skills/create-gulfpulse-news-images/references/output-specs.md

# Output specifications

## Default package

| Asset | Canvas | Composition | Typical on-image content |
|---|---:|---|---|
| Website article hero | 1600 × 900 px | 16:9 landscape | Country/section label, short headline, restrained brand mark |
| Instagram feed | 1080 × 1350 px | 4:5 portrait | Country label, 5–12 word headline, source/time, logo |
| X post | 1600 × 900 px | 16:9 landscape | Short headline, country label, source/time, logo |

Treat these as GulfPulse production defaults. Follow an explicit user-provided size when it differs.

## Safe layout rules

- Keep critical content at least 6% inside every edge.
- Keep the headline within a compact block; avoid more than four short lines.
- Preserve a clean crop-safe center for social previews.
- Use a strong thumbnail test: brand and central idea must remain understandable at approximately 320 px wide.
- Use English first. Produce Arabic in a separate asset with correct right-to-left layout; never squeeze both languages into one card unless explicitly requested.

## Card variants

### Breaking news

Use only for genuinely urgent, newly confirmed developments. Include source and timestamp. Keep the claim tightly scoped to what is verified.

### Data card

Make the number the focal point. Include unit, period, comparison basis, and source. Do not omit denominators or turn estimates into facts.

### Quote card

Use only a verified quote. Include speaker name, title, source, and date. Shorten with transparent ellipsis only when meaning is preserved.

### Explainer

Use a simple map, timeline, object, or three-part visual hierarchy. Avoid decorative complexity.

### Feature/article hero

Prioritize an editorial scene or symbolic image. The website version may carry less text than social versions.

## Delivery metadata template

For each output provide:

- `Filename:` lowercase story slug plus platform.
- `Size:` exact width × height.
- `Caption:` one or two factual sentences.
- `Source:` publisher/authority and URL.
- `Credit:` source photo / GulfPulse graphic / AI illustration.
- `Alt text:` objective description, generally under 160 characters.
- `Reuse:` reusable, source-restricted, or one-story only.