Photo Revival
Core idea
Keep the subject and scene recognizable, but redraw the image as a fresh illustration on white paper.
Default to:
- 3:4 vertical composition
- large white-paper negative space
- a tiny subject or focal cluster occupying about 10-16% of the page
- delicate hand-drawn texture
- vivid local color only where it matters
- tiny handwritten text, dates, or short captions
Workflow
- Identify the photo's main subject, setting, and one or two memorable details.
- Preserve those details in simplified form; do not copy the photo literally.
- Rebuild the scene as an illustration with paper texture, brush marks, pencil edges, or watercolor softness.
- Leave 80-88% of the page as blank white paper.
- Add text only as a small note, label, date, or poetic fragment.
Style rules
- Use white or very light paper as the base.
- Keep the illustration area small and concentrated: default 10-16% of the page, absolute maximum 18%.
- Keep the strongest color inside that small illustrated area; do not let color spread into the blank field.
- Favor vivid but controlled color in a limited area.
- Let the drawing feel handmade, not filtered.
- Allow subtle collage, stamp, or clipping hints only when they stay tiny and integrated.
Avoid
- Full-bleed image fills
- Photo-filter looks
- Heavy poster typography
- Dense layouts
- Subject areas larger than 18% of the page
- Flat vector treatment
- Large collage blocks
- Overly realistic retouching
Output prompt shape
When directing image generation, describe:
- what must be preserved from the photo
- what should become illustrated
- the paper base and empty space
- the tiny text treatment
- the desired color accents
Keep the instruction short and focused.
