| 1 | # Image and Formula Layout Pattern Catalog |
| 2 | |
| 3 | Compact composition vocabulary for prepared images, illustrations, and rendered formula assets. Use the patterns as options, not as a checklist. |
| 4 | |
| 5 | --- |
| 6 | |
| 7 | ## 1. Catalog Boundary |
| 8 | |
| 9 | | Boundary | Rule | |
| 10 | |---|---| |
| 11 | | Selection | **Reference — not a constraint**: use any pattern, combine compatible ones, or author a clearer free-form composition; no ID, family, or coverage quota applies | |
| 12 | | Canonical IDs | Two-level prompt handles such as `#P1-01` and `#M2-01`; the letters expose composition responsibility, the first digit selects a family, and the final number follows current browse order. No legacy aliases or exporter mapping | |
| 13 | | Composition grammar | Select one or more compatible `P` structures, then add only useful `M`, prepared `A`, or cross-page `C` patterns | |
| 14 | | Effect options | Direction, side, position, proportion, contour, and intensity are options stated after the ID; they do not create another pattern | |
| 15 | | Asset ownership | Consume prepared project-local assets; no acquisition or processing during SVG realization | |
| 16 | | Exact information | Keep exact or editable text, data, labels, and annotations native | |
| 17 | |
| 18 | | Group | Responsibility | Families | Entries | |
| 19 | |---|---|---|---:| |
| 20 | | `P` · Primary Structures | Define the page skeleton | `P1` Single Visual · `P2` Image as Canvas · `P3` Multi-Visual | 46 | |
| 21 | | `M` · Modifier Layers | Add crop/reveal, tone/focus, or framing/placement/depth treatment to an existing skeleton | `M1` Reveal/Crop/Registration · `M2` Tone/Focus/Contrast · `M3` Framing/Placement/Depth | 27 | |
| 22 | | `A` · Asset-Dependent Treatments | Require a prepared composite, cutout, or registered derivative | `A1` Composite/Appearance · `A2` Subject Layers · `A3` Registered Derivatives | 10 | |
| 23 | | `C` · Cross-Page Continuity | Sustain a visual relationship across slides | `C1` Persistent State · `C2` Camera Continuity · `C3` Matched Framing | 4 | |
| 24 | |
| 25 | | Mechanism, not generic “mask” | Owner | |
| 26 | |---|---| |
| 27 | | Layout geometry | [`image-layout-spec.md`](./image-layout-spec.md) | |
| 28 | | Image-treatment implementation map | [`svg-effects.md`](./svg-effects.md) §6.1 Image-Treatment Implementation Map | |
| 29 | | Crop: policy / legality / wrapper | [`svg-image-embedding.md`](./svg-image-embedding.md) / [`shared-standards-core.md`](./shared-standards-core.md) / [`svg-effects.md`](./svg-effects.md) | |
| 30 | | Scrim / gradient / wash | [`svg-effects.md`](./svg-effects.md) | |
| 31 | | Shadow / glow / overlay-boundary elevation | [`svg-effects.md`](./svg-effects.md) §6.4 | |
| 32 | | Boolean hole / text subtraction | [`native-shape-authoring.md`](./native-shape-authoring.md) | |
| 33 | | Faceted or folded native form | [`native-shape-authoring.md`](./native-shape-authoring.md) §7.1 / [`svg-effects.md`](./svg-effects.md) §6.11 | |
| 34 | | Per-pixel mask / blend | Prepared / baked asset; [`svg-effects.md`](./svg-effects.md) boundary | |
| 35 | | Chart overlay / motion | [`executor-chart.md`](./executor-chart.md) / [`animations.md`](./animations.md) | |
| 36 | |
| 37 | --- |
| 38 | |
| 39 | ## 2. Situation Router |
| 40 | |
| 41 | | Page need | Pattern options | |
| 42 | |---|---| |
| 43 | | Quiet, direct evidence | `#P1-11` negative space, `#P1-12` framed figure, `#P3-04` small multiples, `#P3-03` comparison | |
| 44 | | One visual should become the page canvas | `#P2-01`–`#P2-10` native overlays | |
| 45 | | One source should span unusual geometry | `#M1-10` one picture, `#M1-11` addressable pictures, `#A3-01` sharp subject over receded copy | |
| 46 | | Several visuals should read as one system | `#P3-05` grid, `#P3-14` mosaic with text cell, `#P3-20` tessellation, `#P3-21` split tiling, `#P3-22` curve array, `#P3-23` depth row | |
| 47 | | A foreground needs an opening or reveal | `#M1-06` true hole, `#M1-07` cut scrim, `#M1-08` background-registered fill, `#M1-05` text subtraction | |
| 48 | | Text needs contrast without discarding the visual | `#M2-01` directional scrim, `#M2-05` spotlight, `#A3-02` prepared frosted panel, `#M2-09` grid scrim | |
| 49 | | A subject should cross or re-layer around native content | `#A2-02` frame breakout or `#A2-03` registered subject/base pair | |
| 50 | | A cover, divider, or promotional page needs image-led structure | `#P1-01`, `#P1-04`, `#P1-13`, or `#P3-15`–`#P3-19` | |
| 51 | | Consecutive pages should share one visual world | `#C1-01` persistent state, `#C2-01` pan, `#C2-02` push/pull, or `#C3-01` matched framing | |
| 52 | |
| 53 | --- |
| 54 | |
| 55 | ## 3. Primary Structures |
| 56 | |
| 57 | ### 3.1 P1 · Single-Visual Structures |
| 58 | |
| 59 | - **#P1-01 · Full-bleed title field** — float a native title over one canvas-filling image; optionally use a poster-scale side or lower-corner stack directly on the image without a title card. |
| 60 | - **#P1-02 · Side image with content field** — place one visual beside native copy; let reading direction choose left/right and hierarchy choose partial- or full-height. |
| 61 | - **#P1-03 · Edge-bleed image** — extend the visual beyond one canvas edge so it enters or exits the page instead of sitting in a box. |
| 62 | - **#P1-04 · Image band or belt** — use a top band with content columns below, a middle band with content above and below, or a lower band beneath the title/content field; native copy may also occupy a verified calm zone while the heading stays outside. |
| 63 | - **#P1-05 · Balanced horizontal split** — give image and content balanced top/bottom fields with a deliberate seam. |
| 64 | - **#P1-06 · Central image in a 3×3 field** — put the visual at the center and use surrounding cells for labels, evidence, or small data. |
| 65 | - **#P1-07 · Centered image with radial callouts** — place one focal visual centrally and route native callouts outward. |
| 66 | - **#P1-08 · Diagonal visual/content transition** — use a diagonal image/content boundary whose contour supports the page's reading direction. |
| 67 | - **#P1-09 · Receded image with oversized type** — push the image into the background and make typography the dominant foreground. |
| 68 | - **#P1-10 · Slim image strip with large type** — place a narrow image strip beside oversized horizontal type. |
| 69 | - **#P1-11 · Negative-space dominant** — keep the visual and copy compact so whitespace carries hierarchy. |
| 70 | - **#P1-12 · Framed figure with caption** — float one image in whitespace with a restrained frame and native caption. |
| 71 | - **#P1-13 · Illustration as layout field** — let a large illustration or cutout set the page rhythm; place copy in its calm regions. |
| 72 | |
| 73 | ### 3.2 P2 · Image as Canvas with Native Overlay |
| 74 | |
| 75 | **Reference — not a constraint**: use `P2` when native annotations, data, or process nodes bind to locations inside the prepared visual; an ordinary side image or inset remains `P1` / `P3`. |
| 76 | |
| 77 | - **#P2-01 · Annotated evidence** — place compact annotation cards with routed leaders over the visual. |
| 78 | - **#P2-02 · Hotspots with sidebar legend** — pair numbered points on the visual with a matching native legend. |
| 79 | - **#P2-03 · Detail lens** — outline one sub-region on the existing picture and place a native caption nearby; keep one picture object and do not add a rescaled image inset. |
| 80 | - **#P2-04 · Overview with zoom callout** — keep the full overview visible, add a second independently cropped picture from the exact same source, and link the selected region to that detail with native annotation; preserve source-region correspondence, not page-space registration. |
| 81 | - **#P2-05 · Contextual metrics** — place native KPI tiles in calm regions of the visual. |
| 82 | - **#P2-06 · Process through a scene** — connect numbered flow nodes along meaningful geometry in a real or illustrated scene. |
| 83 | - **#P2-07 · Engineering overlay** — add measurement lines, end ticks, module tags, and exact labels. |
| 84 | - **#P2-08 · Architecture or network overlay** — draw native nodes, connections, icons, and labels over the scene. |
| 85 | - **#P2-09 · Interface overlay** — add translucent UI panels, progress indicators, badges, and native arcs. |
| 86 | - **#P2-10 · Accurate chart over visual context** — draw the chart natively, treat the image as context only, and follow [`executor-chart.md`](./executor-chart.md). |
| 87 | |
| 88 | `#P2-03` and `#P2-04` are not interchangeable: the former annotates one picture; the latter exports an overview plus a second same-source picture object with an independent crop. |
| 89 | |
| 90 | ### 3.3 P3 · Multi-Visual Structures |
| 91 | |
| 92 | - **#P3-01 · Diptych** — pair two adjacent images around one shared visual argument. |
| 93 | - **#P3-02 · Triptych** — align three distinct sources, unlike a baked multi-scene asset. |
| 94 | - **#P3-03 · Before/after or A/B comparison** — place two equally sized image containers side by side and label both states explicitly. |
| 95 | - **#P3-04 · Small multiples** — arrange same-kind images in identical containers and caption structures so peers can be compared. |
| 96 | - **#P3-05 · Equal-cell tiled grid** — use equal containers when equality and scanability are the message. |
| 97 | - **#P3-06 · Linear image sequence** — align a horizontal sequence by height with content-driven widths, or a vertical sequence by width with annotations and captions on one shared side. |
| 98 | - **#P3-07 · Z-pattern serpentine** — alternate image and text positions down successive bands to create a zigzag reading path. |
| 99 | - **#P3-08 · Ascending or descending picture process** — step image containers progressively upward or downward and use native numbering or connectors to preserve sequence. |
| 100 | - **#P3-09 · Picture-in-picture inset** — overlay one framed image over a larger source; use `#P2-04` when the inset magnifies a selected region from that exact source. |
| 101 | - **#P3-10 · Overlapping image stack** — use z-order and restrained offsets to create a layered print or archive feel. |
| 102 | - **#P3-11 · Asymmetric collage** — balance one dominant visual with smaller supporting visuals using consistent gaps. |
| 103 | - **#P3-12 · Irregular mosaic** — pack different-sized tiles into one coherent field. |
| 104 | - **#P3-13 · Montage with spanning type** — tile several visuals and run one legible native title treatment across the assembled field. |
| 105 | - **#P3-14 · Photo mosaic with a text cell** — reserve one mosaic cell for copy so absence of a photo creates hierarchy. |
| 106 | - **#P3-15 · Image-navigation table of contents** — turn sections into visual navigation cards with native numbering and summaries. |
| 107 | - **#P3-16 · Asymmetric dual-image chapter banner** — pair a compact image with a wider image and anchor them with a native section marker. |
| 108 | - **#P3-17 · Ambient image, evidence image, and text panel** — let one visual establish mood and another provide concrete proof. |
| 109 | - **#P3-18 · Ribbon-header image cards** — give peer image columns distinct native ribbon or chevron headings. |
| 110 | - **#P3-19 · Side hero with staggered evidence cards** — pair a full-height hero field with supporting cards that step through the opposite side. |
| 111 | - **#P3-20 · Non-rectangular tessellation** — tile clipped geometric cells and reserve selected cells for native copy or color. |
| 112 | - **#P3-21 · Split tiling** — fragment one parent contour into interlocking cells, each holding a different image as an independent object. |
| 113 | - **#P3-22 · Containers arrayed along a curve** — distribute containers consistently along an arc, wave, or ring; keep image orientation intentional. |
| 114 | - **#P3-23 · Embracing arc row** — create depth with a center-weighted scale and vertical-offset rhythm while keeping the objects two-dimensional. |
| 115 | |
| 116 | --- |
| 117 | |
| 118 | ## 4. Modifier Layers |
| 119 | |
| 120 | ### 4.1 M1 · Reveal, Crop, and Registration |
| 121 | |
| 122 | - **#M1-01 · Geometric crop** — clip the visual to a circle, ellipse, rounded rectangle, or bounded polygon; the contour is an effect option. |
| 123 | - **#M1-02 · Custom-path crop** — use one authored organic or silhouette contour when a basic geometric crop cannot express it. |
| 124 | - **#M1-03 · Layered paper-cut stack** — clip image layers independently and draw vector layers in their final geometry. |
| 125 | - **#M1-04 · Faux painted knock-out** — cover part of an image with the matching background or another prepared visual only when the surrounding field makes the imitation credible. |
| 126 | - **#M1-05 · Text-as-subtraction** — reveal an image or field through glyph-shaped holes; materialize supported text Boolean geometry through [`native-shape-authoring.md`](./native-shape-authoring.md). |
| 127 | - **#M1-06 · Panel with a true hole** — subtract an opening from a foreground panel so changing content behind it remains valid; follow [`native-shape-authoring.md`](./native-shape-authoring.md) §6. |
| 128 | - **#M1-07 · Scrim with true cutouts** — subtract image-reveal openings from a full-canvas scrim; lettering and complex cuts follow [`native-shape-authoring.md`](./native-shape-authoring.md) §6. |
| 129 | - **#M1-08 · Background-registered shape fill** — fill a stationary shape with the page background sampled in root coordinates so it impersonates a hole while remaining an object. |
| 130 | - **#M1-09 · Deliberately misregistered fragments** — separate same-source fragments and break their alignment intentionally for torn, misprint, or glitch language. |
| 131 | - **#M1-10 · One image across detached shapes** — export one native picture with disjoint clip subpaths so one continuous scene spans every shape. |
| 132 | - **#M1-11 · Same-source addressable crops** — export several independent native pictures that share an exact source coordinate system; follow [`executor-image.md`](./executor-image.md) §1. |
| 133 | |
| 134 | The following three patterns are topologically different and are not interchangeable: |
| 135 | |
| 136 | | ID | Sources | Exported picture topology | Visual relationship | |
| 137 | |---|---|---|---| |
| 138 | | One-picture compound crop (`#M1-10`) | One source | One native picture with disjoint clip subpaths | One continuous scene spans detached shapes; fragments are not independent picture objects | |
| 139 | | Addressable same-source crops (`#M1-11`) | One exact source reference | Several independently addressable native pictures | Crops share one source coordinate system and remain in exact registration; follow [`executor-image.md`](./executor-image.md) §1 | |
| 140 | | Different-source split tiling (`#P3-21`) | Different sources | Several independent picture objects in interlocking cells | The parent contour unifies peers; scene continuity across cells is not implied | |
| 141 | |
| 142 | ### 4.2 M2 · Tone, Focus, and Contrast |
| 143 | |
| 144 | - **#M2-01 · Directional gradient scrim** — add directional contrast while retaining image detail; when copy overlays the image, protect its side and keep the focal side clear. Direction, protected side, opacity curve, and stops are options. |
| 145 | - **#M2-02 · Radial vignette** — darken the periphery to emphasize the central field. |
| 146 | - **#M2-03 · Flat wash** — uniformly darken, lighten, or palette-tint an image to integrate it with the page. |
| 147 | - **#M2-04 · Multi-hue gradient scrim** — shift color temperature or bridge image regions with a multi-stop field. |
| 148 | - **#M2-05 · Radial spotlight** — keep a selected region clear while surrounding content recedes. |
| 149 | - **#M2-06 · Texture or atmospheric wash** — turn an image into a low-contrast supporting texture or atmosphere field rather than presenting it as primary evidence. |
| 150 | - **#M2-07 · Watermark image field** — place a strongly receded image behind body copy. |
| 151 | - **#M2-08 · Fade into a solid background** — match the fade endpoint to the page background so the image edge disappears. |
| 152 | - **#M2-09 · Grid scrim with varied opacity** — modulate one underlying image through a seamless grid of translucent cells. |
| 153 | |
| 154 | ### 4.3 M3 · Framing, Placement, and Depth Accents |
| 155 | |
| 156 | - **#M3-01 · Restrained image frame** — trace the image with one restrained outline. |
| 157 | - **#M3-02 · Repeated photo-print frames** — repeat nearby outlines for a layered photo-print treatment. |
| 158 | - **#M3-03 · Editorial rotation** — rotate an image or its container slightly when the style benefits from an informal print gesture. |
| 159 | - **#M3-04 · Lifted image panel** — separate a standalone image panel from the background with one restrained depth cue; [`svg-effects.md`](./svg-effects.md) owns the legal effect. |
| 160 | - **#M3-05 · Contour echo** — reuse a non-rectangular clip contour as an offset stroke instead of boxing it in a rectangle. |
| 161 | - **#M3-06 · Decorative corner fragment** — use a cropped image fragment as a secondary corner accent. |
| 162 | - **#M3-07 · Image divider band** — replace a line between content regions with a narrow visual strip. |
| 163 | |
| 164 | --- |
| 165 | |
| 166 | ## 5. Asset-Dependent Treatments |
| 167 | |
| 168 | **Prepared-asset gate**: every treatment below consumes its named project-local asset; it does not authorize creation during SVG realization. Embedded lettering belongs to the artwork only when deliberately fixed; authoritative or editable labels remain native SVG. If a required asset is absent, return to the active workflow's preparation owner or choose a native treatment. |
| 169 | |
| 170 | ### 5.1 A1 · Prepared Composites and Appearance |
| 171 | |
| 172 | - **#A1-01 · Baked multi-scene composite** — use one prepared source containing coordinated internal scenes; distinct from a `P3` structure built from separate images. |
| 173 | - **#A1-02 · Prepared blurred backdrop** — use a prepared blurred asset; runtime image blur is not the backdrop mechanism. |
| 174 | - **#A1-03 · Prepared duotone photograph** — use a prepared two-color image treatment. |
| 175 | - **#A1-04 · Prepared soft image-to-image blend** — use a precomposited or baked-alpha asset when arbitrary images must blend per pixel. |
| 176 | |
| 177 | ### 5.2 A2 · Subject and Cutout Layers |
| 178 | |
| 179 | - **#A2-01 · Transparent sticker or cutout** — use a prepared RGBA asset and preserve its open silhouette. |
| 180 | - **#A2-02 · Subject breaking out of a container** — register a prepared foreground subject across its frame boundary. |
| 181 | - **#A2-03 · Registered subject/base pair** — align a base photo with its prepared transparent subject cutout in one coordinate system; optionally place a native title, panel, or shape between them so the subject crosses that middle layer. |
| 182 | |
| 183 | ### 5.3 A3 · Registered Derivatives |
| 184 | |
| 185 | - **#A3-01 · Sharp subject over receded full-frame derivative** — register a sharp focal crop or prepared cutout subject over a blurred, tinted, or desaturated full-frame derivative; never cover it with an opaque full-frame copy. |
| 186 | - **#A3-02 · Registered frosted-glass panel** — place a prepared registered blurred crop beneath the native text panel. |
| 187 | - **#A3-03 · Selective desaturation** — register a prepared color subject layer over a desaturated base. |
| 188 | |
| 189 | --- |
| 190 | |
| 191 | ## 6. Cross-Page Continuity |
| 192 | |
| 193 | ### 6.1 C1 · Persistent Visual State |
| 194 | |
| 195 | - **#C1-01 · Persistent visual with progressive overlays** — keep one source, crop, and placement stable while native annotations or claims change, replace, or accumulate across consecutive pages. |
| 196 | |
| 197 | ### 6.2 C2 · Camera Continuity |
| 198 | |
| 199 | - **#C2-01 · Cross-page image pan** — show different regions of one wide image across consecutive pages so the audience recognizes one continuous place. |
| 200 | - **#C2-02 · Cross-page push-in or pull-out** — reuse one source while the crop or scale moves from overview to detail, or detail to overview, across consecutive pages. |
| 201 | |
| 202 | If motion is enabled, [`animations.md`](./animations.md) owns its implementation; these patterns only define the static framing relationship. |
| 203 | |
| 204 | ### 6.3 C3 · Matched Framing |
| 205 | |
| 206 | - **#C3-01 · Matched framing across sources** — keep the subject anchor, visual scale, horizon, or dominant contour aligned while consecutive pages replace one source with another. |
| 207 | |
| 208 | --- |
| 209 | |
| 210 | ## 7. Composition Playbook |
| 211 | |
| 212 | **Reference — not a constraint**: build from the page's communication job, not catalog coverage. Choose the smallest combination that resolves the page and any intentional cross-page relationship. |
| 213 | |
| 214 | ### 7.1 Combination Procedure |
| 215 | |
| 216 | | Pass | Decision | |
| 217 | |---|---| |
| 218 | | Skeleton | Select the `P` relationship: one visual field, comparison, sequence, evidence view, or multi-image system. Compatible Primaries may share one page | |
| 219 | | Job | Name the concrete integration need or stylistic role: contrast, aspect fit, focus, reveal/opening, peer cohesion, exact native information, or a recurring depth/print gesture | |
| 220 | | Apply | Add the smallest `M` that serves each chosen job; add no technique without a job | |
| 221 | | Prepared asset | Use `A` only when the named project-local composite, cutout, or derivative already exists | |
| 222 | | Continuity | Add `C` only when adjacent pages deliberately share a persistent state, camera relationship, or matched framing | |
| 223 | | Integrate | Reuse contours, baselines, gap rhythm, palette, and required registration so the layers read as one composition | |
| 224 | | Stop | Omit or simplify the next layer when it repeats a job, competes with the message, requires an unavailable asset, or weakens legibility/editability | |
| 225 | |
| 226 | ### 7.2 High-Yield Combinations |
| 227 | |
| 228 | | Page job | Composition candidates | |
| 229 | |---|---| |
| 230 | | Atmospheric cover or divider | `#P1-01` + `#M2-01`; use `#M1-07` + optional `#M3-05` when an opening should supply the page character | |
| 231 | | One source does not fit the canvas | `#A3-01` + `#M1-02` or `#M1-10`, with every copy kept in exact registration | |
| 232 | | Comparison with evidence on both sides | `#P3-03` + `#P2-01`; keep labels, leaders, and exact claims native | |
| 233 | | Scene-backed evidence or metrics | `#P2-01` / `#P2-05` + `#M2-01` or `#M2-03`; let the image carry context and native SVG carry information | |
| 234 | | One selected region needs explanation | Use `#P2-03` for an outline and caption on one picture; use `#P2-04` when a second same-source picture must magnify the region | |
| 235 | | Several sources should read as one object | `#P3-21` + restrained `#M3-01`, or `#P3-20` + a native text/color cell | |
| 236 | | One continuous scene should span detached shapes | `#M1-10` + optional `#M3-05`; keep one-picture topology | |
| 237 | | Same-source windows must remain independent | `#M1-11`; add `#C2-01` or `#C2-02` only when consecutive pages use the relationship | |
| 238 | | A prepared subject should re-layer over its source | `#A2-03`; keep the base and cutout registered, and insert a native middle layer only when it has a distinct job | |
| 239 | | A busy visual needs one focal region | `#M2-05`, or prepared `#A3-01` / `#A3-03` when a native contrast treatment is insufficient | |
| 240 | | A visual argument should build across pages | `#C1-01` + `#P2-01` or `#P2-05`; keep the underlying source and frame stable | |
| 241 | | Formula or technical figure needs explanation | `#P1-12` + `#P2-07` / `#P2-03`; use `#P2-04` only when a second cropped detail is useful, and keep explanatory labels native | |
| 242 | |
| 243 | **Registration boundary**: registration-dependent effects succeed only when their declared coordinate relationship remains exact. Preserve registration for `#M1-10`, `#A2-02`, `#A3-01`, `#M1-08`, `#A2-03`, `#A3-02`, `#A3-03`, and `#M1-11`; `#M1-09` is the intentional exception. |
| 244 | |
| 245 | **Source-correspondence boundary**: `#P2-04` reuses one exact source but intentionally changes the detail crop, scale, and placement; preserve the selected-region correspondence instead of forcing page-space registration. |
| 246 | |
| 247 | **Formula placement**: treat a rendered formula as a prepared visual asset. Use whitespace patterns such as `#P1-11` or `#P1-12` for isolated derivations, `#P1-07`, `#P2-07`, `#P2-03`, or `#P2-04` for annotated formulas, and `#P3-04` or `#P3-03` for comparisons; keep editable explanatory text native. |
| 248 | |
| 249 | All compatibility details remain owned by [`shared-standards-core.md`](./shared-standards-core.md) and its routed references. |
| 250 |