Infographics

---
name: infographics
description: "Create professional infographics using Nano Banana Pro AI with smart iterative refinement. Uses Gemini 3.6 Flash for quality review; requires an image-generation backend."
allowed-tools: Read Write Edit Bash
metadata:
  requires: multimodal-llm-image-generation
  version: "1.6"
  env_note: "LLM-powered steps take an OpenRouter API key from the environment when present; absent keys follow the in-skill degradation path."
---

# Infographics


## Step 0: 多模态 LLM 后端检测（强制，不可跳过）

**本技能是"多模态 LLM 专属技能"：没有图像生成后端就无法工作。开工前必须：**

1. 运行环境检测：`python tools/plotting_env_check.py`（本仓库根/academic-toolkit下）；
2. 图像**生成**必须具备图像生成模型后端（如 OpenRouter 的 `OPENROUTER_API_KEY` → 图像生成模型系列；或宿主原生 `generate_image` 后端）——文首提到的具体型号是上游原文示例，实际后端以 env/比赛时配置为准，仓库不预设；
3. 质量**评审**由宿主独立窗口的视觉能力 LLM 执行（host-vision/independent-window，与产图窗口隔离，无需任何 API key）；
4. **检测不通过时**：停止执行，向用户明确说明"本技能需要多模态 LLM 图像生成后端"，并给出上方检测器的 `setup_hint` 配置指引。**禁止**用占位图、假图或纯本地绘图冒充 AI 生成结果；
5. 成本纪律：外部 API 调用须经高风险确认并计入 C5 成本指标。

---


## 执行与产出

使用当前执行会话完成本步工作；产物路径按当前步骤合同。程序采集真实操作、输入输出、版本与运行清单，模型只负责实质成果和领域质量。

建议额外记录：图像生成后端与模型名、提示词要点与迭代轮次；外部 API 调用须经高风险确认并计入成本。

## Overview

Infographics are visual representations of information, data, or knowledge designed to present complex content quickly and clearly. **This skill uses Nano Banana Pro AI for infographic generation with Gemini 3.6 Flash quality review and Perplexity Sonar for research.**

**How it works:**
- (Optional) **Research phase**: Gather accurate facts and statistics using Perplexity Sonar
- Describe your infographic in natural language
- Nano Banana Pro generates publication-quality infographics automatically
- **Gemini 3.6 Flash reviews quality** against document-type thresholds
- **Smart iteration**: Only regenerates if quality is below threshold
- Professional-ready output in minutes
- No design skills required

**Quality Thresholds by Document Type:**
| Document Type | Threshold | Description |
|---------------|-----------|-------------|
| marketing | 8.5/10 | Marketing materials - must be compelling |
| report | 8.0/10 | Business reports - professional quality |
| presentation | 7.5/10 | Slides, talks - clear and engaging |
| social | 7.0/10 | Social media content |
| internal | 7.0/10 | Internal use |
| draft | 6.5/10 | Working drafts |
| default | 7.5/10 | General purpose |

**Simply describe what you want, and Nano Banana Pro creates it.**

## Quick Start

Generate any infographic by simply describing it:

```bash
# Generate a list infographic (default threshold 7.5/10)
python skills/infographics/scripts/generate_infographic.py \
  "5 benefits of regular exercise" \
  -o figures/exercise_benefits.png --type list

# Generate for marketing (highest threshold: 8.5/10)
python skills/infographics/scripts/generate_infographic.py \
  "Product features comparison" \
  -o figures/product_comparison.png --type comparison --doc-type marketing

# Generate with corporate style
python skills/infographics/scripts/generate_infographic.py \
  "Company milestones 2010-2025" \
  -o figures/timeline.png --type timeline --style corporate

# Generate with colorblind-safe palette
python skills/infographics/scripts/generate_infographic.py \
  "Heart disease statistics worldwide" \
  -o figures/health_stats.png --type statistical --palette wong

# Generate WITH RESEARCH for accurate, up-to-date data
python skills/infographics/scripts/generate_infographic.py \
  "Global AI market size and growth projections" \
  -o figures/ai_market.png --type statistical --research
```

**What happens behind the scenes:**
1. **(Optional) Research**: Perplexity Sonar gathers accurate facts, statistics, and data
2. **Generation 1**: Nano Banana Pro creates initial infographic following design best practices
3. **Review 1**: **Gemini 3.6 Flash** evaluates quality against document-type threshold
4. **Decision**: If quality >= threshold → **DONE** (no more iterations needed!)
5. **If below threshold**: Improved prompt based on critique, regenerate
6. **Repeat**: Until quality meets threshold OR max iterations reached

**Smart Iteration Benefits:**
- ✅ Saves API calls if first generation is good enough
- ✅ Higher quality standards for marketing materials
- ✅ Faster turnaround for drafts/internal use
- ✅ Appropriate quality for each use case

**Output**: Versioned images plus a detailed review log with quality scores, critiques, and early-stop information.

## When to Use This Skill

Use the **infographics** skill when:
- Presenting data or statistics in a visual format
- Creating timeline visualizations for project milestones or history
- Explaining processes, workflows, or step-by-step guides
- Comparing options, products, or concepts side-by-side
- Summarizing key points in an engaging visual format
- Creating geographic or map-based data visualizations
- Building hierarchical or organizational charts
- Designing social media content or marketing materials

**Use scientific-schematics instead for:**
- Technical flowcharts and circuit diagrams
- Biological pathways and molecular diagrams
- Neural network architecture diagrams
- CONSORT/PRISMA methodology diagrams

---

## Research Integration

### Automatic Data Gathering (`--research`)

When creating infographics that require accurate, up-to-date data, use the `--research` flag to automatically gather facts and statistics using **Perplexity Sonar Pro**.

```bash
# Research and generate statistical infographic
python skills/infographics/scripts/generate_infographic.py \
  "Global renewable energy adoption rates by country" \
  -o figures/renewable_energy.png --type statistical --research

# Research for timeline infographic
python skills/infographics/scripts/generate_infographic.py \
  "History of artificial intelligence breakthroughs" \
  -o figures/ai_history.png --type timeline --research

# Research for comparison infographic
python skills/infographics/scripts/generate_infographic.py \
  "Electric vehicles vs hydrogen vehicles comparison" \
  -o figures/ev_hydrogen.png --type comparison --research
```

### What Research Provides

The research phase automatically:

1. **Gathers Key Facts**: 5-8 relevant facts and statistics about the topic
2. **Provides Context**: Background information for accurate representation
3. **Finds Data Points**: Specific numbers, percentages, and dates
4. **Cites Sources**: Mentions major studies or sources
5. **Prioritizes Recency**: Focuses on 2023-2026 information

### When to Use Research

**Enable research (`--research`) for:**
- Statistical infographics requiring accurate numbers
- Market data, industry statistics, or trends
- Scientific or medical information
- Current events or recent developments
- Any topic where accuracy is critical

**Skip research for:**
- Simple conceptual infographics
- Internal process documentation
- Topics where you provide all the data in the prompt
- Speed-critical generation

### Research Output

When research is enabled, additional files are created:
- `{name}_research.json` - Raw research data and sources
- Research content is automatically incorporated into the infographic prompt

---

## Infographic Types

Ten types are supported via `--type`: `statistical`, `timeline`, `process`, `comparison`,
`list`, `geographic`, `hierarchical`, `anatomical`, `resume`, and `social`. What each is
for, the data shape it expects, and worked prompts are in
[references/infographic_type_catalog.md](references/infographic_type_catalog.md) and
[references/infographic_types.md](references/infographic_types.md).

## Style Presets

### Industry Styles (`--style`)

| Style | Colors | Best For |
|-------|--------|----------|
| `corporate` | Navy, steel blue, gold | Business reports, finance |
| `healthcare` | Medical blue, cyan, light cyan | Medical, wellness |
| `technology` | Tech blue, slate, violet | Software, data, AI |
| `nature` | Forest green, mint, earth brown | Environmental, organic |
| `education` | Academic blue, light blue, coral | Learning, academic |
| `marketing` | Coral, teal, yellow | Social media, campaigns |
| `finance` | Navy, gold, green/red | Investment, banking |
| `nonprofit` | Warm orange, sage, sand | Social causes, charities |

```bash
# Corporate style
python skills/infographics/scripts/generate_infographic.py \
  "Q4 Results" -o q4.png --type statistical --style corporate

# Healthcare style
python skills/infographics/scripts/generate_infographic.py \
  "Patient Journey" -o journey.png --type process --style healthcare
```

---

## Colorblind-Safe Palettes

### Available Palettes (`--palette`)

| Palette | Colors | Description |
|---------|--------|-------------|
| `wong` | Orange, sky blue, green, blue, vermillion | Most widely recommended |
| `ibm` | Ultramarine, indigo, magenta, orange, gold | IBM's accessible palette |
| `tol` | 12-color extended palette | For many categories |

```bash
# Wong's colorblind-safe palette
python skills/infographics/scripts/generate_infographic.py \
  "Survey results by category" -o survey.png --type statistical --palette wong
```

---

## Smart Iterative Refinement and CLI

The generate-review-refine loop, every command-line option, and configuration are in
[references/iterative_refinement.md](references/iterative_refinement.md).

## Prompt Engineering Tips

### Be Specific About Content

✓ **Good prompts** (specific, detailed):
```
"5 benefits of meditation: reduces stress, improves focus, 
better sleep, lower blood pressure, emotional balance"
```

✗ **Avoid vague prompts**:
```
"meditation infographic"
```

### Include Data Points

✓ **Good**:
```
"Market growth from $10B (2020) to $45B (2025), CAGR 35%"
```

✗ **Vague**:
```
"market is growing"
```

### Specify Visual Elements

✓ **Good**:
```
"Timeline showing 5 milestones with icons for each event"
```

---

## Reference Files

For detailed guidance, load these reference files:

- **`references/infographic_types.md`**: Extended templates for all 10+ types
- **`references/design_principles.md`**: Visual hierarchy, layout, typography
- **`references/color_palettes.md`**: Full palette specifications

---

## Troubleshooting

### Common Issues

**Problem**: Text in infographic is unreadable
- **Solution**: Reduce text content; use --type to specify layout type

**Problem**: Colors clash or are inaccessible
- **Solution**: Use `--palette wong` for colorblind-safe colors

**Problem**: Quality score too low
- **Solution**: Increase iterations with `--iterations 3`; use more specific prompt

**Problem**: Wrong infographic type generated
- **Solution**: Always specify `--type` flag for consistent results

---

## Integration with Other Skills

This skill works synergistically with:

- **scientific-schematics**: For technical diagrams and flowcharts
- **market-research-reports**: Infographics for business reports
- **scientific-slides**: Infographic elements for presentations
- **generate-image** *(not bundled in this repo — unavailable; fall back to host-native image generation when the host offers it)*: For non-infographic visual content

---

## Quick Reference Checklist

Before generating:
- [ ] Clear, specific content description
- [ ] Infographic type selected (`--type`)
- [ ] Style appropriate for audience (`--style`)
- [ ] Output path specified (`-o`)
- [ ] API key configured

After generating:
- [ ] Review the generated image
- [ ] Check the review log for scores
- [ ] Regenerate with more specific prompt if needed

---

Use this skill to create professional, accessible, and visually compelling infographics using the power of Nano Banana Pro AI with intelligent quality review.