/minimax-pdf

name: minimax-pdf
description: >
  Use this skill when visual quality and design identity matter for a PDF.
  CREATE (generate from scratch): "make a PDF", "generate a report", "write a proposal",
  "create a resume", "beautiful PDF", "professional document", "cover page",
  "polished PDF", "client-ready document".
  FILL (complete form fields): "fill in the form", "fill out this PDF",
  "complete the form fields", "write values into PDF", "what fields does this PDF have".
  REFORMAT (apply design to an existing doc): "reformat this document", "apply our style",
  "convert this Markdown/text to PDF", "make this doc look good", "re-style this PDF".
  This skill uses a token-based design system: color, typography, and spacing are derived
  from the document type and flow through every page. The output is print-ready.
  Prefer this skill when appearance matters, not just when any PDF output is needed.
license: MIT
metadata:
  version: "1.0"
  category: document-generation

minimax-pdf

Three tasks. One skill.

Read `design/design.md` before any CREATE or REFORMAT work.

---

Route table

| User intent | Route | Scripts used | |---|---|---| | Generate a new PDF from scratch | **CREATE** | `palette.py` → `cover.py` → `render_cover.js` → `render_body.py` → `merge.py` | | Fill / complete form fields in an existing PDF | **FILL** | `fill_inspect.py` → `fill_write.py` | | Reformat / re-style an existing document | **REFORMAT** | `reformat_parse.py` → then full CREATE pipeline |

**Rule:** when in doubt between CREATE and REFORMAT, ask whether the user has an existing document to start from. If yes → REFORMAT. If no → CREATE.

---

Route A: CREATE

Full pipeline — content → design tokens → cover → body → merged PDF.

bash scripts/make.sh run \
  --title "Q3 Strategy Review" --type proposal \
  --author "Strategy Team" --date "October 2025" \
  --accent "#2D5F8A" \
  --content content.json --out report.pdf

**Doc types:** `report` · `proposal` · `resume` · `portfolio` · `academic` · `general` · `minimal` · `stripe` · `diagonal` · `frame` · `editorial` · `magazine` · `darkroom` · `terminal` · `poster`

| Type | Cover pattern | Visual identity | |---|---|---| | `report` | `fullbleed` | Dark bg, dot grid, Playfair Display | | `proposal` | `split` | Left panel + right geometric, Syne | | `resume` | `typographic` | Oversized first-word, DM Serif Display | | `portfolio` | `atmospheric` | Near-black, radial glow, Fraunces | | `academic` | `typographic` | Light bg, classical serif, EB Garamond | | `general` | `fullbleed` | Dark slate, Outfit | | `minimal` | `minimal` | White + single 8px accent bar, Cormorant Garamond | | `stripe` | `stripe` | 3 bold horizontal color bands, Barlow Condensed | | `diagonal` | `diagonal` | SVG angled cut, dark/light halves, Montserrat | | `frame` | `frame` | Inset border, corner ornaments, Cormorant | | `editorial` | `editorial` | Ghost letter, all-caps title, Bebas Neue | | `magazine` | `magazine` | Warm cream bg, centered stack, hero image, Playfair Display | | `darkroom` | `darkroom` | Navy bg, centered stack, grayscale image, Playfair Display | | `terminal` | `terminal` | Near-black, grid lines, monospace, neon green | | `poster` | `poster` | White bg, thick sidebar, oversized title, Barlow Condensed |

Cover extras (inject into tokens via `--abstract`, `--cover-image`):

• `--abstract "text"` — abstract text block on the cover (magazine/darkroom)
• `--cover-image "url"` — hero image URL/path (magazine, darkroom, poster)

**Color overrides — always choose these based on document content:**

• `--accent "#HEX"` — override the accent color; `accent_lt` is auto-derived by lightening toward white
• `--cover-bg "#HEX"` — override the cover background color

**Accent color selection guidance:**

You have creative authority over the accent color. Pick it from the document's semantic context — title, industry, purpose, audience — not from generic "safe" choices. The accent appears on section rules, callout bars, table headers, and the cover: it carries the document's visual identity.

| Context | Suggested accent range | |---|---| | Legal / compliance / finance | Deep navy `#1C3A5E`, charcoal `#2E3440`, slate `#3D4C5E` | | Healthcare / medical | Teal-green `#2A6B5A`, cool green `#3A7D6A` | | Technology / engineering | Steel blue `#2D5F8A`, indigo `#3D4F8A` | | Environmental / sustainability | Forest `#2E5E3A`, olive `#4A5E2A` | | Creative / arts / culture | Burgundy `#6B2A35`, plum `#5A2A6B`, terracotta `#8A3A2A` | | Academic / research | Deep teal `#2A5A6B`, library blue `#2A4A6B` | | Corporate / neutral | Slate `#3D4A5A`, graphite `#444C56` | | Luxury / premium | Warm black `#1A1208`, deep bronze `#4A3820` |

**Rule:** choose a color that a thoughtful designer would select for this specific document — not the type's default. Muted, desaturated tones work best; avoid vivid primaries. When in doubt, go darker and more neutral.

**content.json block types:**

| Block | Usage | Key fields | |---|---|---| | `h1` | Section heading + accent rule | `text` | | `h2` | Subsection heading | `text` | | `h3` | Sub-subsection (bold) | `text` | | `body` | Justified paragraph; supports `<b>` `<i>` markup | `text` | | `bullet` | Unordered list item (• prefix) | `text` | | `numbered` | Ordered list item — counter auto-resets on non-numbered blocks | `text` | | `callout` | Highlighted insight box with accent left bar | `text` | | `table` | Data table — accent header, alternating row tints | `headers`, `rows`, `col_widths`?, `caption`? | | `image` | Embedded image scaled to column width | `path`/`src`, `caption`? | | `figure` | Image with auto-numbered "Figure N:" caption | `path`/`src`, `caption`? | | `code` | Monospace code block with accent left border | `text`, `language`? | | `math` | Display math — LaTeX syntax via matplotlib mathtext | `text`, `label`?, `caption`? | | `chart` | Bar / line / pie chart rendered with matplotlib | `chart_type`, `labels`, `datasets`,