How to Debug Layout Issues in Infographic Prompts: A Technical Guide for awesome-gpt-image-2

Debug layout issues in infographic prompts by verifying the category tag points to "cat-infographic" in data/cases.json, inspecting the template layout constraints in docs/templates.md, and eliminating conflicting override strings in the case definition.

Infographic prompts in the awesome-gpt-image-2 repository are constructed from three distinct architectural layers—category, template, and case—that work together to produce structured visual outputs. When generated images appear misaligned, crowded, or missing panels, the root cause typically resides in one of these layers or in the interaction between them. Understanding how to debug layout issues in infographic prompts requires tracing the data flow from the JSON configuration files through the generation script to the final rendered output.

The Three-Layer Architecture of Infographic Prompts

Every infographic prompt is composed of three stacked components that must remain in sync for proper layout rendering.

Category Definition

The category definition tells the engine that a case belongs to the infographic family. In data/style-library.json, the identifier "id": "cat-infographic" establishes the broad styling rules and available template pool for infographic generation. If a case references the wrong category ID, the system applies incorrect base constraints, leading to layout mismatches before any template logic executes.

Template Skeleton

The template skeleton prescribes the overall visual grammar, including grid systems, arrow placement, and caption styling. The master template resides in docs/templates.md under the section header #tpl-infographic. This file defines layout keys such as grid, constraints, and structure that serve as the default scaffolding for all infographic cases. Missing or contradictory keys here cascade into rendering errors.

Case Prompt

The case prompt adds concrete content and layout tweaks specific to a single generation request. Stored in data/cases.json, these entries contain subject descriptions, explicit layout strings (e.g., "layout": "Centered, bold cinematic font, bottom heavy"), and constraint overrides. Case-level overrides are the most frequent source of layout conflicts when they contradict the template's grid specifications.

Step-by-Step Debugging Workflow

When debugging layout issues, work through this verification sequence to isolate the failure point.

Verify the Category Tag

Ensure the case's category field points exactly to "cat-infographic" so the engine selects the correct template family. Open data/cases.json and confirm the entry contains "category": "cat-infographic". A missing or mistyped category causes the generator to apply generic or incompatible styling rules.

Inspect the Template Layout

Examine docs/templates.md in the #tpl-infographic section for missing or contradictory layout keys. Look specifically for layout, constraints, grid, and structure definitions. If the template lacks a grid specification but the case assumes one exists, the generator cannot place elements predictably.

Review Case-Specific Overrides

Check data/cases.json for explicit override strings in the layout field. Values like "16:9" combined with "square" in the same string create conflicting aspect-ratio instructions. Remove redundant size tokens to ensure a single, coherent layout directive reaches the model.

Run the Verbose Generator

Print the final prompt string before it is sent to the model using the debug flag in scripts/generate-style-skill.mjs. Run the following command, replacing 334 with your target case ID:

node scripts/generate-style-skill.mjs \
  --case-id 334 \
  --debug

Inspect the printed JSON for three critical fields: layout (should match template expectations), constraints (must contain "clean typography" for legibility), and grid (rows/cols must be consistent with the visual structure).

Check the Rendering Client

The front-end code in src/main.jsx or the Vite dev server may apply CSS that masks layout overflow. Open browser developer tools and inspect the infographic container for overflow: hidden or mismatched aspect-ratio CSS in src/styles.css. A background-size: cover declaration can swallow foreground elements intended for a neutral paper-like background.

Test with a Minimal Prompt

Strip the case down to bare essentials—subject and a simple layout: "grid" entry—to isolate the problem. Create a temporary entry in data/cases.json or use the local API script scripts/vite-local-api.mjs. If the minimal prompt renders correctly, reintroduce modifiers one by one to identify the conflicting element.

Common Layout Problems and Fixes

Symptom	Likely Cause	Fix
Panels overlap or run off-canvas	The layout string contains conflicting size tokens (e.g., "16:9" together with "square").	Remove one size token; keep a single aspect-ratio specification in the case's layout field.
Text is cut off or illegible	The constraints field omits no-garbled-text or lacks clean-typography directives.	Add "constraints": "clean typography, no garbled text" to the case entry in data/cases.json.
Arrows point nowhere or elements float	The template expects a grid definition but the case supplies only a structure field without grid coordinates.	Add "grid": { "rows": 4, "cols": 3 } (or appropriate dimensions) to the case's JSON object.
Background swallows foreground content	CSS background-size: cover is applied to the container in src/styles.css, conflicting with the infographic's expectation of a neutral frame.	Replace background-size: cover with background-size: contain for infographic containers in src/styles.css.

Practical Debugging Commands

Use these commands to iterate quickly when isolating layout bugs:

# Edit the case layout using jq to test grid configurations

jq '.cases[334].layout = "Centered, grid 4x3"' data/cases.json > tmp.json && mv tmp.json data/cases.json

# Restart the Vite dev server to see CSS changes reflected

npm run dev

# Then open http://localhost:5173 to inspect the rendered output

Key Files for Troubleshooting

Familiarity with these files accelerates the debugging process:

• data/style-library.json – Defines the infographic category ("id": "cat-infographic") and base styling rules.
• docs/templates.md – Contains the master Infographic template (#tpl-infographic) with default layout grammars.
• data/cases.json – Stores concrete prompt entries; check here for override strings that conflict with template defaults.
• scripts/generate-style-skill.mjs – The generation script that matches cases to templates; use the --debug flag to view the final prompt string.
• src/main.jsx and src/styles.css – Front-end rendering logic where CSS overflow and background properties may mask or distort infographic layouts.

Summary

• Infographic prompts consist of three layers: category (data/style-library.json), template (docs/templates.md), and case (data/cases.json).
• Always verify that "category": "cat-infographic" is set correctly to trigger the infographic template pipeline.
• Use node scripts/generate-style-skill.mjs --case-id <ID> --debug to inspect the final prompt before it reaches the model.
• Conflicting size tokens in the layout field and missing grid definitions are the most common causes of overlapping or misaligned panels.
• Check src/styles.css for background-size and overflow properties that may clip or distort the generated layout in the browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my infographic text cut off or illegible?

This occurs when the case's constraints field omits typography directives. According to the data/cases.json schema, you must explicitly include "constraints": "clean typography, no garbled text" to ensure the model prioritizes legible rendering over decorative effects.

How do I verify that the correct infographic template is being applied?

Check the category field in your case entry within data/cases.json. It must exactly match "cat-infographic" to pull the #tpl-infographic template from docs/templates.md. Any deviation causes the generator to use a generic or mismatched template that lacks infographic-specific grid logic.

What causes infographic panels to overlap or run off the canvas?

Overlapping panels typically result from conflicting aspect-ratio tokens in the layout string—such as specifying both "16:9" and "square" simultaneously. The template parser cannot resolve contradictory size instructions, causing elements to misalign. Remove all but one size specification from the case's layout field.

How can I test layout changes without modifying production cases?

Use the local API script scripts/vite-local-api.mjs or temporarily edit data/cases.json with minimal test entries. Run npm run dev to start the Vite server, then inspect the output at http://localhost:5173. This approach allows rapid iteration without affecting the primary case database.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}