--- name: suede-image description: "Suede-affiliated marketing image production for generation prompts, hero and social graphics, product mockups, export sizing, compression, and preview assets. Use when the user needs a general-purpose marketing image or an image-production workflow. NOT FOR: paid-ad creative systems (use suede-ad-creative), video production (use suede-video), or app-store listing strategy (use suede-aso)." metadata: version: 2.0.1 --- # Suede Marketing Image Production Suede produces marketing imagery as a rights-aware, placement-specific system: choose the right production method, protect canonical brand assets, preserve real product truth, and verify the exported result. Use generation models and design tools to create efficient hero, social, mockup, banner, and preview workflows without fabricating interfaces or provenance. ## Before Starting **Check for product marketing context first:** If `.agents/product-marketing.md` exists (or `.claude/product-marketing.md`, or the legacy `product-marketing-context.md` filename, in older setups), read it before asking questions. Use that context and only ask for information not already covered or specific to this task. Gather this context (ask if not provided): ### 1. Image Goal - What type of image? (Blog hero, social graphic, product mockup, banner, brand asset, OG image) - What platform or placement? (Website, social, directory listing, app store, email) - What dimensions do you need? ### 2. Production Approach - Do you have existing brand assets? (Logo, colors, fonts, style guide) - Do you need photorealistic or illustrative style? - Is this a one-off or a template for repeated use? ### 3. Technical Context - Which image, browser, design, or local conversion tools are currently callable? - What is the approved maximum cost and data-handling boundary? - Do you need the image optimized for web performance? Do not ask the user to paste API keys or secrets into the conversation. --- ## Choosing Your Approach First discover the current production surface. Inspect callable tools and connected accounts; do not assume a named model, provider, API, plugin, or design app is available. Then choose among these methods: | Approach | Best For | Candidate surface | |----------|----------|-------------------| | **Generation** | Original concepts and scenes | A callable image-generation tool | | **Editing** | Authorized changes to supplied images | A callable editor with image-input support | | **Template design** | Brand-consistent recurring assets | An authorized design app or local template | | **Screenshot + overlay** | Truthful product showcases | Callable browser capture plus local layout | | **Licensed media** | Existing photography or illustration | User-owned library or verified license source | --- ## AI Image Generation Use generation only after the current tool and authority gates pass. ### Capability and authority gate 1. Confirm a generation or editing tool is callable in the current session. 2. Check its current official documentation for model availability, accepted inputs, output sizes, editing/reference support, safety restrictions, retention, commercial-use terms, and pricing. Record the source and check date. 3. Confirm rights to every uploaded logo, screenshot, photo, font, and reference image. Do not upload confidential or personal material outside its approved boundary. 4. Calculate the maximum cost for the requested attempts and get explicit approval before using a paid account or exceeding an already approved budget. 5. Confirm whether the user's request authorizes generation only, editing of supplied files, overwriting a source, or publication. These are separate gates. Provider names and model versions are volatile. Examples such as OpenAI, Google, Black Forest Labs, Ideogram, Midjourney, Recraft, and self-hosted diffusion are research candidates, not routing instructions or capability claims. ### Selection criteria - For text-heavy assets, prefer a deterministic overlay or design template; test any verified in-image text capability before committing to it. - For repeated brand work, prefer locked templates and approved assets over a claimed consistency feature. - For edits, use a tool whose current documentation and callable schema confirm image input and the required edit mode. - For vectors, require a real vector export and inspect its paths; a raster image labeled as vector is not sufficient. - For product UI, capture the live authorized interface rather than generating it. - For volume, compare verified cost, rate limits, review time, and output quality on a small test batch. If no suitable renderer or editor is callable, deliver a production-ready prompt, layout spec, asset manifest, rights checklist, and export checklist. State clearly that no image was generated; do not route the user to an unavailable tool as though execution occurred. ### Prompting Basics A strong image prompt follows: **Subject + Setting + Style + Lighting + Composition + Technical** ``` A laptop on a minimal white desk with an abstract analytics motif, soft directional lighting from the left, shallow depth of field, clean commercial photography style, 16:9 aspect ratio, 4K ``` **Common mistakes:** - Too vague ("a business image") — add specific details - Forgetting aspect ratio — always specify dimensions - Requesting complex text — use overlays instead for anything beyond short headlines - No style direction — "photorealistic," "flat illustration," "3D render" For detailed prompting guides per model, see [references/ai-image-prompting.md](references/ai-image-prompting.md). --- ## Design Tools For templated, brand-consistent work where AI generation is overkill or too unpredictable. ### Canva Can be a candidate for template-driven social graphics, presentations, email headers, and banners. Verify the connected account, current features, export rights, plan limits, API availability, and callable integration before routing work to it. Keep a human review gate for brand output. ### Figma Can be a candidate when an authorized design file or component system exists. Verify current account access and whether the available integration can read, edit, export, or only inspect. Do not claim write access or create files merely because a connector exists. ### When to Use Design Tools vs. AI Generation | Scenario | Design Tool | AI Generation | |----------|:-:|:-:| | Exact brand guidelines must be followed | Yes | Maybe (with strong ref images) | | Need many size variants of one design | Yes, if current resize/export capability is verified | Usually no | | Unique hero image for a blog post | No | Yes | | Recurring social media template | Yes | No | | Product mockup with real UI | No (use screenshots) | No (hallucinated UI) | | Abstract/creative visual | No | Yes | --- ## Marketing Image Workflows ### Blog & Article Hero Images The image at the top of every post. Sets tone, improves shareability, required for OG/social previews. 1. **Define the concept** — what visual metaphor represents the topic? 2. **Choose the verified method** — callable generator, approved media, or a deterministic local/design template 3. **Confirm dimensions** from the actual site component and current social preview requirements 4. **Optimize to a measured quality and performance budget** **Prompt pattern:** ``` [Visual metaphor for topic], clean modern style, bright natural lighting, shallow depth of field, professional blog header aesthetic, [verified width]x[verified height] ``` ### Social Media Graphics Platform-specific images for organic posts. The values below are planning defaults, not current platform guarantees. Check the platform's official specification on the work date and use its current safe zones, file limits, and format rules. | Platform | Planning size | Aspect ratio | Notes | |----------|-------------|:---:|-------| | Twitter/X | 1200x675 | 16:9 | Large image card | | LinkedIn | 1200x627 | 1.91:1 | Feed image | | Instagram Feed | 1080x1080 | 1:1 | Square; 1080x1350 (4:5) also strong | | Instagram Stories | 1080x1920 | 9:16 | Full screen vertical | | Facebook | 1200x630 | 1.91:1 | Link share image | **Workflow:** 1. Create the hero concept at highest resolution needed 2. Use a verified resize/export feature or manual crop for platform variants 3. Add text overlays deterministically when accurate text is required 4. Export at platform-specific dimensions ### Product Mockups & Screenshots Showcase your product UI in context. AI models hallucinate UI — don't use them for this. 1. **Capture real screenshots** of your product at 2x resolution 2. **Frame in device mockups** — use browser frame, laptop, or phone templates 3. **Add context** — callout arrows, verified feature labels, before/after comparisons 4. **Annotate deterministically** — use a callable local layout workflow or an authorized design tool Possible capture surfaces include browser tooling or an installed OS capture utility. Discover what is currently callable, confirm authorization for the live surface, and omit tools that are not available. ### Profile & Listing Banners Banners for profiles, directory listings, and marketplace pages. Often the first visual impression. These are planning references and can drift. Verify current official dimensions, cropping behavior, safe zones, file limits, and format rules before production. | Platform | Planning size | Notes | |----------|------|-------| | LinkedIn personal cover | 1584x396 | 4:1, safe zone center | | LinkedIn company cover | 1128x191 | 5.9:1; LinkedIn recommends up to 4200x700 | | Twitter/X header | 1500x500 | 3:1, partially obscured by avatar | | Product Hunt gallery | 1270x760 | 5:3, up to 6 images | | G2 profile | 1280x720 | 16:9, product screenshots preferred | | GitHub social preview | 1280x640 | 2:1, shows in link cards | | App Store screenshots | Varies by device | See suede-aso skill for full specs | | Google Play feature graphic | 1024x500 | ~2:1, required for store listing | **Best practices:** - **Keep text minimal** — banners are seen at small sizes on mobile - **Center critical content** — edges get cropped differently per device - **Show the product truthfully** — use real UI screenshots when the listing is meant to demonstrate the interface - **Match your brand** — use consistent colors, fonts, logo placement - **Update deliberately** — refresh when the product, campaign, or positioning changes **Workflow:** 1. Pick the platform(s) and note exact dimensions 2. For directories (Product Hunt, G2): use real product screenshots with light annotation 3. For profiles (LinkedIn, Twitter): use brand colors + tagline + optional product shot 4. Produce with a verified callable template workflow; add text deterministically 5. Test at actual display size — zoom out to check readability ### Brand Assets Logos, icons, and illustrations. AI generation has limits here. | Asset | AI Generation | Design Tool | Notes | |-------|:-:|:-:|-------| | Logo | Poor — inconsistent, not vector | Yes | Always design or commission logos | | App icon | Concept exploration only | Yes | Refine manually and verify store rules | | Illustrations | Good for style exploration | Depends | AI for concepts, finalize in design tool | | Favicons | No | Yes | Derive from logo | | Social icons | No | Yes | Use platform-provided assets | --- ## Image Optimization Image bytes and dimensions can affect page performance. Measure the actual page before attributing search or conversion results to image changes. ### Format Guide | Format | Best For | Compression | |--------|----------|-------------| | **WebP** | Photos and graphics when target browsers support it | Lossy + lossless | | **AVIF** | High-compression delivery when target browsers support it | Lossy + lossless | | **JPEG** | Broad photo compatibility | Lossy | | **PNG** | Transparency and lossless screenshots | Lossless | | **SVG** | Trusted vector logos, icons, and illustrations | Vector | ### Optimization Checklist - [ ] **Use a supported delivery format** and fallback strategy for the target browser matrix - [ ] **Resize to display size** — don't serve 4000px images in 800px containers - [ ] **Compress** — choose quality from visual review and the page's measured byte budget - [ ] **Lazy load** below-the-fold images (`loading="lazy"`) - [ ] **Set explicit dimensions** — `width` and `height` attributes prevent layout shift (CLS) - [ ] **Use verified CDN optimization** when the current stack supports it - [ ] **Add alt text** — descriptive, keyword-relevant, not stuffed ### Quick Optimization Commands ```bash # Run only after confirming the named local utility is installed. # Convert to WebP (using cwebp) cwebp -q 80 input.png -o output.webp # Batch convert with ImageMagick mogrify -format webp -quality 80 *.png # Optimize JPEG (using jpegoptim) jpegoptim --max=80 --strip-all *.jpg # Check image sizes on a page curl -s https://yoursite.com | rg -o 'src="[^"]+\\.(jpg|png|webp)"' | head -20 ``` --- ## OG & Social Preview Images The image that appears when your URL is shared on social media, Slack, Discord, etc. ### Common Meta Tags Verify the current crawler/platform specification and use absolute public URLs. The values below are a starting template, not proof of platform compliance. ```html ``` ### Dynamic OG Images Generate OG images programmatically for dynamic pages only after verifying the project's current framework, installed packages, and supported runtime: - An installed framework-native image route - A local HTML/SVG-to-image renderer - An authorized media service with verified template and export capabilities For repeated page types, a deterministic template can reduce manual work. Measure preview correctness and production time; do not promise a search outcome. --- ## Common Mistakes 1. **Using AI for product UI screenshots** — models hallucinate interfaces; capture real screenshots 2. **Skipping image optimization** — oversized images can materially hurt page performance 3. **No preview image** — platforms may fall back to a less useful preview 4. **Wrong aspect ratio** — check current platform specs before generating 5. **Unverified generated text** — use deterministic overlays for exact copy 6. **Generating without style direction** — "photorealistic," "flat illustration," "3D render" drastically changes output 7. **Inconsistent brand visuals** — use locked, approved templates for consistency 8. **Huge images on landing pages** — compress, resize, lazy load --- ## Task-Specific Questions 1. What type of image do you need? (Blog hero, social graphic, mockup, banner, brand asset) 2. What platform or placement? (This determines dimensions) 3. Do you have brand assets to match? (Colors, fonts, logo, style guide) 4. Is this a one-off or a repeatable template? 5. Which image or design tools are currently callable and authorized? 6. Does this need to be optimized for web performance? --- ## Boundaries - For Suede visuals, use only `docs/assets/suede-ai-logo-transparent.png` with SHA-256 `83a7ee0317e4debe2e7b076c20ba067feb76a587f9e829dc6310ae4be4b44dfa`. - Do not redraw, trace, approximate, recolor, distort, typeset, or generate a replacement for the approved Suede S mark. If the canonical file is missing or its checksum differs, omit the mark, name the blocker, and request the approved file. - Do not claim an image is licensed, rights-cleared, authentic, accessible, optimized, or platform-compliant without verifying the relevant source or output. - Do not use a paid provider, upload protected material, or cross an approved account or data boundary without explicit authority and a verified maximum cost. - Do not publish, overwrite source assets, or replace real product screenshots without explicit authorization. - Do not invent people, endorsements, product interfaces, performance results, or provenance, and do not decide rights or brand exceptions for the user. ## Routing - Use `suede-ad-creative` for paid-ad production and `suede-video` for motion. - Use `suede-social` for channel strategy and `suede-site-alchemy` for conversion placement. - Use `suede-seo-audit` for image-search checks and `suede-aso` for app-store screenshots. - Use `suede-directory-submissions` for directory gallery planning.