QC Checklist — LinkedIn Images

Run this checklist before screenshotting. Every "No" requires a fix.

The 2-Second Test

• [ ] Does a stranger understand this in 2 seconds with zero context?
• Show it to someone who hasn't read the post. Can they tell you what the tension is?

• [ ] Does it stop the scroll?
• Open LinkedIn on your phone. Scroll past the image at normal speed. Did your eye catch it?

• [ ] Is the image doing its own job — not the post's job?
• The image creates curiosity or tension. The post resolves it. If the image resolves itself, it's doing too much.

Text Content

• [ ] Are there exactly 2-3 text elements (primary + secondary, optional context line)?
• Not 4. Not 5. Not an entire post. Two ideas that create tension.

• [ ] Does the primary text create recognition or surprise?
• Reader thinks "wait, what?" or "that's me" — not "I need to read more to understand this"

• [ ] Does the secondary text reframe, invert, or challenge the primary?
• The two elements should contradict, surprise, or create a gap

• [ ] If there's a context line — is it under 10 words?
• One framing line. Not a subtitle. Not an explanation.

• [ ] Would someone quote-screenshot this?
• The tension should be interesting enough to share on its own

Mobile Readability

• [ ] Open the HTML at 40% zoom. Can you read BOTH text elements?
• 40% zoom simulates mobile feed rendering. If you squint, it fails.

• [ ] Is primary text 108px+ at 1200px canvas?
• Check the CSS. Anything below 108px won't read in the feed.

• [ ] Is secondary text 68px+ at 1200px canvas?
• Check the CSS. Anything below 68px is marginal.

• [ ] Does the text fill the card?
• If there's a lot of empty space around small text, the text is too small.

Visual Brand

• [ ] Canvas is 1200x1200px?
• Square. Not portrait. Not landscape.

• [ ] Background is #0a0a0a?
• Near-black. Not #1a1a1a. Not a gradient.

• [ ] Primary text is #f8f7f4 (ivory)?
• Not white (#ffffff). Not gray.

• [ ] Secondary text is #b79d64 (gold)?
• Not a lighter gold. Not cream. Gold.

• [ ] Only two content colors used (ivory + gold)?
• No red. No green. No additional colors. Opacity variants are fine for de-emphasis.

• [ ] Font is Cormorant Garamond (serif) for all content text?
• Not Inter. Not any other font. Cormorant Garamond only for primary and secondary.

• [ ] Divider is gold, 100px wide, 2px tall?
• rgba(183,157,100,0.5) — not solid gold. Semi-transparent.

• [ ] Campaign label present? Top center, Inter, 16px, #6a6a6a, uppercase, 0.3em spacing?
• Names the campaign series. Ties images together across the week.

• [ ] "Advisory OS" logo present? Bottom center, Cormorant Garamond, 24px, #4a4a4a?
• Subtle. Not prominent. Branding, not a CTA.

Structure Check

• [ ] Does this match the approved layout?

  [Campaign Label — top]
  [Context Line — optional]
  [Primary Text — center, large, ivory]
  [Gold Divider]
  [Secondary Text — center, medium, gold]
  [Logo — bottom]

• [ ] No data visualizations, charts, diagrams, tables, or infographics?
• Quote cards only. Always.

• [ ] No more than one context line?
• If you need two lines of context, the quotes aren't doing their job.

Campaign Consistency

• [ ] Does this image look like it's from the same person as last week's?
• Same colors, same fonts, same structure. Different content.

• [ ] Is the campaign label the same across all images in this campaign?
• "The Politeness Premium" not "Politeness Premium" or "HQP Scoring System"

• [ ] Would someone who saw Monday's image recognize Tuesday's as the same series?
• Brand recognition compounds across the week.

Redundancy Check

• [ ] Does the post add something the image doesn't?
• If the image tells the full story, the post is redundant. Simplify the image.

• [ ] Does the image add something the text-only post doesn't?
• If the image is just the post in a pretty box, cut it. The image earns its place through visual tension.

Ship Criteria

Ship when:

• All checkboxes pass
• Reads at 40% zoom
• Stranger can identify the tension in 2 seconds
• Two colors only
• Under 4 total elements (label, primary, divider, secondary, logo)

Don't ship when:

• Text below minimum sizes
• More than 3 content elements competing for attention
• Requires the post to understand
• Uses colors outside the brand
• Looks like a different person's content from last week's image

Post-Screenshot

1. Open HTML in browser at 100%
2. Screenshot the card only (not the gray body)
3. Crop to exact card edges
4. Save as PNG
5. Upload to LinkedIn
6. Check the preview — does it render as expected in the composer?
7. On mobile — open LinkedIn app, view the image in feed. Readable?