# Reference 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.

Source: https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/image/reference-board

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.

- Found in: Image › References
- Output: image
- Credits: 15–60 per run, by model
- Models: 4
- API type: `reference-board`

## 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](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/image/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](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/image/upload-image) node, into the **References** input. To start from an asset instead, set **Source** to **Entity** and wire a [Character Asset](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/assets/character), [Location Asset](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/assets/location) or [Object/Props Asset](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/assets/object) 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](#refine-the-board).

Workflow: One board, made once from a photo, is the reference for every later image and video of the subject.

- Upload Image → Reference Board (references)
- Reference Board → Generate Video (references)
- Reference Board → Generate Image (references)

## 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: **Nano Banana Pro**, the default, **GPT Image 2**, **GPT Image 2.5 Flare** or **GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst**. All four 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. |
| **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](https://nodaro.ai/docs/models/image/nano-banana-pro) | Google | Text to image, Image to image | from 45 | Top-tier Nano Banana — best for text rendering, diagrams, and complex compositions. |
| [GPT Image 2](https://nodaro.ai/docs/models/image/gpt-image-2) | OpenAI | Text to image | from 15 | Next-gen GPT Image — broader aspect ratios, resolution-based pricing (1K/2K/4K). |
| [GPT Image 2.5 Flare](https://nodaro.ai/docs/models/image/gpt-image-2-5-flare) | OpenAI | Text to image | from 15 | 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](https://nodaro.ai/docs/models/image/gpt-image-2-5-sunburst) | OpenAI | Text to image | from 15 | 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. |

In our tests of reference boards, the Nano Banana family kept the same face most reliably. GPT Image 2 followed multi-panel layout instructions most completely. Read [Reference boards](https://nodaro.ai/docs/guides/reference-boards) for the full comparison.

## 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](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/image/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](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/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](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/image/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?

Nano Banana Pro, the default. In our tests of reference boards, the Nano Banana family kept the same face most reliably, and it rendered the labels and the palette cleanly. GPT Image 2 follows layout instructions closely but the face can drift.

### 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.