Kimi Visual Coding

Kimi Visual Coding: Convert Designs to Code

Visual coding is one of those features that sounds like magic until you try it the right way. You upload a UI screenshot, a mockup, or a design reference, and Kimi produces working code often a solid first draft of the layout and styling. But the real win isn’t “one-click perfect output.” The win is speed: you go from “idea → working page” in minutes, then refine like a normal developer or designer.

This guide is written to be practical and human. No hype. No vague “AI will change everything” talk. Instead, you’ll learn:

• What visual coding actually means,

• What kinds of screenshots/designs work best,

• A step-by-step workflow that consistently produces clean HTML/CSS/JS,

• The most common mistakes people make (and how to fix them),

• Prompt templates you can copy,

• And a big FAQ.

If your goal is to build landing pages, clone UI sections, or convert mockups into responsive web code, this is the playbook.

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What “visual coding” means

Visual coding is a workflow where you give the model visual input like a screenshot or design image and ask it to generate code that matches what it sees.

How it’s different from normal prompting

Normal prompting is like:

“Create a landing page with a hero section, two buttons, and feature cards.”

Visual coding is like:

“Make it look like this.” (and you attach the screenshot)

That difference is huge. Most UI problems are not about what components you need—they’re about:

• Spacing,

• Alignment,

• Font sizes,

• Hierarchy,

• Proportions,

• And small layout decisions.

A screenshot contains all of that instantly.

What visual coding is best at

Visual coding is strongest when you want:

• Layout replication (grid, spacing, alignment),

• Typography hierarchy (headline vs subtext vs labels),

• Component structure (cards, buttons, nav bars, sections),

• Responsive direction (what should stack on mobile),

• And a fast starting point.

What it’s not (so you don’t get disappointed)

Visual coding is not guaranteed to:

• Match every pixel perfectly on the first try,

• Identify the exact font family used in the screenshot,

• Know the exact spacing values without hints,

• Reproduce custom icons or images (unless you provide them),

• Or replicate complex animations perfectly without extra instructions.

The best mindset is:

Visual coding gives you 70-90% of the UI quickly. Your workflow finishes the last 10–30%.

The “two-layer” output you should aim for

A good visual coding result has two layers:

1. Structure: semantic HTML that mirrors the layout

2. Style system: clean CSS with consistent spacing, typography, and responsive rules

If you get only one (for example, messy HTML but nice CSS), the page becomes hard to maintain. This guide will help you get both.

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Best inputs (screenshots, Figma exports, UI references)

The quality of your input image affects your output more than most people realize. If you feed the model a blurry screenshot, you’ll get “blurry code.”

Here are the best types of inputs for visual coding and how to prepare them.

1) UI screenshots

This includes:

• Landing page hero sections,

• Feature blocks,

• Login screens,

• Dashboards,

• Pricing sections,

• FAQ sections,

• And comparison tables.

Best practices for screenshots

• Use a high-resolution image (avoid tiny mobile screenshots if you want desktop UI).

• Capture the full section, not a random crop that hides key spacing.

• Avoid screenshots with heavy overlays (cookie banners, popups).

• If possible, capture at a known width (e.g., 1440px desktop).

Pro tip: If the screenshot includes multiple sections, tell Kimi which one you want first:

“Recreate the hero section only (top area). Ignore the rest.”

2) Figma exports 

Figma exports are often clearer than screenshots because they’re designed assets.

How to export for best results

• Export as PNG at 2x (or higher if text is small).

• Export per section (Hero / Features / Pricing) instead of the full page.

• If fonts are custom, include the font name in the prompt.

Extra tip: If you can’t share the Figma file, export:

• The UI frame,

• And a separate image showing colour styles/typography (if available).

3) UI references from other websites

Sometimes you want:

• “Make my page like Stripe’s hero style,” or

• “Use this card layout like Notion.”

You can still do that with screenshots, but you should be careful:

• Don’t copy copyrighted text or brand assets.

• Use it as a layout reference and rewrite the copy.

A good prompt line:

“Match the layout and spacing, but use my own wording and generic placeholder icons.”

4) Wireframes and sketches

Even a rough sketch can work if it clearly shows layout blocks.

Sketch inputs work best when

• The layout is simple,

• Labels show what elements are,

• And you describe typography in text.

Example:

“This is a wireframe. Use a clean modern style, white background, black text, rounded cards, and two CTA buttons.”

5) “Before and after” references

One of the strongest workflows is to provide:

• your current page screenshot, and

• the target page screenshot.

Then ask:

“Update my page to match the target layout while keeping my content.”

That reduces guesswork and often leads to better “practical” code.

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Input checklist (use this every time)

Before you start, check:

• Is the image sharp enough to read text?

• Does it show the full section I want?

• Are buttons and card boundaries visible?

• Is there a clear hierarchy (headline, subtext, CTAs)?

• Am I expecting the model to guess brand assets (logos/icons)? If yes, provide them or use placeholders.

• Do I want pixel-perfect or “close enough”? Decide upfront.

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Step-by-step workflow (prompt → draft → refine)

This is the part that matters most. If you follow this workflow, your results will be dramatically more consistent.

Step 1: Define your target output (what you want delivered)

If you want clean code, you must specify:

• File format (HTML/CSS/JS)

• Responsiveness requirement

• Accessibility requirement

• Whether frameworks are allowed

• Whether images should be placeholders or real assets

Recommended default request

• index.html

• styles.css

• script.js (only if needed)

Also decide:

• “plain HTML/CSS” (portable and simple), or

• “Tailwind” (fast but depends on a framework), or

• “React component” (for app-level UIs)

If you want the broadest compatibility, start with plain HTML/CSS.

Step 2: Ask for the first draft

Your first draft should focus on:

• Correct structure,

• Correct spacing direction,

• Correct typography hierarchy.

Don’t obsess over pixel-perfect values yet.

Prompt template: Layout – first draft

Recreate the UI from this screenshot.
Output separate files: index.html, styles.css, script.js (only if needed).
Priorities: layout structure, spacing, and typography hierarchy.
Use semantic HTML, a responsive layout, and accessible buttons/labels.
Use placeholder images/icons if needed.

This will usually produce a usable first version.

Step 3: Get a “self-check” and list missing details

Most people skip this, then wonder why the output feels off.

Add:

After the first draft, list the top 8 places where the design might not match perfectly (spacing, font sizes, border radius, etc.) and suggest fixes.

This makes the model “look again” and helps you refine systematically.

Step 4: Refinement pass (the 80/20 improvements)

Now you refine with targeted requests, like:

• “Headline is too small match the screenshot.”

• “Increase spacing between paragraph lines.”

• “Buttons should be pill-shaped and thicker.”

• “Cards should have lighter borders, more padding.”

• “Align the right-side cards vertically with equal gaps.”

Prompt style that works best for refinement
Use “change requests” like a designer review:

Update styles.css:

• Increase H1 size and line-height to match the screenshot.

• Make body text slightly larger.

• Increase card padding.

• Make card border lighter.

• Adjust button sizes: primary button larger, secondary outlined.

This avoids rewriting everything.

Step 5: Responsive pass (mobile/tablet behavior)

A layout can look perfect on desktop and break on mobile. Always do a responsive pass.

Ask for:

• Mobile layout (stack columns)

• Spacing adjustments

• Button sizing on mobile

• Font scaling and line heights

• Max-width container rules

Prompt template: Responsive pass

Add responsive styles:

• For screens under 768px: stack the layout, full-width buttons, adjust padding.

• Keep text readable and avoid overflow.

• Maintain the same visual hierarchy as desktop.

Step 6: Accessibility pass (simple but important)

This is easy to add and worth it:

• Proper button labels

• Good contrast (especially for light borders)

• Focus states

• Semantic tags (header, main, section)

• Alt text on images

Prompt template: Accessibility pass

Improve accessibility: semantic HTML, focus styles, aria-labels where needed, ensure buttons and links are keyboard-friendly.

Step 7: Cleanup pass (make the code maintainable)

Now make the output production-friendly:

• Use CSS variables for spacing and colors

• Use consistent naming (BEM or simple class pattern)

• Remove duplicate styles

• Make sections reusable

Prompt template: Cleanup pass

Refactor CSS to be maintainable: use variables for spacing/colors, remove duplicates, keep class names consistent. Do not change the visual layout.

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Prompt pack (copy/paste prompts that work)

Here are prompts you can reuse.

1) “Exact hero section” prompt

Recreate ONLY the hero section from this screenshot.
Provide index.html and styles.css.
Match typography hierarchy, spacing, and button styling.
Keep background white, text black, subtle borders.
Make it responsive (stack on mobile).

2) “Component-first” prompt

Convert this screenshot into reusable components: Hero, FeatureCard, CTAButtons.
Provide HTML + CSS with clean class naming.
Add comments to show where each component starts/ends.

3) “Clone layout, rewrite copy” prompt

Match the layout style in this screenshot, but rewrite the text in a fresh way and do not copy brand names.
Use generic placeholders for images/icons.

4) “Fix my code to match the screenshot” prompt

Here is my current HTML/CSS (paste). Here is the target screenshot.
Update my code to match the screenshot while keeping the same content.
Return only the changed code blocks and explain what you changed.

5) “Create a full landing page” prompt

Use this screenshot as the design direction.
Build a full landing page with: hero, features, testimonials (simple), FAQs, final CTA.
Keep the same style: typography, spacing, borders, and button shapes.

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Common mistakes + fixes

Visual coding is powerful, but there are patterns that cause bad results. Here are the big ones and exactly how to fix them.

Mistake 1: Asking for “pixel-perfect” without constraints

If you say “pixel-perfect,” the model tries to guess exact spacing values and often overfits weird numbers.

Fix
Ask for “close match” first, then refine:

Create a close visual match. Use a clean spacing system (8px grid). I’ll refine after.

Mistake 2: Not specifying file separation

If you don’t request separate files, you’ll often get messy inline CSS or mixed code that’s hard to reuse.

Fix
Always specify:

• index.html

• styles.css

• script.js if needed

Mistake 3: Giving one screenshot that contains too many sections

If the screenshot includes 6 sections, the model may:

• merge styles incorrectly,

• lose layout consistency,

• or skip details.

Fix
Start with one section at a time:

Build the hero only. Then the feature cards. Then the FAQ section.

Mistake 4: Not telling it what to do about images/icons

The model can’t magically fetch your logo or icons unless you supply them.

Fix
Say:

Use placeholders: circle icons or simple SVG placeholders, and use a rectangular placeholder image.

Mistake 5: Letting the model choose random fonts and sizes

If you want a clean match, you need control.

Fix
Tell it what typography direction you want:

• “Use system font stack”

• “Use modern sans-serif style”

• “Use larger H1 with tight letter spacing”

You can also add:

Use a consistent type scale (e.g., 48/24/18).

Mistake 6: No responsive instructions

Without responsive rules, the desktop layout might collapse badly on mobile.

Fix
Explicitly specify breakpoints:

Under 768px stack columns. Under 480px reduce padding and font sizes.

Mistake 7: Overusing absolute positioning

Sometimes the model tries to “cheat” with position:absolute to match layout. That usually breaks responsiveness.

Fix
Add a rule:

Avoid absolute positioning unless necessary. Prefer flex and grid.

Mistake 8: Dumping everything into one giant CSS block

A single huge CSS file with repeated styles becomes hard to maintain.

Fix
Ask for a style system:

Use CSS variables for spacing, radius, and colors. Keep button/card styles reusable.

Mistake 9: Copying text from other sites (risk)

If you use competitor screenshots as references, you don’t want to copy their exact copy.

Fix
Say:

Keep layout similar, but rewrite all text from scratch in my own words.

Mistake 10: Not doing a QA pass

Even good-looking UI can have:

• overflow issues,

• inconsistent spacing,

• button alignment bugs,

• or broken focus states.

Fix
Ask for a “QA checklist” output:

Before finalizing, check mobile layout, overflow, button alignment, and consistent spacing.

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Troubleshooting (quick fixes for common UI issues)

Here are fast solutions you can request when something looks wrong.

Problem: Spacing feels off

Fix prompt

Use an 8px spacing system. Increase section padding and card padding. Keep consistent gaps.

Problem: Typography doesn’t match

Fix prompt

Increase H1 size and line-height. Make paragraph text slightly larger. Keep label text small and spaced.

Problem: Buttons look wrong

Fix prompt

Make primary button larger with more padding, pill shape, bold text. Make secondary button outlined with matching height.

Problem: Cards look heavy

Fix prompt

Reduce border darkness, increase border radius slightly, add subtle shadow or none, increase whitespace.

Problem: Layout alignment is messy

Fix prompt

Align the left text block and right card stack to the same top baseline. Use consistent vertical spacing between cards.

Problem: Mobile view is broken

Fix prompt

On mobile: stack columns, full-width buttons, reduce padding, ensure no horizontal scroll. Add max-width and overflow-x hidden if needed.

Problem: Too much custom CSS / hard to maintain

Fix prompt

Refactor CSS: variables, reusable classes, remove duplication. Keep the visual result the same.

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Best practices (the rules that make visual coding “feel pro”)

If you’re going to use visual coding regularly, these habits make a massive difference.

1) Build in layers

Don’t try to do everything in one prompt.

Do:

1. layout-first draft

2. Refine styling

3. Responsive pass

4. Accessibility pass

5. Cleanup pass

This is exactly how real products are built. Visual coding just speeds up each layer.

2) Keep a reusable “style baseline”

If you build many pages, create a baseline:

• Button styles

• Typography scale

• Spacing variables

• Card styles

• Container widths

Then every new section is easier.

3) Use consistent naming

You don’t need fancy frameworks. You just need consistent class naming.

Example pattern:

• .container

• .hero

• .hero__content

• .hero__actions

• .card

• .card__title

• .card__text

Consistency keeps you sane.

4) Treat it like design review

Instead of “fix it,” say:

• “increase padding”

• “reduce border weight”

• “match line-height”

• “align to baseline”

• “stack on mobile”

Visual coding works best when you give feedback like a human reviewer.

5) Ask for a “diff-style” update when refining

If you already have code, don’t ask it to regenerate everything.

Ask:

Return only the changed CSS rules and explain what changed.

This reduces accidental breakage.

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FAQs

What is Kimi Visual Coding?

Kimi Visual Coding is a workflow where you provide visual input (screenshots, mockups, UI references) and ask Kimi to generate code that matches the design often HTML/CSS/JS for web UI.

What’s the best type of input image?

High-resolution screenshots or Figma exports (2x) work best. The clearer the typography and spacing in the image, the cleaner the output code.

Can Kimi generate “production-ready” code?

It can generate a strong starting point, especially for layout and styling. For production, you should still do a cleanup pass: naming consistency, responsive checks, accessibility, and removing duplication.

Should I use HTML/CSS or a framework?

If you want portability and simple deployment: plain HTML/CSS.
If you build many UIs quickly: Tailwind can help.
If you’re building an app: React components are useful.
The best choice depends on where the code will live.

Can it convert Figma designs directly?

If you export the design as a clear image, yes. For best results, export sections individually (hero, features, pricing) and specify your typography and spacing rules.

How do I get closer to pixel-perfect results?

Use a two-step approach:

1. “close match” draft

2. targeted refinement with specific change requests
   Also ask the model to list “mismatch areas” after the first draft so you can fix them systematically.

What are the most common mistakes?

• Vague prompts (“convert this to code”)

• No file separation requested

• Unclear screenshots

• No responsive instructions

• Expecting exact fonts/icons without providing them

Can Kimi create complex animations?

It can, but animations should be requested separately after the layout is correct. Start with the static layout, then add motion.

How do I avoid messy CSS?

Ask for:

• CSS variables (spacing/colors/radius)

• Reusable button/card styles

• Consistent naming

• Removal of duplicated rules

Can it build a full landing page from one screenshot?

Yes, but you’ll get better results by doing one section at a time and then combining sections with a shared style baseline.

How do I keep outputs consistent across multiple pages?

Use a base stylesheet and a template prompt that you reuse:

• Same spacing rules

• Same type scale

• Same button styles

• Same card styles

Can I use competitor screenshots as references?

You can use them as layout inspiration, but you should rewrite copy and avoid using brand assets or unique text.

What’s a good “default prompt” for visual coding?

Recreate the UI from this screenshot. Output index.html + styles.css + script.js (if needed). Use semantic HTML, responsive layout, accessibility, and placeholders for icons/images. Prioritize clean structure and maintainable CSS.