Workflow Diagrams & Infographics Master Guide

Transform Mermaid syntax or natural language into professional visual diagrams using Go Bananas Pro model.

Quick Reference: See Workflow Diagrams Feature for a condensed overview.

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Table of Contents

• Part 1: Introduction
• Part 2: Quick Start
• Part 3: Mermaid Syntax Conversion
• Part 4: Output Format Selection
• Part 5: Style Templates
• Part 6: Pro Model Settings
• Part 7: Golden Rules
• Part 8: Advanced Techniques
• Part 9: Troubleshooting
• Appendix A: Complete Mermaid Reference
• Appendix B: Style Color Palettes
• Appendix C: Prompt Templates

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Part 1: Introduction

What Are Workflow Diagrams?

The Workflow Diagrams skill transforms structured input (Mermaid syntax or natural language) into beautiful, professional visual diagrams. Instead of rendering basic SVGs, Go Bananas Pro creates production-quality visuals suitable for presentations, documentation, and marketing.

Why Use This Skill?

Challenge	Solution
Mermaid renders as basic SVGs	Pro model creates polished, styled visuals
Design tools require expertise	Natural language descriptions work
Inconsistent styling across diagrams	Pre-defined style templates
No real-time data in diagrams	Google Search grounding for live stats
Manual diagram creation is slow	Generate in seconds from text

What You Can Create

• Flowcharts - Process flows with decision points
• Infographics - Data visualizations, statistics displays
• Timelines - Project roadmaps, historical events
• Org Charts - Team hierarchies, company structures
• Mind Maps - Idea brainstorming, concept organization
• Sequence Diagrams - API flows, system interactions
• And More - All 13 Mermaid diagram types supported

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Part 2: Quick Start

Method 1: From Mermaid Syntax

The fastest way to create visuals if you have Mermaid syntax:

Convert this Mermaid diagram to a professional flowchart:

graph TD
    A[User Request] --> B{Valid Input?}
    B -->|Yes| C[Process Data]
    B -->|No| D[Show Error]
    C --> E[Return Result]
    D --> E

Style: Corporate blue theme with drop shadows

Method 2: From Natural Language

No Mermaid knowledge required:

Create a flowchart showing the customer onboarding process:
1. User signs up with email
2. System sends verification email
3. Decision: Did user verify?
   - Yes: Create user profile → Show welcome dashboard
   - No: Wait 24 hours → Resend email or expire

Corporate style with numbered steps.

Method 3: Data Infographic (with Real-Time Data)

For infographics with current data:

Create an infographic comparing the top 5 cloud providers
by market share in 2024. Fetch current data.

Layout: Horizontal bar chart with company logos
Style: Modern dark theme with gradient bars

Enable enable_grounding: true for real-time data

Method 4: Timeline

Create a timeline showing our product roadmap:

Q1 2024: Research & Planning
Q2 2024: MVP Development
Q3 2024: Beta Testing
Q4 2024: Public Launch
Q1 2025: Enterprise Features

Horizontal layout with milestone markers.
Corporate blue with progress indicators.

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Part 3: Mermaid Syntax Conversion

Supported Diagram Types

The skill supports all 13 Mermaid diagram types:

Type	Syntax	Best For
Flow Diagram	graph TD/LR/BT/RL	Processes, decisions
Flowchart	flowchart TD	Same as graph
Sequence	sequenceDiagram	API flows, interactions
Class Diagram	classDiagram	Entity relationships
State Diagram	stateDiagram-v2	State machines
ER Diagram	erDiagram	Database schemas
Gantt Chart	gantt	Project timelines
Pie Chart	pie	Data distribution
User Journey	journey	UX flows
Mind Map	mindmap	Idea organization
Timeline	timeline	Chronological events
Quadrant	quadrantChart	Priority matrices
Git Graph	gitgraph	Branch visualizations

Direction Keywords

Mermaid	Visual Description
TD / TB	Top-to-bottom flow
BT	Bottom-to-top flow
LR	Left-to-right horizontal
RL	Right-to-left horizontal

Node Shapes

Mermaid	Shape	Visual
A[Text]	Rectangle	Standard process step
A(Text)	Rounded	Softer process step
A{Text}	Diamond	Decision point
A((Text))	Circle	Start/end terminal
A[(Text)]	Cylinder	Database
A	Hexagon	Preparation step

Arrow Types

Mermaid	Description
-->	Solid arrow
---	Line without arrow
-.->	Dashed arrow
==>	Thick/bold arrow
--text-->	Labeled arrow

Conversion Example

Input (Mermaid):

Generated Visual:

Converted to Visual Prompt:

Create a professional flowchart with top-to-bottom flow:

NODES:
- Green rectangle "Start" at top
- Orange diamond "Is Valid?" decision
- Blue rectangle "Process" (right path)
- Red rectangle "Error" (left path)
- Gray circle "End" at bottom

CONNECTIONS:
- Arrow from Start to decision
- "Yes" labeled arrow to Process
- "No" labeled arrow to Error
- Both paths converge to End

STYLE: Corporate, subtle shadows, professional sans-serif.

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Part 4: Output Format Selection

Auto-Selection Logic

The skill automatically chooses the best output format:

Input Characteristics	Selected Format
Decision points, yes/no branches	Flowchart
Statistics, percentages, comparisons	Infographic
Dates, phases, chronological	Timeline
Hierarchy, reporting structure	Org Chart
Ideas branching from center	Mind Map
Actors sending messages	Sequence Diagram
Data distribution	Pie/Bar Chart

Manual Override

You can specify the format:

Create this as a **swimlane diagram**:
[your content]

Create this as a **vertical timeline**:
[your content]

Format Descriptions

Flowchart

Best for: Process flows, decision trees, algorithms

Rectangular steps, diamond decisions, arrows connecting.
Typically top-to-bottom or left-to-right.

Infographic

Best for: Statistics, comparisons, KPIs

Large numbers, icons, progress bars, comparison charts.
Visual hierarchy with hero metrics prominent.

Timeline

Best for: Roadmaps, project phases, history

Linear progression (horizontal or vertical).
Milestone markers, date labels, phase descriptions.

Org Chart

Best for: Team structure, hierarchies

Tree layout with boxes connected by lines.
Top-down or left-to-right hierarchy.

Mind Map

Best for: Brainstorming, concept mapping

Central node with branches radiating outward.
Sub-branches for nested ideas.

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Part 5: Style Templates

Available Styles

Choose a pre-defined style to ensure professional results:

Corporate

- Clean blue primary (#0066CC)
- White backgrounds with gray borders
- Rounded corners, subtle shadows
- Professional sans-serif typography

Minimal

- Black and white with blue accent
- Maximum whitespace
- Thin borders (1px)
- Sharp corners, no shadows

Hand-drawn

- Slightly wobbly lines
- Off-white paper background
- Marker-like colored fills
- Handwriting-style font

Blueprint

- White lines on dark blue (#0D3B66)
- Engineering grid background
- Technical monospace font
- Dimension-style annotations

Retro

- Vintage colors (orange, teal, mustard)
- Cream paper background
- Thick black outlines
- 1950s infographic aesthetic

Modern

- Bold vibrant colors (indigo, purple, pink)
- Heavily rounded corners
- Soft shadows with blur
- Flat design with occasional gradients

Dark Mode

- Dark slate background (#0F172A)
- Light text on dark surfaces
- Bright accent colors that pop
- No harsh whites

Neon

- Near-black background
- Bright neon colors (cyan, magenta, green)
- Glowing edges on shapes
- Futuristic/cyberpunk aesthetic

Gradient

- Smooth gradient fills
- Consistent gradient direction
- White text on gradient backgrounds
- Premium, modern feel

Using Styles

Simply add the style name to your prompt:

Create a flowchart showing user authentication.
Use **corporate style** with company blue.

Create a mind map of project ideas.
Use **hand-drawn style** for whiteboard aesthetic.

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Part 6: Pro Model Settings

Recommended Configuration

For best results with diagrams:

{
  model_id: "gemini-pro-image",     // Required for diagrams
  resolution_tier: "2k",             // 4k for print
  thinking_level: "high",            // Better layout reasoning
  enable_grounding: true,            // For real-time data
  aspect_ratio: "16:9"               // Good for presentations
}

When to Use Each Setting

Setting	When to Use
resolution_tier: "1k"	Quick drafts, web use
resolution_tier: "2k"	Presentations, documentation
resolution_tier: "4k"	Print materials, large displays
thinking_level: "low"	Simple diagrams
thinking_level: "high"	Complex layouts, many elements
enable_grounding: true	Infographics with real data

Pro vs Flash

Feature	Flash	Pro
Text rendering	Basic	Advanced
Layout reasoning	Limited	Full
Resolution options	1K	1K, 2K, 4K
Search grounding	No	Yes
Best for diagrams	Simple	Complex

Recommendation: Always use Pro for workflow diagrams.

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Part 7: Golden Rules

1. Be Descriptive and Specific

Write full sentences describing the complete visual.

Bad:

flowchart, blue, arrows, process

Good:

A corporate flowchart with rounded blue rectangles for process
steps, orange diamonds for decision points, and green circles
for start/end nodes. Use thin gray arrows with subtle shadows.

2. Explicitly Define Layout

Tell the model exactly where elements go:

- Start node at the top center
- Three columns below: left for errors, center for success, right for pending
- All paths converge to End node at bottom

3. Use Quoted Text for Labels

Ensure exact text appears on nodes:

- The start node contains the text "User Request"
- Decision diamond labeled "Is Valid?"
- End node displays "Complete"

4. Specify Visual Style

Be explicit about the aesthetic:

- Rendered as if drawn on a whiteboard
- Professional corporate presentation style
- Modern flat design with soft drop shadows

5. Leverage Real-Time Data

For infographics with current data:

Create an infographic of top 5 programming languages
by TIOBE index in 2024. Use current rankings.

6. Iterate with Edits

If 80% correct, use continue_editing:

Make the decision diamonds orange instead of yellow
Add a legend in the bottom right corner
Increase spacing between nodes

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Part 8: Advanced Techniques

Swimlane Diagrams

Create a swimlane diagram for purchase order approval:

LANES (top to bottom):
- Requester (blue header)
- Manager (green header)
- Finance (orange header)
- Vendor (purple header)

FLOW:
Requester submits PO → Manager reviews →
Finance checks budget → Vendor processes order

Show activities crossing lanes with clear handoffs.

Multi-Section Infographics

Create a statistics dashboard infographic:

SECTION 1 (hero metric):
- "2.5M" Active Users
- "+150% YoY" growth indicator

SECTION 2 (supporting metrics, 3-column):
- "99.9% Uptime"
- "45ms Response Time"
- "180 Countries"

SECTION 3 (trend chart):
- 12-month user growth line chart

Modern dark theme, cyan accents.

Decision Trees

Create a decision tree for customer support routing:

Level 0: "Customer contacts support"
Level 1: "Billing issue?" (Yes/No)
  - Yes → "Billing Team"
  - No → Level 2
Level 2: "Technical issue?" (Yes/No)
  - Yes → Level 3: "Priority?" (High/Low)
    - High → "Senior Engineer"
    - Low → "Support Queue"
  - No → "FAQ Bot"

Color-code by department. Include legends.

Combining Data Sources

Create a comparison infographic:

Fetch current data for:
- AWS market share
- Azure market share
- GCP market share

Display as:
- Horizontal bar chart with company logos
- Percentage labels on bars
- Year-over-year change indicators

Source citation at bottom.

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Part 9: Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Text Not Appearing Correctly

Problem: Labels are missing or garbled

Solutions:

1. Use quoted text: labeled "Exact Text"
2. Keep labels short (under 20 characters)
3. Use Pro model (better text rendering)

Layout Problems

Problem: Elements overlap or misaligned

Solutions:

1. Specify explicit positions
2. Use thinking_level: "high"
3. Reduce number of elements
4. Break into multiple diagrams

Style Not Applied

Problem: Diagram looks generic

Solutions:

1. Be more specific about colors
2. Include hex codes: blue (#0066CC)
3. Describe textures and effects

Real-Time Data Missing

Problem: Grounding not working

Solutions:

1. Ensure enable_grounding: true
2. Use Pro model
3. Be specific about what data to fetch

Decision Tree: Choosing the Right Approach

Is your input Mermaid syntax?
├── Yes → Convert to visual prompt (Part 3)
└── No → Describe in natural language

Do you need real-time data?
├── Yes → Enable grounding, use Pro model
└── No → Either model works

Is the diagram complex (>10 elements)?
├── Yes → Use thinking_level: "high", 2K+ resolution
└── No → Default settings work

Do you need print quality?
├── Yes → Use 4K resolution
└── No → 1K or 2K is fine

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Appendix A: Complete Mermaid Reference

Flow/Flowchart

Sequence Diagram

Gantt Chart

Pie Chart

Mind Map

State Diagram

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Appendix B: Style Color Palettes

Corporate

Role	Hex	Usage
Primary	#0066CC	Main elements
Secondary	#004499	Accents
Success	#28A745	Positive
Warning	#FFC107	Caution
Error	#DC3545	Negative
Neutral	#6C757D	Borders

Modern

Role	Hex	Usage
Primary	#6366F1	Indigo
Secondary	#8B5CF6	Purple
Accent	#EC4899	Pink
Success	#10B981	Emerald
Warning	#F59E0B	Amber

Dark Mode

Role	Hex	Usage
Background	#0F172A	Main
Surface	#1E293B	Cards
Border	#334155	Dividers
Text	#F1F5F9	Primary
Accent	#3B82F6	Highlights

Retro

Role	Hex	Usage
Primary	#D64933	Orange-red
Secondary	#E8B04B	Mustard
Tertiary	#2D5F5D	Teal
Paper	#F5E6D3	Background

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Appendix C: Prompt Templates

Basic Flowchart

Create a flowchart showing [PROCESS NAME]:

Start: [INITIAL STATE]
Step 1: [ACTION]
Decision: [QUESTION]?
  - Yes: [PATH A]
  - No: [PATH B]
End: [FINAL STATE]

Style: [STYLE NAME], [COLORS]

Statistics Infographic

Create a statistics infographic:

HERO METRIC:
- "[NUMBER]" [LABEL]
- "[CHANGE]" trend indicator

SUPPORTING (3 items):
- "[STAT 1]" [LABEL]
- "[STAT 2]" [LABEL]
- "[STAT 3]" [LABEL]

Style: [STYLE], [BACKGROUND COLOR]

Project Timeline

Create a timeline for [PROJECT NAME]:

[DATE/PHASE 1]: [MILESTONE 1]
[DATE/PHASE 2]: [MILESTONE 2]
[DATE/PHASE 3]: [MILESTONE 3]
[DATE/PHASE 4]: [MILESTONE 4]

Layout: [Horizontal/Vertical]
Style: [STYLE NAME]
Mark current position at: [PHASE]

Comparison Chart

Create a comparison infographic:

ITEMS TO COMPARE:
- [ITEM A]: [VALUE A]
- [ITEM B]: [VALUE B]
- [ITEM C]: [VALUE C]

DISPLAY AS: [Bar chart / Table / Side-by-side]
Include: [Logos / Icons / Trend arrows]
Style: [STYLE NAME]

Decision Tree

Create a decision tree:

ROOT: [STARTING QUESTION]
├── [OPTION 1] → [RESULT 1]
├── [OPTION 2] → [SUB-QUESTION]
│   ├── [SUB-OPTION A] → [RESULT 2A]
│   └── [SUB-OPTION B] → [RESULT 2B]
└── [OPTION 3] → [RESULT 3]

Style: [STYLE], color-coded by [CATEGORY]

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Summary

The Workflow Diagrams skill transforms Mermaid syntax or natural language into professional visual diagrams. Key points:

1. 13 Mermaid Types Supported - Flow, sequence, gantt, mind map, and more
2. Auto Format Selection - Skill chooses flowchart, infographic, timeline, etc.
3. 9 Visual Styles - Corporate, Minimal, Hand-drawn, Blueprint, Retro, Modern, Dark, Neon, Gradient
4. Real-Time Data - Google Search grounding for live statistics
5. Pro Model Recommended - Best text rendering and layout reasoning

For quick reference, see the Workflow Diagrams Feature Page.