png-to-code

name

png-to-code

description

Convert a PNG design into pixel-perfect code — SVG illustrations/logos, HTML/CSS UI, and animations — using a decompose → reuse-or-build → render → screenshot-diff → refine loop that measurably converges to a 1:1 match instead of eyeballing. Use when the user provides a PNG, screenshot, mockup, or inspiration image and wants it turned into SVG, HTML/CSS, a web component, or an animated illustration, or asks to match a design "pixel-perfect" / "1:1".

PNG → Pixel-Perfect Code

Reproduce a PNG (illustration, logo, UI screen, or full mockup) as code that matches the original 1:1. Go slowly: build one region at a time and re-measure after every change. The agent reaches pixel-perfect the same way a designer did with a PerfectPixel overlay — except the overlay is a measured pixel diff, not a human eye.

Ground rule

The diff score is the source of truth. Never call something "done" or "1:1" from looking at it. Render it, screenshot it, diff it against the target PNG with scripts/src/bin/pixelDiff.ts, and drive the mismatch ratio toward zero. If you cannot measure it, say so plainly. Use a second agent or browser model as a visual judge for detailed feedback on what to change, but never let that replace the measured score.

The loop

Step 0 runs once at the start; repeat steps 4–6 until converged.

0. Intake — align on intent before measuring. A PNG is one frozen frame; what the user wants in motion and fidelity is not in the pixels, so ask (a short AskUserQuestion is ideal). Cover: static reproduction or animated? if animated, which parts move and how big a gesture (subtle idle vs hero wave)? strict 1:1, or "inspired-by / make it prettier"? reduced-motion fallback? And proactively suggest the life a static PNG cannot depict — most often a living/animated background (drifting aurora, floating blobs) — and confirm the vibe before building. Never infer animation scope from a still. → reference/decompose.md (§0)
1. Frame — read target dimensions with scripts/src/bin/inspectPng.ts. The render viewport is the target's pixel size.
2. Decompose — split the image into ordered regions; mark each raster (export/slice) vs reproducible in code (CSS/SVG). Extract exact specs (color, type, spacing). If anything will animate, plan the rig now — decompose into the skeleton of named, joint-pivoted, parented parts before acquiring geometry. → reference/decompose.md, reference/rigging.md
3. Reuse or build — search existing SVG libraries first and customize; trace or hand-build only the gap. For animated parts, build to rig (reuse > hand-build > per-part masked trace > never one flat trace). → reference/svg-illustration.md, reference/rigging.md
4. Build one region — structural/largest first. Match the target repo's stack; if none, vanilla HTML/CSS/SVG. Order within a region: layout → typography → color → effects.
5. Measure + judge — run the diff. Read the ratio and the hotspot grid (where the biggest differences are). When the diff stalls or the mismatch is easier to describe visually than numerically, ask a separate visual judge to compare target/current/diff and return concrete deltas. → reference/verification.md
6. Refine — fix the single biggest hotspot or judge-identified delta, re-run, and ask again only after measuring. One change per iteration so each diff is attributable. Continue until ratio < 0.1%, the judge finds no meaningful visual delta, or the developer approves the match — then report the final number.
7. Optimize + animate last — SVGO the vectors (scripts/svgo.config.mjs); add animation only after the static match holds and (for figures) the rig passes its crux test. → reference/animation.md

Stack detection (step 4)

Detect before writing code, in order: (1) the target repo's framework/styling (package.json, existing components, Tailwind / CSS modules / styled-components) → match it; (2) no repo or greenfield → framework-agnostic vanilla HTML + CSS + inline SVG. Add a library (GSAP, Lottie, anime.js) only for a concrete need (complex morph, After-Effects export) and note why near the import.

Reuse before building (step 3)

Always check for an existing vector before tracing: SVGRepo, unDraw, Heroicons, Feather, Phosphor, Lucide, Iconify, Noun Project. Recolor/resize to match. Trace (potrace / AutoTrace / Inkscape) only what you cannot find, then simplify nodes. Details + sources in reference/svg-illustration.md.

First-time setup (verification harness)

The diff loop needs Node. From the skill's scripts/:

npm install
npx playwright install chromium

Then, per iteration (from scripts/):

npx tsx src/bin/pixelDiff.ts --target design.png --input build/index.html

Or: npm run diff -- --target design.png --input build/index.html

Optional visual judge loop:

bridge ask "Compare design.png, current.png, and diff.png. List the exact visual changes needed next; do not rewrite code." --provider chatgpt --attach design.png current.png diff.png --json

Use bridge --help / bridge ask --help for the installed syntax. If bridge is unavailable, compare the images yourself and say the judge step was skipped. current.png can be a browser screenshot of the rendered build at the target dimensions.

If Node/Playwright is unavailable, use the manual overlay method in reference/verification.md and state the match is eyeballed, not measured.

Convergence checklist

• Confirmed intent first (static vs animated, fidelity bar, optional living enhancements) — not inferred from the still
• Viewport set to the target's exact pixel dimensions
• Fonts loaded and animations frozen before each screenshot
• Fixed the biggest hotspot, not random tweaks
• One change per measured iteration
• When using a judge, fed it target/current/diff and turned only one concrete delta into the next edit
• Reported the final mismatch ratio honestly (no unmeasured 1:1 claims)

Files

• reference/decompose.md — read the design, raster-vs-code triage, spec extraction, rig planning
• reference/svg-illustration.md — reuse sources, tracing, hand-building, SVGO
• reference/rigging.md — structure a figure to animate: slice at joints, pivot at joint, parent, overlap (do this at build time)
• reference/animation.md — motion that reads as alive: easing, act-then-hold, timing cheat-sheet, reduced motion, line-draw recipe
• reference/verification.md — the diff loop, thresholds, scale, manual fallback
• scripts/src/bin/pixelDiff.ts — render (Playwright) + pixel diff (pixelmatch) → ratio + hotspots
• scripts/src/bin/inspectPng.ts — target dimensions + color sampling / palette
• scripts/src/bin/frames.ts — contact sheet of animation frames by timeline-seeking (verify motion poses)
• scripts/svgo.config.mjs — safe SVGO config (keeps viewBox + IDs)
• scripts/robot.svgo.config.mjs — conservative SVGO for animated SVGs
• README.md — setup, script catalog, and canonical iteration example
• CONTEXT.md / TECH-GLOSSARY.md — domain vocabulary and technical glossary