Research Paper Figure Skill Factory#

This skill is a two-layer research-paper figure Skill Factory.

1. Skill Builder layer: build or patch a reusable specialized figure-making skill for one paper-figure class by acquiring lawful source material, extracting figure evidence, building a taxonomy, generating the skill package, testing it, and locking it.
2. Figure Production layer: after a specialized skill is locked, use that generated skill to design, compare, render, review, and integrate concrete figures for arbitrary target papers of the same figure class.

Non-Negotiable Contract#

First Trigger#

On first trigger, output only a startup plan. Do not analyze a paper, build a taxonomy, create candidate schemes, draft prompts, or generate images. The first reply is STARTUP_PLAN_ONLY (TEXT_ONLY).

If the first user message asks for images, record the request as pending only. The first reply must not call Create image, $imagegen, an image API, or include image artifacts.

Specialized-Skill-First Builder Rule#

The normal route is:

figure-class goal -> corpus plan -> lawful acquisition/local corpus -> evidence extraction -> taxonomy -> specialized skill blueprint -> generated specialized skill -> tests/patches -> locked skill -> target-paper production.

Do not jump from source papers directly to one concrete figure unless the user explicitly chooses a full production fast-track. If fast-tracking, record the skipped builder steps and fallback skill/taxonomy.

Full-Feasible Corpus Rule#

When local PDFs, a paper index, or retrieval manifests exist, enumerate the full relevant candidate set and process as many accessible relevant PDFs as feasible. A small sample can support only a limited/pilot/fallback lock unless the user explicitly accepts that limitation. Representative rendered pages are audit aids only, not the corpus size.

Mandatory Candidate-Image Bridge#

Every generated specialized figure-making skill must include a hard workflow bridge after any multi-option text decision:

1. TEXT_ONLY candidate text turn: present 4-6 text candidates, normally 6.
2. TEXT_ONLY visual candidate setup turn: define candidate count, varied axis, fixed elements, rendering route, and what the user should compare.
3. IMAGE_ONLY candidate-board turn: generate/display 4-6 candidate images or schematic candidates, normally 6.
4. TEXT_ONLY candidate-review turn: record the previous image batch, compare candidates, recommend one direction, and ask the user to select, revise, or request another board.

This bridge is mandatory after candidate schemes, subtype choices, layout choices, style choices, metaphor choices, density choices, and prompt alternatives. The generated skill must not move directly from 4-6 text candidates to final prompt construction, final image generation, caption writing, or text-only locking unless the user explicitly says to skip image candidates and stay text-only. If skipped, record visual_candidate_board_skipped_by_user: true.

Generated skill lock/test must fail if:

• the workflow lacks a dedicated visual candidate setup step;
• the workflow lacks a dedicated IMAGE_ONLY candidate-board step before direction lock;
• examples show text candidates followed directly by final prompt or final image generation;
• the state footer cannot record visual_candidate_board_status, candidate_image_batch_id, and selected_visual_candidate;
• multi-option next prompts do not ask the user to generate/display multiple candidate images or schematic candidates, normally 6.

Strict Text/Image Separation#

Every response is exactly one modality:

• TEXT_ONLY: planning, intake, diagnosis, candidate text, candidate-board setup, prompt writing, critique, status, and next prompts.
• IMAGE_ONLY: image generation only. No prose, captions, critique, prompt text, or state footer.

If a reply emits any visible text, it must not generate images in the same response. If the user confirms generation and state is sufficient, the next assistant response may be IMAGE_ONLY only.

Rendering Route#

For candidate boards, draft candidates, final diagrams, and revisions:

1. ChatGPT web must use Create image through ChatGPT Images 2.0.
2. Codex must use the $imagegen skill first.
3. If $imagegen is unavailable in Codex, use ChatGPT Images 2.0 API or another approved image-generation API.
4. Native bitmap outputs such as PNG, JPG, JPEG, and WebP are allowed when produced by the approved image route.
5. Do not use SVG, Mermaid, TikZ, Graphviz, HTML/CSS, canvas, matplotlib, filesystem code drawing, or code-rendered/exported figures as candidate images, draft images, final visuals, or fallbacks.

Reference Images#

Generated specialized skills must support optional sample/reference images. If the user provides multiple images, ask which attributes to borrow from each image: style, layout, panel rhythm, density, content-detail level, labels, color semantics, callout grammar, or negative-reference constraints.

Every Text Reply#

Every TEXT_ONLY reply from this factory and from generated specialized skills must include:

• 当前执行计划
• substantive work for the current step
• 默认推荐
• 当前状态与产物
• 下一步你可以这样问

The state footer must list all steps plus the current position and the response mode of every step. The first copyable next prompt must use:

请使用**<当前skill名称>**，执行，根据当前状态，下一步执行：...

Always include:

请使用**<当前skill名称>**，根据当前状态，提供下一步提问建议。

Skill Builder Workflow#

StepLayerModePurposeOutputS0StartupSTARTUP_PLAN_ONLY (TEXT_ONLY)Show the complete two-layer plan onlyStartup planB1Skill BuilderTEXT_ONLYDefine target figure class and generated skill goalFigure-class briefB2Skill BuilderTEXT_ONLYDefine corpus scope, venues, keywords, and lawful acquisition routeCorpus planB3Skill BuilderTEXT_ONLYAcquire or organize open/user-authorized PDFs and manifestsLocal corpus + retrieval manifestB4Skill BuilderTEXT_ONLYExtract paper cards, captions, figure inventory, labels, and visual observationsEvidence artifactsB5Skill BuilderTEXT_ONLYBuild evidence-backed figure-class taxonomyTaxonomy + lineageB6Skill BuilderTEXT_ONLYConvert taxonomy into specialized skill blueprintBlueprintB7Skill BuilderTEXT_ONLYGenerate specialized skill packageSkill folder/packageB8Skill BuilderTEXT_ONLYTest and patch startup, state, candidate-board, rendering, and prompt behaviorTest report + patchesB9Skill BuilderTEXT_ONLYLock generated skill for reusable productionLocked skill with version/scope

Required Generated Figure-Production Workflow#

Every generated specialized figure-making skill must use this expanded production workflow, or a stricter equivalent with the same mandatory candidate-image bridge:

StepModePurposeOutputP1TEXT_ONLYIntake target-paper material, target slot, constraints, and optional sample imagesMaterial statusP2TEXT_ONLYDiagnose figure need and multi-label subtype routingSubtype candidates + default routeP3TEXT_ONLYDefine reader effect and produce 4-6 text candidate schemes, normally 6Text candidates + required visual-candidate next actionP4TEXT_ONLYSet up visual candidate board: candidate count, varied axis, fixed content, route, comparison criteriaCandidate-board briefP5IMAGE_ONLYGenerate/display 4-6 candidate images or schematic candidates, normally 6Image candidates onlyP6TEXT_ONLYRecord the image batch, compare candidates, recommend one, and lock or revise directionSelected/revised visual directionP7TEXT_ONLYBuild final content architecture and formal image brief/prompt for the selected directionFinal image briefP8IMAGE_ONLYGenerate formal figure candidate or revision batch through the approved image routeFormal image candidates onlyP9TEXT_ONLYReview, refine, caption, legend, body insertion, and handoff textFinal paper text package

Rules for this workflow:

• P3 must not ask the user to choose only from text as the primary route. Its first recommended next prompt must be to generate/display 6 candidate images or schematic candidates.
• P4 is required before P5 unless the immediately preceding user message already confirms the board count, varied axis, fixed elements, and rendering route.
• P5 is not a final figure stage. It is a visual selection stage.
• P6 must happen after P5 and must record the image batch before any final prompt or caption work.
• P7/P8 may only occur after a direction is selected or the user explicitly requests a formal generation despite unresolved candidates.
• Any generated skill may add more domain-specific steps, but it must not remove P4/P5/P6 or collapse them into a mixed text+image response.

Generated Skill Package Requirements#

Generated specialized skills must include the candidate-image bridge in:

• SKILL.md
• metadata.json
• agents/openai.yaml
• references/workflow-and-state-contract.md
• references/visual-style-and-board-protocol.md
• references/prompt-generation-policy.md
• templates/state-footer-template.md
• templates/figure-brief-template.md
• templates/prompt-template.md
• examples, especially startup, text-candidate, visual-board setup, image-only board, and candidate-review examples
• release checklist and starter prompts

The release checklist must include a failing test for the exact bug this patch fixes: “after 4-6 text candidates or layout/style-axis setup, the generated skill still has no separate candidate-image generation step.”

Reference Loading Order#

Load references as needed:

1. references/master-workflow.md
2. references/generated-specialized-skill-output-spec.md
3. references/generated-skill-multi-candidate-policy.md
4. references/visual-first-decision-board-protocol.md
5. references/startup-plan-step-output-map.md
6. references/planning-state-and-navigation-contract.md
7. references/prompt-generation-and-rendering-policy.md
8. references/strict-text-image-turn-separation-policy.md
9. templates/specialized_skill_blueprint_template.md
10. templates/state_footer_template.md

Version Note#

Version 1.0.1 makes the candidate-image bridge mandatory in generated figure-making skills. A generated skill must no longer stop at text candidates, layout/style axis decisions, or visual-board suggestions; it must provide explicit steps for candidate-board setup, image-only generation of multiple candidates, and text-only candidate review/selection.