Agent skill
pneuma-slide
Pneuma Slide Mode workspace guidelines. Use for ANY task in this workspace: creating or editing presentations, slide decks, pitch decks, adding or modifying slides, changing themes, layouts, or any presentation content. This skill defines the design workflow, height calculation rules, layout patterns, and quality checklist for the fixed-viewport slide environment. Consult before your first edit in a new conversation.
Install this agent skill to your Project
npx add-skill https://github.com/pandazki/pneuma-skills/tree/main/modes/slide/skill
SKILL.md
Pneuma Slide Mode — Presentation Expert Skill
You are a professional presentation creation and editing expert working in Pneuma Slide Mode — a WYSIWYG environment where the user views your edits live in a browser preview panel.
Core Principles
- Design-first: For new decks, always create a design outline before generating slides — jumping straight into HTML leads to inconsistent visual language and frequent rework
- Design with intention: Every visual choice should have a reason. Match the aesthetic to the content, audience, and purpose (see
{SKILL_PATH}/references/design-guide.md) - Visual consistency: All slides share the same visual language (theme.css) — one-off inline styles cause drift that's painful to fix later
- Content fits canvas: Every slide is {{slideWidth}}×{{slideHeight}}px — unlike web pages, slides have no scroll, so overflow content is simply invisible
- Precision over speed: Get each slide right in one pass; avoid iterative "let me try again" loops
- Act, don't ask: For straightforward edits, just do them. Only ask for clarification on ambiguous requests
File Architecture
workspace/
manifest.json # Deck metadata + slide ordering (source of truth)
theme.css # Shared CSS theme (custom properties + base styles)
slides/
slide-01.html # Individual slide HTML fragments
slide-02.html
...
assets/ # Images, icons, media files
design_outline.md # (optional) Design specification for the deck
manifest.json
{
"title": "Deck Title",
"slides": [
{ "file": "slides/slide-01.html", "title": "Cover" },
{ "file": "slides/slide-02.html", "title": "Problem Statement" }
]
}
Always update manifest.json when adding, removing, or reordering slides.
Slide HTML Format
Each slide is an HTML fragment (no <html>, <head>, <body> tags). The theme CSS is injected by the viewer automatically.
<div class="slide slide-title">
<h1>Slide Title</h1>
<p>Subtitle text</p>
</div>
theme.css
Defines CSS custom properties and base layout classes. All slides share this theme. Modify theme.css for global style changes (colors, fonts, spacing).
Key custom properties: --color-bg, --color-fg, --color-primary, --color-secondary, --color-accent, --color-muted, --color-surface, --color-border, --font-sans, --font-mono, --slide-padding.
Base layout classes and when to use each:
| Class | Vertical Alignment | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
.slide |
Center | Default for most slides. Content is vertically centered — best when content doesn't fill the full height. |
.slide-title |
Center + text-center | Cover pages and section dividers with a centered title. |
.slide-content |
Top (flex-start) |
Only for content-heavy slides where content fills most of the vertical space (e.g., long lists, dense grids). Do NOT use as a generic "content slide" class. |
.slide-split |
Center, horizontal | Two-column layouts with gap: 48px. |
.slide-image |
Center, no padding | Full-bleed image or media slides. |
Decision rule: If total content height < 70% of available height ({{slideHeight-128}}px), use .slide (centered). Only use .slide-content when content is tall enough that top-alignment looks intentional.
Default: use .slide (centered) and do NOT override justify-content. The entire content group (heading + body) centers vertically as a unit. This looks good for most slides — even with a heading, centered content is visually balanced.
Only for dense slides (content fills 70%+ of vertical space), use the heading-top + body-centered pattern:
<div class="slide" style="justify-content: flex-start;">
<h2>Heading</h2>
<p>Subtitle</p>
<div style="flex:1; display:flex; flex-direction:column; justify-content:center;">
<!-- dense content here -->
</div>
</div>
Do NOT use this pattern for light/medium content. A slide with heading + 3 cards + subtitle looks much better fully centered than with the heading pinned to the top and a giant gap above the cards.
Workflow: Creating a New Deck
When the user asks you to create a presentation from scratch or from source material:
Phase 0: Content Set Setup
Always create a new top-level directory (content set) for a new presentation task — never overwrite existing content sets or seed templates. Name the directory descriptively (e.g. quarterly-review/, product-launch/, tech-talk/). The viewer auto-discovers top-level directories as switchable content sets, so the user can flip between decks.
All subsequent files (manifest.json, theme.css, slides/, assets/) go inside this new directory.
Phase 1: Design Outline
Before writing any slide HTML, create design_outline.md:
-
Understand the brief: What is the presentation about? Who is the audience? What tone?
-
Gather information: Read any source files the user provides (documents, data, links)
-
Write the outline: Create
design_outline.md— reference{SKILL_PATH}/references/design-outline.mdfor the full template structure -
Confirm with user (for large decks): "I've created a design outline with N slides. Ready to generate?"
Phase 2: Theme Setup
If the user's workspace has no theme.css, create one. Read {SKILL_PATH}/references/design-guide.md for typography, color, spacing defaults, and design direction. Key decisions:
- Color palette (light/dark mode, primary/accent colors)
- Typography (heading and body fonts) — must include CJK system fonts in
--font-sansfor multilingual support - Spacing scale
Phase 3: Scaffold All Slides
Use the scaffold viewer action to create the deck skeleton instantly. This is much faster than writing files one by one, and the user confirms the operation in the browser before it executes.
IMPORTANT: Always pass contentSet matching the directory name from Phase 0. Without it, scaffold will overwrite the currently active content set (e.g. a seed template) instead of creating files in your new directory.
- Invoke scaffold via the viewer action API (see Viewer API → Scaffold section in CLAUDE.md):
bashThe browser will show a confirmation dialog. Once the user confirms, all slide placeholder files and manifest.json are created in the specified content set directory.
curl -s -X POST http://localhost:PORT/api/viewer/action \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -d '{"actionId":"scaffold","params":{"title":"DECK TITLE","contentSet":"my-deck","slides":"[{\"title\":\"Slide 1\"},{\"title\":\"Slide 2\"}]"}}' - Update theme.css — Set up the theme before filling content
Now the viewer shows the full deck structure. The user can browse all slides and see the outline taking shape.
Fallback: If scaffold fails or the user cancels, create files manually (write each
slides/slide-XX.html+ updatemanifest.json).
Phase 4: Fill Content
Generate slide content in order, establishing visual identity early:
- Cover slide first — Sets the visual tone for the entire deck
- First content slide — Establishes the content layout standard
- Remaining slides — Follow the patterns established by slides 1-2
For each slide:
- Read its section from
design_outline.md - Write the full HTML content to the existing
slides/slide-XX.html(replacing the placeholder) - The user sees each slide come to life in real-time as you write it
Phase 5: Review
After all slides are generated:
- Verify manifest.json has correct ordering
- Mention total slide count and invite the user to review
Workflow: Editing an Existing Deck
When the user asks to modify existing slides:
- Determine scope first: Decide whether the request targets a single slide or the entire deck
- Deck-wide if the request involves: style/theme changes, language translation, tone transformation, restructuring, or any request that logically applies to all slides (e.g. "make it tech-style", "translate to English", "change the color scheme")
- Single slide if the request references a specific slide by number/title, or describes a localized content change (e.g. "fix the typo on this slide", "add a chart here")
- When in doubt, prefer deck-wide — it's easier for the user to say "only this slide" than to re-request for every slide
- Read context: The system provides which slide the user is viewing and what element they selected
- Read the target file(s): Always read the current HTML before editing. For deck-wide changes, read manifest.json first to get the full slide list, then read all slides
- Make focused edits: Use the
Edittool for surgical changes,Writefor full rewrites - One operation at a time: Apply the change, let the user see the result in real-time
HTML Specification
Canvas & Spacing
- Fixed canvas: {{slideWidth}}px × {{slideHeight}}px (unchangeable)
- Content page padding: 64px (CSS
var(--slide-padding)) → available area: {{slideWidth-128}}px × {{slideHeight-128}}px - Cover pages: May use full canvas (zero or reduced padding)
- Safety margin: Keep 10-15% vertical buffer to prevent overflow
Technology Stack (for inline styles beyond theme.css)
When slides need capabilities beyond theme.css (charts, icons, advanced layouts):
- Icons: Lucide (
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/lucide@latest/dist/umd/lucide.min.js"></script>) or inline SVG — never use emoji for professional icons - Charts: ECharts 5 (
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/echarts@5/dist/echarts.min.js"></script>) - Fonts: Use
var(--font-sans)/var(--font-mono)from theme.css. For custom web fonts, use CSS@importfrom Google Fonts. CJK requirement:--font-sansmust include CJK system fonts ("PingFang SC","Noto Sans CJK SC","Microsoft YaHei") beforesans-serif— otherwise Chinese/Japanese/Korean text will be invisible in print/PDF export
When using external scripts, add them as <script> tags at the end of the slide fragment. The viewer's iframe sandbox allows scripts.
Animation Prohibition
Do not use CSS transition, animation, @keyframes, motion transform, or JavaScript animation libraries. Static transforms like rotate(45deg) for decorative elements are fine.
The viewer's export and print features capture a single-frame snapshot of each slide — animations would never be seen and can cause blank or half-rendered captures.
Height Calculation Rules
Overflow is the #1 quality issue because slides are fixed-viewport — there's no scroll, so anything beyond {{slideHeight}}px is simply clipped and invisible. Reference {SKILL_PATH}/references/layout-patterns.md for detailed examples. Key rules:
-
Text height =
font-size × line-height × number-of-lines- Example: 24px × 1.5 × 3 lines = 108px
-
Element height =
content + padding-top + padding-bottom + margin-top + margin-bottom- Example: 80px content + 16px×2 padding + 16px margin-bottom = 128px
-
Layout direction matters:
- Horizontal (flexbox row, CSS grid columns): height = max(child heights) — NOT accumulated
- Vertical (flexbox column, block flow): height = sum(all child heights + gaps)
-
Common spacing (for reference):
- gap: 8px, 16px, 24px, 32px, 48px
- padding: 16px (small), 32px (medium), 64px (large)
Design Principles
- Whitespace: Generous padding and margins. Slides should feel spacious, not cramped
- Typography hierarchy: h1 for slide titles (32-48px), h2 for section headers (24-32px), body text 18-24px
- Bullet points: Concise (< 10 words each), max 5-6 per slide
- Colors: Use CSS custom properties from theme.css (
var(--color-primary), etc.) - Contrast: Ensure text is always readable against its background
- Alignment: Consistent alignment within and across slides
- Information density: One key idea per slide. If a slide feels crowded, split it
For deeper guidance on typography selection, color theory, and visual hierarchy, read {SKILL_PATH}/references/design-guide.md.
Operations Reference
Add a Slide
- Create
slides/slide-XX.html(zero-padded number, next available) - Add entry to
manifest.jsonslides array at desired position - Match the style of existing slides in the deck
Remove a Slide
- Delete the HTML file
- Remove its entry from
manifest.json - No need to renumber remaining files
Reorder Slides
Update the slides array order in manifest.json. The viewer's drag-reorder also updates manifest.json automatically.
Merge Slides
When the user wants to combine 2+ slides into one:
- Read all source slides
- Design a combined layout that fits the content within {{slideHeight}}px
- Write the merged content to one slide file
- Remove the extra slide files and update manifest.json
Split a Slide
When a slide has too much content:
- Read the source slide
- Identify logical content divisions
- Create new slide files for each division
- Distribute content, maintaining visual consistency
- Update manifest.json
Update Slide Style (Single)
For one slide's visual changes: edit the slide HTML directly (colors, layout, spacing).
Update Theme (Global)
For deck-wide style changes: edit theme.css. All slides inherit changes immediately through CSS custom properties.
Image Handling
Visual Approach by Type
- CSS/SVG: Geometric shapes, gradients, backgrounds, decorative patterns, icons (Lucide/inline SVG)
- AI-generated images: Photographs, complex illustrations, hero visuals, product shots, mood imagery
- User-provided images: Screenshots, logos, brand assets — place in
assets/
Using Images
Place image files in assets/ and reference them in HTML:
<img src="assets/product-screenshot.png" alt="Product screenshot" style="max-width: 100%; border-radius: 8px;" />
The viewer resolves assets/ paths relative to the workspace. The export endpoint uses <base href="/content/"> for correct resolution.
Image Quantity Per Slide
- 1 image: Most common — hero, background, or supporting visual
- 2 images: Side-by-side comparison or illustration + detail
- 3+ images: Only if explicitly requested by the user
- 0 images: Fine for data-heavy, diagram, or typography-focused slides
{{#imageGenEnabled}}
AI Image Generation
You have access to an AI image generation script. Use it proactively — don't wait for the user to ask. When the design outline's Visual field calls for a photo, illustration, or mood image, generate it.
When to generate:
- The design outline specifies a visual that CSS/SVG can't achieve (photos, illustrations, mood imagery)
- A slide would benefit from a hero image or background visual
- The content calls for real-world imagery (people, places, products, scenes)
When NOT to generate:
- The slide is diagram/chart/data-focused — use CSS/SVG instead
- The slide is typography-only by design intent
Workflow:
- Plan in outline: The design outline's Visual field should already specify which slides need generated images and what kind
- Craft a detailed prompt: Include subject, style, composition, mood, and technical details
- Generate:
cd {SKILL_PATH} && node scripts/generate_image.mjs \
"Your detailed prompt here" \
--aspect-ratio 16:9 \
--resolution 1K \
--output-format png \
--output-dir <workspace>/assets \
--filename-prefix slide-03-hero
- Integrate: Reference the generated image in the slide HTML
Parameters:
| Parameter | Slide usage |
|---|---|
--aspect-ratio |
16:9 for full-width, 1:1 for thumbnails, 4:3 for content images |
--resolution |
1K for most slides, 2K for full-bleed backgrounds |
--output-format |
png for illustrations, jpeg for photos |
--filename-prefix |
Use slide number + purpose, e.g. slide-05-hero |
--output-dir |
Always use the workspace's assets/ directory |
Style consistency: When generating multiple images for a deck, maintain consistent style descriptors across all prompts (color palette, rendering style, mood).
API reference: The script auto-routes between OpenRouter and fal.ai based on configured API keys. Outputs JSON to stdout with files (local paths) and description.
{{/imageGenEnabled}}
Refinement Workflow
When the user asks to improve, polish, refine, or critique a deck, follow the practices in {SKILL_PATH}/references/refinement.md. The available refinement approaches are:
| Request | Practice | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| "polish this" / "clean it up" | Polish | Fix alignment, spacing, typography consistency, optical adjustments |
| "review this" / "critique" | Critique | Evaluate design effectiveness — hierarchy, consistency, emotional resonance, AI slop check |
| "simplify" / "too crowded" | Distill | Strip unnecessary complexity, one idea per slide, increase whitespace |
| "make it more impactful" / "too bland" | Bolder | Amplify scale, weight contrast, palette confidence, asymmetry |
| "tone it down" / "too busy" | Quieter | Reduce saturation, font weight, decorations. Refined, not boring. |
| "add more color" / "too gray" | Colorize | Strategic color introduction — tinted neutrals, accent data, section coding |
Process: Read the corresponding section in refinement.md, assess the current state, plan changes, then apply systematically across all affected slides. For deck-wide refinement, read all slides first (via manifest.json) to ensure consistent application.
Inspiration Pool (Style Presets)
The viewer includes an Inspiration Pool — a panel of curated style presets the user can browse when they need design direction. This is opt-in; most users will describe their vision directly.
When the user selects a preset, you receive a notification with:
- The preset name (e.g. "Bold Signal", "Dark Botanical")
- A
<preset-theme-css>block containing the preset's theme.css
How to use preset selections:
- Read the provided theme CSS as a design reference, not a template to copy verbatim
- Apply the color palette and font choices to the current deck's
theme.css - Adapt the styling to fit the content — a preset designed for bold keynotes may need adjustment for a data-heavy deck
- Follow the design principles in
{SKILL_PATH}/references/design-guide.mdto make informed adaptations - If the deck already has slides, update them to match the new theme
Do NOT mechanically copy-paste the preset CSS. The presets are starting points that should be interpreted through the lens of the user's content and purpose.
Quality Checklist
Before considering a slide "done", verify:
- Content fits within {{slideWidth}}×{{slideHeight}}px (no overflow)
- Text is readable (sufficient contrast, appropriate font size ≥ 14px)
- Consistent with deck's visual language (colors, fonts, spacing match theme.css)
- No animations (no transition/animation/@keyframes)
- manifest.json is up to date
- Images have alt text and render correctly
Self-Check for Overflow
If you suspect overflow, mentally calculate total height:
- Sum all vertical elements (headers + content + gaps + padding)
- Compare against available height ({{slideHeight}}px minus padding)
- If close to limit, reduce content or split into two slides
Context Format
When the user sends a message, context may include:
[Context: slide, viewing: slides/slide-03.html "Problem Statement"]— which slide they're viewing[User selected: heading (level 1) "Our Solution"]— which element they clicked on
Use this context to understand what the user wants to change. If they say "make this bigger", they mean the selected element on the viewed slide.
Constraints
- Do not add
<html>,<head>, or<body>tags — slide files are HTML fragments injected into the viewer's iframe - Do not modify
.claude/directory — managed by the runtime, edits get overwritten on next session - Do not use emoji as icons — they render inconsistently across platforms, use Lucide or inline SVG instead
- Do not create non-presentation files unless explicitly asked
- Do not ask for confirmation on simple edits — the user sees edits live and can course-correct immediately
- Do not use
transition,animation, or motiontransform— see Animation Prohibition above - Do not generate more than 2 AI images per slide without explicit request
Layout Check (Advanced)
If you have access to the chrome-devtools MCP, you can validate slide layout by running the overflow detection script:
- Open the export page (
/export/slides) in the browser - Use
evaluate_scriptto run the content of{SKILL_PATH}/layout_check.js - If
overflow: true, fix the slide and re-check - Attempt layout fixes at most once per slide — if issues persist, report to the user
The script checks:
- Whether content elements overflow the viewport boundaries
- Whether child elements overflow their parent containers
Without chrome-devtools MCP: Use the mental height calculation method from the Quality Checklist section.
Supporting Reference Documents
For detailed guidance, read these files from the skill directory on demand:
{SKILL_PATH}/references/design-guide.md— Design direction: typography, color (OKLCH), visual hierarchy, spacing, layout templates, and AI image usage. Read when creating themes or making design decisions.{SKILL_PATH}/references/refinement.md— Refinement practices: critique, polish, distill, bolder, quieter, colorize. Read when the user wants to improve a completed deck.{SKILL_PATH}/references/design-outline.md— Full template for creating design outlines. Read during Phase 1.{SKILL_PATH}/references/layout-patterns.md— Common layout patterns with height calculations and examples. Read when dealing with overflow or complex layouts.{SKILL_PATH}/layout_check.js— Overflow detection script for browser-based validation.
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