Sanctification/spikes/branding-concepts-astra-medium/README.md

Sanctification branding concepts

Three independent bitmap identity explorations directed by Astra Medium (gpt-6-astra, medium reasoning). The built-in image generation tool uses a separate image model; its exact model identifier was not exposed. Generated artwork contains no lettering. Logo lettering was typeset deterministically in the repository's P052 Bold and Sanctification P052 Medium fonts.

Open index.html for actual 16/32/64 px previews on light and dark surfaces, and comparison.png for a labeled overview. View the HTML at 100% browser zoom; a scaled comparison-sheet image cannot establish actual-size legibility.

Directions and recommendation

1. Lighted Window — a cross forms the leadwork of a lancet window. The most direct connection to the stained-glass card language; calm and architectural. Strong logo direction, but the tall shape occupies less of a square favicon and its cross is relatively thin at 16 px.
2. Renewing Flame — rising glass shapes express growth in Christ and movement toward holiness. The most expressive symbol. The generated cross cutout has rough, irregular alpha edges; narrow flame tips and negative-space cross need a deliberate redraw before production. Cream behind the cream inner flame also weakens the cross, especially at small sizes.
3. Rose of Grace — a compact four-petal rose window around a cream cross. Recommended starting point for a unified logo and favicon: its square footprint and bold central cross use the small canvas best. The petal/cross embellishments and gold pockets should be simplified when drawing a production master. Its ecclesiastical form is more ornamental and less distinctive than the flame; no trademark research was performed.

Deliverables

• sources/: untouched original PNG copies (1254 × 1254 RGBA), one per independent prompt.
• Each numbered concept folder: transparent mark-512.png; cream-backed rounded icon-tile-512.png; logo-light.png and logo-dark.png (1300 × 280); actual 16/32/64 px favicon PNGs; same-size raw transparent mark diagnostics; and a multi-resolution favicon-exploration.ico.
• comparison.png: labeled three-direction review.
• index.html: local review page with exact-size images on white and deep teal.
• metadata.json: exact prompts, originating generated paths, model assignment and tool mode.
• build-review.cjs: reproducible ImageMagick assembly. Uses repository font paths and source copies; no generated lettering.

Decisions and limits

These are raster concepts, not SVG/vector originals, approved production favicons, or installed app branding. No existing logo, favicon, app code, card illustration, or production mask was replaced. Card rarity, card aspect ratios, and layered-printing rules were intentionally outside this branding exploration.

The source images were requested as flat, text-free, transparent marks. They have real alpha, but also mild generated color shading and imperfect contours. The rose adds more small cross ornament than requested; the flame's cutout is imperfect. These deviations remain visible and are not silently repaired. Generated colors approximate the requested palette; deterministic backgrounds and lettering use exact deep teal #263f50 and cream #f4ead4.

Preview processing trims transparent margins, fits each mark into a 432 px square, and centers it on 512 px. Cream rounded tiles are an intentional brand-container treatment that protects dark outlines on dark UI; the raw transparent previews reveal that the teal outlines lose contrast directly on a teal background. Small icons use Lanczos downsampling, without custom pixel hinting or per-size redrawing. This honestly reveals what survives reduction. Large lockups use shared P052; the descriptor is "TRADING CARD GAME". Minimum sizes and spacing are exploratory.

A chosen direction still needs a clean vector redraw, optical correction at 16/32 px, theme variants if transparent use is required, and final human approval. Sources and prompts provide an auditable basis for that work.

Validation

All three originals were inspected after generation. The finished comparison is visually reviewed for distinct silhouettes, typography, theme contrast, and clipping. PNG dimensions/alpha and ICO size entries are checked mechanically, and source-copy SHA-256 hashes are recorded in validation.json. Native-size PNGs and HTML expose limitations rather than extrapolating favicon success from large artwork.

To rebuild derived review files from preserved local sources:

node sanctification/spikes/branding-concepts-astra-medium/build-review.cjs

Requires ImageMagick magick and Node.js; original built-in outputs are retained at their generated paths as well as in sources/.