Nodaro DocsReference Board
Generate a dense reference board with a hero image, panels and a color palette in one AI pass, then refine it with an edit, a mask or a re-roll.
The Reference Board node generates a complete reference board for a character, a location or an object in one AI pass. The board has a hero image, a details block, several panels and a six-color palette. An image model draws them all together from your reference images. You then refine the board in place and feed the whole board to other nodes as one reference.
When to use it
- Lock the look of a character, a place or a product in one image that you attach to every later generation.
- Get a cohesive, polished board quickly, for example for a pitch or a brief.
- Fix one panel of a board without generating the whole board again.
Reference Board or Reference Sheet
| Reference Board | Reference Sheet | |
|---|---|---|
| How it is built | An image model draws the whole board in one pass | The node composes the panels the entity has, and generates the missing ones first |
| Output | One cohesive board image | A sheet plus a clean set of separate panels |
| What you feed to other nodes | The whole board, as one reference | The separate panels |
| How you refine it | Edit the whole board, edit a masked area, or re-roll | Generate a panel again |
Quick start
Add the node
Press Tab on the canvas and choose Image › References › Reference Board.
Provide the subject
Wire one or more reference images, such as an Upload Image node, into the References input. To start from an asset instead, set Source to Entity and wire a Character Asset, Location Asset or Object/Props Asset node.
Choose a template and a model
Open the settings panel. Choose a Board Template, such as Full Board — hero + 6 panels + palette. The template fills the prompt, which you can edit. Then choose the Provider, the Aspect Ratio and the resolution.
Run it, then refine
Click Run on the node. The board appears on the node, with a refine bar under it. See Refine the board.
Inputs
| Input | Accepts | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| References | Image nodes, such as Upload Image and Generate Image, and Character, Location and Object nodes | The subject of the board: one or more reference images, or an entity with its image and description. |
The output, Image, is the active version of the board.
Settings
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Source | Image, the default, uses the reference images you connect or upload. Entity uses a connected Character, Location or Object node, with its image and description. |
| Board Template | The structure of the board. Characters, locations and objects each have a Full Board — hero + 6 panels + palette template. Choosing a template fills the prompt. |
| Provider | The image model: GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst, the default, GPT Image 2.6 Flare, GPT Image 2, GPT Image 2.5 Flare, GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst or Nano Banana Pro. A board saved with no model uses GPT Image 2, or GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst at a shape GPT Image 2 does not draw, such as 2:3. All six render the labels and the palette text on the board. |
| Prompt | The description of the board, filled by the template. You can edit it freely. |
| Negative Prompt | Things to avoid. |
| Aspect Ratio | The shape of the board. The default is 2:3, and the layout adapts to the ratio you choose. |
| Resolution or Quality | Up to 4K, depending on the model. The default is 4K. GPT Image 2.5 renders 27:16, 16:27, 9:8 and 8:9 at 1K only, so a board at those ratios runs and is charged at 1K. GPT Image 2 renders every ratio it offers, 1:1 and Auto included, at every size. |
| Seed | A fixed number for a reproducible board layout. Leave it empty for a random seed. |
Refine the board
After a run, a refine bar appears under the board on the node. Every refine works on the board you actually got and adds a new version. You can step back and forth between versions, and the active version is the one that feeds other nodes.
| Action | How | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Global edit | Type an instruction in Edit the whole board…, such as make the jacket red, and apply it | A change across every panel. The identity and the layout stay. |
| Masked edit | Turn on Mask, type the change, apply it, then brush the area in the Mask editor and save | Fixing one panel, such as a single expression. Only the brushed area is repainted, and the rest stays pixel-identical. |
| Add a reference | Click the add-reference button next to Mask and paste the link of an image | Giving the edit more to work with, for a more accurate result |
| Re-roll | Click Re-roll | A fresh board with a new seed and the same settings |
Models
Reference Board runs the image models below. The board costs the same as one image from the model you choose.
| Model | Maker | Modes | Credits | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nano Banana Pro | Text to image, Image to image | from 50 | Top-tier Nano Banana — best for text rendering, diagrams, and complex compositions. | |
| GPT Image 2 | OpenAI | Text to image | from 21 | Next-gen GPT Image — broader aspect ratios, resolution-based pricing (1K/2K/4K). |
| GPT Image 2.5 Flare | OpenAI | Text to image | from 17 | Fast everyday GPT Image 2.5 - higher quality than GPT Image 2 at about half the latency. The default of the pair: social and creator content, campaign variants, thumbnails, rapid iteration, high-volume work. |
| GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst | OpenAI | Text to image | from 17 | Precision GPT Image 2.5 - trades generation time for tighter control and detail fidelity. Pick it for brand-sensitive and production work: packaging, diagrams, ecommerce retouching, polished campaign creative. |
| GPT Image 2.6 Flare | OpenAI | Text to image | from 9 | Fast GPT Image 2.6 - pick it for speed: posters, product shots and quick iteration, with stronger layouts. Up to 4K, quality from low to max or auto (priced up to the max), a transparent background at 1K. Writes PNG, JPEG, WebP, an animated GIF or an SVG. |
| GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst | OpenAI | Text to image | from 9 | Precision GPT Image 2.6 - pick it when every detail counts: the strongest consistency across edits and the finest detail. Up to 4K, quality from low to max or auto (priced up to the max), a transparent background at 1K. Writes PNG, JPEG, WebP, an animated GIF or an SVG. |
In our October 2026 Image Model Bake-off, GPT Image 2 made the best character board, and Nano Banana Pro won none of the 18 prompts. GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst is the default because it draws the default 2:3 shape. Read Reference boards and consistency grids for more on choosing a model.
Credits
A board costs the per-image price of the model you choose, with no separate board fee. A refine costs the same as an image edit in Modify Image on the model that makes the edit. The Run button shows the price before you run.
Tips
- Start from one good photo. Use one sharp, evenly lit, front-facing photo with a single subject. A soft or filtered photo is the most common cause of a face that drifts.
- Re-roll instead of settling. If the face drifts on a board, re-roll it. Two or three takes usually give a clean board. Do not carry a drifted board forward.
- Feed the board everywhere. Wire the board into the reference input of every image and video node that shows the subject. The Scene Recipes presets of Generate Video are built to read reference boards.
- Give models a clean grid when you can. The labels and colors of a board are noise to a model that reads it as a reference. For a model-facing reference, use a consistency grid preset in Generate Image. Show the board to your team, and feed the grid to the model.
Frequently asked questions
Which model makes the best reference board?
GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst is the default, because GPT Image 2 does not draw the default 2:3 shape. In our October 2026 test of seven image models, GPT Image 2 made the best character board, so choose it for a shape it supports, such as 16:9. All six models render the labels and the palette.
How many credits does a reference board cost?
The same as one image from the model you choose, with no separate board fee. Refining a board costs the same as an image edit on the model that makes the edit.
How do I fix one panel without changing the rest?
Turn on Mask on the refine bar, describe the change, then brush the panel in the Mask editor. Only the brushed area is repainted, and the rest of the board stays pixel-identical.
Can I start from a Character node instead of a photo?
Yes. Set Source to Entity and connect a Character, Location or Object node. Its image and description become the reference for the board.
Should I use Reference Board or Reference Sheet?
Use Reference Board for one cohesive board that you feed whole to other nodes. Use Reference Sheet when you need each panel as a separate image.
Related
Reference boards and consistency grids
Reference Sheet
Generate Image
Consistent characters
Reference roles
Last updated on
Reference Sheet
Compose a turnaround, variation board, detail sheet or full model sheet from a Character, Object or Location, and reuse its clean panels as references.
Describe Image
Describe any image in words with a vision model, briefly, in detail or in labeled sections, and send the text to prompts, captions or alt text.