Help & FAQ
Everything you need to get the most out of The Refinery. Can’t find an answer? Email support@therefinery.com.
Getting started
What is The Refinery?
The Refinery is a generative image studio. You write a prompt, pick a model, and generate images that appear as tiles on an infinite canvas you can drag, arrange, edit, and refine — all in one place.
How do I generate my first image?
In the left panel, choose a model, type a prompt, set the aspect ratio and resolution, choose how many images to make (1–4), then press Generate. Tiles stream onto the board as they finish.
Where are my images saved?
Everything is saved on our servers and tied to your account, so your boards and images persist across sessions, browser cache clears, and devices.
Models
Which models are available?
Highlights include Nano Banana 2 (1K/2K/4K, supports references), Nano Banana, Seedream 4.5 (references), Seedream 5 Lite (references), Seedream 5 Pro (precise editing + references), Google Imagen 4, GPT Image 2 (strong with text/layout), and Topaz Upscale (an upscaler) — plus more image and video models. Switch models from the Model dropdown without leaving your board.
What are reference images?
For models that support them, you can drag images into the Reference Images box (or click to add), and the model will use them to guide the generation. You can also use any tile already on your board as a reference (hover it and choose “Use as reference”). Uploaded references are automatically compressed before sending, so even large 4K images work.
How do I use a specific reference in my prompt (REF1, REF2…)?
Each image you add is labelled REF1, REF2, and so on, each with its own color. To tell the model which image to use where, type that label into your prompt — for example, “the girl in REF1 petting the dog in REF2.” When a label matches one of your references it lights up in that image’s color so you can see it’s being used. You can also click a reference thumbnail to drop its label into your prompt at the cursor.
How many reference images can I add?
It depends on the model — the limit is shown next to the Reference Images label (e.g. “up to 5”). Seedream models accept the most (up to 14), most image models take 4–6, and video models use up to 2 (a first and optional last frame). If you switch to a model that allows fewer than you've already added, the extra images are greyed out and skipped — they aren't deleted, so switching back makes them active again.
How do I upscale an image?
Choose the Topaz Upscale model, add the image you want to enlarge as the source, pick an upscale factor (2×, 4×, or 8×), and generate.
Credits & billing
How does pricing work?
The Service runs on prepaid credits. Each generation shows its credit cost before you confirm — higher resolutions and upscales cost more. The Generate button always shows the exact total you'll be charged, including when you generate multiple images at once.
Do credits expire?
No — purchased credits roll over month to month and stay in your account.
How do I buy more credits?
Open Settings from the bottom of the sidebar and choose a credit pack. Checkout is handled securely by Stripe.
What's your refund policy?
Credits are generally non-refundable once used. See the Terms & Conditions for full details.
Working on the canvas
How do selecting and opening images work?
Single-click a tile to select it (Shift/⌘-click to select several). Double-click a tile to open it full-screen in the lightbox.
How do I edit, expand, or vary an image?
Hover a tile to reveal its tools: Delete, Edit/expand (inpaint a region or outpaint to a new aspect ratio), Make 4 variations, Use as reference, and Re-use prompt. The same actions are available in the lightbox.
What does Tidy-up do?
The tidy-up button reflows a sprawling board into a clean masonry grid in one click, without taking away your freedom to rearrange afterward.
Boards, undo, and trash?
Create multiple boards for separate projects, rename or download each as a zip, and undo/redo your moves. Deleted images go to a recoverable trash until you purge them.
Is there a command palette?
Yes — press ⌘K (or Ctrl+K) for quick access to generate, undo/redo, select all, switch boards, switch models, open trash, and more.
Troubleshooting
A generation failed or timed out.
Generations are produced by third-party models that occasionally fail or are busy. If a tile shows an error, dismiss it and try again. If a completed result wasn't what you wanted, adjust your prompt or try a different model.
My credits didn't update after a purchase.
Credits are added when you return from Stripe checkout. If they don't appear, reload the page; if they still don't, contact support with your purchase details.
I need more help.
Email us at support@therefinery.com.