skills/social/references/recipes.md

# Social prompt library and sizing

## Destination sizing

| Destination | Ratio | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram feed | `4:5` | Tallest the feed allows — most screen space |
| Instagram square | `1:1` | Only when the user asks |
| Stories / Reels covers | `9:16` | |
| YouTube thumbnail | `16:9` | Must read at 120px |
| Shorts cover | `9:16` | |
| Carousel slides | `4:5` | Keep consistent across the deck |

## /instagram — feed post
`{subject}, bold central composition, high colour contrast, clean negative space at the
top third for text overlay, sharp modern commercial photography, scroll-stopping`

## /story — vertical graphic
`{subject}, vertical composition with the subject in the lower two thirds, clear space at
the top for a headline, bright and high contrast, mobile-first`

## /thumbnail — YouTube
`{subject} large in frame, exaggerated clear expression, hard rim light separating subject
from background, saturated complementary background colour, extreme contrast, readable as
a thumbnail at small size`
- Keep any text to 3–4 words, huge, high contrast.

## /carousel — topic, not slides
Pass the **topic**. Good topics describe an arc:
- `three mistakes people make with {thing}, and what to do instead`
- `how {product} is made, from material to finish`
- `before and after using {product}, with the results`

Bad topic: `slide 1: intro, slide 2: ...` — upstream plans the slides itself.

## Caption defaults
- Position `bottom` unless the video has lower-third content
- Shadow `mid` for readability over varied footage
- Static preset unless the user wants animated and accepts double cost