latex-presentation

# LaTeX Presentation Skill

Generate visually impressive LaTeX Beamer presentations. Focus on .tex file generation only — never compile or run build commands.

## Workflow

1. **Understand the request** — determine what the user needs:
   - Scaffold a new presentation from scratch
   - Add/modify slides in an existing presentation
   - Generate a TikZ diagram or figure
   - Recommend themes, fonts, or packages
   - Review slides for best practices

2. **Ask clarifying questions** if not provided:
   - Topic/purpose of the presentation
   - Audience (academic, corporate, tech talk, casual)
   - Preferred aesthetic (minimalist, dark, colorful, formal)
   - Approximate number of slides
   - Whether math-heavy or visual-heavy

3. **Read `references/design-guide.md`** for detailed theme lists, package tables, font pairings, and code patterns before generating.

4. **Generate .tex files** following the design principles and patterns from the guide.

## Default Stack (override if user prefers otherwise)

- Engine target: LuaLaTeX
- Theme: Metropolis (`\usetheme{metropolis}`)
- Aspect ratio: 16:9 (`aspectratio=169`)
- Fonts: Fira Sans + Fira Code + Fira Math
- Always include: `\setbeamertemplate{navigation symbols}{}`
- Always include: `appendixnumberbeamer`

## Key Design Rules

- **One idea per slide** — split if needed
- **3-4 colors max** — primary, accent, neutrals
- **No Computer Modern** — always set modern fonts
- **Left-align text** — center only titles and single statements
- **6x6 rule** — max 6 lines, max 6 words per line
- **Font size hierarchy** — Title > Section > Body > Caption, consistent across list levels
- **Generous whitespace** — don't fill every pixel
- Use `[fragile]` on any frame containing minted/verbatim
- Use `tcolorbox` instead of default Beamer blocks when visual quality matters
- Prefer TikZ/PDF vector graphics over raster images

## Scaffold Structure

When creating a new presentation, generate this file structure:

```
presentation/
  main.tex          # document class, preamble, \input calls
  preamble.tex      # packages, theme config, custom commands
  sections/
    01-title.tex
    02-intro.tex
    ...
    99-backup.tex   # appendix/backup slides
  figures/          # directory for images
```

Split into sections for version-control friendliness. One sentence per line in .tex source.

## TikZ Diagrams

When generating TikZ:
- Use `positioning`, `arrows.meta`, `shapes` libraries
- Support Beamer overlays (`<1->`, `<2->`) for incremental reveals
- Use `remember picture, overlay` for absolute positioning
- Match colors to the presentation's theme palette
- Keep diagrams readable — don't overcrowd

## Theme Selection Guide

Match theme to context:
- **Academic/research**: Metropolis, Moloch, Pascal Michaillat's minimalist
- **Tech/engineering**: Nord, Gotham, Focus
- **Corporate**: Execushares, pure-minimalistic
- **Math-heavy**: BlackBoard, Arguelles
- **Creative/visual**: Fancyslides, Trigon
- **Dark mode**: Nord dark, Metropolis dark, Kalgan

## Anti-Patterns to Flag

If reviewing existing slides, flag:
- Default Beamer theme with no customization
- Navigation symbols still visible
- Walls of text (>6 lines)
- Computer Modern font
- 4:3 aspect ratio (unless intentional)
- Low-res raster images where vectors would work
- Inconsistent colors or font sizes
- Missing `[fragile]` on code frames