# Upload Image

> Bring your own picture into a workflow. Upload a file or paste a link, crop it on the way in, and send it to every node that takes an image.

Source: https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/image/upload-image

The **Upload Image** node brings a picture of your own into a workflow. You upload a file or paste a link to an image, and the node passes that picture to every node you connect it to. Use it for reference photos, product shots, logos and any still you want an AI node to work from.

- Found in: Image › Add Your Own
- Output: image
- API type: `upload-image`

## When to use it
- You have a photo of a person or a product and want [Generate Image](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/image/generate-image) to keep it recognizable. Wire the photo into the **References** input.
- You want to animate a still. Wire it into [Generate Video](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/generate-video) as the first frame.
- You want to edit a photo. Send it to [Modify Image](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/image/modify-image), [Upscale Image](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/image/upscale-image) or [Remove Background](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/image/remove-background).
- You want a logo or a watermark on your results. Wire the file into a layer of [Image Overlay](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/image/image-overlay).

## Quick start
### Add the node

Press Tab on the canvas and choose **Image › Add Your Own › Upload Image**.

### Add a picture

Click **Choose Image**, or drop an image file on the node. To use a picture that is already online, paste a direct link to the image into the field on the node instead.

### Crop or convert it

When you choose a file, the **Adjust Image** step opens before the upload. Crop the picture with an aspect-ratio preset, such as **Square** or **Widescreen**, or with **Freeform**. Under **Advanced**, you can convert the file to PNG, JPEG or WebP.

### Connect it

Drag from the node's **Image** output to any node that takes an image. Every connected node uses the picture when it runs.

Workflow: An uploaded product photo is the reference for a new scene, and the new image becomes the first frame of a video.

- Upload Image → Generate Image (references)
- Text → Generate Image (prompt)
- Generate Image → Generate Video (start frame)

## Output
Upload Image is a source node: it needs nothing wired into it. Its output, **Image**, is the link to your picture. Every node that accepts an image can take it, and one Upload Image node can feed any number of nodes at once.

## Settings
| Setting | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Choose Image** | Opens your files. You can also drop a file on the node. |
| Image link | A direct link to an image, pasted into the field on the node instead of a file. The link must be public. |
| **Adjust Image** | Opens when you choose a file. Crop with an aspect-ratio preset or **Freeform**, and convert to PNG, JPEG or WebP under **Advanced**. The crop runs in your browser before the upload. |
| **Label** | The node's name on the canvas. The label also becomes the name you use to mention the picture in a prompt. |

The node accepts common image formats, such as PNG, JPEG and WebP.

## Mention the picture in a prompt

When you wire an Upload Image node into [Generate Image](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/image/generate-image), you can refer to the picture by name inside the prompt. The name comes from the node's label: a node labeled "Town" becomes `@town:1`.

| You write | The model receives |
| --- | --- |
| `@town:1` | The picture itself, placed where you typed the mention |
| `@town:1:background` | Only the background of the picture |
| `@town:1:signage` | Any single word you choose, used as written |

After the second colon, you can add one of these roles: `object`, `person`, `face`, `clothes`, `background`, `style`, `pose` or `texture`. Any single word of your own works too. Mentioning is optional: an unnamed upload is still sent to the model as a reference.

A label that starts with a digit, such as "3D Render", cannot form a mention. Rename the node if you want to mention it. When a character or a location has the same name, the character or location wins. Read [Reference roles](https://nodaro.ai/docs/guides/reference-roles) for every role and for the identity lock.

## Tips
- **Start from a good picture.** A sharp, well-lit, high-resolution image gives better results in every AI node that uses it.
- **Crop for the target.** If the image will become the first frame of a vertical video, crop it to a vertical preset in the **Adjust Image** step.
- **Use public links.** A link that needs a login or expires does not work. Upload the file instead.
- **Videos from social platforms need another node.** To bring in a clip from a social platform, use [Video URL](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/automate/video-url), which handles platform downloads.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which file formats can I upload to the Upload Image node?

Common image formats, such as PNG, JPEG and WebP. When you choose a file, the Adjust Image step can also convert it to PNG, JPEG or WebP before it is uploaded.

### Can I use an image link instead of a file?

Yes. Paste a direct link to an image into the field on the node. The link must be public.

### Can I crop a photo before it goes into the workflow?

Yes. Choosing a file opens the Adjust Image step, where you crop with an aspect-ratio preset or freeform. The crop happens in your browser, so the uploaded file is already the cropped part.

### Can one uploaded image feed several nodes?

Yes. Drag from the Image output to as many nodes as you need. Every connected node receives the same picture.

### How do I mention an uploaded image in a prompt?

Give the Upload Image node a label, for example Town. In the prompt of Generate Image you can then write @town:1 to place the picture, or @town:1:background to use only its background.