novafarma/docs/art_guidelines/CROPS_STYLE_GUIDE.md

🌾 CROP SPRITES STYLE GUIDE

Established: Jan 8, 2026
Art Direction: Cult of the Lamb aesthetic (same as grassland biome)

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✅ OFFICIAL ART STYLE: "CULT OF THE LAMB"

Core Visual Principles:

1. SMOOTH VECTOR LINES ✅

   • NO pixelation
   • Clean, smooth curves
   • Vector-style rendering
   • Organic plant shapes

2. THICK BLACK OUTLINES ✅

   • Bold black borders on all elements
   • Consistent line weight
   • Clear definition between stages

3. MUTED SATURATED COLORS ✅

   • NO gray tones
   • NO neon colors
   • Natural plant colors
   • Progressive color changes through growth stages

4. CHIBI CUTE ✅

   • Simplified plant proportions
   • Charming, rounded shapes
   • Friendly aesthetic
   • Appealing to look at

5. TOP-DOWN PERSPECTIVE ✅

   • All crops viewed from above
   • Clear visibility of growth stage
   • Fits seamlessly on tilled soil tiles

6. PROGRESSIVE GROWTH ✅

   • Visible size increase through stages
   • Color evolution (green → mature color)
   • Clear visual distinction between stages

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📐 GROWTH STAGES (6 stages standard):

All crops follow this pattern:

1. Stage 0: Seed Packet

   • Small item, paper bag or pouch
   • Crop icon visible on packet
   • Muted brown packaging

2. Stage 1: Sprout

   • Tiny plant emerging from soil
   • 1-2 small leaves
   • Bright green color
   • Soil mound visible

3. Stage 2: Young Plant

   • More leaves (4-5)
   • Taller than sprout
   • Still green
   • Recognizable as specific crop type

4. Stage 3: Growing

   • Larger plant
   • Early signs of vegetable/fruit
   • Color starting to change
   • Distinctive crop features visible

5. Stage 4: Ready to Harvest

   • Full-size plant
   • Mature color (varies by crop)
   • Heavy with produce
   • Clearly ready state

6. Stage 5: Harvested

   • Harvested bundle or item
   • Sometimes tied with rope/ribbon
   • Display version of crop
   • Can be held/carried

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🌾 WHEAT EXAMPLE (REFERENCE):

See: assets/references/crops/wheat/growth/

• Stage 0: Brown seed packet with wheat icon
• Stage 1: Tiny green sprout (2 leaves)
• Stage 2: Young plant (5 leaves spreading)
• Stage 3: Wheat stalks forming, green-yellow
• Stage 4: Full golden wheat, drooping heads
• Stage 5: Wheat bundle tied with black ribbon

Colors used:

• Seed packet: #8B6F47 (muted brown)
• Sprout/young: #5C8A5C (muted green)
• Growing: #9CAE7B (green-yellow)
• Harvest: #D4B86A (golden yellow)
• Harvested: #C9A84F (rich gold)

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🎨 COLOR PALETTE BY CROP TYPE:

Wheat:

• Green stages: #5C8A5C
• Mature: #D4B86A (golden)

Carrot:

• Green leaves: #5C8A5C
• Orange root: #D97847 (muted orange)

Tomato:

• Green stages: #5C8A5C
• Red fruit: #C05050 (muted red)

Potato:

• Green leaves: #5C8A5C
• Mature: #C9AE87 (tan/beige)

Corn:

• Green stages: #6FA36F
• Yellow corn: #E0C26B (muted yellow)

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🎯 MANDATORY PROMPT ELEMENTS:

Every crop sprite MUST include:

[Crop name] [stage description], Cult of the Lamb style, thick smooth black outlines 
NO PIXELATION, muted [color] (#HEX), simplified organic plant shape, chibi cute aesthetic, 
top-down view, transparent background

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❌ FORBIDDEN:

• ❌ Pixelated/pixel art style
• ❌ Gray colors
• ❌ Neon/screaming bright colors
• ❌ Realistic photo textures
• ❌ Side or isometric views
• ❌ Overly complex details

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📏 TECHNICAL SPECS:

• Size: Scalable (reference at high res, scale down as needed)
• Format: PNG with transparency
• Lines: Smooth anti-aliased vectors
• Color depth: 24-bit RGB + Alpha
• Background: Fully transparent

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🌱 GROWTH STAGE GUIDELINES:

Size Progression:

• Stage 0 (seed): Small item
• Stage 1 (sprout): ~20% of final size
• Stage 2 (young): ~40% of final size
• Stage 3 (growing): ~70% of final size
• Stage 4 (harvest): 100% size
• Stage 5 (harvested): Item version, varies

Color Progression:

• Stages 1-2: Always green (leaves growing)
• Stage 3: Transition color (green → mature)
• Stage 4: Full mature color
• Stage 5: Rich, saturated mature color

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💀 GOTHIC ENHANCEMENTS (OPTIONAL)

For "Dark Fantasy" twist on harvested crops:

Gothic Elements to Add:

1. Small Skull/Bone Decorations

   • Tiny skull charm on ribbon/ties
   • Small bone details
   • Subtle skull patterns

2. Dark Creatures/Companions

   • Evil worm peeking from carrot
   • Small spider on tomato
   • Menacing bugs
   • Creepy-cute critters

3. Dark Vegetation

   • Small dark mushrooms on wheat bundle
   • Wilted leaves mixed with fresh
   • Dark purple/black flowers

4. Facial Expressions

   • Vegetables with spooky faces
   • Eyes arranged like menacing glares
   • Skull-like patterns in natural features

5. Dark Accessories

   • Purple/dark ribbons instead of bright
   • Bone charms hanging
   • Dark twine/rope

Color Adjustments for Gothic:

• Keep main crop colors BRIGHT (no gray!)
• Add dark accents:
  • Dark purple ribbon: #4A2C5A
  • Dark mushrooms: #3A2A2A
  • Bone white: #E8D8C8
  • Evil eyes: Red glow

🌾 Gothic Examples Generated:

Wheat (Harvested):

• Golden wheat bundle (#C9A84F)
• Dark purple ribbon with small skull
• Small dark mushrooms at base
• Bone details on ribbon

Carrot (Harvested):

• Bright orange carrot (#E8884F)
• Green leafy top
• Small evil worm with red eyes peeking out
• Menacing but cute

When to Use Gothic:

• Harvested crops (stage 5-6)
• Special "cursed" crop variants
• Halloween/dark events
• Biomes: Witch Forest, Chernobyl, Catacombs

When NOT to Use:

• Growing stages (keep clean and natural)
• Basic farm crops (optional)
• Bright happy biomes

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🎯 Jan 8, 2026 - Crop Style Locked!
All crop sprites MUST match this aesthetic.