Create and define visual art styles for projects. Use when user wants to establish an art direction, create a style guide, define visual language, document aesthetic choices, or create consistent artwork guidelines for games, illustrations, animations, or other visual media.
This skill guides the creation of comprehensive art style definitions for visual projects.
Gather project context:
Define the color system. See color-theory.md for detailed guidance.
Ask for:
Establish line characteristics. See line-and-shape.md for details.
Define:
Define shape characteristics. See line-and-shape.md.
Specify:
Set layout rules. See composition-lighting.md.
Define:
Define lighting style. See composition-lighting.md.
Specify:
Set detail approach. See texture-mood.md.
Define:
Establish emotional baseline. See texture-mood.md.
Specify:
Document technical requirements. See technical-specs.md.
Define:
Output the complete art style definition using the template below.
# [PROJECT NAME] — Art Style Guide
## Overview
**Project**: [Name]
**Style Name**: [Unique identifier]
**Version**: 1.0
### Vision Statement
[2-3 sentences describing the visual vision]
### Key Words
[5-7 words capturing the essence]
---
## 1. Color Palette
### Primary Palette
| Role | Color | Hex | Usage |
|------|-------|-----|-------|
| Dominant | [Name] | #XXXXXX | [60% - backgrounds, large areas] |
| Secondary | [Name] | #XXXXXX | [30% - supporting elements] |
| Accent | [Name] | #XXXXXX | [10% - highlights, CTAs] |
### Extended Palette
- Highlight: #XXXXXX
- Shadow: #XXXXXX
- Neutrals: #XXXXXX, #XXXXXX
### Color Rules
- [Rule 1]
- [Rule 2]
### Forbidden Colors
- [Color]: [Reason]
---
## 2. Line Work
- **Outline**: [Full/Partial/None/Color holds]
- **Base weight**: [Thin/Medium/Thick] at [X px at Y resolution]
- **Quality**: [Clean/Sketchy/Geometric/Organic]
- **FG weight**: [Weight]
- **BG weight**: [Weight]
- **Line color**: [Black/Colored/Color holds]
---
## 3. Shape Language
- **Dominant shape**: [Circle/Square/Triangle/Mixed]
- **Complexity**: [Simple/Moderate/Complex]
- **Edges**: [Sharp/Rounded/Mixed]
- **Heroes**: [Shape description]
- **Villains**: [Shape description]
- **Environments**: [Geometric/Organic/Mixed]
- **Silhouette priority**: [High/Medium/Low]
---
## 4. Composition
- **Framing**: [Rule of thirds/Golden ratio/etc.]
- **Symmetry**: [Symmetric/Asymmetric/Varied]
- **Depth layers**: [FG/MG/BG treatment]
- **Perspective**: [Type]
- **Hierarchy method**: [Size/Contrast/Color/Position]
- **Negative space**: [Minimal/Moderate/Abundant]
---
## 5. Lighting
- **Brightness**: [Dark/Dim/Neutral/Bright]
- **Contrast**: [Low/Medium/High]
- **Shadow style**: [Gradient/Cel-shaded/Hatched/None]
- **Light direction**: [Default direction]
- **Hardness**: [Soft/Medium/Hard]
- **Shadow color**: [Black/Colored] at [opacity]%
- **Atmosphere**: [Effects if any]
---
## 6. Texture & Detail
- **Detail level**: [Minimal/Low/Medium/High]
- **Texture style**: [Painted/Flat/Stylized/etc.]
- **Focus areas**: [High detail]
- **Background**: [Low detail]
- **Weathering**: [None/Subtle/Visible]
- **Grain**: [None/Subtle/Visible]
---
## 7. Mood & Tone
- **Core emotion**: [Emotion] at [intensity]
- **Tone**: [Light ↔ Dark position]
- **Energy**: [Calm/Moderate/Energetic]
- **Genre**: [Genre]
- **Avoid**: [Elements that break mood]
---
## 8. Technical Specs
- **Working**: [Dimensions] at [DPI]
- **Export**: [Dimensions] at [DPI]
- **Color mode**: [RGB/CMYK]
- **Formats**: [Working] → [Export formats]
- **Character size**: [Dimensions]
- **Environment size**: [Dimensions]
- **Icon size**: [Dimensions]
---
## 9. References
### Primary Influences
1. [Influence]: [What to take]
2. [Influence]: [What to take]
### Avoid
- [Style/Work]: [Why]
---
## 10. Do's and Don'ts
### Do
- [Correct practice]
- [Correct practice]
### Don't
- [Incorrect practice]
- [Incorrect practice]
Load these as needed for detailed guidance:
For rapid style definition, use these genre presets as starting points:
| Genre | Colors | Lines | Shapes | Lighting | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anime | Saturated, clean | Clean, variable weight | Soft, appealing | Cel-shaded | Medium |
| Cartoon | Bright, primary | Bold outlines | Round, exaggerated | Flat/minimal | Low |
| Realistic | Natural, full range | No outline | Complex, accurate | Gradient | High |
| Pixel Art | Limited palette | Sharp, 1px | Blocky, simplified | Dithered | Low |
| Noir | Mono + accent | Heavy contrast | Stark, geometric | High contrast | Medium |
| Fantasy | Rich, varied | Flowing, ornate | Organic, majestic | Dramatic | High |
| Sci-Fi | Cool, neon accents | Clean, geometric | Streamlined | Artificial | Medium-High |
| Horror | Desaturated, sickly | Jagged, broken | Distorted | Low key | Varied |
| Minimalist | Limited, pastel | None or thin | Simple geometric | Flat | Minimal |