Visual Presets for Archify Diagrams: Available Styles and How to Apply Them

Archify supports four visual presets—classic, signal-flow, blueprint, and editorial—that you activate by setting the meta.visual_preset field in your diagram's JSON IR, enabling geometry-preserving style changes without modifying node positions or semantic IDs.

The tt-a1i/archify repository provides a curated set of visual presets that transform how diagrams render in the viewer without touching the underlying geometry. These presets allow you to switch between distinct design languages—from luminous motion-forward presentations to high-contrast engineering blueprints—while maintaining identical node topologies and layout coordinates.

Available Visual Presets for Archify Diagrams

Archify defines four distinct presets in the schema documentation at archify/schemas/README.md#L30-L33. Each preset affects only viewer styling, including color palettes, grid rendering, and motion cues.

• classic – The default baseline style applied when meta.visual_preset is omitted. This stable presentation provides consistent, neutral styling suitable for general-purpose diagram viewing.

• signal-flow – A luminous, motion-forward presentation style optimized for dynamic data flows and real-time system visualizations.

• blueprint – A high-contrast, engineering-review look featuring a precise drafting grid. Ideal for technical documentation and architectural reviews.

• editorial – A warm, publication-style design tailored for documentation review and presentation contexts where a softer aesthetic is preferred.

How to Apply Visual Presets in Archify

You configure visual presets through the diagram's JSON Intermediate Representation (IR) by modifying the meta object.

Using the Default Preset

When you omit the meta.visual_preset field entirely, Archify automatically applies the classic preset. As documented in archify/SKILL.md#L77-L78, this default behavior ensures backward compatibility and consistent rendering for legacy diagrams.

Specifying a Custom Preset

To apply a non-default preset, add the visual_preset key to your diagram's meta object:

{
  "schema_version": "1",
  "diagram_type": "workflow",
  "meta": {
    "title": "Order Fulfillment",
    "visual_preset": "signal-flow"
  },
  "lanes": [  ],
  "phases": [  ],
  "nodes": [  ],
  "edges": [  ]
}

Replace "signal-flow" with "blueprint" or "editorial" to activate the respective styling. The preset value must match one of the enum strings defined in the schema.

Runtime Theme Switching

The Archify viewer allows users to toggle between Light and Dark modes through the UI. According to the authoring contract in archify/references/authoring-contract.md#L78-L80, these theme switches operate independently of the visual_preset field—changing the display theme does not alter the selected preset or affect the underlying diagram geometry.

Geometry Preservation Guarantees

Archify's visual presets are geometry-preserving, meaning they affect only the presentation layer. The authoring contract at archify/references/authoring-contract.md#L78-L80 explicitly guarantees that presets retain the same JSON topology, node IDs, and layout coordinates across all style configurations. This separation of concerns allows you to iterate on visual design without invalidating existing diagram structures or semantic relationships.

Summary

• Four visual presets are available: classic (default), signal-flow, blueprint, and editorial.
• Configuration occurs via the meta.visual_preset field in your diagram's JSON IR.
• Schema definitions live in archify/schemas/README.md#L30-L33 with usage guidance in archify/SKILL.md#L77-L78.
• Geometry preservation ensures node positions and semantic IDs remain constant across all presets.
• Independent controls: Runtime Light/Dark theme toggles do not affect the selected visual preset.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I omit the visual_preset field in my Archify diagram?

If you omit the meta.visual_preset field, Archify automatically defaults to the classic preset. This behavior is documented in archify/SKILL.md#L77-L78 and ensures consistent rendering across all diagrams regardless of when they were authored.

Can I switch visual presets after a diagram has loaded?

While the preset is baked into the JSON IR at load time, the Archify viewer allows users to toggle Light and Dark themes independently. However, switching between signal-flow, blueprint, or editorial presets requires reloading the diagram with a modified meta.visual_preset value, as these represent distinct design languages rather than simple color inversions.

Do visual presets affect diagram exports?

Visual presets control the viewer's rendering pipeline, so exported images reflect whichever preset was active during generation. Since presets are geometry-preserving according to archify/references/authoring-contract.md#L78-L80, the spatial arrangement remains constant across exports, but color palettes and grid styling will vary based on the selected preset.

Where are the visual preset enums defined?

The valid values for meta.visual_preset are enumerated in the schema documentation at archify/schemas/README.md#L30-L33. This file defines the preset strings and their semantic meanings within the Archify type system.

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