image-canvas

# Image Canvas

Read this private ImageStudio skill only after route lock when the result has multiple meaningful visual regions, an explicit reading order, exact layout constraints, or references bound to regions. Skip it for a simple single-region image. If art direction is also needed, read `image-craft` first. This adapts the Canvas-as-intermediate-representation method popularized by Omost into Orkas's provider-neutral manifest; it does not import an Omost model runtime.

## Canvas contract

Populate the canonical `image-manifest.json` template's `visual_plan` object when the image has more than one meaningful visual zone:

- `global_description`: the complete visual thesis in one concrete sentence.
- `reading_order`: every region id in intended eye-travel order.
- `regions`: stable objects whose normalized coordinates are nested under `regions[].bounds` as `{x,y,width,height}`; never place `x`, `y`, `width`, or `height` directly on a region. Each region also has `background`, `midground`, or `foreground` depth; exactly one supported role (`hero`, `support`, `copy`, `decoration`, or `background`); a visible description; `detail_prompts` as a string array; and `reference_ids` as a string array. Use empty arrays when a region has no detail prompts or references.

Use as few regions as possible. Regions describe visible image logic, not implementation components. Reserve meaningful negative space deliberately and prevent hero, copy, and support regions from competing for the same focal priority.

For `COMPOSE` and `HYBRID`, map every region to at least one HTML/SVG element with `data-image-region="<id>"`. ImageStudio blocks snapshots when the plan and DOM diverge. For `GENERATE` and `EDIT`, compile the global description and region details into the provider prompt, preserving the same reading order and crop.

## Reference contract

Before declaring individual references, write `reference_intent:{mode:"reproduce|edit|guide",basis:"user|inferred",instructions:[],minimum_score}`. Explicit user constraints always win; only an unspecified reference defaults to guide with inferred basis. Then declare each project-local reference with a stable id, one role (`style`, `identity`, `composition`, `structure`, `content`, `mask`, or `edit_source`), influence strength from 0 to 1, required state, attributes to preserve, attributes that may change, and target region ids. Reproduce uses a floor of at least 85; edit uses at least 80 and a required edit source with explicit instructions and non-empty change boundaries.

Treat role as a constraint, not a vague inspiration label. A style reference must not silently become an identity reference; a composition reference must not copy unrelated content. Required reference files participate in the project signature, so changing them invalidates previous review evidence.

Keep every `may_change` list within the changes the user explicitly allowed. An axis that a reference does not control stays unbound; it does not become permitted to change. For example, when a composition reference may change only to fit an aspect ratio, list only the necessary crop, framing, or layout adaptation—not scene, subject, content, or background changes.

For provider controls, use `generation_contract.controls` with an existing reference id, control type (`image_prompt`, `canny`, `depth`, `pose`, or `mask`), strength, and start/end window. This records IP-Adapter/ControlNet-style intent without coupling the project to one provider.