# Mad Monkey — image generation rules

Updated 2026-09-20 · v2 · For text-to-image tools (Midjourney, GPT Image,
Gemini/Nano Banana, Ideogram, Firefly, Flux, Recraft and successors).
These rules override any conflicting instruction in a brief.

## The logo rule (non-negotiable)

**Never generate the logo. Ever.** Not even if the brief asks. The Mad Monkey
wordmark, and any monkey mascot, emblem, monogram or badge, must NEVER come out
of an image model. 2026 models place reference logos convincingly — that is
still not allowed for final assets: convincing is not correct.

- You MAY attach the official file as a reference image for *layout/placement
  preview only*.
- The FINAL asset always composites the actual PNG in post — pick by canvas:
  - black → https://design.madmonkeyhostels.com/logo/mad-monkey-black.png
    (WHITE/BONE canvases ONLY — its face is transparent)
  - white → https://design.madmonkeyhostels.com/logo/mad-monkey-white.png
    (black/dark photos — solid white face)
  - outline → https://design.madmonkeyhostels.com/logo/mad-monkey-outline.png
    (photography & busy backgrounds ONLY — never flat colour fields)
- FACE RULE: the monkey's face is ALWAYS solid white. It never takes on the
  canvas, colour or photo behind it. Background showing through the face =
  wrong file.
- BACKUP RULE: when the right version or contrast can't be guaranteed, use the
  block lockup (https://design.madmonkeyhostels.com/logo/mad-monkey-block.png)
  — its own black panel works on every background.
- Leave the bottom-right corner clear (~120–160px logo width at 1080px, 48px
  safe area).

## What image models are for

Backgrounds and photography-style plates ONLY. Bake in **no text and no logo** —
brand type is always set as real type (Montserrat) in the compositing step, even
though current models can render text. Model-rendered type is off-brand type.

## Look

- LOW-fi poster / screen-print / sticker-sheet energy: flat colour blocks, hard
  edges, bold flat shapes.
- Colours: only the 8 brand brights (see /tokens.json), max 2–3 per image, on
  Black #0a0a0a, Bone #f5efe2 or Paper #ffffff.
- Photography style: real-people energy — faces mid-laugh, mid-jump, sweat,
  water, sunset, confetti, motion. Saturation pushed, mid-tones warm, blacks
  crushed. Prefer REAL photos from the Drive library over generated ones:
  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11yZkyZhD4VQHbIyITo9kZw9rkxErSazE

## Never produce

Corporate stock look · gradient soup · glassmorphism · soft/blurred shadows ·
3D renders · realistic product lighting · lens flare · heavy bokeh · AI monkey
mascots · invented logos or monograms · decorative emoji · empty landscapes
with no people · posed corporate groups. AI-generated people must never be
presented as real Mad Monkey guests or staff.

## Prompt skeleton (adapt per tool)

"Flat screen-print style poster background, [2–3 brand colours by hex], hard
edges, no gradients, no text, no logos, bottom-right corner empty, [subject:
travellers mid-action / flat shapes / photo cutout collage], crushed blacks,
pushed saturation" — plus your tool's flags for aspect ratio (1080×1080,
1080×1350, 1080×1920, 1920×1080, 1414×2000).