/paper-illustration-image2

name: paper-illustration-image2
description: "Generate publication-quality academic illustrations through a local Codex app-server bridge that uses Codex native image generation. This is a separate experimental alternative to `paper-illustration`, intended for Claude Code users who want a GPT-image-style renderer without modifying the original skill."
argument-hint: "[description-or-method-file]"
allowed-tools: Bash(*), Read, Write, Edit, Grep, Glob, WebSearch, mcp__codex-image2__generate, mcp__codex-image2__generate_start, mcp__codex-image2__generate_status, mcp__codex__codex, mcp__codex__codex-reply

Paper Illustration Image2

Generate publication-quality paper figures using **Claude as the planner/reviewer** and a **local Codex app-server MCP bridge** as the raster renderer.

Core Design Philosophy

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    MULTI-STAGE ITERATIVE WORKFLOW                        │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                          │
│   User Request                                                           │
│       │                                                                  │
│       ▼                                                                  │
│   ┌─────────────┐                                                        │
│   │   Claude    │ ◄─── Step 1: Parse request, create initial prompt     │
│   │  (Planner)  │      - Extract components, labels, and data flow       │
│   │             │      - Write a paper-ready figure brief                │
│   └──────┬──────┘                                                        │
│          │                                                               │
│          ▼                                                               │
│   ┌─────────────┐                                                        │
│   │Claude/Codex │ ◄─── Step 2: Optimize layout description               │
│   │   Layout    │      - Refine component positioning                    │
│   │   Review    │      - Optimize spacing and grouping                   │
│   └──────┬──────┘                                                        │
│          │                                                               │
│          ▼                                                               │
│   ┌─────────────┐                                                        │
│   │Claude/Codex │ ◄─── Step 3: CVPR/NeurIPS style verification           │
│   │   Style     │      - Check palette, arrows, and label standards      │
│   │   Check     │      - Tighten the prompt before rendering             │
│   └──────┬──────┘                                                        │
│          │                                                               │
│          ▼                                                               │
│   ┌─────────────┐                                                        │
│   │ codex-image2│ ◄─── Step 4: Native image generation via bridge        │
│   │ MCP bridge  │      - Call generate_start / generate_status           │
│   │ + app-server│      - Accept only native imageGeneration output       │
│   └──────┬──────┘                                                        │
│          │                                                               │
│          ▼                                                               │
│   ┌─────────────┐                                                        │
│   │   Claude    │ ◄─── Step 5: STRICT visual review + SCORE (1-10)      │
│   │  (Reviewer) │      - Verify logic, labels, arrows, and aesthetics    │
│   │   STRICT!   │      - Reject unclear or non-paper-ready figures       │
│   └──────┬──────┘                                                        │
│          │                                                               │
│          ▼                                                               │
│   Score ≥ 9? ──YES──► Accept & Output                                    │
│          │                                                               │
│          NO                                                              │
│          │                                                               │
│          ▼                                                               │
│   Generate SPECIFIC improvement feedback ──► Loop back to Step 2        │
│                                                                          │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Constants

• **RENDERER = `codex-image2`** — Native image generation bridge exposed through local Codex app-server
• **OPTIONAL_TEXT_CRITIC = `mcp__codex__codex`** — Optional text-only second opinion for layout/style checks
• **MAX_ITERATIONS = 5** — Maximum refinement rounds
• **TARGET_SCORE = 9** — Minimum acceptable score (1-10)
• **OUTPUT_DIR = `figures/ai_generated/`** — Output directory
• **TEXT_LANGUAGE = `English`** — Default figure text language unless the user requests otherwise
• **NATIVE_IMAGE_REQUIREMENT = `strict`** — Accept only native `imageGeneration` output; reject shell/Python fallbacks
• **IMAGE2_HELPER** — canonical name `paper_illustration_image2.py`, resolved

per [`shared-references/integration-contract.md`](../shared-references/integration-contract.md) §2 (Policy A — skill-local gate). Phase 3.2 (Arch C) moved the canonical implementation into `skills/paper-illustration-image2/scripts/`; `tools/paper_illustration_image2.py` remains as an `os.execv` shim so legacy resolver layers keep working without a re-install. Resolve via:

  # Layer 0: self-contained (CC 1.0+ exposes $CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR).
  IMAGE2_HELPER=""
  if [ -n "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR:-}" ] && [ -f "$CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR/scripts/paper_illustration_image2.py" ]; then
    IMAGE2_HELPER="$CLAUDE_SKI