# 03 · Can concepts

Start with `concepts_overview.png`: every concept as a front and three-quarter view.

| | Concept | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| **C0** | **Basics: black, burnt orange, cream** | The reference cans as you sent them, with only the Late Sun added above the name. This is the everyday line. |
| C1 | **Prairie at Dusk** *(chosen for field marketing)* | A field of asters at dusk wraps the lower half. |
| C2 | Night Sky | Stars over a low dawn line, with the eight-ray mark as a constellation. |
| C3 | Botanical | One stem aster wraps the side, drawn like a field-guide plate. |
| C4 | Restrained | Black, cream type, one small stem aster. |
| C5 | Seasons: Early Fall, Late Fall, First Frost | The C1 field in three lights. Each is a limited run. |
| C6 | Geometric | The Eight-Ray Aster, large and tone on tone in deep aster, behind the type. |

**Every can has:**
- **Front:** the Late Sun above "Aster Chai", the "CHAI LATTE" descriptor (on C1–C6), the tagline, the flavor or edition, and **8 FL OZ (237 mL)**.
- **Back and side panel (placeholders only):**
  - Nutrition Facts box marked "PLACEHOLDER · final formula pending"
  - "XX cal · Xg protein · Xg added sugar"
  - ingredients and allergens TBD
  - distributor TBD
  - UPC box
  - the side story: *Asters bloom late, when most flowers are done. So does chai season.*
- The 3/4 view turns the can, so the nutrition panel shows.

## Files
- **`cans/<key>_front.psd/png`, `cans/<key>_3q.psd/png`:**
  - 1000 × 1400.
  - The label is a smart object (`label-front`, `label-3q`) with its live type inside, wrapped with a single-patch warp and clipped to `can-body`.
  - Shade, sheen and floor are gradient fills. The shadow is a smart object with a live blur. The metal is layer styles.
- **`labels/<key>_label.psd/png`:** the flat label master, 1634 × 1021, the full circumference at this scale. Shapes and live type.
- **`field_strips/`:** the procedural aster strips (golden, dusk, frost) used on C1 and C5.
- **`concepts.py`:** writes every label, can shell and view recipe.
- **`build_overview.py`:** the board.
- **`hires_can.py`:** the 3× can (3000 × 4200) used for print. It's in the build folder; the PSB poster and the print pieces use it.

## Critique notes, fixed before presenting
- **C5:** the seasonal skies were too light for cream type (1.5–3:1). The upper skies were darkened and the light end moved behind the field, so every line clears 3:1. The claim lines also moved onto the cream panel, and a ground shade keeps "8 FL OZ (237 mL)" readable over the flowers.
- **C6:** the first version, a violet star hard-cropped at the text, split the name across two grounds. The second, brown, read as **star anise**, which breaks the "no ingredient imagery" rule. It's now deep aster, tone on tone.
- **C0:** the side story was removed so the basics stay exactly as you asked: only the logo is added.