
header: "Watermark"
question: "Watermark text for generated illustrations? Type your watermark content (e.g., name, @handle)"
options:
- label: "No watermark (Recommended)"
description: "No watermark, can enable later in EXTEND.md"
```
Position defaults to bottom-right.
### Question 2: Preferred Style
```
header: "Style"
question: "Default illustration style preference? Or type another style name or your custom style"
options:
- label: "None (Recommended)"
description: "Auto-select based on content analysis"
- label: "notion"
description: "Minimalist hand-drawn line art"
- label: "warm"
description: "Friendly, approachable, personal"
```
### Question 3: Output Directory
```
header: "Output Directory"
question: "Where to save generated illustrations when illustrating a file?"
options:
- label: "imgs-subdir (Recommended)"
description: "{article-dir}/imgs/ — images in a subdirectory next to the article"
- label: "same-dir"
description: "{article-dir}/ — images alongside the article file"
- label: "illustrations-subdir"
description: "{article-dir}/illustrations/ — separate illustrations subdirectory"
- label: "independent"
description: "illustrations/{topic-slug}/ — standalone directory in cwd"
```
### Question 4: Save Location
```
header: "Save"
question: "Where to save preferences?"
options:
- label: "Project"
description: ".baoyu-skills/ (this project only)"
- label: "User"
description: "~/.baoyu-skills/ (all projects)"
```
## Save Locations
| Choice | Path | Scope |
|--------|------|-------|
| Project | `.baoyu-skills/baoyu-article-illustrator/EXTEND.md` | Current project |
| User | `~/.baoyu-skills/baoyu-article-illustrator/EXTEND.md` | All projects |
## After Setup
1. Create directory if needed
2. Write EXTEND.md with frontmatter
3. Confirm: "Preferences saved to [path]"
4. Continue to Step 1
## EXTEND.md Template
```yaml
---
version: 1
watermark:
enabled: [true/false]
content: "[user input or empty]"
position: bottom-right
opacity: 0.7
preferred_style:
name: [selected style or null]
description: ""
default_output_dir: imgs-subdir # same-dir | imgs-subdir | illustrations-subdir | independent
language: null
custom_styles: []
---
```
## Modifying Preferences Later
Users can edit EXTEND.md directly or run setup again:
- Delete EXTEND.md to trigger setup
- Edit YAML frontmatter for quick changes
- Full schema: `config/preferences-schema.md`

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---
name: preferences-schema
description: EXTEND.md YAML schema for baoyu-article-illustrator user preferences
---
# Preferences Schema
## Full Schema
```yaml
---
version: 1
watermark:
enabled: false
content: ""
position: bottom-right # bottom-right|bottom-left|bottom-center|top-right
preferred_style:
name: null # Built-in or custom style name
description: "" # Override/notes
preferred_palette: null # Built-in palette name (macaron|warm|neon) or null
language: null # zh|en|ja|ko|auto
default_output_dir: null # same-dir|illustrations-subdir|independent
custom_styles:
- name: my-style
description: "Style description"
color_palette:
primary: ["#1E3A5F", "#4A90D9"]
background: "#F5F7FA"
accents: ["#00B4D8", "#48CAE4"]
visual_elements: "Clean lines, geometric shapes"
typography: "Modern sans-serif"
best_for: "Business, education"
---
```
## Field Reference
| Field | Type | Default | Description |
|-------|------|---------|-------------|
| `version` | int | 1 | Schema version |
| `watermark.enabled` | bool | false | Enable watermark |
| `watermark.content` | string | "" | Watermark text (@username or custom) |
| `watermark.position` | enum | bottom-right | Position on image |
| `preferred_style.name` | string | null | Style name or null |
| `preferred_style.description` | string | "" | Custom notes/override |
| `preferred_palette` | string | null | Palette override (macaron, warm, neon, or null) |
| `language` | string | null | Output language (null = auto-detect) |
| `default_output_dir` | enum | null | Output directory preference (null = ask each time) |
| `custom_styles` | array | [] | User-defined styles |
## Position Options
| Value | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| `bottom-right` | Lower right corner (default, most common) |
| `bottom-left` | Lower left corner |
| `bottom-center` | Bottom center |
| `top-right` | Upper right corner |
## Output Directory Options
| Value | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| `same-dir` | Same directory as article |
| `illustrations-subdir` | `{article-dir}/illustrations/` subdirectory |
| `independent` | `illustrations/{topic-slug}/` in working directory |
## Custom Style Fields
| Field | Required | Description |
|-------|----------|-------------|
| `name` | Yes | Unique style identifier (kebab-case) |
| `description` | Yes | What the style conveys |
| `color_palette.primary` | No | Main colors (array) |
| `color_palette.background` | No | Background color |
| `color_palette.accents` | No | Accent colors (array) |
| `visual_elements` | No | Decorative elements |
| `typography` | No | Font/lettering style |
| `best_for` | No | Recommended content types |
## Example: Minimal Preferences
```yaml
---
version: 1
watermark:
enabled: true
content: "@myusername"
preferred_style:
name: notion
---
```
## Example: Full Preferences
```yaml
---
version: 1
watermark:
enabled: true
content: "@myaccount"
position: bottom-right
preferred_style:
name: notion
description: "Clean illustrations for tech articles"
language: zh
custom_styles:
- name: corporate
description: "Professional B2B style"
color_palette:
primary: ["#1E3A5F", "#4A90D9"]
background: "#F5F7FA"
accents: ["#00B4D8", "#48CAE4"]
visual_elements: "Clean lines, subtle gradients, geometric shapes"
typography: "Modern sans-serif, professional"
best_for: "Business, SaaS, enterprise"
---
```

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# macaron
Soft macaron pastel color blocks on warm cream
## Background
- Color: Warm Cream (#F5F0E8)
- Texture: Subtle warm paper grain
## Colors
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Warm Cream | #F5F0E8 | Primary background |
| Primary Text | Deep Charcoal | #2D2D2D | Headlines, main text, outlines |
| Macaron Blue | Sky Blue | #A8D8EA | Info block fill, cool-toned zones |
| Macaron Mint | Mint Green | #B5E5CF | Info block fill, growth/positive zones |
| Macaron Lavender | Lavender | #D5C6E0 | Info block fill, abstract/concept zones |
| Macaron Peach | Peach | #FFD5C2 | Info block fill, warm-toned zones |
| Accent | Coral Red | #E8655A | Key data, warnings, emphasis |
| Muted Text | Warm Gray | #6B6B6B | Secondary annotations, small labels |
## Accent
Coral Red (#E8655A) for key data, warnings, and emphasis highlights. Use sparingly — one or two elements per illustration.
## Semantic Constraint
Soft pastel macaron color palette. Use block colors as rounded card backgrounds for distinct information sections. Accent coral red sparingly for emphasis on key terms only. Do NOT render color names, hex codes, or role labels as visible text in the image.
## Best For
Educational content, knowledge sharing, concept explainers, tutorials, tech summaries, onboarding materials

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# mono-ink
Black ink on pure white with sparse semantic accent colors
## Background
- Color: Pure White (#FFFFFF)
- Texture: Clean, no grain, no tint
## Colors
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Pure White | #FFFFFF | Canvas |
| Primary | Near Black | #1A1A1A | All lines, text, figures, arrows |
| Accent (risk/emphasis) | Coral Red | #E8655A | Risk, problem, gap, key emphasis |
| Accent (positive) | Muted Teal | #5FA8A8 | Positive, solution, "after" state |
| Accent (neutral tag) | Dusty Lavender | #9B8AB5 | Neutral tags, category labels |
| Soft Fill | Pale Gray | #F0F0F0 | Subtle zone backgrounds (optional) |
## Accent
Use black ink for all structural elements — lines, text, figures. Accent colors appear only for semantic highlighting: coral red for risks/gaps/problems, muted teal for positive/solution/after-states, dusty lavender for neutral category tags. Total colored pixels must remain under 10% of canvas. Pale gray may back a subtle zone but must never dominate.
## Semantic Constraint
Black ink on white canvas. Accent colors for semantic highlighting only — total colored pixels under 10% of canvas. Do NOT render color names, hex codes, or role labels as visible text in the image.
## Compatible With
- `ink-notes` (primary, default pairing)
- `minimal` (strict monochrome variation, drops the style's built-in accent)
- `sketch` (pencil + ink hybrid look)
## Not Recommended With
- `sketch-notes` — its "no pure white backgrounds" rule conflicts
- `warm`, `elegant`, `watercolor`, `fantasy-animation` — color-heavy by design, mono-ink strips their identity
## Best For
Professional visual notes, Before/After essays, tech manifestos, framework analogies, whiteboard-presentation explainers

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# neon
Vibrant neon colors on dark backgrounds
## Background
- Color: Deep Purple (#2D1B4E)
- Texture: Subtle grid pattern or solid dark
## Colors
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Deep Purple | #2D1B4E | Primary background |
| Alt Background | Dark Teal | #0F4C5C | Alternative sections |
| Primary | Hot Pink | #FF1493 | Main accent |
| Secondary | Electric Cyan | #00FFFF | Supporting elements |
| Tertiary | Neon Yellow | #FFFF00 | Highlights |
| Accent 1 | Lime Green | #32CD32 | Energy, success |
| Accent 2 | Orange | #FF6B35 | Warmth |
| Text | White | #FFFFFF | Text elements |
## Accent
Hot Pink (#FF1493) for primary emphasis. High contrast neon-on-dark creates immediate visual impact.
## Semantic Constraint
Vibrant neon-on-dark palette. High contrast, immediate visual impact. Do NOT render color names, hex codes, or role labels as visible text in the image.
## Best For
Gaming, retro tech, 80s/90s nostalgic content, bold editorial, trend and pop culture

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# warm
Warm earth tones on soft peach, no cool colors
## Background
- Color: Soft Peach (#FFECD2)
- Texture: Warm paper texture
## Colors
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Soft Peach | #FFECD2 | Primary background |
| Outlines | Deep Charcoal | #2D2D2D | All element outlines |
| Primary | Warm Orange | #ED8936 | Main accent color |
| Secondary | Terracotta | #C05621 | Warm depth |
| Tertiary | Golden Yellow | #F6AD55 | Highlights, energy |
| Accent | Deep Brown | #744210 | Grounding, anchoring |
| Text | Warm Charcoal | #4A4A4A | Text elements |
## Accent
Warm Orange (#ED8936) for primary emphasis. Warm-only palette — no cool colors (no green, blue, purple). Modern-retro feel.
## Semantic Constraint
Warm earth tone palette. Warm-only — no cool colors (no green, blue, purple). Do NOT render color names, hex codes, or role labels as visible text in the image.
## Best For
Product showcases, team introductions, feature grids, brand content, personal growth, lifestyle

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# Prompt Construction
## Prompt File Format
Each prompt file uses YAML frontmatter + content:
```yaml
---
illustration_id: 01
type: infographic
style: blueprint
references: # ⚠️ ONLY if files EXIST in references/ directory
- ref_id: 01
filename: 01-ref-diagram.png
usage: direct # direct | style | palette
---
[Type-specific template content below...]
```
**⚠️ CRITICAL - When to include `references` field**:
| Situation | Action |
|-----------|--------|
| Reference file saved to `references/` | Include in frontmatter ✓ |
| Style extracted verbally (no file) | DO NOT include in frontmatter, append to prompt body instead |
| File path in frontmatter but file doesn't exist | ERROR - remove references field |
**Reference Usage Types** (only when file exists):
| Usage | Description | Generation Action |
|-------|-------------|-------------------|
| `direct` | Primary visual reference | Pass to `--ref` parameter |
| `style` | Style characteristics only | Describe style in prompt text |
| `palette` | Color palette extraction | Include colors in prompt |
**If no reference file but style/palette extracted verbally**, append directly to prompt body:
```
COLORS (from reference):
- Primary: #E8756D coral
- Secondary: #7ECFC0 mint
...
STYLE (from reference):
- Clean lines, minimal shadows
- Gradient backgrounds
...
```
---
## Default Composition Requirements
**Apply to ALL prompts by default**:
| Requirement | Description |
|-------------|-------------|
| **Clean composition** | Simple layouts, no visual clutter |
| **White space** | Generous margins, breathing room around elements |
| **No complex backgrounds** | Solid colors or subtle gradients only, avoid busy textures |
| **Centered or content-appropriate** | Main visual elements centered or positioned by content needs |
| **Matching graphics** | Use graphic elements that align with content theme |
| **Highlight core info** | White space draws attention to key information |
**Add to ALL prompts**:
> Clean composition with generous white space. Simple or no background. Main elements centered or positioned by content needs.
---
## Color Specification Rules
Colors in prompts use hex codes for **rendering guidance only** — they tell the model which colors to use, NOT what text to display.
**⚠️ CRITICAL**: Image generation models sometimes render color names and hex values as visible text labels in the image (e.g., painting "Macaron Blue #A8D8EA" as a label). This must be prevented.
**Add to ALL prompts that contain a COLORS section**:
> Color values (#hex) and color names are rendering guidance only — do NOT display color names, hex codes, or palette labels as visible text in the image.
---
## Character Rendering
When depicting people:
| Guideline | Description |
|-----------|-------------|
| **Style** | Simplified cartoon silhouettes or symbolic expressions |
| **Avoid** | Realistic human portrayals, detailed faces |
| **Diversity** | Varied body types when showing multiple people |
| **Emotion** | Express through posture and simple gestures |
**Add to ALL prompts with human figures**:
> Human figures: simplified stylized silhouettes or symbolic representations, not photorealistic.
---
## Text in Illustrations
| Element | Guideline |
|---------|-----------|
| **Size** | Large, prominent, immediately readable |
| **Style** | Handwritten fonts preferred for warmth |
| **Content** | Concise keywords and core concepts only |
| **Language** | Match article language |
**Add to prompts with text**:
> Text should be large and prominent with handwritten-style fonts. Keep minimal, focus on keywords.
---
## Principles
Good prompts must include:
1. **Layout Structure First**: Describe composition, zones, flow direction
2. **Specific Data/Labels**: Use actual numbers, terms from article
3. **Visual Relationships**: How elements connect
4. **Semantic Colors**: Meaning-based color choices (red=warning, green=efficient)
5. **Style Characteristics**: Line treatment, texture, mood
6. **Aspect Ratio**: End with ratio and complexity level
## Type-Specific Templates
### Infographic
```
[Title] - Data Visualization
Layout: [grid/radial/hierarchical]
ZONES:
- Zone 1: [data point with specific values]
- Zone 2: [comparison with metrics]
- Zone 3: [summary/conclusion]
LABELS: [specific numbers, percentages, terms from article]
COLORS: [semantic color mapping]
STYLE: [style characteristics]
ASPECT: 16:9
```
**Infographic + vector-illustration**:
```
Flat vector illustration infographic. Clean black outlines on all elements.
COLORS: Cream background (#F5F0E6), Coral Red (#E07A5F), Mint Green (#81B29A), Mustard Yellow (#F2CC8F)
ELEMENTS: Geometric simplified icons, no gradients, playful decorative elements (dots, stars)
```
**Infographic + vector-illustration + warm palette**:
```
Flat vector illustration infographic. Clean black outlines on all elements.
PALETTE OVERRIDE (warm): Warm-only color palette, no cool colors.
COLORS: Soft Peach background (#FFECD2), Warm Orange (#ED8936),
Terracotta (#C05621), Golden Yellow (#F6AD55), Deep Brown (#744210)
ELEMENTS: Geometric simplified icons, no gradients, rounded corners,
modular card layout, consistent icon style
```
### Scene
```
[Title] - Atmospheric Scene
FOCAL POINT: [main subject]
ATMOSPHERE: [lighting, mood, environment]
MOOD: [emotion to convey]
COLOR TEMPERATURE: [warm/cool/neutral]
STYLE: [style characteristics]
ASPECT: 16:9
```
### Flowchart
```
[Title] - Process Flow
Layout: [left-right/top-down/circular]
STEPS:
1. [Step name] - [brief description]
2. [Step name] - [brief description]
...
CONNECTIONS: [arrow types, decision points]
STYLE: [style characteristics]
ASPECT: 16:9
```
**Flowchart + vector-illustration**:
```
Flat vector flowchart with bold arrows and geometric step containers.
COLORS: Cream background (#F5F0E6), steps in Coral/Mint/Mustard, black outlines
ELEMENTS: Rounded rectangles, thick arrows, simple icons per step
```
**Flowchart + sketch-notes + macaron palette**:
```
Hand-drawn educational flowchart on warm cream paper. Slight wobble on all lines.
PALETTE: macaron — soft pastel color blocks
COLORS: Warm Cream background (#F5F0E8), zone fills in Macaron Blue (#A8D8EA),
Lavender (#D5C6E0), Mint (#B5E5CF), Coral Red (#E8655A) for emphasis
ELEMENTS: Rounded cards with dashed/solid borders, wavy hand-drawn arrows with labels,
simple stick-figure characters, doodle decorations (stars, underlines)
STYLE: Color fills don't completely fill outlines, hand-drawn lettering, generous white space
```
**Flowchart + ink-notes + mono-ink palette**:
```
Professional hand-drawn visual-note flowchart on pure white. Black ink line work
with slight wobble, à la Mike Rohde sketchnoting.
PALETTE: mono-ink — black ink dominant, sparse semantic accents
COLORS: Pure White background (#FFFFFF), Near Black (#1A1A1A) for all lines,
text, and figures; Coral Red (#E8655A) only for risk/emphasis,
Muted Teal (#5FA8A8) only for positive/solution states
ELEMENTS: Left-to-right stage boxes with rounded-rect frames, wavy hand-drawn
arrows between stages, simple stick-figure characters with role
labels above (e.g., "ML Engineer", "Team Lead"), dashed-border box
for future/empty stage, small doodle icons per stage
STYLE: Hand-lettered titles (bold, oversized), handwritten stage labels and
annotations, generous white space, bottom tagline summarizing takeaway
```
### Comparison
```
[Title] - Comparison View
LEFT SIDE - [Option A]:
- [Point 1]
- [Point 2]
RIGHT SIDE - [Option B]:
- [Point 1]
- [Point 2]
DIVIDER: [visual separator]
STYLE: [style characteristics]
ASPECT: 16:9
```
**Comparison + vector-illustration**:
```
Flat vector comparison with split layout. Clear visual separation.
COLORS: Left side Coral (#E07A5F), Right side Mint (#81B29A), cream background
ELEMENTS: Bold icons, black outlines, centered divider line
```
**Comparison + vector-illustration + warm palette**:
```
Flat vector comparison with split layout. Clear visual separation.
PALETTE OVERRIDE (warm): Warm-only color palette, no cool colors.
COLORS: Left side Warm Orange (#ED8936), Right side Terracotta (#C05621),
Soft Peach background (#FFECD2), Deep Brown (#744210) accents
ELEMENTS: Bold icons, black outlines, centered divider line
```
**Comparison + ink-notes + mono-ink palette** (Before/After, Traditional vs New):
```
Professional hand-drawn sketchnote comparison on pure white. Black ink line work
with slight wobble, à la Mike Rohde sketchnoting.
PALETTE: mono-ink — black ink dominant, sparse semantic accents
COLORS: Pure White background (#FFFFFF), Near Black (#1A1A1A) for all outlines,
text, figures, arrows; Coral Red (#E8655A) reserved for risks/gaps
(left/Before side); Muted Teal (#5FA8A8) reserved for positives
(right/After side). Color accents under 10% of canvas.
LAYOUT: Left | Right split with vertical hand-drawn divider. Hand-lettered
"Before" label (top-left) and "After" label (top-right).
LEFT SIDE: Stick figure(s) with role label above, speech bubble showing the
pain point, bulleted pain-point list in handwritten text.
RIGHT SIDE: Stick figure(s) showing the new state, bulleted improvement list,
small positive-action icons.
BRIDGE: Curved hand-drawn "mindset shift" arrow bridging left → right with
small inline label describing the shift.
BOTTOM: Single-line hand-lettered tagline summarizing the takeaway.
STYLE: Hand-lettered headings (bold, oversized), handwritten body annotations,
generous white space, no computer fonts, no gradients, no shadows.
```
### Framework
```
[Title] - Conceptual Framework
STRUCTURE: [hierarchical/network/matrix]
NODES:
- [Concept 1] - [role]
- [Concept 2] - [role]
RELATIONSHIPS: [how nodes connect]
STYLE: [style characteristics]
ASPECT: 16:9
```
**Framework + vector-illustration**:
```
Flat vector framework diagram with geometric nodes and bold connectors.
COLORS: Cream background (#F5F0E6), nodes in Coral/Mint/Mustard/Blue, black outlines
ELEMENTS: Rounded rectangles or circles for nodes, thick connecting lines
```
**Framework + vector-illustration + warm palette**:
```
Flat vector framework diagram with geometric nodes and bold connectors.
PALETTE OVERRIDE (warm): Warm-only color palette, no cool colors.
COLORS: Soft Peach background (#FFECD2), nodes in Warm Orange (#ED8936),
Terracotta (#C05621), Golden Yellow (#F6AD55), black outlines
ELEMENTS: Rounded rectangles or circles for nodes, thick connecting lines
```
**Framework + ink-notes + mono-ink palette** (command center, OS analogy):
```
Professional hand-drawn sketchnote framework on pure white. Black ink line work
with slight wobble, à la Mike Rohde sketchnoting.
PALETTE: mono-ink — black ink dominant, sparse semantic accents
COLORS: Pure White background (#FFFFFF), Near Black (#1A1A1A) for all lines,
text, figures; Dusty Lavender (#9B8AB5) for neutral category tags only;
Coral Red (#E8655A) for emphasis sparingly. Color accents under 10%.
STRUCTURE: Central rounded-rectangle frame as "the system" with hand-lettered
title inside. Inner layer of labeled sub-components (node labels
above each). Outer layer of feeder arrows from stick-figure
operators/users with role labels.
ELEMENTS: Stick figures at the edges with role tags ("Team Lead", "Operator"),
wavy hand-drawn connector arrows with small inline labels, small
doodle icons per component, dashed-border placeholder(s) for
future/empty capabilities.
BOTTOM: Single-line hand-lettered tagline.
STYLE: Hand-lettered headings, handwritten annotations, generous white space,
no computer fonts, no gradients.
```
### Timeline
```
[Title] - Chronological View
DIRECTION: [horizontal/vertical]
EVENTS:
- [Date/Period 1]: [milestone]
- [Date/Period 2]: [milestone]
MARKERS: [visual indicators]
STYLE: [style characteristics]
ASPECT: 16:9
```
### Screen-Print Style Override
When `style: screen-print`, replace standard style instructions with:
```
Screen print / silkscreen poster art. Flat color blocks, NO gradients.
COLORS: 2-5 colors maximum. [Choose from style palette or duotone pair]
TEXTURE: Halftone dot patterns, slight color layer misregistration, paper grain
COMPOSITION: Bold silhouettes, geometric framing, negative space as storytelling element
FIGURES: Silhouettes only, no detailed faces, stencil-cut edges
TYPOGRAPHY: Bold condensed sans-serif integrated into composition (not overlaid)
```
**Scene + screen-print**:
```
Conceptual poster scene. Single symbolic focal point, NOT literal illustration.
COLORS: Duotone pair (e.g., Burnt Orange #E8751A + Deep Teal #0A6E6E) on Off-Black #121212
COMPOSITION: Centered silhouette or geometric frame, 60%+ negative space
TEXTURE: Halftone dots, paper grain, slight print misregistration
```
**Comparison + screen-print**:
```
Split poster composition. Each side dominated by one color from duotone pair.
LEFT: [Color A] side with silhouette/icon for [Option A]
RIGHT: [Color B] side with silhouette/icon for [Option B]
DIVIDER: Geometric shape or negative space boundary
TEXTURE: Halftone transitions between sides
```
---
## Palette Override
When a palette is specified (via `--palette` or preset), it overrides the style's default colors:
1. Read style file → get rendering rules (Visual Elements, Style Rules, line treatment)
2. Read palette file (`palettes/<palette>.md`) → get Colors + Background
3. Palette Colors **replace** style's default Color Palette in prompt
4. Palette Background **replaces** style's Background color (keep style's texture description)
5. Build prompt: style rendering instructions + palette colors
**Prompt frontmatter** includes palette when specified:
```yaml
---
illustration_id: 01
type: infographic
style: vector-illustration
palette: macaron
---
```
**Example**: `vector-illustration` + `macaron` palette:
```
Flat vector illustration infographic. Clean black outlines on all elements.
PALETTE: macaron — soft pastel color blocks
COLORS: Warm Cream background (#F5F0E8), Macaron Blue (#A8D8EA), Mint (#B5E5CF),
Lavender (#D5C6E0), Peach (#FFD5C2), Coral Red (#E8655A) for emphasis
ELEMENTS: Geometric simplified icons, no gradients, playful decorative elements
```
When no palette is specified, use the style's built-in Color Palette as before.
---
## What to Avoid
- Vague descriptions ("a nice image")
- Literal metaphor illustrations
- Missing concrete labels/annotations
- Generic decorative elements
## Watermark Integration
If watermark enabled in preferences, append:
```
Include a subtle watermark "[content]" positioned at [position].
```

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# Style Presets
`--preset X` expands to a type + style + optional palette combination. Users can override any dimension.
## By Category
### Technical & Engineering
| --preset | Type | Style | Palette | Best For |
|----------|------|-------|---------|----------|
| `tech-explainer` | `infographic` | `blueprint` | — | API docs, system metrics, technical deep-dives |
| `system-design` | `framework` | `blueprint` | — | Architecture diagrams, system design |
| `architecture` | `framework` | `vector-illustration` | — | Component relationships, module structure |
| `science-paper` | `infographic` | `scientific` | — | Research findings, lab results, academic |
### Knowledge & Education
| --preset | Type | Style | Palette | Best For |
|----------|------|-------|---------|----------|
| `knowledge-base` | `infographic` | `vector-illustration` | — | Concept explainers, tutorials, how-to |
| `saas-guide` | `infographic` | `notion` | — | Product guides, SaaS docs, tool walkthroughs |
| `tutorial` | `flowchart` | `vector-illustration` | — | Step-by-step tutorials, setup guides |
| `process-flow` | `flowchart` | `notion` | — | Workflow documentation, onboarding flows |
| `warm-knowledge` | `infographic` | `vector-illustration` | `warm` | Product showcases, team intros, feature cards, brand content |
| `edu-visual` | `infographic` | `vector-illustration` | `macaron` | Knowledge summaries, concept explainers, educational articles |
| `hand-drawn-edu` | `flowchart` | `sketch-notes` | `macaron` | Hand-drawn educational diagrams, process explainers, onboarding visuals |
| `ink-notes-compare` | `comparison` | `ink-notes` | `mono-ink` | Before/After essays, Traditional vs New, OS-style comparisons, mindset-shift narratives |
| `ink-notes-flow` | `flowchart` | `ink-notes` | `mono-ink` | Professional process explainers, workforce pipelines, hand-drawn technical walkthroughs |
| `ink-notes-framework` | `framework` | `ink-notes` | `mono-ink` | System analogies, command-center diagrams, architecture-as-metaphor, tech manifestos |
### Data & Analysis
| --preset | Type | Style | Palette | Best For |
|----------|------|-------|---------|----------|
| `data-report` | `infographic` | `editorial` | — | Data journalism, metrics reports, dashboards |
| `versus` | `comparison` | `vector-illustration` | — | Tech comparisons, framework shootouts |
| `business-compare` | `comparison` | `elegant` | — | Product evaluations, strategy options |
### Narrative & Creative
| --preset | Type | Style | Palette | Best For |
|----------|------|-------|---------|----------|
| `storytelling` | `scene` | `warm` | — | Personal essays, reflections, growth stories |
| `lifestyle` | `scene` | `watercolor` | — | Travel, wellness, lifestyle, creative |
| `history` | `timeline` | `elegant` | — | Historical overviews, milestones |
| `evolution` | `timeline` | `warm` | — | Progress narratives, growth journeys |
### Editorial & Opinion
| --preset | Type | Style | Palette | Best For |
|----------|------|-------|---------|----------|
| `opinion-piece` | `scene` | `screen-print` | — | Op-eds, commentary, critical essays |
| `editorial-poster` | `comparison` | `screen-print` | — | Debate, contrasting viewpoints |
| `cinematic` | `scene` | `screen-print` | — | Dramatic narratives, cultural essays |
## Content Type → Preset Recommendations
Use this table during Step 3 to recommend presets based on Step 2 content analysis:
| Content Type (Step 2) | Primary Preset | Alternatives |
|------------------------|----------------|--------------|
| Technical | `tech-explainer` | `system-design`, `architecture` |
| Tutorial | `tutorial` | `process-flow`, `knowledge-base`, `edu-visual` |
| Methodology / Framework | `system-design` | `architecture`, `process-flow` |
| Data / Metrics | `data-report` | `versus`, `tech-explainer` |
| Comparison / Review | `versus` | `business-compare`, `editorial-poster`, `ink-notes-compare` |
| Manifesto / Mindset shift / Professional visual note | `ink-notes-compare` | `ink-notes-framework`, `ink-notes-flow` |
| Narrative / Personal | `storytelling` | `lifestyle`, `evolution` |
| Opinion / Editorial | `opinion-piece` | `cinematic`, `editorial-poster` |
| Historical / Timeline | `history` | `evolution` |
| Academic / Research | `science-paper` | `tech-explainer`, `data-report` |
| SaaS / Product | `saas-guide` | `knowledge-base`, `process-flow`, `warm-knowledge` |
| Education / Knowledge | `edu-visual` | `knowledge-base`, `tutorial`, `hand-drawn-edu` |
## Override Examples
- `--preset tech-explainer --style notion` = infographic type with notion style
- `--preset storytelling --type timeline` = timeline type with warm style
Explicit `--type`/`--style` flags always override preset values.

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# Style Reference
## Core Styles
Simplified style tier for quick selection:
| Core Style | Maps To | Best For |
|------------|---------|----------|
| `vector` | vector-illustration | Knowledge articles, tutorials, tech content |
| `minimal-flat` | notion | General, knowledge sharing, SaaS |
| `sci-fi` | blueprint | AI, frontier tech, system design |
| `hand-drawn` | sketch/warm | Relaxed, reflective, casual content |
| `editorial` | editorial | Processes, data, journalism |
| `scene` | warm/watercolor | Narratives, emotional, lifestyle |
| `poster` | screen-print | Opinion, editorial, cultural, cinematic |
Use Core Styles for most cases. See full Style Gallery below for granular control.
---
## Style Gallery
| Style | Description | Best For |
|-------|-------------|----------|
| `vector-illustration` | Clean flat vector art with bold shapes | Knowledge articles, tutorials, tech content |
| `notion` | Minimalist hand-drawn line art | Knowledge sharing, SaaS, productivity |
| `elegant` | Refined, sophisticated | Business, thought leadership |
| `warm` | Friendly, approachable | Personal growth, lifestyle, education |
| `minimal` | Ultra-clean, zen-like | Philosophy, minimalism, core concepts |
| `blueprint` | Technical schematics | Architecture, system design, engineering |
| `watercolor` | Soft artistic with natural warmth | Lifestyle, travel, creative |
| `editorial` | Magazine-style infographic | Tech explainers, journalism |
| `scientific` | Academic precise diagrams | Biology, chemistry, technical research |
| `chalkboard` | Classroom chalk drawing style | Education, teaching, explanations |
| `fantasy-animation` | Ghibli/Disney-inspired hand-drawn | Storybook, magical, emotional |
| `flat` | Modern bold geometric shapes | Modern digital, contemporary |
| `flat-doodle` | Cute flat with bold outlines | Cute, friendly, approachable |
| `intuition-machine` | Technical briefing with aged paper | Technical briefings, academic |
| `nature` | Organic earthy illustration | Environmental, wellness |
| `pixel-art` | Retro 8-bit gaming aesthetic | Gaming, retro tech |
| `playful` | Whimsical pastel doodles | Fun, casual, educational |
| `retro` | 80s/90s neon geometric | 80s/90s nostalgic, bold |
| `sketch` | Raw pencil notebook style | Brainstorming, creative exploration |
| `screen-print` | Bold poster art, halftone textures, limited colors | Opinion, editorial, cultural, cinematic |
| `sketch-notes` | Soft hand-drawn warm notes | Educational, warm notes |
| `ink-notes` | Black ink on pure white, sparse semantic accents, hand-lettered (à la Mike Rohde's sketchnoting) | Before/After essays, tech manifestos, framework analogies |
| `vintage` | Aged parchment historical | Historical, heritage |
Full specifications: `references/styles/<style>.md`
## Type × Style Compatibility Matrix
| | vector-illustration | notion | warm | minimal | blueprint | watercolor | elegant | editorial | scientific | screen-print |
|---|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|
| infographic | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ |
| scene | ✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓✓ |
| flowchart | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| comparison | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| framework | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✗ | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ |
| timeline | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
✓✓ = highly recommended | ✓ = compatible | ✗ = not recommended
## Auto Selection by Type
| Type | Primary Style | Secondary Styles |
|------|---------------|------------------|
| infographic | vector-illustration | notion, blueprint, editorial |
| scene | warm | watercolor, elegant |
| flowchart | vector-illustration | notion, blueprint |
| comparison | vector-illustration | notion, elegant |
| framework | blueprint | vector-illustration, notion |
| timeline | elegant | warm, editorial |
## Auto Selection by Content Signals
| Content Signals | Recommended Type | Recommended Style |
|-----------------|------------------|-------------------|
| API, metrics, data, comparison, numbers | infographic | blueprint, vector-illustration |
| Knowledge, concept, tutorial, learning, guide | infographic | vector-illustration, notion |
| Tech, AI, programming, development, code | infographic | vector-illustration, blueprint |
| How-to, steps, workflow, process, tutorial | flowchart | vector-illustration, notion |
| Framework, model, architecture, principles | framework | blueprint, vector-illustration |
| vs, pros/cons, before/after, alternatives | comparison | vector-illustration, notion |
| Manifesto, mindset shift, workforce, OS, whiteboard, professional visual note | comparison / framework | ink-notes |
| Story, emotion, journey, experience, personal | scene | warm, watercolor |
| History, timeline, progress, evolution | timeline | elegant, warm |
| Productivity, SaaS, tool, app, software | infographic | notion, vector-illustration |
| Business, professional, strategy, corporate | framework | elegant |
| Opinion, editorial, culture, philosophy, cinematic, dramatic, poster | scene | screen-print |
| Biology, chemistry, medical, scientific | infographic | scientific |
| Explainer, journalism, magazine, investigation | infographic | editorial |
## Style Characteristics by Type
### infographic + vector-illustration
- Clean flat vector shapes, bold geometric forms
- Vibrant but harmonious color palette
- Clear visual hierarchy with icons and labels
- Modern, professional, highly readable
- Perfect for knowledge articles and tutorials
### flowchart + vector-illustration
- Bold arrows and connectors
- Distinct step containers with icons
- Clean progression flow
- High contrast for readability
### comparison + vector-illustration
- Split layout with clear visual separation
- Bold iconography for each side
- Color-coded distinctions
- Easy at-a-glance comparison
### framework + vector-illustration
- Geometric node representations
- Clear hierarchical structure
- Bold connecting lines
- Modern system diagram aesthetic
### infographic + blueprint
- Technical precision, schematic lines
- Grid-based layout, clear zones
- Monospace labels, data-focused
- Blue/white color scheme
### infographic + notion
- Hand-drawn feel, approachable
- Soft icons, rounded elements
- Neutral palette, clean backgrounds
- Perfect for SaaS/productivity
### scene + warm
- Golden hour lighting, cozy atmosphere
- Soft gradients, natural textures
- Inviting, personal feeling
- Great for storytelling
### scene + watercolor
- Artistic, painterly effect
- Soft edges, color bleeding
- Dreamy, creative mood
- Best for lifestyle/travel
### flowchart + notion
- Clear step indicators
- Simple arrow connections
- Minimal decoration
- Focus on process clarity
### flowchart + blueprint
- Technical precision
- Detailed connection points
- Engineering aesthetic
- For complex systems
### comparison + elegant
- Refined dividers
- Balanced typography
- Professional appearance
- Business comparisons
### framework + blueprint
- Precise node connections
- Hierarchical clarity
- System architecture feel
- Technical frameworks
### timeline + elegant
- Sophisticated markers
- Refined typography
- Historical gravitas
- Professional presentations
### timeline + warm
- Friendly progression
- Organic flow
- Personal journey feel
- Growth narratives
### scene + screen-print
- Bold silhouettes, symbolic compositions
- 2-5 flat colors with halftone textures
- Figure-ground inversion (negative space tells secondary story)
- Vintage poster aesthetic, conceptual not literal
- Great for opinion pieces and cultural commentary
### comparison + screen-print
- Split duotone composition (one color per side)
- Bold geometric dividers
- Symbolic icons over detailed rendering
- High contrast, immediate visual impact
### framework + screen-print
- Geometric node representations with stencil-cut edges
- Limited color coding (one color per concept level)
- Clean silhouette-based iconography
- Poster-style hierarchy with bold typography
---
## Palette Gallery
Palettes override a style's default colors. Combine any style with any palette: `--style vector-illustration --palette macaron`.
| Palette | Description | Best For |
|---------|-------------|----------|
| `macaron` | Soft pastel blocks (blue, mint, lavender, peach) on warm cream | Educational, knowledge, tutorials |
| `warm` | Warm earth tones (orange, terracotta, gold) on soft peach, no cool colors | Brand, product, lifestyle |
| `neon` | Vibrant neon (pink, cyan, yellow) on dark purple | Gaming, retro, pop culture |
| `mono-ink` | Black ink on pure white with sparse semantic accents (coral red, muted teal, dusty lavender) | Professional visual notes, Before/After, manifestos |
Full specifications: `references/palettes/<palette>.md`
When no palette is specified, the style's built-in Color Palette is used.
## Palette Override Rules
1. Read style file → rendering rules (Visual Elements, Style Rules)
2. Read palette file → Colors + Background
3. Palette colors **replace** style's default Color Palette
4. Palette Background **replaces** style's default Background color
5. Style's texture description is preserved

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# blueprint
Precise technical blueprint style with engineering precision
## Design Aesthetic
Clean, structured visual metaphors using blueprints, diagrams, and schematics. Precise, analytical and aesthetically refined. Information presented in grid-based layouts with engineering precision. Technical drawing quality with professional polish.
## Background
- Color: Blueprint Off-White (#FAF8F5)
- Texture: Subtle grid overlay, engineering paper feel
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Blueprint Paper | #FAF8F5 | Primary background |
| Grid | Light Gray | #E5E5E5 | Background grid lines |
| Primary Text | Deep Slate | #334155 | Headlines, body |
| Primary Accent | Engineering Blue | #2563EB | Key elements |
| Secondary Accent | Navy Blue | #1E3A5F | Supporting elements |
| Tertiary | Light Blue | #BFDBFE | Fills, backgrounds |
| Warning | Amber | #F59E0B | Warnings, emphasis |
## Visual Elements
- Precise lines with consistent stroke weights
- Technical schematics and clean vector graphics
- Thin line work in technical drawing style
- Connection lines: straight or 90-degree angles only
- Data visualization with minimal charts
- Dimension lines and measurement indicators
- Cross-section style diagrams
- Isometric or orthographic projections
## Style Rules
### Do
- Maintain consistent line weights
- Use grid alignment for all elements
- Keep color palette restrained
- Create clear visual hierarchy through scale
- Use geometric precision for all shapes
### Don't
- Use hand-drawn or organic shapes
- Add decorative flourishes
- Use curved connection lines
- Include photographic elements
- Add unnecessary embellishments
## Best For
Technical architecture, system design, data analysis, engineering documentation, process flows, infrastructure articles

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# chalkboard
Black chalkboard background with colorful chalk drawing style
## Design Aesthetic
Classic classroom chalkboard aesthetic with hand-drawn chalk illustrations. Nostalgic educational feel with imperfect, sketchy lines that capture the warmth of traditional teaching. Colorful chalk creates visual hierarchy while maintaining the authentic chalkboard experience.
## Background
- Color: Chalkboard Black (#1A1A1A) or Dark Green-Black (#1C2B1C)
- Texture: Realistic chalkboard texture with subtle scratches, dust particles, and faint eraser marks
## Typography
Hand-drawn chalk lettering style with visible chalk texture. Imperfect baseline adds authenticity. White or bright colored chalk for emphasis.
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Chalkboard Black | #1A1A1A | Primary background |
| Alt Background | Green-Black | #1C2B1C | Traditional green board |
| Primary Text | Chalk White | #F5F5F5 | Main text, outlines |
| Accent 1 | Chalk Yellow | #FFE566 | Highlights, emphasis |
| Accent 2 | Chalk Pink | #FF9999 | Secondary highlights |
| Accent 3 | Chalk Blue | #66B3FF | Diagrams, links |
| Accent 4 | Chalk Green | #90EE90 | Success, nature |
| Accent 5 | Chalk Orange | #FFB366 | Warnings, energy |
## Visual Elements
- Hand-drawn chalk illustrations with sketchy, imperfect lines
- Chalk dust effects around text and key elements
- Doodles: stars, arrows, underlines, circles, checkmarks
- Mathematical formulas and simple diagrams
- Eraser smudges and chalk residue textures
- Wooden frame border optional
- Stick figures and simple icons
- Connection lines with hand-drawn feel
## Style Rules
### Do
- Maintain authentic chalk texture on all elements
- Use imperfect, hand-drawn quality throughout
- Add subtle chalk dust and smudge effects
- Create visual hierarchy with color variety
- Include playful doodles and annotations
### Don't
- Use perfect geometric shapes
- Create clean digital-looking lines
- Add photorealistic elements
- Use gradients or glossy effects
- Make it look computerized
## Best For
Educational articles, tutorials, teaching content, workshops, informal learning, knowledge sharing, how-to guides, classroom-style explanations

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# editorial
Magazine-style editorial infographic for professional content
## Design Aesthetic
High-quality magazine explainer aesthetic. Clear visual storytelling with structured layouts and professional typography. Think Wired, The Verge, or quality science publications. Complex information made digestible.
## Background
- Color: Pure White (#FFFFFF) or Light Gray (#F8F9FA)
- Texture: None or subtle paper grain
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Pure White | #FFFFFF | Primary background |
| Alt Background | Light Gray | #F8F9FA | Section backgrounds |
| Primary Text | Near Black | #1A1A1A | Headlines, body |
| Secondary Text | Dark Gray | #4A5568 | Captions |
| Accent 1 | Editorial Blue | #2563EB | Primary accent |
| Accent 2 | Coral | #F97316 | Secondary accent |
| Accent 3 | Emerald | #10B981 | Positive elements |
| Accent 4 | Amber | #F59E0B | Attention points |
| Dividers | Medium Gray | #D1D5DB | Section dividers |
## Visual Elements
- Clean flat illustrations
- Structured multi-section layouts
- Callout boxes for insights
- Icon-based visualizations
- Visual metaphors for concepts
- Flow diagrams with hierarchy
- Pull quotes and highlights
- Clear section dividers
## Style Rules
### Do
- Create clear narrative flow
- Use structured layouts
- Include callout boxes
- Design visual metaphors
- Maintain magazine polish
### Don't
- Use photographic imagery
- Create cluttered layouts
- Mix too many styles
- Add purposeless decoration
- Compromise clarity for style
## Best For
Technology explainers, science communication, research articles, policy analysis, investigative pieces, thought leadership, long-form journalism

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# elegant
Refined, sophisticated illustration style for professional content
## Design Aesthetic
Elegant and refined visual approach with sophisticated color palette. Professional polish with subtle artistic touches. Emphasizes clarity and thoughtful composition. Conveys authority and trustworthiness without being cold or clinical.
## Background
- Color: Warm Cream (#F5F0E6) or Soft Beige (#FAF6F0)
- Texture: Subtle paper texture, very light grain
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Warm Cream | #F5F0E6 | Primary background |
| Primary | Soft Coral | #E8A598 | Main accent color |
| Secondary | Muted Teal | #5B8A8A | Supporting elements |
| Tertiary | Dusty Rose | #D4A5A5 | Subtle highlights |
| Accent | Gold | #C9A962 | Premium touches |
| Alt Accent | Copper | #B87333 | Warm metallic notes |
| Text | Charcoal | #3D3D3D | Text and outlines |
## Visual Elements
- Delicate line work with refined strokes
- Subtle icons with balanced weight
- Graceful curves and flowing compositions
- Soft gradients with smooth transitions
- Balanced whitespace and breathing room
- Thin borders and elegant dividers
- Subtle drop shadows for depth
## Style Rules
### Do
- Use refined color combinations
- Create balanced, harmonious compositions
- Keep elements light and airy
- Use subtle gradients sparingly
- Maintain generous margins
### Don't
- Use harsh contrasts
- Overcrowd the composition
- Add playful or casual elements
- Use neon or overly bright colors
- Create busy or cluttered layouts
## Best For
Professional articles, thought leadership pieces, business topics, executive communications, corporate blogs, strategy discussions, industry analysis

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# fantasy-animation
Whimsical hand-drawn animation style inspired by Ghibli/Disney
## Design Aesthetic
Charming hand-drawn animation aesthetic reminiscent of classic Disney, Studio Ghibli, or European storybook illustration. Soft, painterly textures with warm, inviting colors. Friendly characters, magical elements, and storybook feel. Enchanting, nostalgic, and emotionally engaging.
## Background
- Color: Soft Sky Blue (#E8F4FC) or Warm Cream (#FFF8E7)
- Texture: Subtle watercolor wash, soft brush strokes
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Soft Sky Blue | #E8F4FC | Primary background |
| Alt Background | Warm Cream | #FFF8E7 | Secondary areas |
| Primary Text | Deep Forest | #2D5A3D | Headlines |
| Body Text | Warm Brown | #5D4E37 | Content |
| Accent 1 | Golden Yellow | #F4D03F | Magic, highlights |
| Accent 2 | Rose Pink | #E8A0BF | Warmth, charm |
| Accent 3 | Sage Green | #87A96B | Nature elements |
| Accent 4 | Sky Blue | #7EC8E3 | Air, water, dreams |
| Accent 5 | Coral | #F08080 | Emphasis, life |
## Visual Elements
- Central illustrated character (friendly, expressive)
- Small companion creatures (animals, magical beings)
- Storybook-style environment backgrounds
- Magical floating objects (books, orbs, sparkles)
- Decorative elements: stars, flowers, leaves
- Soft shadows and gentle highlights
- Layered depth with foreground/background
## Style Rules
### Do
- Create warm, inviting compositions
- Use soft edges and painterly textures
- Include charming character illustrations
- Add magical decorative touches
- Maintain storybook narrative feel
### Don't
- Use harsh geometric shapes
- Create dark or intimidating imagery
- Add photorealistic elements
- Use cold color palettes
- Make it look digital/computerized
## Best For
Educational content, children's articles, storytelling, creative topics, fantasy/gaming, inspirational pieces, family-friendly content

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# flat-doodle
Cute flat doodle illustration style with bold outlines
## Design Aesthetic
Cheerful and approachable visual style combining flat design with doodle charm. Features bold black outlines around simple shapes. Bright pastel colors with no gradients or shading. Cute rounded proportions that feel friendly. Clean white backgrounds create focus and clarity.
## Background
- Color: Clean White (#FFFFFF)
- Texture: None - pure white isolated background
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | White | #FFFFFF | Primary background |
| Primary | Pastel Pink | #FFB6C1 | Main elements |
| Secondary | Mint | #98D8C8 | Supporting elements |
| Tertiary | Lavender | #C8A2C8 | Accent elements |
| Accent 1 | Butter Yellow | #FFFACD | Highlight pop |
| Accent 2 | Sky Blue | #87CEEB | Cool accent |
| Accent 3 | Soft Coral | #F88379 | Warm accent |
| Outline | Bold Black | #000000 | All outlines |
| Text | Black | #1A1A1A | Text elements |
## Visual Elements
- Bold black outlines around all shapes
- Simple flat color fills
- Cute rounded proportions
- Minimal geometric shapes
- Productivity icons (laptops, calendars, checkmarks)
- Isolated elements on white
- No shading or gradients
- Hand-drawn quality with clean edges
## Style Rules
### Do
- Use bold black outlines consistently
- Keep shapes simple and rounded
- Use bright pastel palette
- Isolate elements on white background
- Maintain cute proportions
- Keep minimal shading
### Don't
- Add shadows or depth effects
- Use gradients or textures
- Create complex detailed illustrations
- Overlap too many elements
- Use dark or moody backgrounds
- Add realistic proportions
## Best For
Productivity articles, SaaS and app content, workflow tutorials, beginner guides, casual business content, tool introductions, lifestyle productivity

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# flat
Modern flat vector illustration style for contemporary content
## Design Aesthetic
Contemporary flat design aesthetic with bold shapes and limited depth. Clean geometric forms with no gradients or shadows. Modern, accessible, and highly readable. Optimized for digital consumption with scalable vector quality.
## Background
- Color: White (#FFFFFF) or Soft Gray (#F5F5F5)
- Texture: None - clean solid backgrounds
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | White | #FFFFFF | Primary background |
| Alt Background | Soft Gray | #F5F5F5 | Accent areas |
| Primary | Vibrant Blue | #3B82F6 | Main elements |
| Secondary | Coral | #F97316 | Supporting elements |
| Tertiary | Emerald | #10B981 | Accent elements |
| Accent 1 | Purple | #8B5CF6 | Additional accent |
| Accent 2 | Amber | #F59E0B | Highlight |
| Text | Dark Slate | #1E293B | Text elements |
| Light | Light Gray | #E5E7EB | Subtle elements |
## Visual Elements
- Bold geometric shapes
- Flat color fills with no gradients
- Simple character illustrations
- Clean icon designs
- Minimal line work
- Overlapping shape compositions
- Abstract concept visualizations
- Consistent stroke weights
## Style Rules
### Do
- Use flat solid colors
- Create clean geometric shapes
- Keep elements simple
- Maintain consistent styling
- Use bold color combinations
### Don't
- Add shadows or depth
- Use gradients or textures
- Create realistic illustrations
- Add unnecessary details
- Use photographic elements
## Best For
Modern articles, app and product content, startup stories, digital topics, contemporary business, tech company blogs, social media content

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# ink-notes
Professional black-ink visual notes on pure white, in the tradition of Mike Rohde's sketchnoting
## Compared to sketch-notes
`ink-notes` and `sketch-notes` are distinct styles. Pick the right one:
| | `sketch-notes` | `ink-notes` |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Warm Off-White #FAF8F0 with paper grain | Pure White #FFFFFF, clean, no texture |
| Palette | Soft warm accents (orange, mustard, sage, light blue) | Black ink dominant + sparse semantic accents |
| Feel | Soft, warm, educational, approachable | Professional, structured, whiteboard-presentation |
| Best For | Friendly tutorials, onboarding, casual explainers | Before/After essays, tech manifestos, framework analogies |
When in doubt: warm & friendly → `sketch-notes`. Disciplined & professional → `ink-notes`.
## Design Aesthetic
Disciplined hand-drawn visual note. Confident black ink line work with slight wobble, hand-lettered typography, and sparse color accents used only for semantic emphasis. Feels like a skilled visual notetaker's whiteboard presentation — clean, structured, intentionally hand-drawn rather than decorative.
## Background
- Color: Pure White (#FFFFFF)
- Texture: Clean, no grain, no tint
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Pure White | #FFFFFF | Canvas |
| Primary Ink | Near Black | #1A1A1A | All lines, text, figures, arrows |
| Accent Warm | Coral Red | #E8655A | Risk, problem, gap, emphasis |
| Accent Cool | Muted Teal | #5FA8A8 | Positive, solution, "after" state |
| Accent Neutral | Dusty Lavender | #9B8AB5 | Neutral tags, category labels |
| Soft Fill | Pale Gray | #F0F0F0 | Subtle zone backgrounds (optional) |
Color accents must remain under 10% of canvas area and only carry semantic meaning. Black ink does the structural work.
## Visual Elements
- Black ink line work with intentional slight wobble on all strokes
- Hand-lettered titles (bold, oversized) and handwritten body annotations
- Simple stick-figure characters with expressive poses (pointing, thinking, walking)
- Role labels above characters (e.g., "Tech Lead", "Compliance Officer")
- Thought bubbles and speech bubbles with hand-drawn outlines
- Rounded-rectangle frames for content groupings
- Dashed-border rectangles for placeholder, "coming next", or empty states
- Curvy hand-drawn arrows with small inline labels
- Vertical or horizontal dividers between comparison zones ("Before" | "After")
- "Mindset shift" curved arrow bridging two zones
- Bottom tagline: single-line hand-lettered conclusion that points the takeaway
- Stars, asterisks, underlines for emphasis — used sparingly
## Style Rules
### Do
- Keep background pure white with no texture or tint
- Let black ink dominate outlines, text, and figures
- Use accent colors only for semantic highlighting
- Keep all type hand-lettered — no computer-generated fonts
- Maintain confident line quality (wobble, not mess)
- Include a bottom tagline summarizing the main takeaway
- Structure content into clear zones with visible dividers
- Use dashed boxes for future, empty, or placeholder states
### Don't
- Use warm off-white or paper-textured backgrounds (that is sketch-notes' territory)
- Fill large zones with color blocks
- Use more than 3 accent colors per image
- Use perfect geometric shapes — preserve hand-drawn wobble
- Clutter with decorative doodles; every element must carry meaning
- Use gradients, shadows, or computer-generated fonts
## Type Compatibility
| Type | Rating | Notes |
|------|--------|-------|
| comparison | ✓✓ | Best fit — Before/After, Traditional vs New, side-by-side contrasts |
| framework | ✓✓ | OS-style command centers, layered architectures, organizational models |
| flowchart | ✓✓ | Process explainers with labeled stages, workforce pipelines |
| infographic | ✓ | Multi-zone technical summaries, manifesto-style posters |
| timeline | ✓ | Hand-drawn horizontal arrow with era markers and milestones |
| scene | ✗ | Not recommended — lacks scenic space |
## Best For
Product and engineering essays, tech manifestos, framework introductions, Before/After narratives, OS-level comparisons, workforce and organizational analogies, visual summaries of talks, thought-leadership articles

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# intuition-machine
Technical briefing infographic style with aged paper and bilingual labels
## Design Aesthetic
Academic/technical briefing style with clean 2D or isometric technical illustrations. Information-dense but organized with clear visual hierarchy. Vintage blueprint aesthetic with modern clarity. Multiple explanatory elements with bilingual callouts.
## Background
- Color: Aged Cream (#F5F0E6)
- Texture: Subtle paper texture with light creases, vintage technical print feel
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Aged Cream | #F5F0E6 | Primary background |
| Paper Texture | Warm White | #F5F0E1 | Blueprint effect |
| Primary Text | Dark Maroon | #5D3A3A | Headlines, titles |
| Body Text | Near Black | #1A1A1A | Content text |
| Accent 1 | Teal | #2F7373 | Primary illustrations |
| Accent 2 | Warm Brown | #8B7355 | Secondary elements |
| Accent 3 | Maroon | #722F37 | Emphasis |
| Outline | Deep Charcoal | #2D2D2D | Element outlines |
## Visual Elements
- Isometric 3D or flat 2D technical diagrams
- Explanatory text boxes with labeled content
- Bilingual callout labels (English + Chinese)
- Faded thematic background patterns
- Clean black outlines on elements
- Split or triptych layouts
- Key insight boxes
## Style Rules
### Do
- Include multiple text boxes with content
- Use bilingual labels for key elements
- Add faded thematic background patterns
- Maintain aged paper texture
- Create clear visual hierarchy
### Don't
- Create photorealistic 3D renders
- Leave illustrations without explanatory text
- Add stamps or watermarks in corners
- Use gradients or glossy effects
- Make it look too modern/digital
## Best For
Technical explanations, concept breakdowns, academic content, research summaries, bilingual audiences, knowledge documentation

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# minimal
Ultra-clean, zen-like illustration style for focused content
## Design Aesthetic
Maximum simplicity with purposeful restraint. Every element serves a function. Zen-like calm and focus through extensive negative space. Single focal point approach that guides attention naturally. Quiet elegance through reduction.
## Background
- Color: Pure White (#FFFFFF) or Off-White (#FAFAFA)
- Texture: None - clean solid backgrounds
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | White | #FFFFFF | Primary background |
| Alt Background | Off-White | #FAFAFA | Subtle variation |
| Primary | Pure Black | #000000 | Main elements |
| Accent | Content-Derived | varies | Single accent color |
| Text | Black | #000000 | Text elements |
| Alt Text | Medium Gray | #6B6B6B | Secondary text |
Note: Accent color is derived from content context. Use sparingly.
## Visual Elements
- Single focal element per illustration
- Maximum negative space
- Thin, precise lines
- Simple geometric forms
- Subtle shadows if any
- Typography as primary element
- Strategic use of single accent
- Clean, uncluttered compositions
## Style Rules
### Do
- Embrace empty space
- Use single focal points
- Keep lines thin and precise
- Let content breathe
- Question every element
### Don't
- Add decorative elements
- Use multiple accent colors
- Fill available space
- Add textures or patterns
- Create visual complexity
## Best For
Philosophy articles, minimalism content, focused explanations, meditation and mindfulness, essential concepts, clarity-focused writing

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# nature
Organic, earthy illustration style for environmental and wellness content
## Design Aesthetic
Natural and organic visual approach inspired by the outdoors. Earth tones and natural textures that evoke calm and connection to nature. Flowing lines and organic shapes. Creates a sense of tranquility and environmental awareness.
## Background
- Color: Sand Beige (#F5E6D3) or Sky Blue wash (#E0F2FE)
- Texture: Natural paper texture with organic feel
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Sand Beige | #F5E6D3 | Primary background |
| Alt Background | Sky Blue | #E0F2FE | Alternative canvas |
| Primary | Forest Green | #276749 | Main natural color |
| Secondary | Sage | #9AE6B4 | Supporting green |
| Tertiary | Earth Brown | #744210 | Grounding element |
| Accent 1 | Sunset Orange | #ED8936 | Warm accent |
| Accent 2 | Water Blue | #63B3ED | Cool accent |
| Text | Deep Brown | #5D4E3C | Text elements |
## Visual Elements
- Leaf and plant motifs
- Tree and branch silhouettes
- Mountain and landscape shapes
- Organic flowing lines
- Natural textures (wood grain, stone)
- Water and wave patterns
- Animal silhouettes
- Sun and moon symbols
## Style Rules
### Do
- Use earth-inspired colors
- Create organic, flowing shapes
- Include nature elements
- Evoke outdoor atmosphere
- Maintain calm and balance
### Don't
- Use synthetic or neon colors
- Create rigid geometric shapes
- Add tech or digital elements
- Use stark contrasts
- Overcomplicate compositions
## Best For
Sustainability articles, wellness content, outdoor topics, slow living, environmental issues, health and fitness, gardening, travel nature pieces

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# notion
Minimalist hand-drawn line art style for knowledge content (Default)
## Design Aesthetic
Clean, minimalist hand-drawn line art with intellectual feel. Simple doodle-style illustrations with intentional wobble. Maximum whitespace with single concept focus. Notion-like aesthetic that feels thoughtful and organized.
## Background
- Color: Pure White (#FFFFFF) or Off-White (#FAFAFA)
- Texture: None - clean solid backgrounds
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | White | #FFFFFF | Primary background |
| Alt Background | Off-White | #FAFAFA | Subtle variation |
| Primary | Black | #1A1A1A | Main outlines |
| Secondary | Dark Gray | #4A4A4A | Supporting lines |
| Accent 1 | Pastel Blue | #A8D4F0 | Soft highlight |
| Accent 2 | Pastel Yellow | #F9E79F | Warm highlight |
| Accent 3 | Pastel Pink | #FADBD8 | Gentle accent |
| Text | Near Black | #1A1A1A | Text elements |
## Visual Elements
- Simple line doodles
- Hand-drawn wobble effect
- Basic geometric shapes
- Stick figures for people
- Conceptual icons
- Clean hand-drawn lettering
- Minimal decorative elements
- Single-weight line work
## Style Rules
### Do
- Use maximum whitespace
- Keep illustrations simple
- Add slight hand-drawn wobble
- Focus on single concepts
- Use pastel accents sparingly
### Don't
- Create complex illustrations
- Use many colors at once
- Add detailed textures
- Make precise geometric shapes
- Overcrowd the composition
## Best For
Knowledge sharing, concept explanations, SaaS content, productivity articles, educational posts, how-to guides, professional blogs

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# pixel-art
Retro 8-bit pixel art aesthetic with nostalgic gaming style
## Design Aesthetic
Pixelated retro aesthetic reminiscent of classic 8-bit and 16-bit era games. Chunky pixels, limited color palettes, and nostalgic gaming references. Simple geometric shapes rendered in blocky pixel form. Fun, playful, and immediately recognizable retro tech aesthetic.
## Background
- Color: Light Blue (#87CEEB) or Soft Lavender (#E6E6FA)
- Texture: Subtle pixel grid pattern, optional CRT scanline effect
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Light Blue | #87CEEB | Primary background |
| Alt Background | Soft Lavender | #E6E6FA | Secondary backgrounds |
| Primary Text | Dark Navy | #1A1A2E | Main elements |
| Accent 1 | Pixel Green | #00FF00 | Success, highlights |
| Accent 2 | Pixel Red | #FF0000 | Alerts, emphasis |
| Accent 3 | Pixel Yellow | #FFFF00 | Warnings, energy |
| Accent 4 | Pixel Cyan | #00FFFF | Info, tech elements |
| Accent 5 | Pixel Magenta | #FF00FF | Special elements |
## Visual Elements
- All elements rendered with visible pixel structure
- Simple iconography: notepad, checkboxes, gears, rockets
- Text bubbles with pixel borders
- 8-bit decorations: stars, hearts, arrows
- Progress bars with chunky pixel segments
- Dithering patterns for color transitions
- Limited 16-32 color palette
## Style Rules
### Do
- Maintain consistent pixel grid throughout
- Use limited color palette (16-32 colors max)
- Create blocky, geometric shapes
- Add nostalgic gaming references
- Use dithering for color transitions
### Don't
- Use smooth gradients or anti-aliasing
- Create photorealistic elements
- Use thin lines or fine details
- Add modern glossy effects
- Break the pixel grid alignment
## Best For
Gaming articles, tech tutorials, nostalgic content, developer topics, retro-themed pieces, creative tech content

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# playful
Fun, creative illustration style for casual and educational content
## Design Aesthetic
Whimsical and entertaining visual approach that sparks joy. Pastel colors with bright pops of energy. Doodle-like quality that feels approachable and fun. Creates a sense of play and discovery. Encourages engagement through visual delight.
## Background
- Color: Light Cream (#FFFBEB) or Soft White (#FFF)
- Texture: Subtle, playful pattern or clean
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Light Cream | #FFFBEB | Primary background |
| Primary | Pastel Pink | #FED7E2 | Soft warmth |
| Secondary | Mint | #C6F6D5 | Fresh energy |
| Tertiary | Lavender | #E9D8FD | Dreamy touch |
| Accent 1 | Sky Blue | #BEE3F8 | Calm brightness |
| Accent 2 | Bright Yellow | #FBBF24 | Energy pop |
| Accent 3 | Coral | #F6AD55 | Warm pop |
| Accent 4 | Turquoise | #38B2AC | Cool pop |
| Text | Soft Charcoal | #4A4A4A | Text elements |
## Visual Elements
- Doodles and sketchy lines
- Star and sparkle decorations
- Swirls and curvy elements
- Cute character illustrations
- Speech bubbles and callouts
- Emoji-style icons
- Confetti and celebration marks
- Playful hand-lettering
## Style Rules
### Do
- Use varied pastel palette
- Add whimsical decorations
- Create friendly characters
- Include playful details
- Keep energy high and positive
### Don't
- Use dark or moody colors
- Create serious compositions
- Add corporate elements
- Use rigid geometric shapes
- Make it feel professional
## Best For
Tutorials and guides, beginner-friendly content, casual articles, fun topics, children's content, hobby-related posts, entertaining explanations

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# retro
80s/90s nostalgic aesthetic with vibrant colors and geometric patterns
## Design Aesthetic
Nostalgic retro aesthetic inspired by 80s and 90s design trends. Vibrant neon colors, geometric patterns, and Memphis design influence. Energetic, fun, and unapologetically bold. Perfect for content that embraces nostalgia or playful energy.
## Background
- Color: Deep Purple (#2D1B4E) or Dark Teal (#0F4C5C)
- Texture: Subtle grid patterns or geometric shapes
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Deep Purple | #2D1B4E | Primary background |
| Alt Background | Dark Teal | #0F4C5C | Alternative |
| Primary | Hot Pink | #FF1493 | Main accent |
| Secondary | Electric Cyan | #00FFFF | Supporting |
| Tertiary | Neon Yellow | #FFFF00 | Highlights |
| Accent 1 | Lime Green | #32CD32 | Energy |
| Accent 2 | Orange | #FF6B35 | Warmth |
| Text | White | #FFFFFF | Text elements |
| Grid | Light Purple | #9D8EC0 | Grid lines |
## Visual Elements
- Geometric patterns (triangles, circles)
- Grid backgrounds and lines
- Neon glow effects
- Memphis design shapes
- Zigzag and wavy patterns
- Retro computer graphics
- Bold outline strokes
- Gradient sunsets
## Style Rules
### Do
- Use bold neon colors
- Create geometric patterns
- Add retro typography
- Include Memphis-style shapes
- Embrace maximalism
### Don't
- Use muted or subtle colors
- Create minimal compositions
- Add modern flat design
- Make it look contemporary
- Use understated elements
## Best For
Pop culture articles, gaming content, music and entertainment, nostalgia pieces, youth-focused content, creative industry, party and event content

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# scientific
Academic scientific illustration style for technical diagrams and processes
## Design Aesthetic
Academic scientific illustration aesthetic for biological, chemical, and technical diagrams. Clean, precise diagrams with proper labeling and clear visual flow. Educational clarity with professional polish. Textbook quality illustrations.
## Background
- Color: Off-White (#FAFAFA) or Light Blue-Gray (#F0F4F8)
- Texture: None or subtle paper grain
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Off-White | #FAFAFA | Primary background |
| Primary Text | Dark Slate | #1E293B | Labels, headers |
| Label Text | Medium Gray | #475569 | Annotations |
| Pathway 1 | Teal | #0D9488 | Primary pathway |
| Pathway 2 | Blue | #3B82F6 | Secondary pathway |
| Pathway 3 | Purple | #8B5CF6 | Tertiary pathway |
| Structure | Amber | #F59E0B | Membranes, structures |
| Alert | Red | #EF4444 | Key elements |
| Positive | Green | #22C55E | Products, outputs |
## Visual Elements
- Precise labeled diagrams
- Flow arrows showing direction
- Modular components with colors
- Chemical formulas and notation
- Cross-section views
- Numbered step sequences
- Molecule and cell representations
- Process summary boxes
## Style Rules
### Do
- Use precise consistent lines
- Label all components clearly
- Show directional flow
- Include technical notation
- Create clear numbered sequences
### Don't
- Use decorative elements
- Create imprecise diagrams
- Omit important labels
- Use inconsistent styling
- Add artistic flourishes
## Best For
Biology articles, chemistry explanations, medical content, research summaries, academic writing, technical documentation, process explanations

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# screen-print
Bold poster art with limited colors, halftone textures, and symbolic storytelling
## Design Aesthetic
Screen print / silkscreen aesthetic inspired by Mondo limited-edition posters and vintage concert prints. Flat color blocks, halftone dot patterns, bold silhouettes, and deliberate print imperfections. Conceptual and symbolic rather than literal — one iconic image tells the whole story. Perfect for opinion pieces, cultural commentary, and editorial content.
## Background
- Color: Off-Black (#121212) or Warm Cream (#F5E6D0)
- Texture: Paper grain with subtle halftone dot overlay
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Off-Black | #121212 | Dark compositions |
| Background Alt | Warm Cream | #F5E6D0 | Light compositions |
| Primary | Burnt Orange | #E8751A | Main accent |
| Secondary | Deep Teal | #0A6E6E | Contrast accent |
| Tertiary | Crimson | #C0392B | Bold emphasis |
| Highlight | Amber | #F4A623 | Small accents |
| Text | Cream White | #FAF3E0 | On dark backgrounds |
**Duotone Pairs** (choose ONE pair for high-impact compositions):
| Pair | Color A | Color B | Feel |
|------|---------|---------|------|
| Orange + Teal | #E8751A | #0A6E6E | Cinematic, action |
| Red + Cream | #C0392B | #F5E6D0 | Bold, classic |
| Blue + Gold | #1A3A5C | #D4A843 | Prestigious, premium |
| Crimson + Navy | #DC143C | #0D1B2A | Dramatic, noir |
**Rule**: Use 2-5 colors maximum. Fewer colors = stronger impact.
## Visual Elements
- Bold silhouettes and symbolic shapes
- Halftone dot patterns within color fills
- Slight color layer misregistration (print offset effect)
- Geometric framing (circles, arches, triangles)
- Figure-ground inversion (negative space forms secondary image)
- Stencil-cut edges, no outlines — shapes defined by color boundaries
- Typography integrated as design element, not overlay
- Vintage poster border treatments
## Style Rules
### Do
- Limit to 2-5 flat colors
- Use bold silhouettes over detailed rendering
- Let negative space tell part of the story
- Add halftone texture for authenticity
- Use geometric composition (centered, symmetrical)
- Reference vintage decades (60s/70s/80s) for era feel
### Don't
- Use photorealistic rendering or gradients
- Add complex facial details (silhouettes preferred)
- Mix too many visual elements (one focal point)
- Use modern digital aesthetic
- Create busy or cluttered compositions
- Use more than 5 colors
## Best For
Opinion/editorial articles, cultural commentary, philosophy and strategy, dramatic narratives, cinematic storytelling, music and entertainment, event announcements, bold branding content

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# sketch-notes
Soft hand-drawn illustration style with warm, educational feel
## Design Aesthetic
Hand-drawn feel with soft, relaxed brush strokes. Fresh, refined style with minimalist editorial approach. Emphasis on precision, clarity and intelligent elegance while prioritizing warmth, approachability and friendliness.
## Background
- Color: Warm Off-White (#FAF8F0)
- Texture: Subtle paper grain, warm tone
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Warm Off-White | #FAF8F0 | Primary background |
| Primary Text | Deep Charcoal | #2C3E50 | Main elements |
| Alt Text | Deep Brown | #4A4A4A | Secondary elements |
| Accent 1 | Soft Orange | #F4A261 | Highlights, emphasis |
| Accent 2 | Mustard Yellow | #E9C46A | Secondary highlights |
| Accent 3 | Sage Green | #87A96B | Nature, growth concepts |
| Accent 4 | Light Blue | #7EC8E3 | Tech, digital elements |
| Accent 5 | Red Brown | #A0522D | Earthy elements |
## Visual Elements
- Connection lines with hand-drawn wavy feel
- Conceptual abstract icons illustrating ideas
- Color fills don't completely fill outlines (hand-painted feel)
- Simple geometric shapes with rounded corners
- Arrows and pointers with sketchy style
- Doodle decorations: stars, spirals, underlines
## Style Rules
### Do
- Keep layouts open and well-structured
- Emphasize information hierarchy
- Use hand-drawn quality for all elements
- Allow imperfection (slight wobbles add character)
- Layer elements with subtle overlaps
### Don't
- Use perfect geometric shapes
- Create photorealistic elements
- Overcrowd with too many elements
- Use pure white backgrounds
- Make it look computer-generated
## Best For
Educational content, knowledge sharing, technical explanations, tutorials, onboarding materials, friendly articles

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# sketch
Raw, authentic notebook-style illustration for ideas and processes
## Design Aesthetic
Hand-drawn sketch aesthetic that feels authentic and in-progress. Pencil-on-paper quality with intentional imperfection. Suggests thinking, brainstorming, and creative exploration. Raw and honest visual approach that invites collaboration.
## Background
- Color: Off-White Paper (#F7FAFC) or Cream (#FAFAFA)
- Texture: Paper texture with visible grain
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Paper White | #F7FAFC | Primary background |
| Primary | Pencil Gray | #4A5568 | Main sketch lines |
| Secondary | Light Gray | #A0AEC0 | Shading, soft marks |
| Highlight Blue | Note Blue | #3182CE | Highlight color |
| Highlight Red | Mark Red | #E53E3E | Emphasis color |
| Highlight Yellow | Marker Yellow | #F6E05E | Highlighter effect |
| Text | Charcoal | #2D3748 | Text elements |
## Visual Elements
- Rough sketch lines with natural variation
- Arrows and directional pointers
- Handwritten labels and notes
- Crossed-out marks and corrections
- Underlines and emphasis marks
- Simple diagram shapes
- Margin notes style
- Quick icon sketches
## Style Rules
### Do
- Use pencil-like line quality
- Include natural imperfections
- Add handwritten annotations
- Create diagram-style layouts
- Show thinking process
### Don't
- Use perfect geometric shapes
- Add polished or refined elements
- Create colorful compositions
- Use digital effects
- Make it look finished
## Best For
Ideas in progress, brainstorming articles, thought processes, concept exploration, draft-stage thinking, planning content, problem-solving pieces

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# vector-illustration
Flat vector illustration style with clear black outlines and retro soft colors
## Design Aesthetic
Flat vector illustration with no gradients or 3D effects. Clear, uniform-thickness black outlines on all elements. Geometric simplification reducing complex objects to basic shapes. Toy model aesthetic that's cute, playful, and approachable. Coloring book style with closed outlines.
## Background
- Color: Cream Off-White (#F5F0E6)
- Texture: Subtle paper texture, warm nostalgic feel
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Cream Off-White | #F5F0E6 | Primary background |
| Outlines | Deep Charcoal | #2D2D2D | All element outlines |
| Primary | Coral Red | #E07A5F | Primary accent, warmth |
| Secondary | Mint Green | #81B29A | Nature, growth |
| Tertiary | Mustard Yellow | #F2CC8F | Highlights, energy |
| Accent 1 | Burnt Orange | #D4764A | Warm accents |
| Accent 2 | Rock Blue | #577590 | Cool balance |
| Text | Black | #1A1A1A | Text elements |
## Visual Elements
- All objects have closed black outlines (coloring book style)
- Rounded line endings, avoid sharp corners
- Trees simplified to lollipop or triangle shapes
- Buildings as rectangular blocks with grid windows
- Depth through layering and overlap
- Decorative elements: sunbursts, pill-shaped clouds, dots, stars
- People as simple geometric figures
## Style Rules
### Do
- Maintain consistent outline thickness
- Use soft, vintage color palette
- Simplify objects to basic geometric shapes
- Create depth through layering
- Add playful decorative elements
### Don't
- Use gradients or realistic shading
- Create photorealistic elements
- Use thin or varying line weights
- Include complex detailed illustrations
- Add textures inside shapes
## Best For
Educational content, creative articles, children's content, brand showcases, explainer pieces, warm approachable topics

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# vintage
Nostalgic aged-paper aesthetic for historical and heritage content
## Design Aesthetic
Nostalgic vintage aesthetic with aged paper textures and historical document styling. Explorer's journal and antique map quality. Rich warm tones with weathered textures. Evokes discovery, heritage, and timeless knowledge.
## Background
- Color: Aged Parchment (#F5E6D3) or Sepia Cream (#FFF8DC)
- Texture: Heavy aged paper texture with subtle stains and worn edges
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Aged Parchment | #F5E6D3 | Primary background |
| Alt Background | Sepia Cream | #FFF8DC | Secondary areas |
| Primary Text | Dark Brown | #3D2914 | Main elements |
| Secondary | Medium Brown | #6B4423 | Supporting details |
| Accent 1 | Forest Green | #2D5A3D | Nature, maps |
| Accent 2 | Navy Blue | #1E3A5F | Ocean, lines |
| Accent 3 | Burgundy | #722F37 | Emphasis |
| Accent 4 | Gold | #C9A227 | Highlights |
| Ink | Sepia Black | #3D3D3D | Fine details |
## Visual Elements
- Antique map styling with route lines
- Compass roses and navigation elements
- Specimen-style drawings
- Handwritten annotations
- Rope, leather, brass decorative motifs
- Vintage photograph frames
- Aged paper edge effects
- Historical document styling
## Style Rules
### Do
- Apply consistent aged texture
- Use period-appropriate styling
- Include map and journey elements
- Create layered compositions
- Maintain warm sepia tones
### Don't
- Use modern digital styling
- Create crisp clean edges
- Use cold or bright colors
- Add contemporary elements
- Make it look new or fresh
## Best For
Historical articles, travel and exploration, biography pieces, heritage stories, scientific discovery narratives, museum-style content, classic literature references

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# warm
Friendly, approachable illustration style for human-centered content
## Design Aesthetic
Warm and inviting visual approach that feels personal and approachable. Soft, friendly colors that evoke comfort and connection. Emphasizes human elements and emotional resonance. Creates an atmosphere of trust and openness.
## Background
- Color: Cream (#FFFAF0) or Soft Peach (#FED7AA)
- Texture: Soft paper texture with warm undertones
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Cream | #FFFAF0 | Primary background |
| Alt Background | Soft Peach | #FED7AA | Accent sections |
| Primary | Warm Orange | #ED8936 | Main accent color |
| Secondary | Golden Yellow | #F6AD55 | Supporting warmth |
| Tertiary | Terracotta | #C05621 | Earthy depth |
| Accent | Deep Brown | #744210 | Grounding elements |
| Alt Accent | Soft Red | #E53E3E | Emotional touches |
| Text | Warm Charcoal | #4A4A4A | Text elements |
## Visual Elements
- Rounded shapes and soft corners
- Friendly character illustrations
- Sun rays and warm light motifs
- Heart symbols and care icons
- Cozy lighting effects
- Gentle gradients with warmth
- Soft shadows without harsh edges
- Hand-drawn quality touches
## Style Rules
### Do
- Use warm, inviting colors
- Create rounded, friendly shapes
- Include human-centered elements
- Evoke feelings of comfort
- Maintain soft, gentle contrasts
### Don't
- Use cold or stark colors
- Create sharp, aggressive shapes
- Add technical or clinical elements
- Use dark, moody backgrounds
- Create sterile compositions
## Best For
Personal growth articles, lifestyle content, education, human interest stories, wellness topics, relationship advice, self-help content, community building

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# watercolor
Soft, artistic watercolor illustration style with natural warmth
## Design Aesthetic
Gentle watercolor aesthetic with visible brush strokes and natural color bleeding. Hand-painted feel with soft edges and organic shapes. Warm, approachable, and artistically refined. Combines artistic expression with clear visual communication.
## Background
- Color: Warm Off-White (#FAF8F0) or Soft Cream (#FFF9E6)
- Texture: Subtle watercolor paper texture with visible grain
## Color Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Background | Warm Off-White | #FAF8F0 | Primary background |
| Primary | Soft Coral | #F4A261 | Primary warmth |
| Secondary | Dusty Rose | #E8A0A0 | Secondary warmth |
| Tertiary | Sage Green | #87A96B | Nature, growth |
| Accent 1 | Sky Blue | #7EC8E3 | Water, calm |
| Accent 2 | Soft Lavender | #C5B4E3 | Accent, creativity |
| Wash | Pale Yellow | #FFF3C4 | Background washes |
| Text | Warm Charcoal | #3D3D3D | Text elements |
## Visual Elements
- Watercolor washes as backgrounds
- Illustrated elements with visible brush strokes
- Natural elements: leaves, flowers, bubbles
- Color bleeds and soft edges
- Hand-drawn arrows and lines
- Layered wash effects
- Soft gradients through water
- Expressive character illustrations
## Style Rules
### Do
- Allow color to bleed beyond edges
- Use visible brush stroke textures
- Create soft, organic shapes
- Include hand-drawn quality
- Maintain warm color palette
### Don't
- Use sharp geometric shapes
- Create hard digital edges
- Use cold or stark colors
- Add photographic elements
- Create overly precise illustrations
## Best For
Lifestyle articles, wellness content, travel pieces, food and cooking, personal stories, creative topics, artistic portfolios, warm educational content

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# Usage
## Command Syntax
```bash
# Auto-select type and style based on content
/baoyu-article-illustrator path/to/article.md
# Specify type
/baoyu-article-illustrator path/to/article.md --type infographic
# Specify style
/baoyu-article-illustrator path/to/article.md --style blueprint
# Combine type and style
/baoyu-article-illustrator path/to/article.md --type flowchart --style notion
# Specify density
/baoyu-article-illustrator path/to/article.md --density rich
# Direct content input (paste mode)
/baoyu-article-illustrator
[paste content]
```
## Options
| Option | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `--type <name>` | Illustration type (see Type Gallery in SKILL.md) |
| `--style <name>` | Visual style (see references/styles.md) |
| `--preset <name>` | Shorthand for type + style combo (see [references/style-presets.md](references/style-presets.md)) |
| `--density <level>` | Image count: minimal / balanced / rich |
## Input Modes
| Mode | Trigger | Output Directory |
|------|---------|------------------|
| File path | `path/to/article.md` | Use `default_output_dir` preference, or ask if not set |
| Paste content | No path argument | `illustrations/{topic-slug}/` |
## Output Directory Options
| Value | Path |
|-------|------|
| `same-dir` | `{article-dir}/` |
| `illustrations-subdir` | `{article-dir}/illustrations/` |
| `independent` | `illustrations/{topic-slug}/` |
Configure in EXTEND.md: `default_output_dir: illustrations-subdir`
## Examples
**Technical article with data**:
```bash
/baoyu-article-illustrator api-design.md --type infographic --style blueprint
```
**Same thing with preset**:
```bash
/baoyu-article-illustrator api-design.md --preset tech-explainer
```
**Personal story**:
```bash
/baoyu-article-illustrator journey.md --preset storytelling
```
**Tutorial with steps**:
```bash
/baoyu-article-illustrator how-to-deploy.md --preset tutorial --density rich
```
**Opinion article with poster style**:
```bash
/baoyu-article-illustrator opinion.md --preset opinion-piece
```
**Preset with override**:
```bash
/baoyu-article-illustrator article.md --preset tech-explainer --style notion
```

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@ -0,0 +1,427 @@
# Detailed Workflow Procedures
## Step 1: Pre-check
### 1.0 Detect & Save Reference Images ⚠️ REQUIRED if images provided
Check if user provided reference images. Handle based on input type:
| Input Type | Action |
|------------|--------|
| Image file path provided | Copy to `references/` subdirectory → can use `--ref` |
| Image in conversation (no path) | **ASK user for file path** with AskUserQuestion |
| User can't provide path | Extract style/palette verbally → append to prompts (NO frontmatter references) |
**CRITICAL**: Only add `references` to prompt frontmatter if files are ACTUALLY SAVED to `references/` directory.
**If user provides file path**:
1. Copy to `references/NN-ref-{slug}.png`
2. Create description: `references/NN-ref-{slug}.md`
3. Verify files exist before proceeding
**If user can't provide path** (extracted verbally):
1. Analyze image visually, extract: colors, style, composition
2. Create `references/extracted-style.md` with extracted info
3. DO NOT add `references` to prompt frontmatter
4. Instead, append extracted style/colors directly to prompt text
**Description File Format** (only when file saved):
```yaml
---
ref_id: NN
filename: NN-ref-{slug}.png
---
[User's description or auto-generated description]
```
**Verification** (only for saved files):
```
Reference Images Saved:
- 01-ref-{slug}.png ✓ (can use --ref)
- 02-ref-{slug}.png ✓ (can use --ref)
```
**Or for extracted style**:
```
Reference Style Extracted (no file):
- Colors: #E8756D coral, #7ECFC0 mint...
- Style: minimal flat vector, clean lines...
→ Will append to prompt text (not --ref)
```
---
### 1.1 Determine Input Type
| Input | Output Directory | Next |
|-------|------------------|------|
| File path | EXTEND.md `default_output_dir` (default: `imgs-subdir`). If not configured, confirm in 1.2. | → 1.2 |
| Pasted content | `illustrations/{topic-slug}/` | → 1.4 |
**Backup rule for pasted content**: If `source.md` exists in target directory, rename to `source-backup-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.md` before saving.
### 1.2-1.4 Configuration (file path input only)
Check preferences and existing state, then ask ALL needed questions in ONE AskUserQuestion call (max 4 questions).
**Questions to include** (skip if preference exists or not applicable):
| Question | When to Ask | Options |
|----------|-------------|---------|
| Output directory | No `default_output_dir` in EXTEND.md | `{article-dir}/imgs/` (Recommended), `{article-dir}/`, `{article-dir}/illustrations/`, `illustrations/{topic-slug}/` |
| Existing images | Target dir has `.png/.jpg/.webp` files | `supplement`, `overwrite`, `regenerate` |
| Article update | Always (file path input) | `update`, `copy` |
**Preference Values** (if configured, skip asking):
| `default_output_dir` | Path |
|----------------------|------|
| `same-dir` | `{article-dir}/` |
| `imgs-subdir` | `{article-dir}/imgs/` |
| `illustrations-subdir` | `{article-dir}/illustrations/` |
| `independent` | `illustrations/{topic-slug}/` |
### 1.5 Load Preferences (EXTEND.md) ⛔ BLOCKING
**CRITICAL**: If EXTEND.md not found, MUST complete first-time setup before ANY other questions or steps. Do NOT proceed to reference images, do NOT ask about content, do NOT ask about type/style — ONLY complete the preferences setup first.
```bash
# macOS, Linux, WSL, Git Bash
test -f .baoyu-skills/baoyu-article-illustrator/EXTEND.md && echo "project"
test -f "${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/baoyu-skills/baoyu-article-illustrator/EXTEND.md" && echo "xdg"
test -f "$HOME/.baoyu-skills/baoyu-article-illustrator/EXTEND.md" && echo "user"
```
```powershell
# PowerShell (Windows)
if (Test-Path .baoyu-skills/baoyu-article-illustrator/EXTEND.md) { "project" }
$xdg = if ($env:XDG_CONFIG_HOME) { $env:XDG_CONFIG_HOME } else { "$HOME/.config" }
if (Test-Path "$xdg/baoyu-skills/baoyu-article-illustrator/EXTEND.md") { "xdg" }
if (Test-Path "$HOME/.baoyu-skills/baoyu-article-illustrator/EXTEND.md") { "user" }
```
| Result | Action |
|--------|--------|
| Found | Read, parse, display summary → Continue |
| Not found | ⛔ **BLOCKING**: Run first-time setup ONLY ([config/first-time-setup.md](config/first-time-setup.md)) → Complete and save EXTEND.md → Then continue |
**Supports**: Watermark | Preferred type/style | Custom styles | Language | Output directory
---
## Step 2: Setup & Analyze
### 2.1 Analyze Content
| Analysis | Description |
|----------|-------------|
| Content type | Technical / Tutorial / Methodology / Narrative |
| Illustration purpose | information / visualization / imagination |
| Core arguments | 2-5 main points to visualize |
| Visual opportunities | Positions where illustrations add value |
| Recommended type | Based on content signals and purpose |
| Recommended density | Based on length and complexity |
### 2.2 Extract Core Arguments
- Main thesis
- Key concepts reader needs
- Comparisons/contrasts
- Framework/model proposed
**CRITICAL**: If article uses metaphors (e.g., "电锯切西瓜"), do NOT illustrate literally. Visualize the **underlying concept**.
### 2.3 Identify Positions
**Illustrate**:
- Core arguments (REQUIRED)
- Abstract concepts
- Data comparisons
- Processes, workflows
**Do NOT Illustrate**:
- Metaphors literally
- Decorative scenes
- Generic illustrations
### 2.4 Analyze Reference Images (if provided in Step 1.0)
For each reference image:
| Analysis | Description |
|----------|-------------|
| Visual characteristics | Style, colors, composition |
| Content/subject | What the reference depicts |
| Suitable positions | Which sections match this reference |
| Style match | Which illustration types/styles align |
| Usage recommendation | `direct` / `style` / `palette` |
| Usage | When to Use |
|-------|-------------|
| `direct` | Reference matches desired output closely |
| `style` | Extract visual style characteristics only |
| `palette` | Extract color scheme only |
---
## Step 3: Confirm Settings ⚠️
**Do NOT skip.** Use ONE AskUserQuestion call with max 4 questions. **Q1, Q2, Q3 are ALL REQUIRED.**
### Q1: Preset or Type ⚠️ REQUIRED
Based on Step 2 content analysis, recommend a preset first (sets both type & style). Look up [style-presets.md](style-presets.md) "Content Type → Preset Recommendations" table.
- [Recommended preset] — [brief: type + style + why] (Recommended)
- [Alternative preset] — [brief]
- Or choose type manually: infographic / scene / flowchart / comparison / framework / timeline / mixed
**If user picks a preset → skip Q3** (type & style both resolved).
**If user picks a type → Q3 is REQUIRED.**
### Q2: Density ⚠️ REQUIRED - DO NOT SKIP
- minimal (1-2) - Core concepts only
- balanced (3-5) - Major sections
- per-section - At least 1 per section/chapter (Recommended)
- rich (6+) - Comprehensive coverage
### Q3: Style ⚠️ REQUIRED (skip if preset chosen in Q1)
If EXTEND.md has `preferred_style`:
- [Custom style name + brief description] (Recommended)
- [Top compatible core style 1]
- [Top compatible core style 2]
- Other (see full Style Gallery)
If no `preferred_style` (present Core Styles first):
- [Best compatible core style] (Recommended)
- [Other compatible core style 1]
- [Other compatible core style 2]
- Other (see full Style Gallery)
**Core Styles** (simplified selection):
| Core Style | Maps To | Best For |
|------------|---------|----------|
| `minimal-flat` | notion | General, knowledge sharing, SaaS |
| `sci-fi` | blueprint | AI, frontier tech, system design |
| `hand-drawn` | sketch/warm | Relaxed, reflective, casual |
| `editorial` | editorial | Processes, data, journalism |
| `scene` | warm/watercolor | Narratives, emotional, lifestyle |
| `poster` | screen-print | Opinion, editorial, cultural, cinematic |
Style selection based on Type × Style compatibility matrix (styles.md).
**In Step 5.1**, read `styles/<style>.md` for visual elements and rendering rules.
### Q4: Palette (optional)
If preset did not specify a palette, and the user may benefit from a palette override, offer available palettes:
- Default (use style's built-in colors) (Recommended)
- `macaron` — soft pastel blocks on warm cream
- `warm` — warm earth tones, no cool colors
- `neon` — vibrant neon on dark backgrounds
**Skip if**: preset already resolved palette, or `preferred_palette` set in EXTEND.md.
See Palette Gallery in [styles.md](styles.md#palette-gallery) and full specs in `palettes/<palette>.md`.
### Q5: Image Text Language ⚠️ REQUIRED when article language ≠ EXTEND.md `language`
Detect article language from content. If different from EXTEND.md `language` setting, MUST ask:
- Article language (match article content) (Recommended)
- EXTEND.md language (user's general preference)
**Skip only if**: Article language matches EXTEND.md `language`, or EXTEND.md has no `language` setting.
### Display Reference Usage (if references detected in Step 1.0)
When presenting outline preview to user, show reference assignments:
```
Reference Images:
| Ref | Filename | Recommended Usage |
|-----|----------|-------------------|
| 01 | 01-ref-diagram.png | direct → Illustration 1, 3 |
| 02 | 02-ref-chart.png | palette → Illustration 2 |
```
---
## Step 4: Generate Outline
Save as `{output-dir}/outline.md` (all paths below are relative to the output directory determined in Step 1.1/1.2):
```yaml
---
type: infographic
density: balanced
style: blueprint
image_count: 4
references: # Only if references provided
- ref_id: 01
filename: 01-ref-diagram.png
description: "Technical diagram showing system architecture"
- ref_id: 02
filename: 02-ref-chart.png
description: "Color chart with brand palette"
---
## Illustration 1
**Position**: [section] / [paragraph]
**Purpose**: [why this helps]
**Visual Content**: [what to show]
**Type Application**: [how type applies]
**References**: [01] # Optional: list ref_ids used
**Reference Usage**: direct # direct | style | palette
**Filename**: 01-infographic-concept-name.png
## Illustration 2
...
```
**Requirements**:
- Each position justified by content needs
- Type applied consistently
- Style reflected in descriptions
- Count matches density
- References assigned based on Step 2.4 analysis
---
## Step 5: Generate Images
### 5.1 Create Prompts ⛔ BLOCKING
**Every illustration MUST have a saved prompt file before generation begins. DO NOT skip this step.**
For each illustration in the outline:
1. **Create prompt file**: `{output-dir}/prompts/NN-{type}-{slug}.md`
2. **Include YAML frontmatter**:
```yaml
---
illustration_id: 01
type: infographic
style: custom-flat-vector
---
```
3. **Load style specs**: Read `styles/<style>.md` for visual elements, style rules, and rendering instructions
4. **Load palette specs** (if palette specified): Read `palettes/<palette>.md` for colors and background. Palette colors **replace** the style's default Color Palette. If no palette specified, use the style's built-in colors.
5. **Follow type-specific template** from [prompt-construction.md](prompt-construction.md), using rendering from style + colors from palette (or style default)
6. **Prompt quality requirements** (all REQUIRED):
- `Layout`: Describe overall composition (grid / radial / hierarchical / left-right / top-down)
- `ZONES`: Describe each visual area with specific content, not vague descriptions
- `LABELS`: Use **actual numbers, terms, metrics, quotes from the article** — NOT generic placeholders
- `COLORS`: Specify hex codes from palette (or style default) with semantic meaning
- `STYLE`: Describe line treatment, texture, mood, character rendering per style rules
- `ASPECT`: Specify ratio (e.g., `16:9`)
7. **Apply defaults**: composition requirements, character rendering, text guidelines, watermark
8. **Backup rule**: If prompt file exists, rename to `prompts/NN-{type}-{slug}-backup-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.md`
**Verification** ⛔: Before proceeding to 5.2, confirm ALL prompt files exist:
```
Prompt Files:
- prompts/01-infographic-overview.md ✓
- prompts/02-infographic-distillation.md ✓
...
```
**DO NOT** pass ad-hoc inline text to `--prompt` without first saving prompt files. The generation command should either use `--promptfiles prompts/NN-{type}-{slug}.md` or read the saved file content for `--prompt`.
**Execution choice**:
- If multiple illustrations already have saved prompt files and the task is now plain generation, prefer the chosen backend's batch interface (if it offers one); otherwise generate sequentially
- Use subagents only when each illustration still needs separate prompt rewriting, style exploration, or other per-image reasoning before generation
**CRITICAL - References in Frontmatter**:
- Only add `references` field if files ACTUALLY EXIST in `references/` directory
- If style/palette was extracted verbally (no file), append info to prompt BODY instead
- Before writing frontmatter, verify: `test -f references/NN-ref-{slug}.png`
### 5.2 Select Generation Skill
Check available skills. If multiple, ask user.
### 5.3 Process References ⚠️ REQUIRED if references saved in Step 1.0
**DO NOT SKIP if user provided reference images.** For each illustration with references:
1. **VERIFY files exist first**:
```bash
test -f references/NN-ref-{slug}.png && echo "exists" || echo "MISSING"
```
- If file MISSING but in frontmatter → ERROR, fix frontmatter or remove references field
- If file exists → proceed with processing
2. Read prompt frontmatter for reference info
3. Process based on usage type:
| Usage | Action | Example |
|-------|--------|---------|
| `direct` | Add reference path to `--ref` parameter | `--ref references/01-ref-brand.png` |
| `style` | Analyze reference, append style traits to prompt | "Style: clean lines, gradient backgrounds..." |
| `palette` | Extract colors from reference, append to prompt | "Colors: #E8756D coral, #7ECFC0 mint..." |
4. Check image generation skill capability:
| Skill Supports `--ref` | Action |
|------------------------|--------|
| Yes (e.g., baoyu-imagine with Google) | Pass reference images via `--ref` |
| No | Convert to text description, append to prompt |
**Verification**: Before generating, confirm reference processing:
```
Reference Processing:
- Illustration 1: using 01-ref-brand.png (direct) ✓
- Illustration 2: extracted palette from 02-ref-style.png ✓
```
### 5.4 Apply Watermark (if enabled)
Add: `Include a subtle watermark "[content]" at [position].`
### 5.5 Generate
1. For each illustration:
- **Backup rule**: If image file exists, rename to `NN-{type}-{slug}-backup-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.md`
- If references with `direct` usage: include `--ref` parameter
- Generate image
2. After each: "Generated X/N"
3. On failure: retry once, then log and continue
---
## Step 6: Finalize
### 6.1 Update Article
Insert after corresponding paragraph, using path relative to article file:
| `default_output_dir` | Insert Path |
|----------------------|-------------|
| `imgs-subdir` | `![description](imgs/NN-{type}-{slug}.png)` |
| `same-dir` | `![description](NN-{type}-{slug}.png)` |
| `illustrations-subdir` | `![description](illustrations/NN-{type}-{slug}.png)` |
| `independent` | `![description](illustrations/{topic-slug}/NN-{type}-{slug}.png)` (relative to cwd) |
Alt text: concise description in article's language.
### 6.2 Output Summary
```
Article Illustration Complete!
Article: [path]
Type: [type] | Density: [level] | Style: [style]
Location: [directory]
Images: X/N generated
Positions:
- 01-xxx.png → After "[Section]"
- 02-yyy.png → After "[Section]"
[If failures]
Failed:
- NN-zzz.png: [reason]
```