| name | fantastic-posters |
| description | Generates, edits, and transparency-strips images across 38 visual styles via GPT Image 2 (Fal), and animates poster outputs into video via Seedance 2.0 + Kling v3 Pro. Full GPT-Image-2 surface — text-to-image, mask-based edits (--input + --mask), multi-variant batching (--variants 1-4 in one API call), background removal (--rembg → transparent PNG), dimensions up to 3840×2160. 5 typography-first presets (chalkboard, store window, menu, packaging, UI mockup) where the lettering IS the picture. Image-to-video bridge — any poster output becomes a video input frame. Use when the user says "make a poster", "edit this poster", "swap the headline", "make a transparent logo", "make a video", "animate this poster", "image to video", "video trailer", or names any of the 38 styles (vintage, Swiss, Ukiyo-e, brutalism, neon-noir, editorial). Trigger proactively whenever the user shares a brand and asks to "visualize" it — stylized image generation is this skill, not Canva or generic image tools. |
Fantastic Posters (+ Video)
A poster generator with a curated catalog of 38 visual styles (33 original + 5 typography-first harvested from robonuggets/gpt-image-2-skill). The agent picks the style that fits the brief, builds the prompt, and generates with GPT Image 2 (via Fal). Multi-reference uploads, brand-book PDFs, structured briefs, batch generation, template replication, mask-based edits, multi-variant batching, and chained background removal are all first-class.
Upstream credit (2026-04-30): Edit-endpoint patterns, multi-variant batching (num_images), large-dimension support (up to 3840×2160), rembg chaining for transparency, and the 5 typography-first style presets were harvested from robonuggets/gpt-image-2-skill (MIT) into the existing fantastic-posters skill rather than installed as a parallel skill. One skill, full GPT-Image-2 surface — see directives/fal-edit-mode-guide.md for edit-mode usage and directives/fal-usage-policy.md for budget gating.
Video extension (added 2026-04-30): Posters can be animated into video via Seedance 2.0 (cinematic + audio) or Kling v3 Pro (multi-shot narrative). The bridge pattern — poster output as video input frame — is the killer use case. See workflows/poster-to-video.md, workflows/kling-multishot.md, workflows/seedance-cinematic.md.
After generation, layer separation is handled outside this skill — open the PNG in Canva and use Magic / Smart Layers to split foreground/background/text.
⭐ The Studio Pipeline (v2, 2026-07-04) — use this for anything that must be remarkable, not just rendered
Load genius.md first. It is the brain this skill never had. The bare "brief → pickStyle → render" path produces generic, redundant output; the Studio produces concept-first, non-redundant, multi-model, self-critiqued work.
Satori decides. The router picks the instrument. The studio critiques its own work.
Run /fantastic-studio (workflows/00-studio.md) to orchestrate the full pipeline, or invoke a single stage:
| # | Stage | Command | Does |
|---|
| 00 | Studio (front door) | /fantastic-studio | Runs 1–8 → a routed generation plan |
| 01 | Reference-ground | /fantastic-reference-ground | Anchor in real high-taste lineage (not model default) |
| 02 | Art-direct | /fantastic-art-direct | Ingest/run the satori brain → art-direction spec (kills generic) |
| 03 | Divergence spread | /fantastic-divergence | N orthogonally distinct directions (kills redundancy) |
| 04 | Model route | /fantastic-model-route | Each direction → GPT Image 2 / Higgsfield Soul / Nano / video |
| 05 | Prompt compile | /fantastic-prompt-compile | Spec → model-specific prompt (+ Fal --brief JSON) |
| 06 | Generate run | /fantastic-generate-run | Cost-gated, human-triggered runbook |
| 07 | Critique + refine | /fantastic-critique-refine | Virgil × LIFT × type × anti-slop → --mask edits (first output → remarkable) |
| 08 | Format pack | /fantastic-format-pack | One concept → feed/story/hero/print/cutout/motion |
When to skip the Studio: a one-off quick draft, or a --template replicate of a proven layout. Everything client-facing or brand-defining runs the Studio.
Multi-model (the router picks): python3 execution/creative_router.py route --task "<direction>". Posters/typographic → fal-poster (this skill). Photoreal + people → higgsfield-soul. Cheap iteration → higgsfield-nano. Motion → fal-kling / higgsfield-cinema / seedance-720p.
Handoff from the design brain: /satori-design-think produces a full Production Brief (hidden truth, LIFT hierarchy, color hex tokens, feeling, memory hook, anti-slop). /fantastic-art-direct ingests it directly — Satori is the brain, this skill is the hands.
Video Generation (Mode-Aware Budget Required)
Three video modes, each with its own budget ceiling enforced by execution/fal_budget_guard.py:
| Mode | Endpoint | Per-call ceiling | Use |
|---|
kling | fal-ai/kling-video/v3/pro/image-to-video | $2.00 | Multi-shot narratives, character consistency, default for most cases |
seedance-720p | bytedance/seedance-2.0/image-to-video | $3.00 | Cinematic single-shot, lipsync-grade audio, start→end frame transitions |
seedance-480p | same | $1.50 | Budget option for quick experiments |
seedance-1080p | same | HARD-BLOCKED | Single 15s call ~$10; refused at script level |
MANDATORY pre-flight before any video call:
python3 execution/fal_budget_guard.py check --mode=<kling|seedance-720p|...> --duration=<N> [--audio=<off|on|voice_control>]
Wrappers (handle FAL_KEY loading from project root .env, image upload to Fal storage, MP4 download):
python3 execution/fal_video_kling.py --prompt="..." --start-image="<path|url>" --duration=5 --audio=onpython3 execution/fal_video_seedance.py --prompt="..." --image="<path|url>" --duration=6 --resolution=720p
How to Run
generate.js lives at the project root (alongside styles.js).
cd <repo-root>
node generate.js "<brief>"
node generate.js "<brief>" --style=<style_id>
node generate.js "<brief>" --n=3
node generate.js "<brief>" --variants=4
node generate.js "<brief>" --refs=hero.jpg,brand.pdf,logo.png
node generate.js "<brief>" --logo=<path>
node generate.js --brief=path/to/brief.{md,yaml}
node generate.js --batch=path/to/listings.json
node generate.js --template=existing.png "<brief>"
node generate.js "<edit instruction>" --input=<url|path>
node generate.js "<edit instruction>" --input=<url> --mask=<url>
node generate.js "<brief>" --rembg
node generate.js "<brief>" --size=banner-3to1
node generate.js "<brief>" --size=hero-2to1
node generate.js "<brief>" --size=poster-xl
node generate.js "<brief>" --size=3840x1280
Flags: --size=portrait|landscape|square|banner-3to1|hero-2to1|poster-xl|WxH, --quality=low|medium|high, --palette="#hex,...", --yes, --include-experimental, --variants=N (1-4), --input=<url|path>, --mask=<url|path>, --rembg.
The script reads FAL_KEY (and optional KIE_KEY) from .env at the project root. Output PNGs go to ./out/. When --rembg is set, transparent variants are saved as <original>_alpha.png alongside.
When to use the new flags
--input (explicit edit mode): User wants to modify an existing image. Pass the image URL/path and describe ONLY the change. Example: "swap the headline to 'TONIGHT'" --input=https://.../poster.png. See directives/fal-edit-mode-guide.md for full guidance.--mask (surgical edit): Pair with --input (or --refs/--template) when the change is region-specific. Mask is B/W: white = edit, black = preserve. Same dimensions as input.--variants=N (cheap multi-variant): Use when you want N siblings of the same prompt (1 API call, N images, total cost N × per-image). For diverse interpretations, use --n=N instead (N separate API calls with per-call diversity nudge).--rembg (transparency): Use for logos, stickers, cutouts. Adds ~$0.005/image. Requires a separate budget guard log entry under --mode=rembg per directives/fal-usage-policy.md.--size=banner-3to1|hero-2to1|poster-xl|WxH: Use for hero banners, large social headers, billboards. Cost is the same regardless of dimensions — only --quality changes the price. Invalid sizes (>3840 edge, aspect >3:1, pixels outside [655K, 8.3M]) rejected before the API call.
When the User Says "Make a Poster"
- Read the brief. Identify mood (calm / vibrant / nostalgic / mystical / luxury / corporate / playful) and subject (event / product / album / movie / listing / retreat).
- Pick the best matching style from the catalog using the Style Picker rules below.
- Show the relevant
examples/<style-id>.png to the user before generating — never regenerate the catalog showcase. The reference render is the baseline.
- Tell the user which style you picked and why (one sentence).
- Run
generate.js. Default to --n=1. If they say "more designs" or "variations", run with --n=3.
- The script will print an estimated cost and ask for confirmation. For >=5 images or
--quality=high it always prompts regardless of --yes.
- After it saves, give them the file path and remind them: open in Canva and use Magic Layers if they want to edit text or swap the subject.
Reference Image Order (for --refs)
Multi-reference uploads follow this convention:
- Image 1 — hero photo (the main subject)
- Image 2 — brand book (PDF auto-renders to PNG page 1 at 2x DPI)
- Image 3+ — logos
For --template mode the order is: template (1st) → new hero photo (2nd) → optional logos.
Style Picker (auto-match by brief intent)
| If the brief is about... | Pick |
|---|
| moody crime / thriller / dark cinematic | cinematic-neonoir |
| travel / destination / vintage tourism | vintage-travel |
| design lecture / minimal swiss / typography | swiss-minimal-typo |
| tech conference / agentic web / dev event | tech-conf-darkmode |
| annual report / executive / finance | corporate-report |
| live music / DIY gig / underground band | indie-gig-riso |
| home listing / open house with photo | luxury-real-estate |
| luxury estate brochure / architectural retreat | luxury-estate-cover |
| art deco / Gatsby / 1920s glam | art-deco |
| Bauhaus / primary geometric / design school | bauhaus-geometric |
| Japanese woodblock / Edo / classical Japan | ukiyo-e |
| sixties rock / Fillmore / hippie concert | psychedelic-60s |
| synthwave / retro futurism / 80s sunset | vaporwave-synth |
| minimalist film / cut-paper / Hitchcock vibe | saul-bass-minimal |
| 80s postmodern / playful clashing patterns | memphis-80s |
| high fashion magazine / editorial cover | editorial-fashion |
| symmetric pastel / dollhouse / storybook film | symmetric-storybook |
| comic / Ben-Day dots / pop art | pop-art-comic |
| wellness / meditation / retreat / soft calm | pastel-mindful |
| zen / Japanese ink / monastic minimal | sumi-e-zen |
| Día de los Muertos / Mexican folk / festival | loteria-folk |
| surreal / Magritte / dreamlike |
If nothing matches confidently, ask the user to pick from a 3-option shortlist.
Out-of-Left-Field Mode
When the user asks for "out of left field", "weird", "different", "surprise me", or "experimental" ideas, default catalog picks are forbidden. Instead:
- Vary palette and typography away from catalog defaults. Don't reach for the obvious one.
- Pull inspiration from less-obvious design references via online research. Web search/fetch from: Polish theatre poster archives (Jan Lenica, Henryk Tomaszewski), Japanese book covers (Kohei Sugiura, Tadanori Yokoo), Czech New Wave film posters, AIGA poster annuals, Dribbble's experimental tag.
- Propose 5+ ideas with a one-line vibe each BEFORE generating. Let the user pick.
- Never default to safe catalog picks for these requests.
Logo Handling Protocol
- Pass logos as base64 data URIs (handled automatically when you supply
--logo=<path>), never as a local path string.
- Use the
gpt-image-2/edit endpoint when a logo is supplied (handled automatically).
- Add the "do NOT redraw, recolour, or modify proportions" clause to the prompt (handled automatically).
- When a brief specifies "mark on black panel" or "mark on white panel" (HYROX-affiliate work), enforce it in the prompt.
- For dual-wordmark layouts (client + partner), specify equal visual weight, separated by a hairline rule, never combined into a single lockup.
- Logo placement reliability is imperfect even with the edit endpoint — review the rendered logo carefully before delivering.
Trust the Reference
When using --template or any multi-ref edit mode, the shortest prompt that names ONLY what changes outperforms verbose specs. Trust the reference image to carry layout, typography, palette, and logo. Don't restate what the reference already shows. Verbose specs make the model drift.
What References Can and Can't Do
- References guide style/content, not pixel-copy templates.
- Exact font reproduction is unreliable past ~6 words. Shorten titles.
- Logos may be subtly redrawn — pass them as a separate ref for stronger anchor (
--logo=) or composite in Canva afterward.
- Output aspect follows
image_size (the --size flag), not the reference image. For --template mode, set --size to match the template's aspect manually.
Generation Settings (cost table)
| Quality | $/image | Time | When to use |
|---|
low | ~$0.011 | 10-15s | drafts, exploring directions |
medium | ~$0.04 | 25-40s | client review |
high | ~$0.17 | 60-90s | final delivery (then upscale externally) |
Default --size=portrait is 1024x1536 (max 1536/side). For A2 print at 300 DPI, upscale externally with Topaz Photo AI or Real-ESRGAN.
For >=5 images or --quality=high, the CLI always prompts for confirmation regardless of --yes.
Subagent Fan-Out (canonical bulk pattern)
For 10+ briefs, use Claude's Agent tool to fan out — one subagent per brief, each running this skill independently. Example:
Spawn N subagents. Each runs:
fantastic-posters --brief=briefs/{client}.md --refs=hero.jpg,brand.pdf,logo.png
Subagents are how this skill produces real-client batches at speed.
Rules
- Use real brand names when supplied. Real-client work is the primary use case. Only anonymise for generic demos.
- Don't oversell calm styles — for
pastel-mindful and sumi-e-zen, restraint is the whole point.
- Footer billing line is always last — date · venue · price/credit.
- Title rendering — GPT Image 2 is strong on typography but not perfect. If a title has more than ~6 words, expect typos.
- Variations — when running
--n=3, vary the subject slightly rather than the same prompt 3x.
- Show, don't regenerate. When auto-picking a style, show
examples/<style-id>.png first — never regenerate the catalog.
Out of Scope
- No PSD layering in this skill. Direct the user to Canva → Magic / Smart Layers. PSD-layering is available via the adjacent
poster-to-layers pipeline if Photoshop is preferred.
- No upscaling in this skill. Point users to Topaz Photo AI or Real-ESRGAN for print-resolution output.
- No animation. Still images only.
Execution Prompts (structure-pure v2)
6 deterministic practitioner prompts — each carries an Output Contract, Output Skeleton, and Quality Gate. When a deliverable matches one, Read it and honor its contract instead of improvising the output shape.
- Fantastic Posters — Client Deliverable Cover Frame —
skills/fantastic-posters/references/prompts-v2/client-deliverable-cover.md
- Fantastic Studio — Critique + Refine Ledger —
skills/fantastic-posters/references/prompts-v2/critique-refine-ledger.md
- Fantastic Studio — Format Pack (Multi-Format Deployment Plan) —
skills/fantastic-posters/references/prompts-v2/format-pack-plan.md
- Fantastic Posters — Poster-to-Video Animation Plan —
skills/fantastic-posters/references/prompts-v2/poster-to-video-animation-plan.md
- Fantastic Posters — Quick Poster / Image Generation —
skills/fantastic-posters/references/prompts-v2/quick-poster-generation.md
- Studio Job — [job name / surface] —
skills/fantastic-posters/references/prompts-v2/studio-job.md
