pixelkiln 0.18.0 → 0.20.0

package/PROVIDERS.md

@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@ PixelLab remains the default so existing manifests and spec hashes remain
 compatible. The manifest's top-level `provider` is the default; a style may
 override it. Keep service settings under the matching `providerOptions` key.
 
-Provider choice and release quality are separate. Any supported single-image
-style can declare one `quality` profile for native-grid recovery, a closed
-palette, measurable checks, and named approval. The profile does not change the
-provider request or its cost. Pack and mount use only approved derived PNGs.
+Provider choice and release quality are separate. Supported single-image styles
+and ComfyUI frame sets can declare one `quality` profile for native-grid
+recovery, a closed palette, measurable checks, and named approval. The profile
+does not change the provider request or cost. Packaging uses only approved PNGs.
 
 To configure a project, use [Set up PixelLab](./docs/PIXELLAB.md),
 [Set up Retro Diffusion](./docs/RETRO_DIFFUSION.md),
@@ -82,13 +82,13 @@ prompt, size, batch, and optional seed inputs PixelKiln may replace.
 | Decision | ComfyUI through PixelKiln |
 |---|---|
 | Best fit today | Local composition experiments, private inputs, controlled revisions, and teams prepared to maintain and manually validate custom graphs |
-| PixelKiln generator | `map` stills |
-| Output | One PNG output node, with 1–16 review candidates |
+| PixelKiln generator | `map` stills and atomic `frames` sets |
+| Output | One PNG output node: 1–16 map candidates or 2–64 ordered still frames |
 | Revision input | `image-to-image`, `inpaint`, and user-authored `outpaint` graphs; hashed parent/mask uploads and source comparison are covered. The bundled img2img graph passed a three-strength live smoke but missed the requested winter treatment and lost alpha. |
 | Cost model | `0 free`; local compute and hosting are outside PixelKiln's estimate |
 | Reproducibility | Workflow content is hashed; model files, custom-node versions, and runtime settings must still be managed outside PixelKiln |
 | Account lifecycle | Read-only connectivity check; no balance, remote object listing, tagging, or purge |
-| Confidence | Full mocked coverage plus live generation, four-candidate review, cache-only restore, and three provider-neutral refinement runs on Apple MPS; background removal stays in the graph and aesthetic approval remains human |
+| Confidence | Live map generation, four-candidate review, cache-only restore, and refinement on Apple MPS; deterministic coverage for frame submission, ordered review/fetch, shared-grid and palette gating, approval, and packing |
 
 Choose ComfyUI when control over the graph is worth the extra validation. Start
 with a hosted provider when you want less cleanup. Two ComfyUI machines can run
@@ -240,6 +240,8 @@ candidate review, cache recovery, native-grid recovery, palette enforcement,
 and the approval record work. The tested SDXL plus Pixel Art XL graph can find
 a composition, but it is not a production preset. Background removal stays in
 the graph. A person must still check the brief, pixel clusters, and drawing.
+The ordered frame-set lifecycle is deterministic-test complete; its next gate
+is a live, pinned pose workflow and a public identity/motion benchmark.
 
 Per-style provider routing now lets one manifest send a building style to
 PixelLab, an animation style to Retro Diffusion, and a private model workflow
@@ -253,9 +255,10 @@ experimental until more model schemas and representative art briefs pass.
 
 | Candidate | What it adds | Fit with PixelKiln | Main cost or risk | Priority |
 |---|---|---|---|---:|
-| Scenario comparable benchmark | Custom-trained style models and hosted third-party generation | Tests the same environment briefs now that CU accounting, review, PNG output, and signed-URL recovery are proven | Model schemas differ, and the first live smoke is not directly comparable to the existing provider set | 1 |
-| ComfyUI Cloud | Managed execution of workflow graphs without running a local GPU | Could reuse part of the workflow model, but authentication, endpoints, billing, and lifecycle must remain separate from the local adapter | Treating cloud as a base-URL swap would hide real security and cost differences | 2 |
-| fal | A large hosted model catalog, including pixel-art style controls, LoRAs, editing, upscaling, and background removal | Queue-based requests and model schemas are accessible through one client | Model-specific schemas and prices move the adapter toward a marketplace abstraction rather than one stable art workflow | 3 |
+| ComfyUI pose-to-frame recipe and benchmark | A repeatable route from ordered controls to one approved sprite sequence | Exercises the new atomic frame lifecycle and turns infrastructure into a workflow users can copy | Identity and loop quality still require live testing and human review | 1 |
+| Scenario comparable benchmark | Custom-trained style models and hosted third-party generation | Tests the same environment briefs now that CU accounting, review, PNG output, and signed-URL recovery are proven | Model schemas differ, and the first live smoke is not directly comparable to the existing provider set | 2 |
+| ComfyUI Cloud | Managed execution of workflow graphs without running a local GPU | Could reuse part of the workflow model, but authentication, endpoints, billing, and lifecycle must remain separate from the local adapter | Treating cloud as a base-URL swap would hide real security and cost differences | 3 |
+| fal | A large hosted model catalog, including pixel-art style controls, LoRAs, editing, upscaling, and background removal | Queue-based requests and model schemas are accessible through one client | Model-specific schemas and prices move the adapter toward a marketplace abstraction rather than one stable art workflow | 4 |
 
 Scenario's [custom generation API](https://docs.scenario.com/get-started/generation/third-party-model-generation)
 returns asynchronous jobs, while its
@@ -265,14 +268,16 @@ normal plan, submit, poll, review, fetch, and restore lifecycle.
 
 Recommended order from here:
 
-1. Finish live Retro Diffusion multi-candidate, tileset, GIF, and spritesheet
+1. Build and live-test one pinned ComfyUI pose workflow across two character
+   families, then publish its recipe and 4–8 frame identity/motion benchmark.
+2. Finish live Retro Diffusion multi-candidate, tileset, GIF, and spritesheet
    smoke tests.
-2. Run the shared environment briefs through Scenario, then add one custom-model
+3. Run the shared environment briefs through Scenario, then add one custom-model
    or project-LoRA benchmark.
-3. Benchmark another pinned ComfyUI model and prompt pattern across at least two
+4. Benchmark another pinned ComfyUI model and prompt pattern across at least two
    scene families. Reject any improvement that helps only one subject.
-4. Design ComfyUI Cloud as a separate authenticated and billable adapter.
-5. Consider general raster marketplaces only with explicit nearest-neighbor,
+5. Design ComfyUI Cloud as a separate authenticated and billable adapter.
+6. Consider general raster marketplaces only with explicit nearest-neighbor,
    palette, transparency, and reproducibility checks.
 
 Midjourney is not an adapter target without an official public API. Automating

package/README.md

@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ PixelKiln keeps the missing record:
 | Workflow | What PixelKiln provides |
 |---|---|
 | Plan and budget | Offline manifest/lock/disk diff, provider-grouped estimates, keyed mixed-provider budget ceilings, JSON/CI gate. |
-| Generate and review | Resumable submit/poll/pick/fetch pipeline, exact next-step hints, and a fast local candidate sheet. |
+| Generate and review | Resumable submit/poll/pick/fetch pipeline, exact next-step hints, and candidate or atomic frame-set review. |
 | Controlled inputs | Hashed image-to-image/inpaint lineage, fail-closed parent approval, source-versus-candidate review, and content-addressed per-asset ComfyUI bindings. |
 | Existing-art onboarding | Manifest scaffolding, exact-hash account adoption, and prompt recovery. |
 | Recovery | Safe stale-output replacement, validated caches, durable references, and resumable paid jobs. |
@@ -183,9 +183,10 @@ packaging layer.
 }
 ```
 
-Styles are namespaces. Adding a second style re-derives the same asset ids into
-a separate output directory and separate lock keys without clobbering the first
-set. Generator choice, reference-image bytes, dimensions, palette, seed, and
+Styles are namespaces. A variant can `extend` a base style while keeping its own
+output directory, so later parent fixes reach every child without copied config.
+Each style re-derives the same asset ids into separate lock keys. Generator
+choice, reference-image bytes, dimensions, palette, seed, and
 prompt settings participate in deterministic spec identity. A manifest may
 select another provider and pass namespaced `providerOptions`; see
 [Set up PixelLab](./docs/PIXELLAB.md),
@@ -195,8 +196,8 @@ select another provider and pass namespaced `providerOptions`; see
 [provider comparison](./PROVIDERS.md) covers costs,
 current confidence, and limitations. ComfyUI works best as a composition tool:
 start with 48–128px native components and build larger scenes from accepted
-parts. Any single-image style can declare a `quality` profile for grid recovery,
-a closed palette, measurable checks, and named human approval. `plan --check`,
+parts. Supported still styles and ComfyUI frame sets can declare a `quality`
+profile for grid recovery, a closed palette, measurable checks, and named human approval. `plan --check`,
 `pack`, and `mount` then fail closed when that derived output is missing or
 stale. Changing the profile never schedules another provider generation.
 
@@ -253,8 +254,8 @@ replace a hard palette or reference-image constraint. See
 
 Generator names describe PixelKiln workflows; their exact capabilities and
 prices depend on the selected provider. Retro Diffusion also supports the
-provider-specific `animation` generator. ComfyUI currently supports `map`
-through an operator-supplied workflow. Scenario currently supports `map`
+provider-specific `animation` generator. ComfyUI supports `map` plus atomic
+still-image `frames` through an operator-supplied workflow. Scenario supports `map`
 with a required offline CU ceiling and a live quote before each paid call.
 Compare the adapters in the [provider comparison](./PROVIDERS.md).
 
@@ -356,7 +357,7 @@ exporters, managed artifact writes, and offline provenance verification. See
 | [Getting started](./docs/GETTING_STARTED.md) | First project, existing-art onboarding, everyday workflow, and what to commit. |
 | [Set up PixelLab](./docs/PIXELLAB.md) | Production-provider credentials, manifest, generators, and account workflows. |
 | [Set up Retro Diffusion](./docs/RETRO_DIFFUSION.md) | Experimental-provider credentials, styles, formats, cost checks, and limits. |
-| [Set up ComfyUI](./docs/COMFYUI.md) | Self-hosted workflows, per-asset input uploads, local cost semantics, and quality limits. |
+| [Set up ComfyUI](./docs/COMFYUI.md) | Self-hosted stills, revisions, ordered frame sets, per-asset inputs, and quality limits. |
 | [Set up Scenario](./docs/SCENARIO.md) | Experimental hosted models, two-part credentials, CU preflight, review, and durable downloads. |
 | [Versioned recipes](./docs/RECIPES.md) | Pinned workflow packs, model hashes, manifest templates, and quality contracts. |
 | [Controlled revisions](./docs/REVISIONS.md) | Image-to-image/inpaint parents, masks, fail-closed readiness, provenance, and ComfyUI bindings. |