| name | pencilplaybook |
| description | PencilPlaybook is the UI Skills / Taste-Skill for Pencil.dev + Claude Code — a design playbook that gives Claude real perceptual psychology and senior-level guardrails so it stops producing averaged-out AI slop. |
| version | 1.1.0 |
Pencil Pro
Primary Resolution Rule
This skill must be configured before first use.
If the user says "run the PencilPlaybook setup wizard" or asks to set up or configure PencilPlaybook:
→ Read .claude/skills/pencilplaybook/setup.md and follow the instructions there exactly.
If the user says "build my first screen with PencilPlaybook" or asks to start designing:
→ Read .claude/skills/pencilplaybook/onboarding.md and follow the instructions there exactly.
Configured resolution: (run setup to set this)
If a screen root in an existing .pen file doesn't match your configured resolution, note it before editing. Do not build on top of a wrongly-sized canvas without flagging the deviation.
Common exception — marketing pages: Design at 1440px regardless of your app resolution. Marketing pages are consumed at variable browser widths — design at 1440px, verify at 390px.
Session Startup (Every Pencil Session)
1. get_editor_state() — check active document and selection
2. open_document("path/to/your-file.pen") — open target file
3. get_guidelines(topic="web-app") — load design guidelines
4. set_variables(<token map below>) — inject brand tokens
5. get_variables() — confirm tokens stored
6. snapshot_layout() — verify canvas dimensions
Your token map — run set_variables with this object at the start of every session. Variables may not persist between Claude Code sessions.
{
"color-primary": "YOUR_HEX",
"color-primary-dark": "YOUR_HEX",
"color-accent": "YOUR_HEX",
"color-background": "YOUR_HEX",
"color-surface": "YOUR_HEX",
"color-border": "YOUR_HEX",
"color-text": "YOUR_HEX",
"color-text-muted": "YOUR_HEX",
"color-success": "YOUR_HEX",
"color-warning": "YOUR_HEX",
"color-error": "YOUR_HEX",
"font-sans": "YOUR_FONT",
"font-mono": "YOUR_FONT",
"font-serif": "YOUR_FONT",
"spacing-card": "24",
"spacing-gap-sm": "8",
"spacing-gap-md": "16",
"spacing-gap-lg": "24",
"spacing-gap-xl": "32",
"content-max-width": "YOUR_VALUE",
"sidebar-width": "YOUR_VALUE"
}
After set_variables, call get_variables() to confirm all tokens are stored.
Scaffold Scripts
Nine scaffold scripts covering the most common layout archetypes. Run the setup wizard to fill in the dimension and color values below before using.
Scaffold A — App Dashboard
Metrics, KPIs, activity feed, monitoring
sidebar=I("root", {name:"Sidebar", width:SCAFFOLD_SIDEBAR_WIDTH, height:SCAFFOLD_CANVAS_HEIGHT, bg:"SIDEBAR_BG", display:"flex", flexDirection:"column"})
pageArea=I("root", {name:"PageArea", width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:SCAFFOLD_CANVAS_HEIGHT, x:SCAFFOLD_SIDEBAR_WIDTH, bg:"PAGE_BG"})
pageHeader=I("pageArea", {name:"PageHeader", width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:64, bg:"SURFACE_COLOR", borderBottom:"1px solid BORDER_COLOR", display:"flex", alignItems:"center", px:32})
statsBar=I("pageArea", {name:"StatsBar", y:64, width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:80, bg:"STATS_BG", display:"flex", alignItems:"center", gap:24, px:32})
contentWrap=I("pageArea", {name:"ContentWrap", y:144, width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:SCAFFOLD_CONTENT_HEIGHT_A, display:"flex", justifyContent:"center", p:32})
contentInner=I("contentWrap", {name:"ContentInner", width:SCAFFOLD_CONTENT_MAX, display:"flex", flexDirection:"column", gap:24})
After scaffold: snapshot_layout() — verify pageArea.width and contentInner.width are correct.
Scaffold B — App List / Queue
Tables, asset libraries, queues, user management
sidebar=I("root", {name:"Sidebar", width:SCAFFOLD_SIDEBAR_WIDTH, height:SCAFFOLD_CANVAS_HEIGHT, bg:"SIDEBAR_BG"})
pageArea=I("root", {name:"PageArea", width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:SCAFFOLD_CANVAS_HEIGHT, x:SCAFFOLD_SIDEBAR_WIDTH, bg:"PAGE_BG"})
pageHeader=I("pageArea", {name:"PageHeader", width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:64, bg:"SURFACE_COLOR", borderBottom:"1px solid BORDER_COLOR", display:"flex", alignItems:"center", px:32})
commandStrip=I("pageArea", {name:"CommandStrip", y:64, width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:52, bg:"SURFACE_COLOR", borderBottom:"1px solid BORDER_COLOR", display:"flex", alignItems:"center", gap:16, px:32})
tableWrap=I("pageArea", {name:"TableWrap", y:116, width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:SCAFFOLD_CONTENT_HEIGHT_B, display:"flex", justifyContent:"center", px:32, pt:24})
tableInner=I("tableWrap", {name:"TableInner", width:SCAFFOLD_CONTENT_MAX, display:"flex", flexDirection:"column", gap:0})
tableHeader=I("tableInner", {name:"TableHeader", width:SCAFFOLD_CONTENT_MAX, height:40, bg:"TABLE_HEADER_BG", borderBottom:"1px solid BORDER_COLOR", display:"flex", alignItems:"center"})
Scaffold C — App Detail / Review
Two-panel detail views, review flows, side-by-side layouts
sidebar=I("root", {name:"Sidebar", width:SCAFFOLD_SIDEBAR_WIDTH, height:SCAFFOLD_CANVAS_HEIGHT, bg:"SIDEBAR_BG"})
pageArea=I("root", {name:"PageArea", width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:SCAFFOLD_CANVAS_HEIGHT, x:SCAFFOLD_SIDEBAR_WIDTH, bg:"PAGE_BG"})
pageHeader=I("pageArea", {name:"PageHeader", width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:64, bg:"SURFACE_COLOR", borderBottom:"1px solid BORDER_COLOR"})
actionBar=I("pageArea", {name:"ActionBar", y:64, width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:56, bg:"SURFACE_COLOR", borderBottom:"1px solid BORDER_COLOR"})
contentWrap=I("pageArea", {name:"ContentWrap", y:120, width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:SCAFFOLD_CONTENT_HEIGHT_C, display:"flex", justifyContent:"center"})
contentInner=I("contentWrap", {name:"ContentInner", width:SCAFFOLD_CONTENT_MAX, height:SCAFFOLD_CONTENT_HEIGHT_C, display:"flex", gap:0})
leftPanel=I("contentInner", {name:"LeftPanel", width:SCAFFOLD_LEFT_PANEL, height:SCAFFOLD_CONTENT_HEIGHT_C, bg:"SURFACE_COLOR", borderRight:"1px solid BORDER_COLOR"})
rightPanel=I("contentInner", {name:"RightPanel", width:SCAFFOLD_RIGHT_PANEL, height:SCAFFOLD_CONTENT_HEIGHT_C, bg:"PAGE_BG", p:24, display:"flex", flexDirection:"column", gap:20})
Note: left/right split defaults to ~40/60. Adjust per feature — common splits: 40/60, 38/62, 50/50.
Scaffold D — Marketing Page
Landing pages, product pages — always 1440px wide regardless of app canvas
navbar=I("root", {name:"Navbar", width:1440, height:72, bg:"SURFACE_COLOR", borderBottom:"1px solid BORDER_COLOR", display:"flex", alignItems:"center", px:80})
heroSection=I("root", {name:"HeroSection", y:72, width:1440, height:600, bg:"HERO_BG", display:"flex", flexDirection:"column", alignItems:"center", justifyContent:"center"})
heroContent=I("heroSection", {name:"HeroContent", width:SCAFFOLD_MARKETING_CONTENT_MAX, display:"flex", flexDirection:"column", alignItems:"center", gap:24})
section1=I("root", {name:"Section1", y:672, width:1440, height:480, bg:"SURFACE_COLOR", display:"flex", flexDirection:"column", alignItems:"center", py:80})
section1Content=I("section1", {name:"Section1Content", width:SCAFFOLD_MARKETING_CONTENT_MAX})
Marketing pages are mobile-first. Design at 1440px and verify the layout at 390px width before handoff.
Scaffold E — Modal / Dialog
Confirmations, destructive actions, quick-edit forms, side peek panels
Run Scaffold A, B, or C first. Then add this modal overlaid on the pageArea — do not insert into the root.
backdrop=I("pageArea", {name:"ModalBackdrop", width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:SCAFFOLD_CANVAS_HEIGHT, bg:"rgba(0,0,0,0.48)", display:"flex", alignItems:"center", justifyContent:"center"})
modal=I("backdrop", {name:"Modal", width:480, bg:"SURFACE_COLOR", borderRadius:8, border:"1px solid BORDER_COLOR", display:"flex", flexDirection:"column", overflow:"hidden"})
modalHeader=I("modal", {name:"ModalHeader", height:56, px:24, display:"flex", alignItems:"center", justifyContent:"space-between", borderBottom:"1px solid BORDER_COLOR"})
modalBody=I("modal", {name:"ModalBody", px:24, py:20, display:"flex", flexDirection:"column", gap:16})
modalFooter=I("modal", {name:"ModalFooter", height:60, px:24, display:"flex", alignItems:"center", justifyContent:"flex-end", gap:12, borderTop:"1px solid BORDER_COLOR"})
After scaffold: snapshot_layout() — confirm modal is visible and centered. Adjust modal width per use case: 380px (compact confirmation), 480px (standard form), 600px (wide form), 720px (detail/preview).
Scaffold F — Wizard / Stepper
Multi-step forms, onboarding flows, setup sequences, checkout
sidebar=I("root", {name:"Sidebar", width:SCAFFOLD_SIDEBAR_WIDTH, height:SCAFFOLD_CANVAS_HEIGHT, bg:"SIDEBAR_BG"})
pageArea=I("root", {name:"PageArea", width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:SCAFFOLD_CANVAS_HEIGHT, x:SCAFFOLD_SIDEBAR_WIDTH, bg:"PAGE_BG"})
pageHeader=I("pageArea", {name:"PageHeader", width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:64, bg:"SURFACE_COLOR", borderBottom:"1px solid BORDER_COLOR", display:"flex", alignItems:"center", px:32})
stepperBar=I("pageArea", {name:"StepperBar", y:64, width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:60, bg:"SURFACE_COLOR", borderBottom:"1px solid BORDER_COLOR", display:"flex", alignItems:"center", justifyContent:"center"})
contentWrap=I("pageArea", {name:"ContentWrap", y:124, width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:SCAFFOLD_CONTENT_HEIGHT_F, display:"flex", justifyContent:"center", px:32, pt:32})
contentInner=I("contentWrap", {name:"ContentInner", width:640, display:"flex", flexDirection:"column", gap:24})
actionFooter=I("pageArea", {name:"ActionFooter", y:SCAFFOLD_WIZARD_FOOTER_Y, width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:72, bg:"SURFACE_COLOR", borderTop:"1px solid BORDER_COLOR", display:"flex", alignItems:"center", justifyContent:"space-between", px:32})
Note: ContentInner is 640px wide by default — focused single-column form. Back button left, Next/Submit right in ActionFooter (justifyContent:"space-between").
Scaffold G — Mobile Screen
390×844px (iPhone 14 standard). Use this for all mobile screens — hardcoded, no setup values required.
statusBar=I("root", {name:"StatusBar", width:390, height:44, bg:"PAGE_BG"})
navBar=I("root", {name:"NavBar", y:44, width:390, height:56, bg:"SURFACE_COLOR", borderBottom:"1px solid BORDER_COLOR", display:"flex", alignItems:"center", px:16})
scrollContent=I("root", {name:"ScrollContent", y:100, width:390, height:688, bg:"PAGE_BG", display:"flex", flexDirection:"column", overflow:"hidden"})
contentPad=I("scrollContent", {name:"ContentPad", width:390, display:"flex", flexDirection:"column", gap:16, px:16, pt:16})
bottomNav=I("root", {name:"BottomNav", y:788, width:390, height:56, bg:"SURFACE_COLOR", borderTop:"1px solid BORDER_COLOR", display:"flex", alignItems:"center", justifyContent:"space-around"})
Note: Remove statusBar and set navBar.y=0 if not showing system chrome. Remove bottomNav for apps without tab navigation. Touch targets inside this scaffold must be ≥44×44px.
Scaffold H — Form / Data Entry
Settings pages, profile editing, heavy data entry — single-column, centered form
sidebar=I("root", {name:"Sidebar", width:SCAFFOLD_SIDEBAR_WIDTH, height:SCAFFOLD_CANVAS_HEIGHT, bg:"SIDEBAR_BG"})
pageArea=I("root", {name:"PageArea", width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:SCAFFOLD_CANVAS_HEIGHT, x:SCAFFOLD_SIDEBAR_WIDTH, bg:"PAGE_BG"})
pageHeader=I("pageArea", {name:"PageHeader", width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:64, bg:"SURFACE_COLOR", borderBottom:"1px solid BORDER_COLOR", display:"flex", alignItems:"center", justifyContent:"space-between", px:32})
formWrap=I("pageArea", {name:"FormWrap", y:64, width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:SCAFFOLD_CONTENT_HEIGHT_H, display:"flex", justifyContent:"center", px:32, pt:32})
formInner=I("formWrap", {name:"FormInner", width:600, display:"flex", flexDirection:"column", gap:28})
formSection=I("formInner", {name:"FormSection1", display:"flex", flexDirection:"column", gap:16})
formActions=I("formInner", {name:"FormActions", display:"flex", gap:12, justifyContent:"flex-end"})
Note: FormInner width defaults to 600px. Use 480px for simple flows, 800px for wide two-column layouts. Add more FormSection nodes inside formInner to group related fields.
Scaffold I — Empty State / Onboarding Step
Zero-data views, first-use prompts, feature discovery, blank-slate screens
sidebar=I("root", {name:"Sidebar", width:SCAFFOLD_SIDEBAR_WIDTH, height:SCAFFOLD_CANVAS_HEIGHT, bg:"SIDEBAR_BG"})
pageArea=I("root", {name:"PageArea", width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:SCAFFOLD_CANVAS_HEIGHT, x:SCAFFOLD_SIDEBAR_WIDTH, bg:"PAGE_BG"})
pageHeader=I("pageArea", {name:"PageHeader", width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:64, bg:"SURFACE_COLOR", borderBottom:"1px solid BORDER_COLOR"})
emptyCenter=I("pageArea", {name:"EmptyCenter", y:64, width:SCAFFOLD_PAGE_AREA_WIDTH, height:SCAFFOLD_CONTENT_HEIGHT_H, display:"flex", alignItems:"center", justifyContent:"center"})
emptyContent=I("emptyCenter", {name:"EmptyContent", width:400, display:"flex", flexDirection:"column", alignItems:"center", gap:20})
illustrationArea=I("emptyContent", {name:"IllustrationArea", width:200, height:160, borderRadius:12, bg:"SURFACE_COLOR", border:"1px solid BORDER_COLOR", display:"flex", alignItems:"center", justifyContent:"center"})
textStack=I("emptyContent", {name:"TextStack", width:400, display:"flex", flexDirection:"column", alignItems:"center", gap:8})
emptyActions=I("emptyContent", {name:"EmptyActions", display:"flex", gap:12})
Note: Replace IllustrationArea with G("illustrationArea", "ai", "your prompt") to generate an illustration. Keep empty state copy short: one headline (16–18px), one supporting line (14px muted), one primary CTA.
Core Workflows
Workflow 1: Canvas Archaeology
Use when: "what's in this .pen file?" or before editing a file you haven't worked with recently.
1. open_document("path/to/file.pen")
2. get_editor_state() — get root node IDs
3. batch_get(patterns=["*"]) — read full node tree
4. snapshot_layout() — see computed dimensions
Read the batch_get output to map: what screens exist, what dimensions, what tokens are in use, what's named clearly vs. not. Build a mental model before making any changes.
Check canvas dimensions: Any screen that doesn't match your configured resolution is either a legacy canvas or was built for a different target. Note it. If redesigning, rebuild at your target resolution using the scaffolds above.
Workflow 2: Design Token Propagation
Use when: a brand color or font changed and needs to propagate across an existing .pen file.
Step 1 — Audit current values:
search_all_unique_properties(parentIds=["root"])
Find all instances of the old token value.
Step 2 — Replace:
replace_all_matching_properties(
parentIds=["root"],
matchProperty="bg",
matchValue="#OLD_VALUE",
newValue="#NEW_VALUE"
)
Run once per property type (bg, color, borderColor, etc.) that uses the changed token.
Step 3 — Screenshot to verify:
get_screenshot(nodeId="[root or key screen id]")
Common token propagation scenarios:
- Color change: replace
bg, color, borderColor, fill separately
- Font change: replace
fontFamily across all text nodes
- Spacing change: replace specific
gap, p, px, py values — be careful; many elements may share the same numeric value for different structural reasons
Workflow 3: Canvas Spatial Management
Use when: adding a new screen to an existing .pen file.
find_empty_space_on_canvas(
direction="right",
desiredWidth=SCAFFOLD_CANVAS_WIDTH,
desiredHeight=SCAFFOLD_CANVAS_HEIGHT
)
Use the returned x/y coordinates as the position for the new screen's root frame.
Convention for multi-screen .pen files:
- Arrange screens left-to-right, one screen per column
- ~120px gap between screens horizontally
- Related states of the same screen stack vertically with ~80px gap
- Name screens:
"Screen N — [Name] ([state])" — e.g. "Screen 2 — User Profile (edit mode)"
Workflow 4: Style Guide Pull (New Page Types)
Use when building a page type your app hasn't designed before.
1. get_style_guide_tags()
2. get_style_guide(tags=["enterprise", "dashboard", "minimal", "professional"])
Style guides provide inspiration — your design system overrides any stylistic conflict. Retain: compositional discipline, whitespace patterns, data density approaches. Discard: anything that conflicts with your established visual language.
Workflow 5: Bulk Property Inspection
Use when: auditing a .pen file for consistency, or preparing for a token replacement.
search_all_unique_properties(
parentIds=["root"],
propertyNames=["bg", "color", "fontFamily", "fontSize", "gap"]
)
Use to find hardcoded hex values that should be tokens, rogue font sizes, or spacing values that break your grid.
Workflow 6: Version Snapshot (Protect Your Work)
Use when: before any major redesign, refactor, or when switching between files.
Prompt template:
Using PencilPlaybook, create a version snapshot comment at the top of the
current canvas. Include: current date/time, list of all screens, active
design tokens summary, and a short note of what is about to change.
This acts as a lightweight undo checkpoint and helps maintain consistency across multiple .pen files. Run it before:
- Token propagation across a large file
- A structural refactor (changing layout, splitting panels)
- Handing off to another session or collaborator
Tool Reference
Quick lookup — full parameter docs in references/tool-reference.md.
| Tool | When to use |
|---|
get_editor_state | Start of every session |
open_document | Open a .pen file, or "new" for blank canvas |
get_guidelines | Load design rules (topic="web-app" for app screens) |
get_style_guide_tags | See available inspiration tags |
get_style_guide | Pull inspiration for a new page type |
batch_get | Read node tree — use for archaeology |
batch_design | Create, update, copy, move, delete nodes |
snapshot_layout | Verify computed dimensions after every scaffold |
get_screenshot | Visual review after each major build step |
get_variables | Check current token state |
set_variables | Inject brand tokens |
find_empty_space_on_canvas | Place new screens without overlap |
search_all_unique_properties | Audit all values before token replacement |
replace_all_matching_properties | Bulk token replacement |
export_nodes | Export as PNG/PDF before developer handoff |
Screen Naming and Version Control
In-file naming:
"Screen N — [Feature] ([state])""Screen 1 — Dashboard (empty)" / "Screen 1 — Dashboard (populated)"- Iterations: add suffix
[v2 post-feedback] — do not create a new file
Never create a new .pen file for an iteration. Add versioned screens to the same file.
File naming:
mockups/<feature>-v1.pen — initial design
mockups/<feature>-redesign.pen — full redesign (significant divergence)
Avoid renaming .pen files after sharing with stakeholders — it breaks handoff doc references.
Perceptual Design Defaults
Quick-lookup tables for building components in Pencil. Science-backed defaults — use them unless your design system specifies otherwise.
Typography
| Property | Size Range | Default Value | Rationale |
|---|
| Letter spacing | 56px+ (display) | −0.03em | Counters appear open at large sizes |
| Letter spacing | 32–48px (heading) | −0.015em | Moderate tightening |
| Letter spacing | 14–18px (body) | 0 (normal) | Typefaces optimized here |
| Letter spacing | 10–12px (caption) | +0.015em | Counters close up at small sizes |
| Line height | Body text | 1.5× minimum | WCAG SC 1.4.12 |
| Line height | Headings | 1.1–1.2× | Tighter for visual density |
| Line length | Body text | 45–75 chars (65ch optimal) | Baymard Institute |
| Minimum font size | Any text | 10px | Below 10px is illegible on screen |
Color
| Property | Default Value | Rationale |
|---|
| Disabled opacity | 40% | 50% creates ghosts that compete. 40% recedes fully. (MD3, Workday) |
| Hover lightness delta | 8% minimum | Below 8% is imperceptible on most monitors. (NNGroup) |
| Dark surface body text | #E2E8F0 or #F1F5F9 | Pure white on very dark bg causes halation. Headlines can use white. (APCA) |
| Non-text contrast | 3:1 minimum | Icons, borders, form controls vs adjacent color. (WCAG 2.2 SC 1.4.11) |
| Text contrast | 4.5:1 minimum | Body text. Large text (24px+ or 18.66px+ bold): 3:1. (WCAG AA) |
Motion
| Property | Default Value | Rationale |
|---|
| Duration floor | 100ms | Below this, motion is imperceptible — snap instead |
| Duration standard | 200–300ms | Most UI transitions |
| Duration ceiling | 400ms | Complex choreography only. Never exceed 500ms. |
| Enter easing | cubic-bezier(0, 0, 0.2, 1) | Decelerate — arriving elements settle |
| Exit easing | cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 1, 1) | Accelerate — departing elements dismiss |
| Standard easing | cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1) | Within-screen repositioning |
Spacing
| Property | Default Value | Rationale |
|---|
| Touch target (mobile) | 44×44px | Apple HIG engineering target |
| Touch target (desktop min) | 24×24px | WCAG 2.2 SC 2.5.8 floor |
| Button height (primary) | 40–44px | Comfortable click target |
| Button height (compact) | 32px | Dense UI, secondary actions |
| Border radius (cards) | 8px max | >8px reads consumer/casual |
| Border radius (buttons) | 6px | Matches card inner radius at 8px outer with 2px offset |
| Focus ring offset | 2px | Ring radius = component radius + 2px (WCAG 2.2 SC 2.4.13) |
Icons
| Property | Default Value | Rationale |
|---|
| Minimum size | 16×16px | Below 16px, icons lose clarity at 1x density |
| Stroke weight | 1.5px (standard), 2px (emphasis) | Match text weight hierarchy |
| Optical alignment | Shift circle icons down 1px | Circles appear to float relative to square bounds |
| Touch target padding | Extend to 44×44px with transparent hit area | Icon can be 20px visual, 44px tap target |
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|
| Unconfigured SKILL.md | Run run the PencilPlaybook setup wizard before first use |
| Building at the wrong resolution | Check snapshot_layout() after every scaffold |
| Hardcoded hex values instead of tokens | set_variables first, every session |
| All screens in one giant frame | Separate frames per screen. find_empty_space_on_canvas for placement |
| Token replacement by eye | Use search_all_unique_properties + replace_all_matching_properties |
| Describing .pen file contents from memory | Run batch_get first. Never assume what's in a file |
Skipping snapshot_layout after scaffold | Catches 0px dimensions before you build on a broken structure |
More than 25 ops in one batch_design call | Break large builds across multiple calls |
Edge Cases
When Claude ignores your tokens
If a design decision doesn't match your configured token map (wrong color, arbitrary font size, rogue hex value):
- Say explicitly: "That color isn't from the token map. Use
color-primary from the variables set at session start."
- Run
get_variables() to confirm tokens are actually set — if the map is empty, set_variables was skipped. Re-run the session startup sequence.
- Run
search_all_unique_properties(parentIds=["root"], propertyNames=["bg","color"]) to surface any hardcoded values that snuck in, then bulk-replace them.
If Claude continues inventing values: stop, re-read SKILL.md aloud in the prompt — "Using PencilPlaybook, [instruction]" — to re-anchor to the skill context.
Recovering from a broken scaffold
Symptom: snapshot_layout() shows a node with width: 0 or height: 0.
Cause: Almost always one of:
- A flex container with no explicit size and no children that force expansion
- A child with
width:"fill_container" inside a parent that has no explicit width
- Conflicting or missing
x/y coordinates on absolutely positioned nodes
Fix sequence:
1. snapshot_layout() — identify the 0px node
2. batch_get(nodeIds=["[broken-node-id]"]) — inspect its properties
3. U("[broken-node-id]", {width: N, height: N}) — add explicit dimensions
4. snapshot_layout() — confirm fixed before continuing
If the scaffold is too broken to patch: delete the root frame (D("frame-id")), confirm clean state with get_editor_state(), and re-scaffold from scratch.
Multi-canvas projects
When working across multiple .pen files in the same session:
- Tokens don't persist between files. Each
open_document call requires a fresh set_variables. Keep your token map in SKILL.md and paste it every time.
- Run Canvas Archaeology on every file before editing. Never assume a file's structure from memory — always
batch_get(patterns=["*"]) first.
- One file at a time. Don't interleave
batch_design calls across two open files. Finish work on file A, then open file B.
- Cross-file consistency. If a component appears in multiple files, use identical node names. Mismatched names make token propagation and audit scripts unreliable.
