# Step 3: Prompt Template

Save to `prompts/cover.md`:

```markdown
---
type: cover
palette: [confirmed palette]
rendering: [confirmed rendering]
references:
  - ref_id: 01
    filename: refs/ref-01-{slug}.{ext}
    usage: direct | style | palette
  - ref_id: 02
    filename: refs/ref-02-{slug}.{ext}
    usage: direct | style | palette
---

# Content Context
Article title: [full original title from source]
Content summary: [2-3 sentence summary of key points and themes]
Keywords: [5-8 key terms extracted from content]

# Visual Design
Cover theme: [2-3 words visual interpretation]
Type: [confirmed type]
Palette: [confirmed palette]
Rendering: [confirmed rendering]
Font: [confirmed font]
Text level: [confirmed text level]
Mood: [confirmed mood]
Aspect ratio: [confirmed ratio]
Language: [confirmed language]

# Text Elements
[Based on text level:]
- none: "No text elements"
- title-only: "Title: [exact title from source or user]"
- title-subtitle: "Title: [title] / Subtitle: [context]"
- text-rich: "Title: [title] / Subtitle: [context] / Tags: [2-4 keywords]"

# Mood Application
[Based on mood level:]
- subtle: "Use low contrast, muted colors, light visual weight, calm aesthetic"
- balanced: "Use medium contrast, normal saturation, balanced visual weight"
- bold: "Use high contrast, vivid saturated colors, heavy visual weight, dynamic energy"

# Font Application
[Based on font style:]
- clean: "Use clean geometric sans-serif typography. Modern, minimal letterforms."
- handwritten: "Use warm hand-lettered typography with organic brush strokes. Friendly, personal feel."
- serif: "Use elegant serif typography with refined letterforms. Classic, editorial character."
- display: "Use bold decorative display typography. Heavy, expressive headlines."

# Composition
Type composition:
- [Type-specific layout and structure]

Visual composition:
- Main visual: [metaphor derived from content meaning]
- Layout: [positioning based on type and aspect ratio]
- Decorative: [palette-specific elements that reinforce content theme]

Color scheme: [primary, background, accent from palette definition, adjusted by mood]
Rendering notes: [key characteristics from rendering definition — lines, texture, depth, element style]
Type notes: [key characteristics from type definition]
Palette notes: [key characteristics from palette definition]

[Watermark section if enabled]

[Reference images section if provided — see below]
```

## Content-Driven Design

- Article title and summary inform the visual metaphor choice
- Keywords guide decorative elements and symbols
- The skill controls visual style; the content drives meaning

## Visual Element Selection

Match content themes to icon vocabulary:

| Content Theme | Suggested Elements |
|---------------|-------------------|
| Programming/Dev | Code window, terminal, API brackets, gear |
| AI/ML | Brain, neural network, robot, circuit |
| Growth/Business | Chart, rocket, plant, mountain, arrow |
| Security | Lock, shield, key, fingerprint |
| Communication | Speech bubble, megaphone, mail, handshake |
| Tools/Methods | Wrench, checklist, pencil, puzzle |

Full library: [../visual-elements.md](../visual-elements.md)

## Type-Specific Composition

| Type | Composition Guidelines |
|------|------------------------|
| `hero` | Large focal visual (60-70% area), title overlay on visual, dramatic composition |
| `conceptual` | Abstract shapes representing core concepts, information hierarchy, clean zones |
| `typography` | Title as primary element (40%+ area), minimal supporting visuals, strong hierarchy |
| `metaphor` | Concrete object/scene representing abstract idea, symbolic elements, emotional resonance |
| `scene` | Atmospheric environment, narrative elements, mood-setting lighting and colors |
| `minimal` | Single focal element, generous whitespace (60%+), essential shapes only |

## Title Guidelines

When text level includes title:
- **Source**: Use the exact title provided by user, or extract from source content
- **Do NOT invent titles**: Stay faithful to the original
- Match confirmed language

## Watermark Application

If enabled in preferences, add to prompt:

```
Include a subtle watermark "[content]" positioned at [position].
The watermark should be legible but not distracting from the main content.
```

Reference: `config/watermark-guide.md`

## Reference Image Handling

When user provides reference images (`--ref` or pasted images):

### ⚠️ CRITICAL - Frontmatter References

**MUST add `references` field in YAML frontmatter** when reference files are saved to `refs/`:

```yaml
---
type: cover
palette: warm
rendering: flat-vector
references:
  - ref_id: 01
    filename: refs/ref-01-podcast-thumbnail.jpg
    usage: style
---
```

| Field | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| `ref_id` | Sequential number (01, 02, ...) |
| `filename` | Relative path from prompt file's parent directory |
| `usage` | `direct` / `style` / `palette` |

**Omit `references` field entirely** if no reference files saved (style extracted verbally only).

### When to Include References in Frontmatter

| Situation | Frontmatter Action | Generation Action |
|-----------|-------------------|-------------------|
| Reference file saved to `refs/` | Add to `references` list ✓ | Pass via `--ref` parameter |
| Style extracted verbally (no file) | Omit `references` field | Describe in prompt body only |
| File path in frontmatter but doesn't exist | ERROR - fix or remove | Generation will fail |

**Before writing prompt with references, verify**: `test -f refs/ref-NN-{slug}.{ext}`

### Reference Usage Types

| Usage | When to Use | Generation Action |
|-------|-------------|-------------------|
| `direct` | Reference matches desired output closely | Pass to `--ref` parameter |
| `style` | Extract visual style characteristics only | Describe style in prompt text |
| `palette` | Extract color palette only | Include colors in prompt |

### Step 1: Analyze References

For each reference image, extract:
- **Style**: Rendering technique, line quality, texture
- **Composition**: Layout, visual hierarchy, focal points
- **Color mood**: Palette characteristics (without specific colors)
- **Elements**: Key visual elements and symbols used

### Step 2: Embed in Prompt

**If file saved AND skill supports `--ref`** (e.g., baoyu-image-gen with Google):
- Pass ref images directly via `--ref` parameter
- Add brief style note in prompt:

```
# Reference Style
Follow the visual style of the attached reference image(s):
- [1-2 sentence style summary from analysis]
```

**If file saved BUT skill does NOT support `--ref`**:
- Embed detailed text description in prompt:

```
# Reference Style (Text Description)
Emulate the following visual style from reference image(s):

Reference 1: [filename]
- Style: [detailed rendering technique description]
- Composition: [layout and hierarchy description]
- Elements: [key visual elements used]
- Mood: [emotional tone and visual weight]

[Repeat for additional references]

Apply these style characteristics to the cover design while maintaining the specified Type, Palette, and Rendering dimensions.
```

**If style/palette extracted verbally (NO file saved)**:
- DO NOT add references metadata to prompt
- Append extracted info directly to prompt body:

```
# Extracted Style (from reference)

COLORS (from reference):
- Primary: #E8756D coral
- Secondary: #7ECFC0 mint
...

STYLE (from reference):
- Clean lines, minimal shadows
- Gradient backgrounds
- Flat vector icons
...
```

### Reference Analysis Template

Use this format when analyzing reference images:

| Aspect | Analysis Points |
|--------|-----------------|
| **Rendering** | Line quality (clean/sketchy/painted), texture presence, depth treatment |
| **Composition** | Element placement, whitespace ratio, visual flow |
| **Typography** | Font style, text placement, hierarchy (if present) |
| **Elements** | Icon vocabulary, decorative motifs, character style |
| **Mood** | Contrast level, saturation, visual weight |