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feat(nous-branding): split SKILL.md into focused references

Browse Source 
Body was ~24k chars, past the new 20k token-budget gate. Moves the
style-lane grammar + prompt cues + asset catalog into
references/style-lanes.md, the full visual system (palettes, mascot,
typography, textures, art style) into references/visual-system.md, and
post-processing modes/intensity calibration into
references/post-processing.md. SKILL.md keeps triggers, the negative
boundary, prompt templates, API notes, anti-patterns, compliance
checklist, and a Loading Guide table; body is now 12,042 chars.

Also adds evals/evals.json (6 output-quality cases incl. one
should-not-trigger case) to satisfy the eval-coverage ratchet, and adds
a "When not to use" section so the changed-skill quality gate passes.

Co-authored-by: factory-droid[bot] <138933559+factory-droid[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>
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Magnus Hedemark
2026-08-22 22:47:16 -04:00
co-authored by factory-droid[bot] <138933559+factory-droid[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>
parent 4006940e86
commit c8103784f8
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nous-branding/SKILL.md
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Generate images and brand-consistent visual content inspired by **Nous Research** ("The AI accelerator company").
## When not to use
- **Non-Nous design work** — this skill encodes one specific brand system; do
not apply its palette, textures, mascot, or compliance rules to unrelated
brands or generic design requests.
- **Official brand representation** — the Nous Girl mascot is not a substitute
for the logo; use the Nous Research wordmark/symbol for official brand use.
## Reference Images
This skill ships reference images in `assets/` that can be used as visual anchors for img2img, style transfer, image variation, or prompt construction:
@@ -58,214 +66,16 @@ Nous Research's visual identity is a **three-way fusion**:
---
## Color Palette
## Loading Guide
### Hero Palette (from reference image analysis)
Load references on demand — do not load everything at once.
| Color | Hex | RGB | Usage |
|-------|-----|-----|-------|
| Electric Blue | `#3847FF` | (56, 71, 255) | Primary accent, mascot hair highlights, interactive elements, key brand color |
| Soft Lavender | `#BDA6FF` | (189, 166, 255) | Secondary accent, gradient blends, soft highlights |
| Burnt Orange | `#D6825A` | (214, 130, 90) | Geometric overlay lines, text accents, HUD elements |
| Deep Teal | `#2E706B` | (46, 112, 107) | Secondary backgrounds, zine section fills |
| Off-White | `#E6E6E6` | (230, 230, 230) | Text on dark backgrounds, paper backgrounds |
| Near Black | `#00000E` | (0, 0, 14) | Primary background, heavy text, dark framing |
### Extended Palette
| Color | Hex | Usage |
|-------|-----|-------|
| Deep Navy | `#003681` | Secondary brand color, headers |
| Medium Blue | `#0051c3` | Interactive elements, links |
| Coral Red | `#fc574a` | Alerts, emphasis accents |
| Gold | `#E6C666` | Constellation lines, geometric overlays |
| Charcoal | `#1d1d1d` | Dark UI backgrounds |
### Palette Principles
- **High contrast is the rule** — deep near-black backgrounds against bright electric blue accents
- **Electric blue (#3847FF) is the signature color** — use it for the most important accent elements
- **Grunge textures over solid colors** — never use flat, clean color blocks; always overlay with grain, noise, or scan lines
- **Color is reserved for hero/feature content** — the brand booklet is >95% grayscale
- **Gold/orange geometric lines** (`#D6825A`, `#E6C666`) for HUD-style overlays and constellation motifs
---
## Logo & Mascot
### The Nous Girl (primary mascot)
The single most recognizable brand element. Based on the official brand booklet (pages 8-9).
| Element | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| **Style** | Retro 1970s-80s manga/anime cel-shaded, high-contrast pure black/white |
| **Head-to-body** | Head proportionally large (manga proportions) |
| **Pose** | Three-quarter profile, looking upward and to the left |
| **Features** | One large detailed eye with long spiky lashes, small delicate nose, lips slightly parted |
| **Hair** | Distinctive voluminous bob, solid black with sharp jagged edges against white background, straight bangs covering forehead |
| **Headphones** | The white cushioned arch visible across the crown IS the headphone band — the ear cups are partially obscured by the hair in the badge portrait. **White over-ear headphones** in all canonical poses. Black headphones are incorrect. |
| **Alternate** | 3 alternate poses showing different angles of the same headphone variant |
| **Expression** | Neutral, calm, attentive — a quiet stillness. Not sad, not melancholic, not crying. The brand booklet describes her as "neutral, perhaps slightly surprised or attentive." |
| **Shirt** | White structured collared shirt |
| **Technique** | Pure black ink on white paper — no gray, no shading, no digital gradients |
| **Facial markings** | None — clean, clear skin, no tattoo, no tear, no scar |
### Official Pose Variants
| Pose | Angle | Primary Use |
|------|-------|-------------|
| **Primary Badge** | Three-quarter profile, looking upward-left | Main logo lockup, merchandise, official branding |
| **Headphone — ¾ Profile** | Three-quarter facing right | Hermes/Theia ecosystem, tech contexts |
| **Headphone — Profile Left** | Full profile facing left | Social media, alternate applications |
| **Headphone — Small Profile** | Smaller profile facing left | Secondary placement, watermarks |
### Usage Rules
- The mascot is **not a substitute for the logo** — use the Nous Research wordmark/symbol for official brand representation
- **White over-ear headphones** in all poses — the ear cups are partially obscured by the voluminous hair in the badge portrait, but the white cushioned arch across the crown confirms headphones in every variant
- Black headphones are incorrect
- **No facial markings** — clean skin, no tattoo, no scar, no tear
- Pure black-and-white high-contrast is the default; electric blue accents are for hero/feature content only
---
## Typography
From the Hermes-Theia brand system sheet (visible in `assets/palette-typography-reference.png`):
| Role | Font | Treatment |
|------|------|-----------|
| **Display / Headline** | Heavy sans-serif (Druk Condensed / Impact style) | Massive, uppercase, with distressed/grunge texture |
| **Body / Supporting** | Inter or IBM Plex Sans | Clean sans-serif, uppercase with loose tracking |
| **Code / Technical** | JetBrains Mono | Small, compact, monospace — for version numbers, technical labels |
---
## Texture System
The brand defines five key textures that should be applied to all visuals. Reference examples available in `assets/palette-typography-reference.png`:
| Texture | Description | Application |
|---------|-------------|-------------|
| **Risograph Grain** | Coarse, halftone-style dot grain | Background fills, image overlays |
| **Photocopy Noise** | Speckled noise, static | Shadow areas, dark regions |
| **CRT / Scan Lines** | Horizontal scan lines | Technical/screen elements |
| **Paper Fiber** | Subtle paper texture | Backgrounds, zine sections |
| **Ink Smudge** | Irregular ink spread/bleed | Edges of type, borders |
**Key rule:** These textures should feel **raw, analog, and imperfect** — the opposite of polished corporate design.
---
## Art Style
### Core Attributes
| Attribute | Description |
|-----------|-------------|
| **Primary aesthetic** | "Cyber-classical" — classical sculpture meets cyberpunk |
| **Medium** | Digital mixed media: renders + photomontage + hand-drawn illustration |
| **Technique** | Photomontage (classical statues with digital overlays), blueprint technical drawings, cel-shaded anime |
| **Shading** | High-contrast chiaroscuro — deep shadows against bright highlights |
| **Texture** | Always textured — never clean or flat |
| **Lighting** | Dramatic spot lighting, light beams from eyes, neon edge highlights |
| **Composition** | Multi-panel grid layouts (system sheets); dramatic offset subjects (hero images) |
### What the Style is NOT
- NOT flat vector illustration
- NOT corporate minimalist
- NOT purely photographic
- NOT bright, saturated, or cheerful
- NOT glossy/skeuomorphic
---
## Style Lanes
Choose the lane that matches your output's purpose. Each lane encodes a distinct composition grammar, palette discipline, and print technology.
| Lane | Palette | Best For |
|------|---------|----------|
| **Xerox Poster** | Pale cyan paper, black/dark teal ink, optional red accent | Release announcements, stark social images |
| **Manual / Letterpress Cover** | Aged tan paper, dark teal-black ink, red rule | Specs, manuals, technical announcements |
| **Industrial Duotone** | Cobalt blue, acid yellow, black | Product shots, system graphics, infrastructure |
| **Minimal Stipple Field** | Cream paper, navy stipple, turquoise border | Quiet editorial covers, abstract banners |
| **Blue Registration Character** | Deep blue, orange registration marks | Agent identity, symbolic personas |
| **Legacy PNW / Celestial** | Electric blue, purple, amber, off-white | Classic luminous Hermes/PNW requests |
### Lane 1 — Xerox Poster
For stark announcements and punchy social images. High-contrast xerox-style poster on colored paper stock.
Prompt cues: high-contrast xerox poster, pale cyan paper stock, black/dark teal ink, dense horizontal scanlines, harsh bitmap thresholding, bold block `NOUS` wordmark near top, centered anonymous subject, worn border/crop marks.
```text
High-contrast xerox-style poster release announcement on pale cyan paper. [Subject description]. Black ink with dense horizontal scanlines, rough halftone breakup. Bold block `NOUS` wordmark near top. Centered poster composition with worn border and crop marks. --ar 16:9
```
### Lane 2 — Manual / Letterpress Cover
For specs, manuals, and technical documentation covers. Distressed letterpress on aged stock.
Prompt cues: distressed letterpress technical manual cover, aged tan paper stock, thick dark teal-black border, compact all-caps condensed typography, red horizontal rule accent, scuffed ink, worn paper corners, `NOUS` as leading stamped brand word.
```text
Distressed letterpress technical manual cover for [project]. Aged tan paper stock, thick dark teal-black border, compact all-caps condensed typography, red horizontal rule accent, scuffed ink and worn paper corners. `NOUS` as leading stamped brand word. --ar 4:5
```
### Lane 3 — Industrial Duotone Grid
For product shots, system graphics, and infrastructure visuals. Edge-to-edge duotone with repeated artifacts.
Prompt cues: edge-to-edge industrial duotone print, repeated rounded branded artifacts, saturated cobalt blue and acid yellow, blown-out ink highlights, dense halftone dots, small embedded `NOUS` marks.
```text
Edge-to-edge industrial duotone print for [product/release]. Repeated branded components in cobalt blue and acid yellow against black. Dense halftone dots, blown-out ink highlights, small embedded `NOUS` marks on artifacts. --ar 16:9
```
### Lane 4 — Minimal Stipple Field
For quiet, refined, abstract graphics with generous negative space.
Prompt cues: abstract risograph/screenprint poster, cream paper base, navy stipple field fading downward, thin turquoise double border, small centered `NOUS` capsule mark, lots of negative space.
```text
Abstract risograph poster on cream paper. Navy stipple field fading downward, thin turquoise double border, small centered `NOUS` capsule mark. Generous negative space. Restrained, editorial. --ar 4:5
```
### Lane 5 — Blue Registration Character
For agent identity and symbolic character posters. Moody blue screenprint with technical registration marks.
Prompt cues: moody blue screenprint poster, anonymous illustrated character, electric-blue posterized lighting, dark cyan-black field, orange registration marks, thin frame lines, scratches, analog grain.
```text
Moody blue screenprint poster for [project/agent]. Anonymous character subject with electric-blue posterized lighting against dark cyan-black field. Orange registration marks, thin frame lines, scratches, analog grain. --ar 4:5
```
### Legacy Lane — PNW / Celestial
For classic Nous/Hermes luminous imagery. Used when the request explicitly asks for the misty, glowing, portal-driven aesthetic.
Prompt cues: dark navy background, misty atmospheric depth, portal/orb/beam light source, electric blue and purple accents, sacred geometry, lone figure.
```text
Dark atmospheric scene with [subject description]. Misty PNW atmosphere, luminous portal/orb light source, electric blue accent, soft bloom, geometric framing. Match the classic luminous Hermes visual style. --ar 16:9
```
---
## Reference Catalog
Each asset in `assets/` maps to specific style lanes. Use this table to find the right reference image for your generation:
| Asset | Lanes | Best Used For |
|-------|-------|---------------|
| `assets/nous-girl-official-badge.png` | All lanes (mascot subject) | Primary Nous Girl reference — badge portrait, white headphones, 3/4 profile |
| `assets/nous-girl-sketch-sheet.png` | All lanes (mascot subject) | Character pose reference — all 4 canonical poses |
| `assets/nous-girl-philosophy.png` | Legacy PNW / Celestial | Brand philosophy visual context |
| `assets/nous-girl-official.webp` | All lanes (mascot subject) | Web-resolution mascot from nousresearch.com |
| `assets/palette-typography-reference.png` | All lanes (palette/style) | Color palette and typography specimen reference — use with any lane |
| `assets/brand-collage-reference.png` | Legacy PNW / Celestial, Blue Registration | Cyber-classical HUD collage reference |
| `assets/nous-girl-style-reference.png` | All lanes (headphone variant) | Stylized mascot with headphones and electric blue accents |
**Rule of thumb:** Load the reference image that matches your lane's visual grammar. For Xerox Poster lanes, the palette-typography card is more useful than the mascot badge. For character-focused outputs, the sketch sheet is the primary reference.
| File | Load when |
|------|-----------|
| [references/style-lanes.md](references/style-lanes.md) | Choosing a style lane or writing a lane-specific prompt — full lane grammar, prompt cues, example prompts, and the asset-to-lane Reference Catalog |
| [references/visual-system.md](references/visual-system.md) | Constructing or reviewing an image against the visual system — hero + extended palettes, Nous Girl spec and pose variants, typography, texture system, art style |
| [references/post-processing.md](references/post-processing.md) | Delivering any generated image — mandatory post-process modes (`imprint`/`nous`/`standard`) and intensity calibration for `scripts/postprocess.py` |
| [`references/pitfalls.md`](references/pitfalls.md) | Output doesn't match expectations — known failure modes and mitigations |
---
@@ -356,44 +166,13 @@ State what to **preserve** from the reference, then what to **add**:
## Post-Processing
Raw AI-generated images are too clean for the Nous aesthetic. **Post-processing is mandatory** after every generation. The `scripts/postprocess.py` script applies analog-print degradation effects locally using Pillow + numpy — no API calls needed.
### Quick Start
Raw AI-generated images are too clean for the Nous aesthetic. **Post-processing is mandatory** after every generation — the raw generated image is never the final deliverable.
```bash
python3 scripts/postprocess.py input.png output.png --mode imprint --intensity 0.7
```
### Modes
| Mode | Effects | When |
|------|---------|------|
| `imprint` | All 14 effects: warm grade, CRT scanlines, film grain, Bayer dither, vignette, chromatic aberration, screen print texture, paper fiber, ink bleed, palette compression, xerox threshold, registration offset, plate wobble, print scuffs | **Default for v9/v10/v11 targets** — maximum analog print character |
| `nous` | Base 9 effects (warm grade → ink bleed) — no xerox/registration/wobble/scuffs | Legacy luminous PNW/celestial requests |
| `standard` | Base 6 effects (warm grade → chromatic aberration) only | When you want just a light texture touch |
### Intensity Calibration
| Intensity | Best for |
|-----------|----------|
| `0.45–0.55` | Fine manga linework, Future Halftone, Portal Minimal — keep detail visible |
| `0.55–0.65` | Blueprint Scene, general use — avoid crushing midtones |
| `0.65–0.8` | Xerox Poster, Acid Signal, heavy print effect — when the raw output is too clean |
| `0.8+` | Aggressive degradation — typography may become hard to read |
### Integration
Run post-processing as the final step after any generation method (text-only, img2img, multi-pass, or any provider):
```bash
# After any generation method:
python3 scripts/postprocess.py output-raw.png output-final.png --mode imprint --intensity 0.7
# For legacy luminous targets:
python3 scripts/postprocess.py output-raw.png output-final.png --mode nous --intensity 0.5
```
**The raw generated image is never the final deliverable.**
Run it as the final step after any generation method (text-only, img2img, multi-pass, or any provider). For mode selection (`imprint` / `nous` / `standard`) and intensity calibration per output type, load [references/post-processing.md](references/post-processing.md).
---
@@ -440,3 +219,5 @@ For a complete list of known failure modes and mitigations, see [`references/pit
- [ ] If text appears: heavy distressed display for titles, clean sans for labels, monospace for code
- [ ] No flat/clean/corporate polish — finish is raw and tactile
- [ ] Overall impression: intellectual, gritty, underground research lab
Full color tables, the complete Nous Girl mascot specification with pose variants, typography roles, texture definitions, and art-style attributes live in [references/visual-system.md](references/visual-system.md); lane-specific prompt construction lives in [references/style-lanes.md](references/style-lanes.md).
nous-branding/evals/evals.json
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{
"schema_version": 1,
"skill_name": "nous-branding",
"evals": [
{
"id": "mascot-prompt-construction",
"prompt": "Generate an image of the Nous Research mascot girl for a brand post. She keeps coming out sad and with black headphones — write me a prompt that gets her right.",
"expected_output": "Uses Method 2 (Nous Girl Mascot) prompt construction from the skill: high-contrast retro manga/anime portrait, 1970s-80s cel-shaded style, large anime eyes, solid black bob with blunt straight-across bangs, white over-ear headphones, three-quarter profile facing left, pure black ink on white with no grayscale. Explicitly negates the two known failure modes: states 'neutral, calm, attentive expression — not sad, not crying' (calm alone is insufficient, models default to melancholy) and specifies white headphones because black headphones are a known model failure. Does not add facial markings. For color variants, electric blue #3847FF hair highlights are optional; the default is pure black-and-white.",
"assertions": [
"Specifies white over-ear headphones explicitly as part of the prompt.",
"Includes explicit negation of sadness: neutral calm attentive, not sad, not crying.",
"Describes the retro 1970s-80s manga cel-shaded style in high-contrast black and white.",
"Requests three-quarter profile facing left with blunt bangs / voluminous black bob hair.",
"Contains no facial markings (no teardrop, tattoos, or scars)."
]
},
{
"id": "palette-and-texture-compliance",
"prompt": "I need a hero image for our Nous Research landing page. Make it look clean and modern with a light background so it feels professional.",
"expected_output": "Pushes back on the clean/light direction because it violates the brand system: the aesthetic is cyber-classical with deep near-black (#00000E) backgrounds, electric blue (#3847FF) as the primary accent, soft lavender #BDA6FF / burnt orange #D6825A / deep teal #2E706B support, off-white #E6E6E6 text, and mandatory grunge texture (risograph grain, photocopy noise, CRT scan lines) — never flat, clean color blocks. Corporate/sterile polish is listed as an anti-pattern; the correct vibe is intellectual but gritty, an underground research lab. Offers the compliant alternative: dark background, high-contrast chiaroscuro lighting, textured finish, palette restricted to the specified hex values, verified against the Brand Compliance Checklist.",
"assertions": [
"Cites near-black #00000E background and electric blue #3847FF primary accent from the hero palette.",
"Explains that clean/corporate polish is off-brand and textures (grain, scan lines, photocopy noise) are mandatory.",
"Restricts the palette to the specified hex values rather than inventing colors.",
"Proposes the intellectual-gritty underground-lab mood instead of a SaaS landing-page feel."
],
"case_set": "regression"
},
{
"id": "style-lane-selection-and-reference-image",
"prompt": "Announce our new open-source model release with a stark social media image in the Nous brand style. Which visual approach should I use, and should I attach any reference images?",
"expected_output": "Selects the Xerox Poster lane: high-contrast xerox-style poster on pale cyan paper stock, black/dark teal ink with dense horizontal scanlines and harsh bitmap thresholding, bold block NOUS wordmark near top, centered anonymous subject, worn border and crop marks — best for release announcements and stark social images. Uses the lane's example prompt template adapted to the release subject. For references, recommends the palette-typography reference card (per the rule of thumb, more useful than the mascot badge for xerox lanes); if the mascot should appear, uses assets/nous-girl-sketch-sheet.png or the official badge for pose consistency. Reminds that the raw generation must be post-processed afterward (imprint mode) before publishing.",
"assertions": [
"Recommends the Xerox Poster lane for a release announcement social image.",
"Describes the lane's grammar: pale cyan paper, black/dark teal ink, scanlines, NOUS wordmark, crop marks.",
"Adapts or provides the lane's example prompt rather than generic brand prose.",
"Points at the palette-typography reference image (or sketch sheet/badge if the mascot appears) per the asset-to-lane mapping.",
"Notes that post-processing is required after generation."
]
},
{
"id": "post-processing-mandatory-before-delivery",
"prompt": "I just generated a Nous-branded image and it looks great raw. Can I ship it as-is?",
"expected_output": "Says no — raw AI output is too clean for the Nous aesthetic and is never the final deliverable; post-processing is mandatory after every generation. Runs scripts/postprocess.py on the raw file first, e.g. `python3 scripts/postprocess.py input.png output.png --mode imprint --intensity 0.7`. Chooses the mode deliberately: imprint (all 14 effects) as the default for current targets, nous (base 9 effects) only for legacy luminous PNW/celestial requests, standard (light touch) when minimal texture is wanted. Calibrates intensity to content — roughly 0.45-0.55 for fine manga linework to keep detail visible, up to 0.65-0.8 for xerox-poster heaviness — and warns that 0.8+ can make typography hard to read.",
"assertions": [
"States that raw generated output must not be delivered without post-processing.",
"Gives a concrete scripts/postprocess.py command with mode and intensity flags.",
"Distinguishes the imprint, nous, and standard modes and when each applies.",
"Calibrates intensity to the artwork type (lower for fine linework, higher for heavy print effect)."
],
"case_set": "release"
},
{
"id": "reference-image-workflow-over-text-only",
"prompt": "What's the best way to generate consistent Nous Girl images across many generations?",
"expected_output": "Recommends Method 4: reference-image-driven generation using scripts/generate-with-ref.py, which reads the Hermes config, resolves the active image provider, and uploads an official assets/ reference (e.g., assets/nous-girl-official-badge.png) as contextual input via the provider's image-edit endpoint — bypassing text-only image_generate. Explains why: text-only prompts lose the precise cel-shaded ink style, proportions, and contrast balance. Shows the command shape (--prompt, --reference, --aspect, --quality) and how to phrase prompts for reference workflows: state what to preserve from the reference (white over-ear headphones, collared shirt, blunt bangs, neutral expression, high-contrast black-on-white manga style), then add scene details. Notes the API alternatives table (OpenAI edits/variations, Midjourney --sref, ComfyUI IPAdapter, SD img2img strength 0.7-0.8) when not using the script.",
"assertions": [
"Recommends reference-image-driven generation over text-only prompting for consistency.",
"Names scripts/generate-with-ref.py with its key flags including --reference pointing at an assets/ image.",
"Instructs stating what to preserve from the reference before adding new scene details.",
"Mentions at least one alternative API workflow for reference-based generation."
]
},
{
"id": "non-brand-request-routes-away",
"prompt": "Design a minimalist pastel logo for my bakery's new packaging, something soft and friendly.",
"expected_output": "Recognizes this is outside the skill's scope and says so: nous-branding exists for visuals in the Nous Research / Theia / Hermes ecosystem and its brand rules (dark palettes, grunge textures, cyber-classical style, the Nous Girl) would be actively wrong for a friendly pastel bakery identity. Declines to apply Nous brand constraints and offers to help with a generic brand/logo design task instead, without invoking the Nous palette, mascot, texture system, or compliance checklist.",
"assertions": [
"Declines to apply the Nous brand system to a non-Nous design request.",
"Does not inject Nous palette hex values, textures, or mascot elements into the deliverable.",
"Offers a path forward for the user's actual (generic branding) need."
],
"case_set": "dev"
}
]
}
nous-branding/references/post-processing.md
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# Nous Branding — Post-Processing
Load this file whenever a generated image is about to be delivered: raw AI
output is never the final deliverable. This file holds the post-processing
modes, intensity calibration, and integration commands for
`scripts/postprocess.py`.
Raw AI-generated images are too clean for the Nous aesthetic.
**Post-processing is mandatory** after every generation. The
`scripts/postprocess.py` script applies analog-print degradation effects
locally using Pillow + numpy — no API calls needed.
## Quick Start
```bash
python3 scripts/postprocess.py input.png output.png --mode imprint --intensity 0.7
```
## Modes
| Mode | Effects | When |
|------|---------|------|
| `imprint` | All 14 effects: warm grade, CRT scanlines, film grain, Bayer dither, vignette, chromatic aberration, screen print texture, paper fiber, ink bleed, palette compression, xerox threshold, registration offset, plate wobble, print scuffs | **Default for v9/v10/v11 targets** — maximum analog print character |
| `nous` | Base 9 effects (warm grade → ink bleed) — no xerox/registration/wobble/scuffs | Legacy luminous PNW/celestial requests |
| `standard` | Base 6 effects (warm grade → chromatic aberration) only | When you want just a light texture touch |
## Intensity Calibration
| Intensity | Best for |
|-----------|----------|
| `0.45–0.55` | Fine manga linework, Future Halftone, Portal Minimal — keep detail visible |
| `0.55–0.65` | Blueprint Scene, general use — avoid crushing midtones |
| `0.65–0.8` | Xerox Poster, Acid Signal, heavy print effect — when the raw output is too clean |
| `0.8+` | Aggressive degradation — typography may become hard to read |
## Integration
Run post-processing as the final step after any generation method (text-only,
img2img, multi-pass, or any provider):
```bash
# After any generation method:
python3 scripts/postprocess.py output-raw.png output-final.png --mode imprint --intensity 0.7
# For legacy luminous targets:
python3 scripts/postprocess.py output-raw.png output-final.png --mode nous --intensity 0.5
```
**The raw generated image is never the final deliverable.**
nous-branding/references/style-lanes.md
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# Nous Branding — Style Lanes & Reference Catalog
Load this file when choosing a style lane for a Nous-branded image: it encodes
each lane's composition grammar, palette discipline, print technology, prompt
cues, and example prompts, plus the mapping from `assets/` reference images to
lanes. The lane overview table also lives in SKILL.md; this file is the deep
version you need before writing a lane-specific prompt.
## Lane Selection
Choose the lane that matches your output's purpose. Each lane encodes a
distinct composition grammar, palette discipline, and print technology.
| Lane | Palette | Best For |
|------|---------|----------|
| **Xerox Poster** | Pale cyan paper, black/dark teal ink, optional red accent | Release announcements, stark social images |
| **Manual / Letterpress Cover** | Aged tan paper, dark teal-black ink, red rule | Specs, manuals, technical announcements |
| **Industrial Duotone** | Cobalt blue, acid yellow, black | Product shots, system graphics, infrastructure |
| **Minimal Stipple Field** | Cream paper, navy stipple, turquoise border | Quiet editorial covers, abstract banners |
| **Blue Registration Character** | Deep blue, orange registration marks | Agent identity, symbolic personas |
| **Legacy PNW / Celestial** | Electric blue, purple, amber, off-white | Classic luminous Hermes/PNW requests |
## Lane 1 — Xerox Poster
For stark announcements and punchy social images. High-contrast xerox-style
poster on colored paper stock.
Prompt cues: high-contrast xerox poster, pale cyan paper stock, black/dark teal
ink, dense horizontal scanlines, harsh bitmap thresholding, bold block `NOUS`
wordmark near top, centered anonymous subject, worn border/crop marks.
```text
High-contrast xerox-style poster release announcement on pale cyan paper. [Subject description]. Black ink with dense horizontal scanlines, rough halftone breakup. Bold block `NOUS` wordmark near top. Centered poster composition with worn border and crop marks. --ar 16:9
```
## Lane 2 — Manual / Letterpress Cover
For specs, manuals, and technical documentation covers. Distressed letterpress
on aged stock.
Prompt cues: distressed letterpress technical manual cover, aged tan paper
stock, thick dark teal-black border, compact all-caps condensed typography,
red horizontal rule accent, scuffed ink, worn paper corners, `NOUS` as leading
stamped brand word.
```text
Distressed letterpress technical manual cover for [project]. Aged tan paper stock, thick dark teal-black border, compact all-caps condensed typography, red horizontal rule accent, scuffed ink and worn paper corners. `NOUS` as leading stamped brand word. --ar 4:5
```
## Lane 3 — Industrial Duotone Grid
For product shots, system graphics, and infrastructure visuals. Edge-to-edge
duotone with repeated artifacts.
Prompt cues: edge-to-edge industrial duotone print, repeated rounded branded
artifacts, saturated cobalt blue and acid yellow, blown-out ink highlights,
dense halftone dots, small embedded `NOUS` marks.
```text
Edge-to-edge industrial duotone print for [product/release]. Repeated branded components in cobalt blue and acid yellow against black. Dense halftone dots, blown-out ink highlights, small embedded `NOUS` marks on artifacts. --ar 16:9
```
## Lane 4 — Minimal Stipple Field
For quiet, refined, abstract graphics with generous negative space.
Prompt cues: abstract risograph/screenprint poster, cream paper base, navy
stipple field fading downward, thin turquoise double border, small centered
`NOUS` capsule mark, lots of negative space.
```text
Abstract risograph poster on cream paper. Navy stipple field fading downward, thin turquoise double border, small centered `NOUS` capsule mark. Generous negative space. Restrained, editorial. --ar 4:5
```
## Lane 5 — Blue Registration Character
For agent identity and symbolic character posters. Moody blue screenprint with
technical registration marks.
Prompt cues: moody blue screenprint poster, anonymous illustrated character,
electric-blue posterized lighting, dark cyan-black field, orange registration
marks, thin frame lines, scratches, analog grain.
```text
Moody blue screenprint poster for [project/agent]. Anonymous character subject with electric-blue posterized lighting against dark cyan-black field. Orange registration marks, thin frame lines, scratches, analog grain. --ar 4:5
```
## Legacy Lane — PNW / Celestial
For classic Nous/Hermes luminous imagery. Used when the request explicitly asks
for the misty, glowing, portal-driven aesthetic.
Prompt cues: dark navy background, misty atmospheric depth, portal/orb/beam
light source, electric blue and purple accents, sacred geometry, lone figure.
```text
Dark atmospheric scene with [subject description]. Misty PNW atmosphere, luminous portal/orb light source, electric blue accent, soft bloom, geometric framing. Match the classic luminous Hermes visual style. --ar 16:9
```
## Reference Catalog
Each asset in `assets/` maps to specific style lanes. Use this table to find
the right reference image for your generation:
| Asset | Lanes | Best Used For |
|-------|-------|---------------|
| `assets/nous-girl-official-badge.png` | All lanes (mascot subject) | Primary Nous Girl reference — badge portrait, white headphones, 3/4 profile |
| `assets/nous-girl-sketch-sheet.png` | All lanes (mascot subject) | Character pose reference — all 4 canonical poses |
| `assets/nous-girl-philosophy.png` | Legacy PNW / Celestial | Brand philosophy visual context |
| `assets/nous-girl-official.webp` | All lanes (mascot subject) | Web-resolution mascot from nousresearch.com |
| `assets/palette-typography-reference.png` | All lanes (palette/style) | Color palette and typography specimen reference — use with any lane |
| `assets/brand-collage-reference.png` | Legacy PNW / Celestial, Blue Registration | Cyber-classical HUD collage reference |
| `assets/nous-girl-style-reference.png` | All lanes (headphone variant) | Stylized mascot with headphones and electric blue accents |
**Rule of thumb:** Load the reference image that matches your lane's visual
grammar. For Xerox Poster lanes, the palette-typography card is more useful
than the mascot badge. For character-focused outputs, the sketch sheet is the
primary reference.
nous-branding/references/visual-system.md
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# Nous Branding — Visual System
Load this file for the full visual-system specification: color palette, the
Nous Girl mascot and her canonical poses, typography, texture system, and the
cyber-classical art style (including what the style is NOT). SKILL.md keeps
only the overview and compliance rules; this file holds the detail you need
when constructing or reviewing an image against the brand system.
## Color Palette
### Hero Palette
| Color | Hex | RGB | Usage |
|-------|-----|-----|-------|
| Electric Blue | `#3847FF` | (56, 71, 255) | Primary accent, mascot hair highlights, interactive elements, key brand color |
| Soft Lavender | `#BDA6FF` | (189, 166, 255) | Secondary accent, gradient blends, soft highlights |
| Burnt Orange | `#D6825A` | (214, 130, 90) | Geometric overlay lines, text accents, HUD elements |
| Deep Teal | `#2E706B` | (46, 112, 107) | Secondary backgrounds, zine section fills |
| Off-White | `#E6E6E6` | (230, 230, 230) | Text on dark backgrounds, paper backgrounds |
| Near Black | `#00000E` | (0, 0, 14) | Primary background, heavy text, dark framing |
### Extended Palette
| Color | Hex | Usage |
|-------|-----|-------|
| Deep Navy | `#003681` | Secondary brand color, headers |
| Medium Blue | `#0051c3` | Interactive elements, links |
| Coral Red | `#fc574a` | Alerts, emphasis accents |
| Gold | `#E6C666` | Constellation lines, geometric overlays |
| Charcoal | `#1d1d1d` | Dark UI backgrounds |
### Palette Principles
- **High contrast is the rule** — deep near-black backgrounds against bright electric blue accents
- **Electric blue (#3847FF) is the signature color** — use it for the most important accent elements
- **Grunge textures over solid colors** — never use flat, clean color blocks; always overlay with grain, noise, or scan lines
- **Color is reserved for hero/feature content** — the brand booklet is >95% grayscale
- **Gold/orange geometric lines** (`#D6825A`, `#E6C666`) for HUD-style overlays and constellation motifs
## Logo & Mascot
### The Nous Girl (primary mascot)
The single most recognizable brand element. Based on the official brand
booklet (pages 8-9).
| Element | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| **Style** | Retro 1970s-80s manga/anime cel-shaded, high-contrast pure black/white |
| **Head-to-body** | Head proportionally large (manga proportions) |
| **Pose** | Three-quarter profile, looking upward and to the left |
| **Features** | One large detailed eye with long spiky lashes, small delicate nose, lips slightly parted |
| **Hair** | Distinctive voluminous bob, solid black with sharp jagged edges against white background, straight bangs covering forehead |
| **Headphones** | The white cushioned arch visible across the crown IS the headphone band — the ear cups are partially obscured by the hair in the badge portrait. **White over-ear headphones** in all canonical poses. Black headphones are incorrect. |
| **Alternate** | 3 alternate poses showing different angles of the same headphone variant |
| **Expression** | Neutral, calm, attentive — a quiet stillness. Not sad, not melancholic, not crying. The brand booklet describes her as "neutral, perhaps slightly surprised or attentive." |
| **Shirt** | White structured collared shirt |
| **Technique** | Pure black ink on white paper — no gray, no shading, no digital gradients |
| **Facial markings** | None — clean, clear skin, no tattoo, no tear, no scar |
### Official Pose Variants
| Pose | Angle | Primary Use |
|------|-------|-------------|
| **Primary Badge** | Three-quarter profile, looking upward-left | Main logo lockup, merchandise, official branding |
| **Headphone — ¾ Profile** | Three-quarter facing right | Hermes/Theia ecosystem, tech contexts |
| **Headphone — Profile Left** | Full profile facing left | Social media, alternate applications |
| **Headphone — Small Profile** | Smaller profile facing left | Secondary placement, watermarks |
### Usage Rules
- The mascot is **not a substitute for the logo** — use the Nous Research wordmark/symbol for official brand representation
- **White over-ear headphones** in all poses — the ear cups are partially obscured by the voluminous hair in the badge portrait, but the white cushioned arch across the crown confirms headphones in every variant
- Black headphones are incorrect
- **No facial markings** — clean skin, no tattoo, no scar, no tear
- Pure black-and-white high-contrast is the default; electric blue accents are for hero/feature content only
## Typography
From the Hermes-Theia brand system sheet (visible in
`assets/palette-typography-reference.png`):
| Role | Font | Treatment |
|------|------|-----------|
| **Display / Headline** | Heavy sans-serif (Druk Condensed / Impact style) | Massive, uppercase, with distressed/grunge texture |
| **Body / Supporting** | Inter or IBM Plex Sans | Clean sans-serif, uppercase with loose tracking |
| **Code / Technical** | JetBrains Mono | Small, compact, monospace — for version numbers, technical labels |
## Texture System
The brand defines five key textures that should be applied to all visuals.
Reference examples available in `assets/palette-typography-reference.png`:
| Texture | Description | Application |
|---------|-------------|-------------|
| **Risograph Grain** | Coarse, halftone-style dot grain | Background fills, image overlays |
| **Photocopy Noise** | Speckled noise, static | Shadow areas, dark regions |
| **CRT / Scan Lines** | Horizontal scan lines | Technical/screen elements |
| **Paper Fiber** | Subtle paper texture | Backgrounds, zine sections |
| **Ink Smudge** | Irregular ink spread/bleed | Edges of type, borders |
**Key rule:** These textures should feel **raw, analog, and imperfect** — the
opposite of polished corporate design.
## Art Style
### Core Attributes
| Attribute | Description |
|-----------|-------------|
| **Primary aesthetic** | "Cyber-classical" — classical sculpture meets cyberpunk |
| **Medium** | Digital mixed media: renders + photomontage + hand-drawn illustration |
| **Technique** | Photomontage (classical statues with digital overlays), blueprint technical drawings, cel-shaded anime |
| **Shading** | High-contrast chiaroscuro — deep shadows against bright highlights |
| **Texture** | Always textured — never clean or flat |
| **Lighting** | Dramatic spot lighting, light beams from eyes, neon edge highlights |
| **Composition** | Multi-panel grid layouts (system sheets); dramatic offset subjects (hero images) |
### What the Style is NOT
- NOT flat vector illustration
- NOT corporate minimalist
- NOT purely photographic
- NOT bright, saturated, or cheerful
- NOT glossy/skeuomorphic