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Panel reference guide

Assign a reference image to one specific comic panel.

panelReferences maps one or more reachable image URLs to a zero-based pageIndex and panelIndex during the initial comic-generation request.

A panel reference guides the selected panel's scene, background, composition, or camera context. It is different from a character-wide reference and from PATCH regeneration after a panel already exists.

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Direct answer

The decision this page is for.

Last verified:

Use panelReferences only on the initial generation request to map reachable reference-image URLs to zero-based pageIndex and panelIndex values. The reference guides one selected panel; it does not edit an existing panel or guarantee an exact visual match.

Verifiable request

Guide the third panel with a harbor reference

cURL
curl -X POST \
  https://api.llamagen.ai/v1/comics/generations \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $LLAMAGEN_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
  "prompt": "A four-panel rescue at an original fogbound harbor.",
  "pagination": {
    "totalPages": 1,
    "panelsPerPage": 4
  },
  "panelReferences": [
    {
      "pageIndex": 0,
      "panelIndex": 2,
      "images": [
        "https://media.example.com/signed/harbor-wide.webp?expires=1793240000&signature=example"
      ]
    }
  ]
}'

Structured response

State your application can route

response.jsonILLUSTRATIVE
{
  "id": "gen_abc123",
  "status": "LOADING"
}

Reference walkthrough

Make the panel-to-reference mapping visible before generation.

One approved scene source sits beside the selected panel so the intended camera and environment guidance can be reviewed in context.

An art director aligns one storm-harbor reference photograph with the matching panel in a four-panel rescue comic proof
Editorial illustration generated with AI; it is not a real art-director photograph and not a generated API result.Art direction · European editorial preproduction

Reference mapping

Map one approved source to one intended panel.

The application should keep the private source, signed delivery URL, page grid, index mapping, and review outcome as separate records.

  1. 01Art director

    Approve the source

    Confirm rights, purpose, and the visible scene or camera detail the panel should borrow.

  2. 02Asset service

    Create a signed URL

    Expose the validated file only long enough for the generation request to retrieve it.

  3. 03Application

    Resolve the index

    Map the selected page and panel to zero-based pageIndex and panelIndex in the current request grid.

  4. 04Server

    Create the comic

    Submit the reference mapping with the initial generation body and persist the generation ID.

  5. 05Reviewer

    Compare the result

    Check the intended scene, camera, composition, character continuity, and neighboring panels.

  6. 06Publishing workflow

    Revise selectively

    Approve the panel or move the specific defect into the panel-regeneration workflow.

Capability and boundary facts

Facts an integration can verify.

Last verified:

Operation
POST /v1/comics/generations during initial generation
Target fields
Zero-based pageIndex and panelIndex
Reference field
panelReferences[].images as URL strings
Documented scope
Scene, background, composition, or camera guidance for the selected panel
Verification
LlamaGen documentation and OpenAPI checked on 2026-10-29

Good fit

Use it when

  • Panel-specific establishing shots
  • Product or location composition guidance
  • Art-direction workflows with a reviewable reference map

Wrong fit

Do not use it for

  • Recurring character identity across every panel
  • Editing an already generated panel
  • Making private source files permanently public

Production limits

Plan for the boundaries.

  • 01The URL must be reachable by LlamaGen for the request window. Use a short-lived signed URL rather than exposing a permanent public customer asset.
  • 02Zero-based indexes must match the requested page grid; validate them before submission so a reference is not assigned to the wrong panel.
  • 03A reference guides generation but does not promise pixel matching, exact camera reproduction, or deterministic adherence.
  • 04panelReferences applies to initial generation. Use the documented PATCH panel-regeneration workflow for an existing panel.
  • 05The request and response are contract-shaped examples, not a recorded paid generation.
  • 06Generation is asynchronous; production interfaces must handle processing and failure states.
  • 07Outputs should be reviewed against product, brand, safety, and print requirements before delivery.
  • 08You must have the rights to prompts, photos, scripts, and reference assets submitted to the API.

Authoritative sources

LlamaGen Comic API documentationLlamaGen OpenAPI contractCurrent pricingTermsService status

Questions

Direct answers before you integrate.

01Are panel reference indexes zero-based?
Yes. The first page and first panel are index 0. Validate each mapping against the requested page grid before submission so a scene reference cannot silently land on the wrong panel.
02Can I add panelReferences after generation?
Not through the documented initial-generation field. For an existing panel, use the separate PATCH regeneration operation with pageIndex, panelIndex, and any supported image input.
03Should the reference image be public?
It must be reachable during the request, but customer assets should use short-lived signed URLs rather than permanent public locations. Apply consent, rights, retention, and deletion rules before upload.
04Will the output reproduce the reference exactly?
No. It is guidance for scene, background, composition, or camera context, not deterministic copying. The request and response shown here are contract-shaped examples, not a recorded live result.

Related evaluation paths

GuideUpload Reference Images to a Comic APIFormatImage-to-Comic API for Photos and ReferencesFormatCharacter Consistency API for Multi-Panel ComicsGuideRegenerate One Comic Panel with the API

Next step

Move from evidence to a real API request.

LlamaGen provides the playground, API key, usage, billing, and authoritative service documentation.

Review panel reference fields