Narrative structures, emotional curves, and visual rhythm patterns that the story-architect agent uses when designing visual stories.
Target Agent
story-architect — directly applies this skill's structural patterns and emotional curves to story blueprint design.
Narrative Structure Patterns
1. Classic Three-Act Structure
The most basic structure for a visual essay.
| 막 | Ratio | Role | Visual Essay Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Act 1: Setup | 25% | Worldview, theme introduction | Establishing image + introductory text |
| Act 2: Development | 50% | Conflict, deepening, discovery | Scene intercutting, contrast, exploration |
| Act 3: Resolution | 25% | Insight, lingering impression, conclusion | Climax image + epilogue |
2. Five-Chapter Structure (Gi-Seung-Jeon-Gyeol-Hwak)
Korean traditional narrative + visual expansion.
| 장 | Role | Image Tone | Text Tone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 기 (Introduction) | Background, situation | Wide, static | Descriptive, calm |
| 승 (Development) | Deepening, expansion | Medium, dynamic | Observational, detail |
| 전 (Turn) | Reversal, discovery | Close-up, contrast | Emotional, question |
| 결 (Conclusion) | Meaning, insight | Wide return | Reflective, quotation |
| 확 (Expansion) | Reader participation | Open image | Question/invitation |
3. The Hero's Journey (12 Stages, Abridged)
Suitable for brand stories, travelogues, and growth narratives.
| Stage | Name | Visual Essay Application | Image Suggestion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ordinary World | The protagonist's current state | Ordinary everyday scenery |
| 2 | Call | The catalyst for change | Eye-catching contrast |
| 3 | Refusal | Hesitation | Crossroads, threshold |
| 4 | Mentor | Help/inspiration | Warm lighting |
| 5 | Crossing the Threshold | Journey begins | Door, bridge, road |
| 6~8 | Trials and Allies | Experience, growth | Intercutting various scenes |
| 9 | Climax | Greatest challenge | Dramatic lighting/composition |
| 10 | Reward | Discovery/achievement | Light, openness |
| 11 | Return | Coming back | Revisiting the everyday world |
| 12 | Changed everyday life | A grown point in time | The same yet different scenery |
4. Mosaic structure (nonlinear)
Suitable for photo essays, city explorations, and sensory essays.
- Not chronological but thematic clustersorganized
- Each cluster: 2–4 scenes, one sense/theme
- Between clusters, visual motifsconnect (recurring colors, shapes, objects)
- An open structure that lets readers freely construct meaning
5. Juxtaposition structure
Before/After, light and shadow, comparison of two worlds.
| Pattern | Composition | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| A-B-A-B | Alternate placement of two themes | Rhythm of contrast |
| A-A-A → B-B-B | First half vs second half | Impact of the turning point |
| A+B simultaneously | Split screen/overlay | Integrated contrast |
Emotional curve design
Emotional intensity patterns
1. Ascending
장면1 ━━ 장면2 ━━ 장면3 ━━ 장면4 ━━ 장면5
20% 35% 55% 80% 100%
Hopeful, suitable for growth narratives.
2. Descending
장면1 ━━ 장면2 ━━ 장면3 ━━ 장면4 ━━ 장면5
90% 70% 50% 30% 15%
Loss, memory, decline narratives.
3. Mountain
장면3
╱ ╲
장면2 장면4
╱ ╲
장면1 장면5
Classic narrative arc. Climax at the center.
4. Wave
╱╲ ╱╲ ╱╲
╱ ╲╱ ╲╱ ╲
A rhythmic essay. Repetition of tension and relaxation.
5. Staircase
━━━
━━━╱
━━━╱
━━━╱
━━━╱
Gradual discovery. Each scene adds a new insight.
Visual rhythm (image-text placement)
Density patterns
| Pattern | Image:text ratio | Effect | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image-dominant | 70:30 | Visual immersion | Landscape, sensory |
| Balanced | 50:50 | Information + emotion | Documentary, report |
| Text-dominant | 30:70 | Reflection, depth | Philosophical, analytical |
In-scene placement patterns
| Pattern | Composition | Rhythm |
|---|---|---|
| Full bleed → text | Text block after a full-page image | Breath - reflection |
| Left-right split | Image left + text right (or the reverse) | Parallel perception |
| Text overlay | Text over an image | Integrated, poetic |
| Caption at bottom | Short caption below the image | Photo album |
| Quote insertion | Large quotation marks + emphasized text | Emotional anchor |
Scene Transition Techniques
| Technique | Description | Visual Application |
|---|---|---|
| 컷 | Immediate Transition | No gap between scenes |
| Fade | Gradual transition | Gradient divider, spacing |
| Dissolve | Overlapping transition | Overlapping images |
| Motif Match | Form/color connection | Different subjects of similar form |
| Emotion Match | Emotional tone connection | Same emotion, different scene |
| Contrast Cut | Transition through dramatic difference | Darkness→light, crowded→empty |
| Narration Bridge | Text connects scenes | Insert transition text |
Scene Count Guide
| Story Type | Minimum | Optimal | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short-form Essay | 3 | 5~6 | 8 |
| Standard Essay | 6 | 8~12 | 15 |
| Long-form Story | 10 | 15~20 | 25 |
| Photo Essay | 8 | 12~16 | 20 |
Recommended Elements per Scene
- Images: 1–2 (main + secondary)
- Text: 50–150 words
- Caption/Quote: 10–30 words