Article Illustrator

Analyze articles, identify illustration positions, generate images with Type × Style consistency.

Two Dimensions

| Dimension | Controls | Examples |

|-----------|----------|----------|

| **Type** | Information structure | infographic, scene, flowchart, comparison, framework, timeline |

| **Style** | Visual aesthetics | notion, warm, minimal, blueprint, watercolor, elegant |

Combine freely: `--type infographic --style blueprint`

Types

| Type | Best For |

|------|----------|

| `infographic` | Data, metrics, technical |

| `scene` | Narratives, emotional |

| `flowchart` | Processes, workflows |

| `comparison` | Side-by-side, options |

| `framework` | Models, architecture |

| `timeline` | History, evolution |

Styles

See [references/styles.md](references/styles.md) for Core Styles, full gallery, and Type × Style compatibility.

Workflow

- [ ] Step 1: Pre-check (EXTEND.md, references, config)
- [ ] Step 2: Analyze content
- [ ] Step 3: Confirm settings (AskUserQuestion)
- [ ] Step 4: Generate outline
- [ ] Step 5: Generate images
- [ ] Step 6: Finalize

Step 1: Pre-check

**1.5 Load Preferences (EXTEND.md) ⛔ BLOCKING**

test -f .baoyu-skills/baoyu-article-illustrator/EXTEND.md && echo "project"
test -f "$HOME/.baoyu-skills/baoyu-article-illustrator/EXTEND.md" && echo "user"

| Result | Action |

|--------|--------|

| Found | Read, parse, display summary |

| Not found | ⛔ Run [first-time-setup](references/config/first-time-setup.md) |

Full procedures: [references/workflow.md](references/workflow.md#step-1-pre-check)

Step 2: Analyze

| Analysis | Output |

|----------|--------|

| Content type | Technical / Tutorial / Methodology / Narrative |

| Purpose | information / visualization / imagination |

| Core arguments | 2-5 main points |

| Positions | Where illustrations add value |

**CRITICAL**: Metaphors → visualize underlying concept, NOT literal image.

Full procedures: [references/workflow.md](references/workflow.md#step-2-setup--analyze)

Step 3: Confirm Settings ⚠️

**ONE AskUserQuestion, max 4 Qs. Q1-Q3 REQUIRED.**

| Q | Options |

|---|---------|

| **Q1: Type** | [Recommended], infographic, scene, flowchart, comparison, framework, timeline, mixed |

| **Q2: Density** | minimal (1-2), balanced (3-5), per-section (Recommended), rich (6+) |

| **Q3: Style** | [Recommended], minimal-flat, sci-fi, hand-drawn, editorial, scene, Other |

| Q4: Language | When article language ≠ EXTEND.md setting |

Full procedures: [references/workflow.md](references/workflow.md#step-3-confirm-settings-)

Step 4: Generate Outline

Save `outline.md` with frontmatter (type, density, style, image_count) and entries:

## Illustration 1
**Position**: [section/paragraph]
**Purpose**: [why]
**Visual Content**: [what]
**Filename**: 01-infographic-concept-name.png

Full template: [references/workflow.md](references/workflow.md#step-4-generate-outline)

Step 5: Generate Images

⛔ **BLOCKING: Prompt files MUST be saved before ANY image generation.**

1. For each illustration, create a prompt file per [references/prompt-construction.md](references/prompt-construction.md)

2. Save to `prompts/NN-{type}-{slug}.md` with YAML frontmatter

3. Prompts **MUST** use type-specific templates with structured sections (ZONES / LABELS / COLORS / STYLE / ASPECT)

4. LABELS **MUST** include article-specific data: actual numbers, terms, metrics, quotes

5. **DO NOT** pass ad-hoc inline prompts to `--prompt` without saving prompt files first

6. Select generation skill, process references (`direct`/`style`/`palette`)

7. Apply watermark if EXTEND.md enabled

8. Generate from saved prompt files; retry once on failure

Full procedures: [references/workflow.md](references/workflow.md#step-5-generate-images)

Step 6: Finalize

Insert `` after paragraphs.

Article Illustration Complete!
Article: [path] | Type: [type] | Density: [level] | Style: [style]
Images: X/N generated

Output Directory

illustrations/{topic-slug}/
├── source-{slug}.{ext}
├── references/           # if provided
├── outline.md
├── prompts/
└── NN-{type}-{slug}.png

**Slug**: 2-4 words, kebab-case. **Conflict**: append `-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS`.

Modification

| Action | Steps |

|--------|-------|

| Edit | Update prompt → Regenerate → Update reference |

| Add | Position → Prompt → Generate → Update outline → Insert |

| Delete | Delete files → Remove reference → Update outline |

References

| File | Content |

|------|---------|

| [references/workflow.md](references/workflow.md) | Detailed procedures |

| [references/usage.md](references/usage.md) | Command syntax |

| [references/styles.md](references/styles.md) | Style gallery |

| [references/prompt-construction.md](references/prompt-construction.md) | Prompt templates |

| [references/config/first-time-setup.md](references/config/first-time-setup.md) | First-time setup |