optional-skills/creative/baoyu-article-illustrator/references/prompt-construction.md
Each prompt file uses YAML frontmatter + content:
---
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 | Describe the reference (composition, subject, style, palette) in prompt text — image_generate does not accept reference-image inputs |
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
...
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.
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.
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.
| 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.
Good prompts must include:
[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
[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
[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
[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.
[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.
[Title] - Chronological View
DIRECTION: [horizontal/vertical]
EVENTS:
- [Date/Period 1]: [milestone]
- [Date/Period 2]: [milestone]
MARKERS: [visual indicators]
STYLE: [style characteristics]
ASPECT: 16:9
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
When a palette is specified (via --palette or preset), it overrides the style's default colors:
palettes/<palette>.md) → get Colors + BackgroundPrompt frontmatter includes palette when specified:
---
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.
If the user asks for a watermark, append:
Include a subtle watermark "[content]" positioned at [position].