1---
2name: baoyu-comic
3description: Knowledge comic creator supporting multiple art styles and tones. Creates original educational comics with detailed panel layouts and sequential image generation. Use when user asks to create "知识漫画", "教育漫画", "biography comic", "tutorial comic", or "Logicomix-style comic".
4version: 1.56.1
5metadata:
6  openclaw:
7    homepage: https://github.com/JimLiu/baoyu-skills#baoyu-comic
8    requires:
9      anyBins:
10        - bun
11        - npx
12---
13 
14# Knowledge Comic Creator
15 
16Create original knowledge comics with flexible art style × tone combinations.
17 
18## User Input Tools
19 
20When this skill prompts the user, follow this tool-selection rule (priority order):
21 
221. **Prefer built-in user-input tools** exposed by the current agent runtime — e.g., `AskUserQuestion`, `request_user_input`, `clarify`, `ask_user`, or any equivalent.
232. **Fallback**: if no such tool exists, emit a numbered plain-text message and ask the user to reply with the chosen number/answer for each question.
243. **Batching**: if the tool supports multiple questions per call, combine all applicable questions into a single call; if only single-question, ask them one at a time in priority order.
25 
26Concrete `AskUserQuestion` references below are examples — substitute the local equivalent in other runtimes.
27 
28## Image Generation Tools
29 
30When this skill needs to render an image, resolve the backend in this order:
31 
321. **Current-request override** — if the user names a specific backend in the current message, use it.
332. **Saved preference** — if `EXTEND.md` sets `preferred_image_backend` to a backend available right now, use it.
343. **Auto-select** (when the preference is `auto`, unset, or the pinned backend isn't available):
35   - If the current runtime exposes a native image tool (e.g., Codex `imagegen`, Hermes `image_generate`), use it. Runtime-native tools are preferred by default — agents that know their own tool inventory should surface the native one here.
36   - Otherwise, if exactly one non-native backend is installed (e.g., `baoyu-imagine`), use it.
37   - Otherwise (multiple non-native backends with no runtime-native tool), ask the user once — batch with any other initial questions.
384. **If none are available**, tell the user and ask how to proceed.
39 
40Setting `preferred_image_backend: ask` forces the step-3 prompt every run regardless of available backends. Users change the pinned backend via the `## Changing Preferences` section below.
41 
42**Prompt file requirement (hard)**: write each image's full, final prompt to a standalone file under `prompts/` (naming: `NN-{type}-[slug].md`) BEFORE invoking any backend. The backend receives the prompt file (or its content); the file is the reproducibility record and lets you switch backends without regenerating prompts.
43 
44Concrete tool names (`imagegen`, `image_generate`, `baoyu-imagine`) above are examples — substitute the local equivalents under the same rule.
45 
46## Reference Images
47 
48Users may supply reference images to guide art style, palette, scene composition, or subject. This is **separate from** the auto-generated character sheet (Step 7.1) — both can coexist: user refs guide the look, the character sheet anchors recurring character identity.
49 
50**Intake**: Accept via `--ref <files...>` or when the user provides file paths / pastes images in conversation.
51- File path(s) → copy to `refs/NN-ref-{slug}.{ext}` alongside the comic output
52- Pasted image with no path → ask the user for the path (per the User Input Tools rule above), or extract style traits verbally as a text fallback
53- No reference → skip this section
54 
55**Usage modes** (per reference):
56 
57| Usage | Effect |
58|-------|--------|
59| `direct` | Pass the file to the backend as a reference image on every page (or selected pages) |
60| `style` | Extract style traits (line treatment, texture, mood) and append to every page's prompt body |
61| `palette` | Extract hex colors and append to every page's prompt body |
62 
63**Record in each page's prompt frontmatter** when refs exist:
64 
65```yaml
66references:
67  - ref_id: 01
68    filename: 01-ref-scene.png
69    usage: direct
70```
71 
72**At generation time**:
73- Verify each referenced file exists on disk
74- If `usage: direct` AND the chosen backend accepts multiple reference images → pass both the character sheet (Step 7.2) and the user refs via the backend's ref parameter; compress images first per Step 7.1's guidance to avoid payload failures
75- If the backend accepts only one ref → prefer the character sheet for pages with recurring characters; embed user-ref traits in the prompt body instead
76- For `style`/`palette` usage → embed extracted traits in every page's prompt text (applies regardless of backend capability)
77 
78## Options
79 
80### Visual Dimensions
81 
82| Option | Values | Description |
83|--------|--------|-------------|
84| `--art` | ligne-claire (default), manga, realistic, ink-brush, chalk, minimalist | Art style / rendering technique |
85| `--tone` | neutral (default), warm, dramatic, romantic, energetic, vintage, action | Mood / atmosphere |
86| `--layout` | standard (default), cinematic, dense, splash, mixed, webtoon, four-panel | Panel arrangement |
87| `--aspect` | 3:4 (default, portrait), 4:3 (landscape), 16:9 (widescreen) | Page aspect ratio |
88| `--lang` | auto (default), zh, en, ja, etc. | Output language |
89| `--ref <files...>` | File paths | Reference images applied to every page for style / palette / scene guidance. See [Reference Images](#reference-images) above. |
90 
91### Partial Workflow Options
92 
93| Option | Description |
94|--------|-------------|
95| `--storyboard-only` | Generate storyboard only, skip prompts and images |
96| `--prompts-only` | Generate storyboard + prompts, skip images |
97| `--images-only` | Generate images from existing prompts directory |
98| `--regenerate N` | Regenerate specific page(s) only (e.g., `3` or `2,5,8`) |
99 
100Details: [references/partial-workflows.md](references/partial-workflows.md)
101 
102### Art, Tone & Preset Catalogue
103 
104- **Art styles** (6): `ligne-claire`, `manga`, `realistic`, `ink-brush`, `chalk`, `minimalist`. Full definitions at `references/art-styles/<style>.md`.
105- **Tones** (7): `neutral`, `warm`, `dramatic`, `romantic`, `energetic`, `vintage`, `action`. Full definitions at `references/tones/<tone>.md`.
106- **Presets** (5) with special rules beyond plain art+tone:
107 
108  | Preset | Equivalent | Hook |
109  |--------|-----------|------|
110  | `ohmsha` | manga + neutral | Visual metaphors, no talking heads, gadget reveals |
111  | `wuxia` | ink-brush + action | Qi effects, combat visuals, atmospheric |
112  | `shoujo` | manga + romantic | Decorative elements, eye details, romantic beats |
113  | `concept-story` | manga + warm | Visual symbol system, growth arc, dialogue+action balance |
114  | `four-panel` | minimalist + neutral + four-panel layout | 起承转合 structure, B&W + spot color, stick-figure characters |
115 
116  Full rules at `references/presets/<preset>.md` — load the file when a preset is picked.
117 
118- **Compatibility matrix** and **content-signal → preset** table live in [references/auto-selection.md](references/auto-selection.md). Read it before recommending combinations in Step 2.
119 
120## Script Directory
121 
122**Important**: All scripts are located in the `scripts/` subdirectory of this skill.
123 
124**Agent Execution Instructions**:
1251. Determine this SKILL.md file's directory path as `{baseDir}`
1262. Script path = `{baseDir}/scripts/<script-name>.ts`
1273. Replace all `{baseDir}` in this document with the actual path
1284. Resolve `${BUN_X}` runtime: if `bun` installed → `bun`; if `npx` available → `npx -y bun`; else suggest installing bun
129 
130**Script Reference**:
131| Script | Purpose |
132|--------|---------|
133| `scripts/merge-to-pdf.ts` | Merge comic pages into PDF |
134 
135## File Structure
136 
137Output directory: `comic/{topic-slug}/`
138- Slug: 2-4 words kebab-case from topic (e.g., `alan-turing-bio`)
139- Conflict: append timestamp (e.g., `turing-story-20260118-143052`)
140 
141**Contents**:
142| File | Description |
143|------|-------------|
144| `source-{slug}.{ext}` | Source files |
145| `analysis.md` | Content analysis |
146| `storyboard.md` | Storyboard with panel breakdown |
147| `characters/characters.md` | Character definitions |
148| `characters/characters.png` | Character reference sheet |
149| `prompts/NN-{cover\|page}-[slug].md` | Generation prompts |
150| `NN-{cover\|page}-[slug].png` | Generated images |
151| `{topic-slug}.pdf` | Final merged PDF |
152 
153## Language Handling
154 
155**Detection Priority**:
1561. `--lang` flag (explicit)
1572. EXTEND.md `language` setting
1583. User's conversation language
1594. Source content language
160 
161**Rule**: Use user's input language or saved language preference for ALL interactions:
162- Storyboard outlines and scene descriptions
163- Image generation prompts
164- User selection options and confirmations
165- Progress updates, questions, errors, summaries
166 
167Technical terms remain in English.
168 
169## Workflow
170 
171### Progress Checklist
172 
173```
174Comic Progress:
175- [ ] Step 1: Setup & Analyze
176  - [ ] 1.1 Preferences (EXTEND.md) ⛔ BLOCKING
177    - [ ] Found → load preferences → continue
178    - [ ] Not found → run first-time setup → MUST complete before other steps
179  - [ ] 1.2 Analyze, 1.3 Check existing
180- [ ] Step 2: Confirmation - Style & options ⚠️ REQUIRED
181- [ ] Step 3: Generate storyboard + characters
182- [ ] Step 4: Review outline (conditional)
183- [ ] Step 5: Generate prompts
184- [ ] Step 6: Review prompts (conditional)
185- [ ] Step 7: Generate images
186  - [ ] 7.1 Generate character sheet (if needed) → characters/characters.png
187  - [ ] 7.2 Generate pages (with --ref if character sheet exists)
188- [ ] Step 8: Merge to PDF
189- [ ] Step 9: Completion report
190```
191 
192### Flow
193 
194```
195Input → [Preferences] ─┬─ Found → Continue
196                       │
197                       └─ Not found → First-Time Setup ⛔ BLOCKING
198                                      │
199                                      └─ Complete setup → Save EXTEND.md → Continue
200                                                                              │
201        ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
202        ↓
203Analyze → [Check Existing?] → [Confirm: Style + Reviews] → Storyboard → [Review?] → Prompts → [Review?] → Images → PDF → Complete
204```
205 
206### Step Summary
207 
208| Step | Action | Key Output |
209|------|--------|------------|
210| 1.1 | Load EXTEND.md preferences ⛔ BLOCKING if not found | Config loaded |
211| 1.2 | Analyze content | `analysis.md` |
212| 1.3 | Check existing directory | Handle conflicts |
213| 2 | Confirm style, focus, audience, reviews | User preferences |
214| 3 | Generate storyboard + characters | `storyboard.md`, `characters/` |
215| 4 | Review outline (if requested) | User approval |
216| 5 | Generate prompts | `prompts/*.md` |
217| 6 | Review prompts (if requested) | User approval |
218| 7.1 | Generate character sheet (if needed) | `characters/characters.png` |
219| 7.2 | Generate pages (with character ref if available) | `*.png` files |
220| 8 | Merge to PDF | `{slug}.pdf` |
221| 9 | Completion report | Summary |
222 
223### Step 7: Image Generation
224 
225**Pick a backend once per session** using the `## Image Generation Tools` rule at the top. If the backend is a repo skill (e.g., `baoyu-imagine`), read its `SKILL.md` and use its documented interface rather than its scripts.
226 
227**7.1 Character sheet** — generate it (to `characters/characters.png`, aspect `4:3`) when the comic is multi-page with recurring characters. Skip for simple presets (e.g., four-panel minimalist) or single-page comics. Compress to JPEG before use-as-`--ref` (`sips -s format jpeg -s formatOptions 80 …` on macOS, `pngquant --quality=65-80 …` elsewhere) to avoid payload failures. The prompt file at `characters/characters.md` must exist before invoking the backend.
228 
229**7.2 Pages** — each page's prompt MUST already be at `prompts/NN-{cover|page}-[slug].md` before invoking the backend; the file is the reproducibility record. Strategy depends on the character sheet:
230 
231| Character sheet | Backend `--ref` | Strategy |
232|-----------------|-----------------|----------|
233| Exists | Supported | Pass sheet as `--ref` on every page |
234| Exists | Not supported | Prepend character descriptions to every prompt file |
235| Skipped | — | All descriptions inline in prompt |
236 
237**Backup rule**: existing `prompts/…md` and `…png` files → rename with `-backup-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS` suffix before regenerating. Aspect ratio from storyboard (default `3:4`; preset may override).
238 
239**`--ref` failure recovery**: compress sheet → retry → still fails → drop `--ref` and embed character descriptions in the prompt text.
240 
241Full step-by-step workflow (analysis, storyboard, review gates, regeneration variants): [references/workflow.md](references/workflow.md).
242 
243### EXTEND.md Paths ⛔ BLOCKING
244 
245If EXTEND.md is not found, first-time setup is **blocking** — complete it before any content analysis or style/tone questions.
246 
247| Priority | Path | Scope |
248|----------|------|-------|
249| 1 | `.baoyu-skills/baoyu-comic/EXTEND.md` | Project |
250| 2 | `$HOME/.baoyu-skills/baoyu-comic/EXTEND.md` | User home |
251 
252| Result | Action |
253|--------|--------|
254| Found | Read, parse, display summary → continue |
255| Not found | ⛔ Run first-time setup ([references/config/first-time-setup.md](references/config/first-time-setup.md)) → save EXTEND.md → continue |
256 
257**EXTEND.md supports**: watermark, preferred art/tone/layout, custom style definitions, character presets, language preference. Schema: [references/config/preferences-schema.md](references/config/preferences-schema.md).
258 
259## References
260 
261**Core Templates**:
262- [analysis-framework.md](references/analysis-framework.md) - Deep content analysis
263- [character-template.md](references/character-template.md) - Character definition format
264- [storyboard-template.md](references/storyboard-template.md) - Storyboard structure
265- [ohmsha-guide.md](references/ohmsha-guide.md) - Ohmsha manga specifics
266 
267**Style Definitions**:
268- `references/art-styles/` - Art styles (ligne-claire, manga, realistic, ink-brush, chalk, minimalist)
269- `references/tones/` - Tones (neutral, warm, dramatic, romantic, energetic, vintage, action)
270- `references/presets/` - Presets with special rules (ohmsha, wuxia, shoujo, concept-story, four-panel)
271- `references/layouts/` - Layouts (standard, cinematic, dense, splash, mixed, webtoon, four-panel)
272 
273**Workflow**:
274- [workflow.md](references/workflow.md) - Full workflow details
275- [auto-selection.md](references/auto-selection.md) - Content signal analysis
276- [partial-workflows.md](references/partial-workflows.md) - Partial workflow options
277 
278**Config**:
279- [config/preferences-schema.md](references/config/preferences-schema.md) - EXTEND.md schema
280- [config/first-time-setup.md](references/config/first-time-setup.md) - First-time setup
281- [config/watermark-guide.md](references/config/watermark-guide.md) - Watermark configuration
282 
283## Page Modification
284 
285| Action | Steps |
286|--------|-------|
287| **Edit** | **Update prompt file FIRST** → `--regenerate N` → Regenerate PDF |
288| **Add** | Create prompt at position → Generate with character ref → Renumber subsequent → Update storyboard → Regenerate PDF |
289| **Delete** | Remove files → Renumber subsequent → Update storyboard → Regenerate PDF |
290 
291**IMPORTANT**: When updating pages, ALWAYS update the prompt file (`prompts/NN-{cover|page}-[slug].md`) FIRST before regenerating. This ensures changes are documented and reproducible.
292 
293## Notes
294 
295- Image generation: 10-30 seconds per page
296- Auto-retry once on generation failure
297- Use stylized alternatives for sensitive public figures
298- Maintain style consistency via session ID
299- **Step 2 confirmation required** - do not skip
300- **Steps 4/6 conditional** - only if user requested in Step 2
301- **Step 7.1 character sheet** - recommended for multi-page comics, optional for simple presets
302- **Step 7.2 character reference** - use `--ref` if sheet exists; compress/convert on failure; fall back to prompt-only
303- Watermark/language configured once in EXTEND.md
304 
305## Changing Preferences
306 
307EXTEND.md lives at `.baoyu-skills/baoyu-comic/EXTEND.md` (project) or `~/.baoyu-skills/baoyu-comic/EXTEND.md` (user). Three ways to change it:
308 
309- **Edit directly** — open EXTEND.md and change fields. Full schema: `references/config/preferences-schema.md`.
310- **Reconfigure interactively** — delete EXTEND.md (or ask "reconfigure baoyu-comic preferences" / "重新配置"). The next run re-triggers first-time setup.
311- **Common one-line edits**:
312  - `preferred_image_backend: auto` — default; runtime-native tool wins, falls back to the only installed backend, asks only if multiple non-native are present.
313  - `preferred_image_backend: codex-imagegen` — pin to Codex's built-in.
314  - `preferred_image_backend: baoyu-imagine` — pin to the baoyu-imagine skill.
315  - `preferred_image_backend: ask` — confirm backend every run.
316  - `watermark.enabled: true`, `preferred_art`, `preferred_tone`, `preferred_layout`, `language` — shift the auto-selection defaults and cosmetic choices.
317