> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.highailabs.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Photography and imagery
> Image style, AI-generated imagery guidelines, blog thumbnails, strain images, and visual do's and don'ts.
## Visual identity
Premium botanical aesthetics, not cliche cannabis culture. Our imagery communicates scientific precision meets natural beauty. Cannabis is shown as a refined, intelligent product — never as counterculture, never as a vice.
Every image should answer the question: "Does this look like it belongs in a premium editorial publication?" If the answer is no, it does not belong on the platform.
## AI-generated imagery
Blog thumbnails and inline article images are generated using AI, with category-aware prompts that match each article's tone and topic.
Blog thumbnails are generated via Google Gemini (Imagen 3). Each image is category-aware with tailored visual elements, color palettes, and photography styles that match the article content. The AI blog writing system handles prompt generation automatically.
All generated images are 1792 x 1024 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio) in PNG format. This size is compatible with OpenGraph meta tags and renders cleanly across social media platforms, search results, and the blog listing pages.
Generated images are automatically uploaded to the `blog-article-images` Supabase storage bucket with 1-year CDN caching. The article frontmatter is updated with the image URL and descriptive alt text without manual intervention.
## Category visual styles
Each blog category has a defined visual language that guides AI image generation and any manual photography or illustration work.
| Category | Visual elements | Photography style |
| --------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| Guides | Clean botanical illustrations, step diagrams | Editorial, well-lit, organized |
| Science | Molecular structures, lab equipment, data visualization | Clinical precision, microscopy, studio lighting |
| Strains | Macro flower photography, trichome crystals | Close-up, trichome detail, natural light |
| Wellness | Calm settings, natural elements, warmth | Soft lighting, earth tones, peaceful |
| Culture | Historical imagery, portraits, events | Documentary, storytelling, candid |
| News | Modern design, typography-forward | Bold, clean, current |
| Recipes | Ingredients, preparation, finished product | Food photography, appetizing |
| Lifestyle | Real settings, activities, pairings | Lifestyle editorial, natural |
## Strain images
Strain profile images follow specific guidelines to maintain consistency across the encyclopedia and app.
* Macro product photography style with trichome detail and flower structure visible
* Natural lighting preferred over artificial studio setups
* Accurate color representation — the image should reflect the actual appearance of the strain
* Clean, uncluttered backgrounds that do not compete with the subject
* No smoke, no red eyes, no paraphernalia in frame
* Images are stored in the Supabase storage bucket and served via CDN
When selecting or generating strain images, prioritize shots that reveal the unique physical characteristics of the cultivar — calyx structure, pistil color, trichome density, and leaf-to-bud ratio. These details help users visually distinguish strains.
## Do's and don'ts
| Do | Don't |
| --------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| Clean, uncluttered backgrounds | Busy, patterned, or neon backgrounds |
| Natural, warm lighting | Harsh, artificial, or psychedelic lighting |
| Premium, refined quality | Stock photo feel or generic imagery |
| Show cannabis as an intelligent product | Perpetuate stoner stereotypes |
| Macro botanical photography | Wide shots of dispensaries or stores |
| Scientific, editorial framing | Smoke clouds, red eyes, party imagery |
| Consistent brand color palette | Colors that clash with the brand |
| No text baked into images | Text overlays in image files (text is rendered in code) |
## Image specifications
| Context | Dimensions | Format | Notes |
| ------------------- | ------------------------ | ---------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| Blog OG / thumbnail | 1792 x 1024 | PNG | 16:9 aspect ratio, no text in image |
| Blog inline | Variable | PNG / WebP | Generated by AI or sourced editorially |
| Strain profile | Variable | PNG | Served from Supabase storage |
| App screenshots | Device frame | PNG | iOS device frame preferred |
| Social media | Platform-specific | PNG | Adapt brand colors to platform requirements |
| Professor High | See character guidelines | PNG / SVG | See [Professor High](/brand/professor-high) |
## A note on cannabis imagery
Cannabis advertising restrictions vary by jurisdiction. Many states prohibit imagery that could appeal to minors, including cartoon characters and candy-like visuals. When creating marketing materials, consider the regulatory landscape.
Professor High's scientific framing (lab coat, flask, research context) is intentionally designed to position as educational rather than promotional. All platform imagery should reinforce this positioning — authoritative knowledge, not recreational marketing.