refactor: delegate pptx rendering to ai-nuts/pptx2video

README.md

@@ -89,6 +89,21 @@ npx github:microsoft/ResearchStudio
 For usage, see [Idea](ResearchStudio-Idea/#usage) and [Reel](ResearchStudio-Reel/#usage).
 We recommend using these skills with model versions $\ge$ `claude-opus-4.6` or `gpt-5.5`.
 
+The PowerPoint renderer is independently maintained at
+[`ai-nuts/pptx2video`](https://github.com/ai-nuts/pptx2video). Install its
+skill and Python 3.11+ CLI runtime separately from ResearchStudio:
+
+```bash
+npx skills add ai-nuts/pptx2video --skill pptx2video
+python -m pip install \
+  'pptx2video[svg] @ git+https://github.com/ai-nuts/pptx2video.git@v0.5.0'
+python -m playwright install chromium
+pptx2video doctor --svg
+```
+
+Then invoke `/pptx2video` in a supporting agent host, or call the public
+`pptx2video render` CLI directly.
+
 ## License
 
 [MIT](LICENSE)

ResearchStudio-Reel/skills/paper2reel/SKILL.md

@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ double-render text when the user turns on CC.
 
 `timeline.json` must already contain the explicit section mapping. If the deck
 uses slide ids instead of canonical poster ids, build the timeline with
-`paper2video/scripts/build_timeline.py --section-map ...` first.
+`python -m pptx2video.build_timeline --section-map ...` first.
 
 ## Required Hard Gate
 

ResearchStudio-Reel/skills/paper2video/README.md

@@ -22,11 +22,12 @@ The production route should use the shared `paper2assets` package whenever it ex
 
 ## Output
 
-Written back into the same v2 bundle root, next to `manifest.json` and `assets/`:
+Route A writes back into the same v2 bundle root, next to `manifest.json` and
+`assets/`:
 
 | File | What it is |
 |---|---|
-| `video.mp4` | Final H.264/AAC video with burned-in subtitles and a translucent caption background |
+| `video.mp4` | Final H.264/AAC video with burned-in subtitles in an appended black bottom band |
 | `video_no_subtitles.mp4` | Required raw playback copy for `paper2reel`, so the reel CC toggle does not double-subtitle the video |
 | `video.pptx` | Editable deck used to render the video |
 | `assets/audio/*.{mp3,json}` | Per-section narration, script JSON, word timings, and TTS manifests |
@@ -36,9 +37,33 @@ Written back into the same v2 bundle root, next to `manifest.json` and `assets/`
 | `assets/meta/` | Timeline, duration reports, visual cues, anchor contracts, and QA reports |
 
 The top level holds only deliverables plus `manifest.json`; everything else lives under `assets/`.
+Route B delegates an existing or edited PPTX to the standalone CLI and must use
+a fresh output path that does not already exist.
 
 ## Usage
 
+Install the two external skills in order, then install and verify the public
+`pptx2video` CLI runtime. The runtime requires Python 3.11 or newer:
+
+```bash
+npx skills add hugohe3/ppt-master --skill ppt-master
+npx skills add ai-nuts/pptx2video --skill pptx2video
+python -m pip install \
+  'pptx2video[svg] @ git+https://github.com/ai-nuts/pptx2video.git@v0.5.0'
+python -m playwright install chromium
+pptx2video --version
+pptx2video doctor --svg
+```
+
+For Route B, keep that destination separate from any existing Route A or
+paper2assets bundle:
+
+```bash
+PPTX2VIDEO_OUT=/absolute/path/to/new-video-bundle
+test ! -e "$PPTX2VIDEO_OUT"
+pptx2video render <deck.pptx> "$PPTX2VIDEO_OUT" --resolution 1080p
+```
+
 From a Claude Code session:
 
 ```text
@@ -47,6 +72,9 @@ From a Claude Code session:
 
 # or start from a raw PDF; the skill resolves the same bundle root first
 > /paper2video ./my_paper.pdf
+
+# render an existing or edited deck through the installed standalone skill
+> /pptx2video ./edited.pptx
 ```
 
 The final package is not complete until `video.mp4`, `video_no_subtitles.mp4`, `video.pptx`, `assets/meta/timeline.json`, and the video QA report are all present.
@@ -58,8 +86,9 @@ The final package is not complete until `video.mp4`, `video_no_subtitles.mp4`, `
 3. **Delegate deck generation to ppt-master** — the skill must run the full ppt-master workflow, not a hand-written shortcut deck.
 4. **Generate audio** with the shared `paper2poster/scripts/generate_audio.py` synthesizer, preserving one MP3 per script section.
 5. **Build visual cue contracts** so important slide regions are anchored to narration chunks.
-6. **Render and subtitle** with `render_video.py` and `add_subtitles.py`; the public MP4 may use burned, soft, bottom-bar, or disabled captions while the raw compatibility render remains available to downstream Paper2Reel.
-7. **Build timeline metadata** so `paper2reel` can map poster sections, slide thumbnails, subtitles, and video seek times.
+6. **Delegate rendering and subtitles** to `python -m pptx2video.render_video` and `python -m pptx2video.add_subtitles`; the public MP4 may use burned, soft, bottom-bar, or disabled captions while the raw compatibility render remains available to downstream Paper2Reel.
+7. **Delegate timeline metadata** to `python -m pptx2video.build_timeline` so `paper2reel` can map poster sections, slide thumbnails, subtitles, and video seek times.
+8. **Delegate strict media QA** to `python -m pptx2video.check_video_package`.
 
 ## Visual attention cues
 
@@ -71,30 +100,36 @@ Visual cues are generated from the deck, the script, word-boundary timings, and
 
 Duration is controlled before audio is synthesized. `assets_to_script.py` / `notes_to_script.py` estimate section lengths against the target, `plan_tts_rate.py` checks measured MP4 duration, and large mismatches must be fixed by rewriting the narration rather than by clipping audio or truncating the final video.
 
-## Scripts
+## Paper2Video-owned scripts
 
 ```
 scripts/
 ├── assets_to_script.py          # paper2assets narration -> video script + duration plan
 ├── notes_to_script.py           # ppt-master notes -> video script
-├── generate_edge_audio.py       # Edge TTS helper with word timings
 ├── generate_cue_requirements.py # script -> visual anchor contract for ppt-master
 ├── generate_visual_cues.py      # deck/script/timings -> positioned highlight cues
-├── inject_pptx_anchors.py       # preserve cue anchors inside editable PPTX
-├── render_video.py              # slides + audio + cues -> raw no-subtitle MP4
-├── add_subtitles.py             # raw MP4 + captions -> final subtitled MP4
-├── build_timeline.py            # section timeline for paper2reel
-└── check_video_package.py       # strict package and media QA gate
+└── inject_pptx_anchors.py       # preserve cue anchors inside editable PPTX
 ```
 
+The generic runtime is not owned or vendored by this skill. Install
+`pptx2video`, then invoke `python -m pptx2video.generate_edge_audio`,
+`python -m pptx2video.render_video`,
+`python -m pptx2video.add_subtitles`,
+`python -m pptx2video.build_timeline`, and
+`python -m pptx2video.check_video_package`.
+
 ## Requirements
 
-- Python >= 3.10
-- ppt-master skill for the deck and speaker notes
+- Python >= 3.11
+- Installed `ppt-master` and `pptx2video` skills
+- Compatible `pptx2video` 0.5.x CLI runtime from `ai-nuts/pptx2video`, installed
+  with the `svg` extra
+- Playwright Chromium installed with `python -m playwright install chromium`
+- A passing `pptx2video doctor --svg` check
 - LibreOffice, Poppler, FFmpeg / FFprobe
-- Playwright + Chromium for SVG slide-frame rendering
+- Playwright + Chrome/Chromium for SVG slide-frame rendering
 - Edge TTS by default; Azure TTS is optional
 
 ## More detail
 
-[`SKILL.md`](SKILL.md) is the authoritative, agent-facing spec: the full v2 output contract, both supported routes, duration-control loop, visual-cue contract, subtitle requirements, and strict QA gates. The [`references/`](references/) folder documents render details, script JSON, and visual cue semantics.
+[`SKILL.md`](SKILL.md) is the authoritative, agent-facing spec: the full v2 output contract, both supported routes, duration-control loop, visual-cue contract, subtitle requirements, and strict QA gates. The [`references/`](references/) folder documents the narration schema, Paper2Video cue generation, and the minimal standalone-runtime bridge.