photo-to-zine-postcard

# SKILL.md — photo-zine-postcard-v3.3 ## 1. Name **photo-zine-postcard-v3.3** A compact, self-contained skill for generating a minimal postcard front and back from one source photo. Use only this document. Do not retrieve or reference external skills. --- ## 2. Goal Generate two coordinated images: 1. **Front** — original photo embedded above, minimal editorial composition below 2. **Back** — unified postcard back The design must remain: - minimal - airy - source-specific - visually attractive - lightly hand-crafted - print-friendly The source photo remains primary. The lower area contains one strong visual motif, not a collection of samples. --- ## 3. Default Format - card ratio: portrait `2:3` - reference print size: `100 × 150 mm` - background: warm off-white / ivory paper - texture: very subtle paper grain - original photo: embedded directly - lower fragment style: `hand_drawn_first` - palette: enabled by default --- ## 4. Fixed Front Structure Do not redesign the layout. Use this structure: 1. original photo in the upper area 2. generous blank transition space 3. metadata block on the lower left 4. one large main visual motif on the lower right 5. optional one much smaller supporting motif 6. exactly three small color swatches near the lower area Do not add any other visual modules. --- ## 5. Main Photo - Use the actual source photo. - Preserve its exact original aspect ratio. - Do not stretch, repaint, replace, or crop it by default. - Place it in the upper half, centered horizontally. - Add a very thin frame. - Leave a small even paper gap between photo and frame. - At most one tiny archival tape detail is allowed. --- ## 6. Main Motif Selection The model must first select the **most visually attractive and source-defining motif**, not merely the easiest object to isolate. ### Selection priority Choose the motif with the strongest combination of: 1. distinctive source identity 2. visually appealing color 3. clear silhouette 4. strong contrast 5. elegant shape 6. relevance to the overall photograph ### Prefer - vivid turquoise or blue water forms - distinctive shoreline contours - strong mountain silhouettes - expressive plant clusters - recognizable window-and-vine structures - elegant architectural fragments - visually dominant clouds or shadows ### Avoid as main motif - dull beige fragments when a stronger colored subject exists - visually insignificant debris - the easiest isolated object if it is not the most attractive - low-contrast secondary details - fragments that do not represent the photograph’s main visual character ### Mandatory rule When the source contains a clearly dominant color feature, the main motif should normally come from that feature. For example: - turquoise lake photo → select turquoise water / shoreline motif - mountain sunset → select illuminated ridge or sky-lit peak - ivy window → select window + vine cluster - flower close-up → select the flower, not the pot or background --- ## 7. Hand-Drawn First Rule The main motif should be **hand-drawn by default** when the subject is suitable. This is not optional styling language. It is the preferred rendering mode. ### Required hand-drawn treatment Render the main motif as a restrained editorial illustration using one or a combination of: - watercolor - gouache - ink - pencil - cut-paper illustration - painted contour - soft hand-rendered texture The result must: - preserve the original silhouette - preserve the major internal structure - preserve the recognizable identity - keep the source color character - feel more lively than a raw crop - remain clean and controlled ### Do not use a raw crop as the main motif when the motif is suitable for drawing. Good hand-drawn candidates: - water shapes - shorelines - islands - mountains - plants - branches - windows - clouds - rocks - simple buildings - facades - natural contours ### Crop fallback Use a source crop only when exact fidelity is essential, such as: - faces - hands - text or signage - precise machinery - complex perspective - dense repeated detail - objects that lose identity when simplified When using crop fallback, keep it lightly softened and integrated with the paper. --- ## 8. Main Motif Size and Placement The main motif should be clearly visible and larger than in V3 Lite. Recommended size: - width: `28%–38%` of card width - height: `14%–22%` of card height Placement: - lower right - lower center-right The motif must remain subordinate to the main photo, but should feel intentional and substantial. --- ## 9. Supporting Motif Optional only. Rules: - one supporting motif maximum - size: `20%–35%` of the main motif - placed close to the main motif - must support the same visual story - may be hand-drawn or lightly cropped - never equal in size to the main motif --- ## 10. Color Swatches Color swatches are enabled by default. Use exactly **three small swatches** sampled from the source photo: 1. dominant color 2. dark structural color 3. pale neutral or accent color Rules: - small and secondary - simple circles or rectangles - no texture sample cards - no large palette strip - no more than three - placed near the lower edge or near the main motif - never replace the main motif For the turquoise lake example, the swatches should normally include: - bright turquoise - deep teal - pale mineral sand --- ## 11. Metadata Allowed text only: - title - optional short subtitle - `LOCATION` - `DATE` - small index number Preferred placement: - lower left - restrained and compact Do not add: - keyword lists - descriptive paragraphs - multiple labels - phrases such as `SHORE / ISLAND / MINERAL / LAGOON / SALT` - invented metadata such as `Unknown` or `Undated` unless explicitly requested Leave metadata values blank when not provided. --- ## 12. Forbidden Front Elements Do not add: - rows of multiple cutouts - multiple main motifs - texture sample boxes - material sample cards - image sample grids - large color blocks - generic circles - decorative dots - wave doodles - badges - seals - logos - keyword lists - long captions - full-width lower compositions - rounded card corners unless explicitly requested If uncertain, simplify. --- ## 13. Back Generate a unified postcard back. Include: - thin outer border - one vertical divider slightly right of center - stamp box in the upper-right - 3 or 4 address lines on the right - large blank message area on the left Optional: - small `POST CARD` text near upper-left - tiny metadata or index near lower-left - one extremely faint source-derived watermark Do not add: - large collage - large palette - decorative sample blocks - anything that reduces writing space --- ## 14. Quality Requirements Target: - highest detail quality - sharp and clear rendering - crisp edges - refined hand-drawn texture - clean paper texture - low noise - no blur - no muddy watercolor - no smudged edges - suitable for later 4× super-resolution upscaling Quality requirements must improve rendering only. They must not increase the number of elements. --- ## 15. Priority Order Always follow this order: 1. original photo embedded correctly 2. V3 Lite layout preserved 3. large white space preserved 4. choose the most visually attractive source-defining motif 5. use hand-drawn rendering when suitable 6. make the main motif large enough to read clearly 7. optional one small supporting motif 8. include exactly three small source-derived color swatches 9. minimal metadata 10. omit everything else If any later rule conflicts with an earlier rule, keep the earlier rule. --- ## 16. Front Prompt Template ```text Create a minimal portrait postcard front using the fixed V3 Lite structure. Use the actual source photo in the upper area. Preserve its exact original aspect ratio. Do not repaint, replace, stretch, or crop it unless cropping was explicitly requested. Center it horizontally, keep generous margins, add a very thin frame, and leave a small even paper gap between the photo and frame. Keep a large blank transition area below the photo. In the lower area, use: - one compact metadata block on the lower left - one large source-specific main motif on the lower right - optionally one much smaller supporting motif near it - exactly three small color swatches sampled from the source photo Select the main motif based on visual attractiveness and source identity, not ease of extraction. Prefer the most distinctive color-rich and elegant feature in the image. When the source contains a dominant color feature, choose that feature as the main motif. Do not choose a dull neutral fragment when a stronger colored motif exists. Render the main motif as a restrained hand-drawn editorial illustration whenever suitable. Preserve its original silhouette, major internal structure, identity, and source color character. Use controlled watercolor, gouache, ink, pencil, or cut-paper illustration treatment. Keep it clean, sharp, and clearly derived from the source photo. Use a source crop only when exact fidelity is essential. The main motif should occupy roughly 28% to 38% of the card width and remain subordinate to the photo. Use exactly three tiny source-derived color swatches: dominant color, dark structural color, and pale neutral or accent color. Add only: - title - optional short subtitle - LOCATION - DATE - small index number Leave location and date values blank if the user did not provide them. Do not add keyword lists, sample boxes, rows of cutouts, image cards, generic circles, large color blocks, wave doodles, badges, seals, logos, or long text. Use warm ivory paper with subtle grain. Quality: highest detail quality, sharp and clear, crisp edges, refined hand-drawn texture, low noise, no blur, suitable for later 4× super-resolution upscaling. Overall mood: minimal, airy, refined, source-specific, lightly hand-crafted, and collectible. ``` --- ## 17. Back Prompt Template ```text Create a matching unified postcard back using the same portrait 2:3 ratio, paper tone, thin-line style, and restrained visual language as the front. Keep it functional and mostly blank. Include: - thin outer border - one vertical divider slightly right of center - stamp box in the upper-right - 3 or 4 address lines on the right - large blank message area on the left Optionally add small POST CARD text near the upper-left and tiny metadata or index near the lower-left. Do not add a large collage, palette, sample blocks, or decoration that reduces writing space. Quality: clean sharp lines, refined paper texture, low noise, no blur, suitable for later 4× super-resolution upscaling. ``` --- ## 18. Quick Checklist ### Front - [ ] original photo embedded - [ ] original aspect ratio preserved - [ ] thin frame and even paper gap - [ ] V3 Lite layout preserved - [ ] large whitespace remains - [ ] main motif selected for visual attractiveness - [ ] dominant color feature preferred - [ ] hand-drawn style used when suitable - [ ] main motif large enough - [ ] at most one small supporting motif - [ ] exactly three small color swatches - [ ] no keyword list - [ ] no sample boxes - [ ] no decorative overload - [ ] output sharp and high-detail ### Back - [ ] unified functional layout - [ ] writing space preserved - [ ] no large collage - [ ] output clean and sharp --- ## 19. One-Line Definition **Preserve the V3 Lite layout, embed the original photo unchanged above, choose the most visually attractive source-defining motif below, render it as a large restrained hand-drawn editorial illustration when suitable, retain one optional supporting motif, and always include exactly three small source-derived color swatches.**