--- description: Generate children's book page spread layouts with text and illustration zones. argument-hint: " [--text-ratio ]" --- # /scr:spread-layout -- Page Spread Layout Generate children's book / picture book page spread layouts with labeled zones for text placement, illustration direction, and bleed areas using ASCII grid visualization. ## Usage ``` /scr:spread-layout [--text-ratio ] ``` ## Instruction You are generating a page spread layout for a children's book or picture book. Load: - `.manuscript/config.json` (to get `work_type` -- must be in visual group: childrens_book, picture_book, illustrated_book) - Scriveno's installed/shared `CONSTRAINTS.json` (global `~/.scriveno/data/CONSTRAINTS.json` or project `.scriveno/data/CONSTRAINTS.json`) (to check `commands.spread-layout.available` -- visual group only) - `.manuscript/illustrations/ART-DIRECTION.md` if it exists (for visual style consistency) - `.manuscript/OUTLINE.md` (to get spread content -- for picture books, each spread is an atomic unit) - Drafted spread content if it exists (the text and scene description for this spread) **Check availability:** Look up the current work type's group in CONSTRAINTS.json. If the group is in `commands.spread-layout.hidden` (prose, script, academic, poetry, interactive, speech_song, sacred), inform the writer: > Spread-layout is designed for children's books and picture books. Your [work_type] project uses different layout tools. Then **stop**. --- ### Spread Analysis Read the content for spread `` from OUTLINE.md and any drafted content. Determine: - **Text content:** The actual text for this spread (or summary if not yet drafted) - **Text length:** Word count to determine text zone size - **Illustration subject:** What should be illustrated on this spread - **Emotional tone:** How this spread should feel visually - **Narrative function:** Is this a quiet moment, action beat, reveal, opening, climax, denouement? - **Page turn impact:** What comes before and after -- is this a surprise reveal on page turn? --- ### Layout Generation (D-04 ASCII Grid) Generate the spread layout using ASCII grid per D-04, showing both pages of the two-page spread with labeled zones. **Standard picture book dimensions:** - Single page: 10" x 8" (landscape) or 8.5" x 11" (portrait) - Full spread: 20" x 8" (landscape) or 17" x 11" (portrait) - Use dimensions from config.json `trim_size` if set, otherwise default to 10" x 8" landscape **Text-to-illustration ratio:** - Default: 30% text / 70% illustration for picture books - Override with `--text-ratio ` (e.g., `--text-ratio 40` for 40% text / 60% illustration) - Text-heavy spreads (> 50%) are unusual -- warn if requested **Zone Labels:** - `[TEXT]` -- Where text is placed, with actual text excerpt - `[ILLUSTRATION]` -- Illustration zone with scene description - `[BLEED]` -- Areas extending beyond trim for full-bleed printing - `[GUTTER]` -- Center binding area (wider inner margin, typically 0.5"-0.75") - `[SAFE]` -- Safe area for critical content (0.25" from trim) **Output Format:** ```markdown # Spread [N] Layout **Title/Caption:** "[spread title or key text excerpt]" **Text ratio:** [N]% text / [N]% illustration **Page dimensions:** [width]" x [height]" per page ([total width]" x [height]" spread) ## Layout Grid SPREAD [N] -- "[short description]" +--------------------+--+--------------------+ | | | | | [ILLUSTRATION] |G | [ILLUSTRATION] | | |U | | | [scene desc] |T | | | |T |--------------------+ | |E | | | [BLEED -->] |R | [TEXT] | | | | "Actual text | | | | from the spread | | | | goes here..." | +--------------------+--+--------------------+ LEFT PAGE RIGHT PAGE ## Left Page - **Zone:** [Full bleed illustration | Partial illustration | Text + illustration] - **Illustration direction:** [What to depict -- characters, setting, action] - **Bleed:** [Which edges bleed -- top, bottom, left, or all] - **Key focal point:** [Where the eye should go] ## Right Page - **Zone:** [Breakdown of text vs illustration areas] - **Text placement:** [Top, bottom, center, wrapped around illustration] - **Text content:** [The actual text or excerpt for this page] - **Illustration direction:** [What to depict in remaining space] ## Typography Notes - **Font size suggestion:** [based on target age group -- larger for younger readers] - **Text alignment:** [left, centered, ragged right] - **Text background:** [transparent over illustration | solid panel | semi-transparent overlay] ## Production Notes - **Gutter safety:** Keep critical text/image content 0.5" from center binding - **Bleed extension:** Extend bleed illustrations 0.125" beyond trim on all bleed edges - **Safe area:** Keep essential text 0.25" inside trim on all edges - **Color notes:** [From ART-DIRECTION.md -- dominant colors for this spread] ``` **Layout Variations by Narrative Function:** - **Opening spread:** Full bleed illustration across both pages, minimal text (title or opening line) - **Action spread:** Dynamic composition, illustration dominates, text integrated into scene - **Quiet moment:** More text space, illustration as vignette or partial page - **Climax/reveal:** Full bleed illustration, text minimal or absent (let the art speak) - **Denouement:** Balanced text and illustration, calming composition - **Final spread:** Can mirror opening spread structure for satisfying bookend Adapt the grid layout to match the narrative function of this particular spread. --- ### Output Create the output directory if needed: ```bash mkdir -p .manuscript/illustrations/spreads/ ``` Save to `.manuscript/illustrations/spreads/spread-{number}-layout.md` Commit: `illustration: generate spread layout for spread {number}` After saving, tell the writer: > Spread layout saved to `.manuscript/illustrations/spreads/spread-{number}-layout.md`. > > The layout shows [TEXT] and [ILLUSTRATION] zones with bleed areas marked. > Share this with your illustrator or use as reference for AI image generation. > > Adjacent spreads: `/scr:spread-layout {prev}` | `/scr:spread-layout {next}` --- ### Edge Cases - **Spread not in outline:** "Spread {number} is not in your outline. Your book has {N} spreads. Check `/scr:progress` for the outline structure." - **No drafted content:** Generate layout from OUTLINE.md beat description. Note: "Layout based on outline. Draft the spread text for more precise text zone sizing." - **Text too long for ratio:** Warn and suggest either splitting across two spreads or increasing text ratio: "The text for this spread is {N} words, which may be too long for {ratio}% text area. Consider splitting into two spreads or using `--text-ratio {suggested}`." - **Full-bleed no-text spread:** Valid for climactic moments. Generate illustration-only spread with no text zone. - **ART-DIRECTION.md missing:** Generate layout without color/style notes. Suggest: "Run `/scr:art-direction` for visual consistency guidance." - **Non-picture-book work type:** Hard stop per CONSTRAINTS.json availability check. ## Response Contract Every writer-facing response must end with one to four next-command suggestions. Each suggestion must include a short explanation of what that path will do. The final visible section of every writer-facing response must be the `Next commands:` block. This applies to successful completion, partial completion, blocked, stopped, validation-failed, and prerequisite-missing responses. Do not end with only a summary, report, checklist, external action, upload instruction, or prose-only options. Use the invocation style for the active runtime when writing command suggestions. Source command IDs use `/scr:*`; Claude Code installed commands use `/scr-*`; Codex installed skills use `$scr-*`. Suggest only runnable Scriveno commands that exist in the installed command surface. Do not invent adjacent workflow names. Use this format: ```markdown Next commands: - `/scr:...`: One short sentence explaining what this path will do. - `/scr:...`: One short sentence explaining what this alternate path will do. ``` If exactly one path is clearly best, provide one suggestion. If two, three, or four useful paths exist, show them as alternatives. Do not force a linear path when the writer has a real choice. If the writer seems unsure or no specific next command is obvious, include this default option: ```markdown Next commands: - `/scr:next`: Inspect the project state and choose the right next step. ``` If the command stops because a prerequisite is missing, suggest the command that fixes the prerequisite. Keep every explanation practical and writer-facing.