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A Semi-3D Little Guy Perched on a Window
The character from the reference image becomes a desktop mascot, perched on the edge of a window and blending naturally into the system UI.
✍️ A structured prompt separates character, behavior, lighting, and UI layering into distinct fields, so the model doesn't flatten the mascot into the desktop background like a sticker. The shadow direction has to match the system's light source, or the sense of it sitting on top breaks immediately — a lesson that carries over to compositing any character onto a real-world scene.
📋 Prompt YAML Sectioned Style1950 characters
subject:
- Character taken from reference image A
- Semi-3D cel-shaded anime rendering with clean directional shadows and highlights for volume
- Reads as a desktop mascot sitting on top of a real OS interface
os_environment:
- Pick either "Windows 11 desktop" or "macOS Sonoma desktop"
- If unspecified, let the model settle on whichever UI reads more naturally
- Populate it with genuine-looking UI chrome for that OS
composition:
- Photoreal desktop screenshot, 16:9
- Add believable app windows and icons as set dressing
- Place the character so it interacts naturally with those elements
action:
- Let the model pick a mascot-style behavior: draped over a window's top edge, perched on a window frame, poking at an icon, or peeking out from behind a folder/app
- Keep the pose grounded and a little playful, not floaty
location:
- A believable Windows or macOS desktop
- Recognizable chrome: browser window, folder icons, taskbar or dock
- Icons and windows stay background dressing only
style:
- Soft cel-shaded semi-3D look
- Defined shadow shapes rather than rim light
- Clean render that sits convincingly on top of the real desktop
camera_lighting:
- Flat frontal or top-down light for solid directional shadow
- Gentle ambient fill to match desktop color tone
- Straight screenshot-like angle, no dramatic tilt
colors:
- Cool OS-typical desktop tones
- Character palette locked to reference A
- Push shadow contrast for volume
text:
- Skip unless the scene calls for it
edit_instructions:
- Match character to reference A exactly
- Push clear shadow planes for a 3D read
- Keep the character layered above the desktop, not merged into it
- Leave real UI assets untouched, background only
references:
A: character appearance source
extras:
- high resolution
- convincing OS UI rendering
- clean compositing, precise layering
- allow the model some freedom in mascot movement






