Baoyu Infographic Skill for Hermes Agent: Layouts, Styles, and Workflow

The Baoyu Infographic skill turns raw content into a structured, styled infographic. You pick a layout (how information is arranged) and a style (how it looks), and the skill generates a prompt for an image generation tool. This is useful when you need a visual summary of data, a timeline, a comparison, or any high-density information graphic. The skill handles the analysis, structuring, and prompt assembly so you can focus on the content.

What it does

This skill takes source content (text, a file path, a URL, or a topic) and runs it through a seven-step workflow. It analyzes the content, structures it for visual communication, recommends layout and style combinations, confirms your choices, assembles a prompt, generates an image, and reports the output. The core idea is that you can combine any of 21 layouts with any of 21 styles, giving you 441 possible visual treatments. The skill also includes keyword shortcuts that auto-select a layout and style when the user mentions specific terms like "high-density info graphic" or "infographic."

Before you start

This skill is bundled with Hermes Agent, so it is installed by default. You need the image_generate tool available in your Hermes Agent environment. The skill writes files to a directory structure under infographic/{topic-slug}/. Make sure the agent has write permissions for that path. The skill runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. There are no additional packages to install.

Layout Gallery

The skill offers 21 layouts, each suited to a different kind of information structure. The default layout is bento-grid.

Layout	Best For
linear-progression	Timelines, processes, tutorials
binary-comparison	A vs B, before-after, pros-cons
comparison-matrix	Multi-factor comparisons
hierarchical-layers	Pyramids, priority levels
tree-branching	Categories, taxonomies
hub-spoke	Central concept with related items
structural-breakdown	Exploded views, cross-sections
bento-grid	Multiple topics, overview (default)
iceberg	Surface vs hidden aspects
bridge	Problem-solution
funnel	Conversion, filtering
isometric-map	Spatial relationships
dashboard	Metrics, KPIs
periodic-table	Categorized collections
comic-strip	Narratives, sequences
story-mountain	Plot structure, tension arcs
jigsaw	Interconnected parts
venn-diagram	Overlapping concepts
winding-roadmap	Journey, milestones
circular-flow	Cycles, recurring processes
dense-modules	High-density modules, data-rich guides

Full definitions: references/layouts/.md

Style Gallery

The skill offers 21 styles, each with a distinct visual aesthetic. The default style is craft-handmade.

Style	Description
craft-handmade	Hand-drawn, paper craft (default)
claymation	3D clay figures, stop-motion
kawaii	Japanese cute, pastels
storybook-watercolor	Soft painted, whimsical
chalkboard	Chalk on black board
cyberpunk-neon	Neon glow, futuristic
bold-graphic	Comic style, halftone
aged-academia	Vintage science, sepia
corporate-memphis	Flat vector, vibrant
technical-schematic	Blueprint, engineering
origami	Folded paper, geometric
pixel-art	Retro 8-bit
ui-wireframe	Grayscale interface mockup
subway-map	Transit diagram
ikea-manual	Minimal line art
knolling	Organized flat-lay
lego-brick	Toy brick construction
pop-laboratory	Blueprint grid, coordinate markers, lab precision
morandi-journal	Hand-drawn doodle, warm Morandi tones
retro-pop-grid	1970s retro pop art, Swiss grid, thick outlines
hand-drawn-edu	Macaron pastels, hand-drawn wobble, stick figures

Full definitions: references/styles/.md

Recommended Combinations

The skill provides a table of recommended layout and style pairings for common content types. These are suggestions, not rules.

Content Type	Layout + Style
Timeline/History	linear-progression + craft-handmade
Step-by-step	linear-progression + ikea-manual
A vs B	binary-comparison + corporate-memphis
Hierarchy	hierarchical-layers + craft-handmade
Overlap	venn-diagram + craft-handmade
Conversion	funnel + corporate-memphis
Cycles	circular-flow + craft-handmade
Technical	structural-breakdown + technical-schematic
Metrics	dashboard + corporate-memphis
Educational	bento-grid + chalkboard
Journey	winding-roadmap + storybook-watercolor
Categories	periodic-table + bold-graphic
Product Guide	dense-modules + morandi-journal
Technical Guide	dense-modules + pop-laboratory
Trendy Guide	dense-modules + retro-pop-grid
Educational Diagram	hub-spoke + hand-drawn-edu
Process Tutorial	linear-progression + hand-drawn-edu

Default: bento-grid + craft-handmade

Keyword Shortcuts

When user input contains these keywords, the skill auto-selects the associated layout and offers the associated styles as top recommendations. It skips content-based layout inference for matched keywords. If a shortcut has Prompt Notes, those notes are appended to the generated prompt as additional style instructions.

User Keyword	Layout	Recommended Styles	Default Aspect	Prompt Notes
高密度信息大图 / high-density-info	dense-modules	morandi-journal, pop-laboratory, retro-pop-grid	portrait	,
信息图 / infographic	bento-grid	craft-handmade	landscape	Minimalist: clean canvas, ample whitespace, no complex background textures. Simple cartoon elements and icons only.

Output Structure

The skill creates a directory for each infographic. The slug is 2-4 words in kebab-case derived from the topic. If there is a conflict, it appends -YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.

infographic/{topic-slug}/
├── source-{slug}.{ext}
├── analysis.md
├── structured-content.md
├── prompts/infographic.md
└── infographic.png

Core Principles

Two rules govern the entire workflow. First, preserve source data faithfully. Do not summarize or rephrase any statistics or quotes. Second, strip any credentials, API keys, tokens, or secrets from the content before including it in any output file. The skill also defines learning objectives before structuring content and structures for visual communication using headlines, labels, and visual elements.

Workflow

Step 1: Analyze Content

Load references: Read references/analysis-framework.md from this skill.

1. Save source content (file path or paste → source.md using write_file)

   • Backup rule: If source.md exists, rename to source-backup-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.md

2. Analyze: topic, data type, complexity, tone, audience

3. Detect source language and user language

4. Extract design instructions from user input

5. Save analysis to analysis.md

   • Backup rule: If analysis.md exists, rename to analysis-backup-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.md

See references/analysis-framework.md for detailed format.

Step 2: Generate Structured Content → structured-content.md

Transform content into infographic structure:

1. Title and learning objectives
2. Sections with: key concept, content (verbatim), visual element, text labels
3. Data points (all statistics/quotes copied exactly)
4. Design instructions from user

Rules: Markdown only. No new information. Preserve data faithfully. Strip any credentials or secrets from output.

See references/structured-content-template.md for detailed format.

Step 3: Recommend Combinations

3.1 Check Keyword Shortcuts first: If user input matches a keyword from the Keyword Shortcuts table, auto-select the associated layout and prioritize associated styles as top recommendations. Skip content-based layout inference.

3.2 Otherwise, recommend 3-5 layout×style combinations based on:

• Data structure → matching layout
• Content tone → matching style
• Audience expectations
• User design instructions

Step 4: Confirm Options

Use the clarify tool to confirm options with the user. Since clarify handles one question at a time, ask the most important question first:

Q1, Combination: Present 3+ layout×style combos with rationale. Ask user to pick one.

Q2, Aspect: Ask for aspect ratio preference (landscape/portrait/square or custom W:H).

Q3, Language (only if source ≠ user language): Ask which language the text content should use.

Step 5: Generate Prompt → prompts/infographic.md

Backup rule: If prompts/infographic.md exists, rename to prompts/infographic-backup-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.md

Load references: Read the selected layout from references/layouts/.md and style from references/styles/.md.

Combine:

1. Layout definition from references/layouts/.md
2. Style definition from references/styles/.md
3. Base template from references/base-prompt.md
4. Structured content from Step 2
5. All text in confirmed language

Aspect ratio resolution for {{ASPECT_RATIO}}:

• Named presets → ratio string: landscape→16:9, portrait→9:16, square→1:1
• Custom W:H ratios → use as-is (e.g., 3:4, 4:3, 2.35:1)

Save the assembled prompt to prompts/infographic.md using write_file.

Step 6: Generate Image

Use the image_generate tool with the assembled prompt from Step 5.

• Map aspect ratio to image_generate's format: 16:9 → landscape, 9:16 → portrait, 1:1 → square
• For custom ratios, pick the closest named aspect
• On failure, auto-retry once
• Save the resulting image URL/path to the output directory

Step 7: Output Summary

Report: topic, layout, style, aspect, language, output path, files created.

References

• references/analysis-framework.md, Analysis methodology
• references/structured-content-template.md, Content format
• references/base-prompt.md, Prompt template
• references/layouts/.md, 21 layout definitions
• references/styles/.md, 21 style definitions

Pitfalls

1. Data integrity is paramount, never summarize, paraphrase, or alter source statistics. "73% increase" must stay "73% increase", not "significant increase".
2. Strip secrets, always scan source content for API keys, tokens, or credentials before including in any output file.
3. One message per section, each infographic section should convey one clear concept. Overloading sections reduces readability.
4. Style consistency, the style definition from the references file must be applied consistently across the entire infographic. Don't mix styles.
5. image_generate aspect ratios, the tool only supports landscape, portrait, and square. Custom ratios like 3:4 should map to the nearest option (portrait in that case).

When not to use it

Do not use this skill if the source content contains sensitive data that cannot be stripped of credentials, API keys, or secrets. The skill is designed for public or non-sensitive information. Also avoid it if the content requires a specific visual style that is not covered by the 21 available styles, or if the data structure does not fit any of the 21 layouts. For simple text or data that does not benefit from a visual layout, a plain chart or table may be more appropriate.

Limits and gotchas

The image_generate tool only supports three aspect ratios: landscape, portrait, and square. Custom ratios like 3:4 are mapped to the closest named option, which may not match your exact needs. The skill auto-retries once on image generation failure, but if the tool is unavailable or the prompt is too long, the image may not be created. The skill relies on reference files that must be present in the skill directory; if they are missing, the prompt assembly will fail. The keyword shortcuts only trigger for exact matches of the listed keywords; partial matches or synonyms will not auto-select a layout.

What pairs with this

This skill works well with other creative skills in Hermes Agent, such as those for generating diagrams, charts, or presentations. The structured content output can also be reused in other documentation or reporting workflows. The upstream repository is baoyu-skills by 宝玉 (JimLiu).