ALTITUDE
AI Signal — Image Style Guide
Series Visual Identity
Each monthly edition gets a unique hero image generated via Google AI Studio (Gemini), following a consistent visual language that ties the series together.
Style Rules
| Element | Specification |
|---|---|
| Background | Dark navy (#1A2332) — matches Pandion brand |
| Primary lines | White, continuous line art |
| Accent colour 1 | Teal (#008B8B) — highlights, secondary paths |
| Accent colour 2 | Gold (#C9A961) — accent nodes, warm highlights |
| Glow effects | Subtle white/teal glow at key nodes |
| Style | Minimal line art, circuit-like patterns, editorial |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 |
| Text | None — image only |
| Feel | Calm, intelligent, professional |
| Tech elements | Nodes, connection points, hexagons, circuit traces, binary hints |
Google AI Studio Settings
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Gemini 2.0 Flash (or latest with image generation) | Good image quality, fast |
| Temperature | 0.7–0.8 | Low enough for brand consistency, high enough for creative variation |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 (Widescreen) | Matches blog hero image layout |
| Output format | JPG | Smaller file size for web |
| Grounding with Google Search | OFF | Pure creative output — no web influence |
| Safety settings | Default | No sensitive content in these prompts |
Tips:
- Generate 2-3 variations at the same settings, pick the best match to the January reference
- If the output is too busy or too sparse, adjust temperature slightly (down for simpler, up for more detail)
- If colours drift from the brand palette, re-emphasise the hex codes in the prompt
Prompt Template
Use this template for each new edition, swapping the [THEME] section:
Create a minimal line art illustration on a dark navy background (#1A2332). Single
continuous white line drawing with teal (#008B8B) and gold (#C9A961) accent highlights.
The illustration represents the theme [THEME DESCRIPTION — what the visual metaphor
should convey, described in terms of shapes/paths/structures, not abstract concepts].
Include subtle geometric elements suggesting AI/technology (circuit-like patterns,
nodes, connection points). Style: elegant, editorial, modern. Aspect ratio 16:9.
No text. The feel should be calm, intelligent, and professional — suitable for a
business blog header.
Edition History
January 2026 — "Delegation vs Inquiry"
Theme description used:
"delegation vs inquiry" – two diverging paths from a single point, one path is straight and passive (delegation), the other curves and branches with exploration nodes (inquiry)
Full prompt:
Create a minimal line art illustration on a dark navy background (#1A2332). Single
continuous white line drawing with teal (#008B8B) and gold (#C9A961) accent highlights.
The illustration represents the theme "delegation vs inquiry" – two diverging paths from
a single point, one path is straight and passive (delegation), the other curves and
branches with exploration nodes (inquiry). Include subtle geometric elements suggesting
AI/technology (circuit-like patterns, nodes, connection points). Style: elegant, editorial,
modern. Aspect ratio 16:9. No text. The feel should be calm, intelligent, and professional
– suitable for a business blog header.
File: /images/altitude/ai-signal/2026/ai-signal-january-2026-delegation-vs-inquiry.jpg
February 2026 — "The Deployment Overhang"
Theme description:
"the deployment overhang" – a large, expansive capability structure (wide branching circuit network, many nodes, full of potential) with only a small portion illuminated/active at the base. The lit portion is small and bright (teal glow), while the vast unlit portion above extends upward — present but dormant. The visual metaphor is an iceberg or overhang: what's being used vs what's available.
Full prompt:
Create a minimal line art illustration on a dark navy background (#1A2332). Single
continuous white line drawing with teal (#008B8B) and gold (#C9A961) accent highlights.
The illustration represents the theme "the deployment overhang" – a large, expansive
capability structure (wide branching circuit network, many nodes, full of potential) with
only a small portion illuminated/active at the base. The lit portion is small and bright
(teal glow), while the vast unlit portion above extends upward — present but dormant.
The visual metaphor is an iceberg or overhang: what's being used vs what's available.
Include subtle geometric elements suggesting AI/technology (circuit-like patterns, nodes,
connection points). Style: elegant, editorial, modern. Aspect ratio 16:9. No text. The
feel should be calm, intelligent, and professional – suitable for a business blog header.
File: /images/altitude/ai-signal/2026/ai-signal-february-2026-deployment-overhang.jpg
Workflow
- Write the theme description (what visual metaphor conveys the edition's key idea)
- Insert into the prompt template above
- Generate in Google AI Studio (Gemini) — try 2-3 variations
- Pick the one that best matches the January reference style
- Save as JPG to
/public/images/altitude/ai-signal/2026/ai-signal-[slug].jpg - Log the prompt and filename in this file for future reference
File Naming Convention
ai-signal-[month]-[year]-[theme-slug].jpg
Examples:
ai-signal-january-2026-delegation-vs-inquiry.jpgai-signal-february-2026-deployment-overhang.jpg