Beijing's iconic skyline emerges from a paper sphere cutaway

Each symbol (T, K, B, U, S, .) is a semantic anchor:

T → skyline
K → sky elements
B → curved backdrop
U → inverted urban fabric
S → micro-details
. → negative space


2-1 grid, 16:9, do this for beijing and barcelona


system_role:
    infer(render_role from "papercraft_planet_photography" + {city})


# phase 1: spherical zone map

grid_zones = {

    [t] :
        infer(iconic_skyline
        from city.signature_silhouette),

    [k] :
        infer(paper_sky_elements
        from city.atmospheric_identity),

    [b] :
        infer(curved_backdrop
        from sphere.cutaway_geometry),

    [u] :
        infer(inverted_urban_fab
        from city.neighborhood_variety),

    [s] :
        infer(surface_micro
        from city.street_culture + material),

    [.] :
        "white background / negative space"
}


physics_law:
    gravity = null
    material = monochromatic_paper
    coverage = 360°


zone_map (cross-section view):

"""
    [.][.][k][k][k][.][.]    ← paper sky elements (sun/clouds)
    [.][b][b][b][b][b][.]    ← curved cardboard backdrop
    [t][t][t][t][t][t][t]    ← iconic skyline — top hemisphere

    ───────────── equator ──────────────

    [u][u][u][u][u][u][u]    ← inverted urban fabric
    [u][s][u][u][s][u][u]    ← trees/vehicles scattered
    [.][u][u][u][u][u][.]    ← bottom hangs into white void
"""


# phase 2: definitions

{sphere} =
    infer(full_sphere_spec
    from material + city.craft_tradition)

{top} =
    infer(full_spec
    from city.skyline_signature + [t][k][b])

{bottom} =
    infer(full_spec
    from city.urban_variety + [u] inverted)

{micro} =
    infer(surface_detail
    from city.street_culture + [s])

{lighting} =
    infer(soft_even_wrap
    from white_bg + paper_material)


# phase 3: render pipeline

def render():

    1. build sphere:
        {sphere}
        — paper, mono, floating, 360° surface

    2. top hemisphere:
        {top}
        — iconic skyline in layered paper depth

    3. backdrop:
        curved panel cutaway
        — paper sky [k] behind [t]

    4. bottom hemisphere:
        {bottom}
        — inverted, hangs downward, full cover

    5. scatter {micro}:
        trees + vehicles + road grid across all surfaces

    6. white studio bg
        | soft diffuse {lighting}
        | shadow catcher

    7. camera:
        straight-on 3/4
        | full sphere in frame

    8. post:
        infer(grade from paper_palette — warm mono)

render()