Understand nodes & connections

Text, images, video, and audio all appear as nodes on the canvas. You can move them, select several at once, and use connections to show which upstream content a later node can reference.

For example, after connecting a product image to an image node, you can mention that upstream image with @ in the downstream node's Prompt field.

1. Create a node

There are three common ways to add content:

What you want to do	How to do it
Create a text, image, video, or audio node	Select + in the left canvas toolbar, then choose a node type
Create a node at the current pointer position	Double-click an empty area, then choose a node type
Add a local image, video, audio file, or document	Select + and choose Upload, or drag the file directly onto the canvas

The new node appears on the canvas. Image, video, and audio nodes show a preview. In a text node, you can immediately enter a script, shot direction, or other notes.

2. Select and move nodes

• Select one node: click the node;
• Select several nodes: hold Shift and click each node;
• Select an area: drag a selection box from an empty part of the canvas;
• Move nodes: drag a selected node. When several nodes are selected, dragging one moves the whole selection;
• Clear the selection: click an empty part of the canvas.

As your canvas grows, place source material on the left and later results on the right. This makes inputs and outputs easier to follow.

3. Continue from one node

This is the simplest way to create a connection.

1. Select a text, image, video, or audio node;
2. A + appears on either side of the node;
3. Select the + on the right;
4. Choose the type of node you want to create next;
5. The new node appears with a connection from the source node.

For example, select a product image, choose the + on its right, and create an image node to continue generating from that product reference.

The direction of the connection shows the order of use: the upstream node provides input, and the downstream node uses that input for the next step.

4. Connect two existing nodes

If both nodes are already on the canvas:

1. Select the node that provides the source material;
2. Hold the connection handle on its right side and drag;
3. Drag the line onto the node that should receive the material;
4. Release the mouse button or trackpad when the connection appears.

A connection marks a reference relationship. The earlier node is the upstream source, and the later node can reference it during generation.

For an image connection:

1. Open the downstream node's Prompt field;
2. Type @;
3. Choose the upstream image connected to this node;
4. Once the image appears in the Prompt field, explain how it should be used.

For example: @Front product image Keep the bottle, label, and colors unchanged. Place it in a nighttime camping scene.

Before generating, review the @ references in the Prompt field. Confirm that every reference you need is included and that no unwanted upstream content has been added.

Some node types cannot be connected. If no line appears when you release, those node types usually cannot be used together in the same generation chain.

To remove a connection, select the line and press Delete or Backspace. This removes only the relationship; it does not delete the content in either node.

5. Use several nodes together

When the next step needs several inputs, connect them in one action.

1. Hold Shift and select every node you want to use;
2. Drag from the + on the right side of the selection to an empty area;
3. Choose the type of node you want to create;
4. Creative OS creates the node and connects every selected input to it.

For example, select a product image and a text instruction, then create an image node. The new image node receives both connections. Before generating, confirm the upstream references in its Prompt field.

6. Copy, delete, and undo

Action	Mac	Windows
Copy selected nodes	⌘ C	Ctrl C
Paste nodes	⌘ V	Ctrl V
Delete selected nodes or connections	Delete / Backspace	Delete / Backspace
Undo	⌘ Z	Ctrl Z
Redo	Shift ⌘ Z	Ctrl Shift Z

If you want to explore a new direction while keeping the current result, copy the node first and continue from the copy.

Try it once

Use one product image to create a new ad visual:

1. Drag the product image onto the canvas;
2. Double-click an empty area and create a text node;
3. Enter: Keep the product unchanged. Place it in a nighttime camping scene with a 16:9 frame.;
4. Hold Shift and select both the product image and the text node;
5. Drag from the + on the right side of the selection to an empty area, then choose an image node;
6. Confirm that the new image node has two incoming connections;
7. Choose the model and aspect ratio, then generate.

Generating an image, video, or audio file uses Tapies based on the selected model and settings.

When the generation finishes, the canvas should contain two input nodes, one result node, and connections from the inputs to the result. To continue into video, use the + on the right side of the result image to create a video node.

Next: Upload files to the canvas