From 49403b6fab28230afcb5123e2aed49f782daeed6 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: jeffrey94 <hijeffrey94@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:49:09 +0800
Subject: [PATCH] feat(baoyu-xhs-images): add reference image chain for visual
 consistency
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When generating multi-image series, use image 1 as --ref for all
subsequent images. This anchors character design, color rendering,
and illustration style across the entire series — critical for styles
with recurring characters or mascots.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 skills/baoyu-xhs-images/SKILL.md                 | 15 +++++++++++++--
 .../references/workflows/prompt-assembly.md      | 16 +++++++++++++++-
 2 files changed, 28 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/skills/baoyu-xhs-images/SKILL.md b/skills/baoyu-xhs-images/SKILL.md
index 0c8804d..c0094af 100644
--- a/skills/baoyu-xhs-images/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/baoyu-xhs-images/SKILL.md
@@ -368,10 +368,21 @@ Display the selected style's default elements from preset, then ask:
 
 With confirmed outline + style + layout:
 
+**Visual Consistency — Reference Image Chain**:
+To ensure character/style consistency across all images in a series:
+1. **Generate image 1 (cover) FIRST** — without `--ref`
+2. **Use image 1 as `--ref` for ALL remaining images** (2, 3, ..., N)
+   - This anchors the character design, color rendering, and illustration style
+   - Command pattern: `--ref <path-to-image-01.png>` added to every subsequent generation
+
+This is critical for styles that use recurring characters, mascots, or illustration elements. Image 1 becomes the visual anchor for the entire series.
+
 **For each image (cover + content + ending)**:
 1. Save prompt to `prompts/NN-{type}-[slug].md` (in user's preferred language)
    - **Backup rule**: If prompt file exists, rename to `prompts/NN-{type}-[slug]-backup-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.md`
-2. Generate image using confirmed style and layout
+2. Generate image:
+   - **Image 1**: Generate without `--ref` (this establishes the visual anchor)
+   - **Images 2+**: Generate with `--ref <image-01-path>` for consistency
    - **Backup rule**: If image file exists, rename to `NN-{type}-[slug]-backup-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.png`
 3. Report progress after each generation
 
@@ -391,7 +402,7 @@ Reference: `references/config/watermark-guide.md`
 If image generation skill supports `--sessionId`:
 1. Generate unique session ID: `xhs-{topic-slug}-{timestamp}`
 2. Use same session ID for all images
-3. Ensures visual consistency across generated images
+3. Combined with reference image chain, ensures maximum visual consistency
 
 ### Step 6: Completion Report
 
diff --git a/skills/baoyu-xhs-images/references/workflows/prompt-assembly.md b/skills/baoyu-xhs-images/references/workflows/prompt-assembly.md
index bfad8a2..12be2e7 100644
--- a/skills/baoyu-xhs-images/references/workflows/prompt-assembly.md
+++ b/skills/baoyu-xhs-images/references/workflows/prompt-assembly.md
@@ -160,7 +160,21 @@ From outline entry, format:
 If preferences include watermark:
 - Add watermark section with content, position, opacity
 
-### Step 5: Combine
+### Step 5: Visual Consistency — Reference Image Chain
+
+When generating multiple images in a series:
+
+1. **Image 1 (cover)**: Generate without `--ref` — this establishes the visual anchor
+2. **Images 2+**: Always pass image 1 as `--ref` to the image generation skill:
+   ```bash
+   npx -y bun ${SKILL_DIR}/scripts/main.ts \
+     --promptfiles prompts/02-content-xxx.md \
+     --ref path/to/01-cover-xxx.png \
+     --image 02-content-xxx.png --ar 3:4 --quality 2k
+   ```
+   This ensures the AI maintains the same character design, illustration style, and color rendering across the series.
+
+### Step 6: Combine
 
 Assemble all sections into final prompt following base structure.