Infographic

What Is Infographic

An infographic is a structured visual argument. If you prompt it like a poster illustration, you will get decorative nonsense.

Use this skill when the image needs:

• clear information hierarchy
• sections with distinct roles
• exact titles and labels
• arrows, callouts, or comparisons
• visual metaphors that explain an idea
• dense information without collapsing into noise

Core Rule

Architecture before aesthetics.

The layout and logic of the information matter more than style keywords.

Two-Dimension System

Think in two independent decisions:

• Layout: how information is structured
• Style: how the structure looks

Do not confuse them.

Examples:

• funnel is a layout, not a style
• technical blueprint is a style, not a layout
• dense modules is a layout for information-heavy guides
• hand-drawn journal is a style direction for tone and texture

If the layout is wrong, better styling will not save the image.

Read:

• structured-content before prompting complex material
• layout-selection when choosing the page structure

Workflow

1. Extract the argument first

Before writing any prompt, define:

• the headline claim
• the supporting sections
• the relationship between sections
• the one takeaway the viewer should remember

If you cannot express the argument in a few bullets, you are not ready to generate.

2. Convert the source into structured content

Before prompting, rewrite the source into a compact planning format:

• title
• learning objective or core claim
• sections
• labels
• data points
• bottom takeaway

This step matters because the model cannot invent information architecture for you reliably.

Use structured-content.

3. Choose the right layout family

A good infographic prompt names the page structure, not just the topic.

Start from the information pattern:

• comparison -> binary-comparison
• timeline or tutorial -> linear-progression
• problem -> solution -> bridge
• conversion or filtering -> funnel
• high-density guide -> dense-modules
• visible vs hidden -> iceberg

Read layout-selection, then open the relevant layout file if needed:

• binary-comparison
• linear-progression
• bridge
• funnel
• dense-modules

For most dense infographics, vertical 9:16 is the safest starting point because it gives enough room for title, sections, and bottom summary.

4. Choose a style direction that supports comprehension

Style should reinforce the argument, not compete with it.

Reliable base directions:

• hand-drawn sketch style, warm beige paper texture, educational infographic layout
• clean white background, flat design, minimal editorial infographic
• technical blueprint style, grid lines, cool restrained palette
• bold graphic poster style, high contrast, strong section framing

Choose one clear style family. Do not mix cute cartoon, serious editorial, and technical diagram in the same prompt unless the tension is intentional.

5. Plan the exact text

Before generation, list:

• title
• section headers
• labels
• quotes
• captions

Short exact strings work far better than vague requests like include some labels.

6. Research models and references

Before generating:

pica skill find "banana prompting"
pica prompt find "infographic"
pica model search "banana image"
pica model info <model-id>

If the task depends on precise text rendering, compare a text-strong model family as well. Do not assume the first model is automatically the right one for final output.

7. Generate a structural draft first

The first render should answer:

• Is the hierarchy correct?
• Are the sections where they should be?
• Does the chosen layout read immediately?
• Are labels roughly in the right places?
• Is the page too sparse or too crowded for the chosen layout?

Do not waste time polishing color before the structure works.

Prompt Formula

Use this order:

[Title] +
[Overall layout structure] +
[Section 1 details] +
[Section 2 details] +
... +
[Connectors / relationships] +
[Bottom summary or quote] +
[Style direction]

The point is to remove ambiguity from the page plan.

Example Prompt Shape

Detailed infographic poster with title at top: [exact title].
Layout: [exact structure].
TOP SECTION: [summary or framing].
LEFT SECTION: [header + scene + labels].
RIGHT SECTION: [header + scene + labels].
BOTTOM SECTION: [summary, quote, or conclusion].
Connectors: [arrows, dotted lines, callouts].
Style: [visual treatment].

Layout Shortcuts

Use these shortcuts when the user gives a recognizable content pattern:

User intent / source shape	Default layout
Before vs after	binary-comparison
Step-by-step tutorial	linear-progression
Problem and solution	bridge
Multi-stage drop-off	funnel
Cheat sheet / buying guide	dense-modules
Hidden foundation / visible tip	iceberg

These are defaults, not laws. Override them when the content shape says otherwise.

Text Rendering Rules

• include exact wording for titles and labels
• keep each text fragment concise
• tell the model where the text belongs
• separate headers, labels, and quotes by function

Example:

Title at top: AI时代创业者的稀缺品质.
Left column header: 艺术家型 Artist Type.
Right column header: 正常型 Normal Type.
Bottom quote banner: 没有乔布斯的命却得了乔布斯的病.

Iteration Rules

When reviewing a draft, decide what failed:

• hierarchy failed -> rewrite layout structure
• layout family failed -> choose a different layout, not just a new prompt wording
• labels failed -> shorten and specify text
• sections too crowded -> reduce content or switch to dense-modules
• too sparse -> switch away from dense-modules or increase module count
• style failed but structure works -> keep layout, only change style language

Do not rewrite the whole prompt when only one layer failed.

Common Failure Modes

• describing an illustration instead of a layout
• omitting exact text
• having sections with no explicit relationships
• overloading one frame with too many ideas
• chasing style before information architecture is correct
• using a low-density layout for high-density content
• forcing dense-modules when the source only has one or two points

Workflow Example

pica skill find "banana prompting"
pica model search "banana image"
pica model info <model-id>
pica generate \
  --model <model-id> \
  --kind image_generation \
  --input '{
    "prompt": "Detailed infographic poster with title at top: AI时代创业者的稀缺品质. Layout: binary comparison with mirrored left and right columns and a bottom quote banner. LEFT COLUMN titled 艺术家型 Artist Type with stressed founder and chaotic desk, labels: 深夜发疯 midnight rants, 偏执 obsessive. RIGHT COLUMN titled 正常型 Normal Type with calm founder and organized desk, labels: 身心健康 mentally healthy, 数据驱动 data-driven. BOTTOM SECTION quote banner: 没有乔布斯的命却得了乔布斯的病. Hand-drawn sketch style, warm beige texture, clear visual hierarchy"
  }'

Related Skills

• Search pica skill find "banana prompting" for better prompt architecture
• Search pica skill find "brand kit" when the task is a brand-led launch card rather than a knowledge-dense infographic