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

1. Identify the photo's main subject, setting, and one or two memorable details.
2. Preserve those details in simplified form; do not copy the photo literally.
3. Rebuild the scene as an illustration with paper texture, brush marks, pencil edges, or watercolor softness.
4. Leave 80-88% of the page as blank white paper.
5. 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.