Create your first project

This guide gets you from an empty install to a generated image on the canvas.

Before you start, make sure Leafage is installed and Codex is connected. If you have not done that yet, start with Installing Leafage.

Step 1: Start or activate Leafage

When Leafage opens for the first time, it checks your access.

1. Enter your email.
2. Click Send code.
3. Enter the 6-digit code from your email.
4. Click Start trial.

The trial includes 50 image generations. If you already bought Leafage, click Already have access? and recover your license instead.

Step 2: Check Codex

Leafage generates through your local Codex setup. During onboarding, the Set up Codex step shows whether the Codex CLI is ready.

If Codex is ready, continue. If not, click Open Codex settings and either let Leafage auto-detect Codex or choose the full path to the codex executable.

Step 3: Choose a project location

Leafage stores projects and generated assets in a folder you choose.

1. Click Choose folder.
2. Pick or create a folder for Leafage projects.
3. Confirm the folder.

Good choices include Documents/Leafage or a dedicated creative work folder. Avoid temporary folders, app bundles, Downloads cleanup folders, and cloud folders that aggressively remove local files.

Step 4: Create a project

On the Create your first project step:

1. Enter a project name.
2. Click Create project.

Leafage opens a blank canvas.

Step 5: Add an image node

On the canvas:

1. Click the round + button on the left side of the canvas.
2. Choose Image.
3. Type a prompt in the node.
4. Adjust the generation controls if needed:
   • x1 to x4 controls how many versions Leafage asks for.
   • Auto, 1:1, 4:5, and the other ratio options control image shape.
   • Low, Medium, High, and XHigh control Codex reasoning effort.
5. Press Enter or click the arrow button.

The node shows generation progress, then displays the result.

Step 6: Make a branch

The canvas is most useful when you branch from useful results.

1. Hover a generated node.
2. Use one of the connection handles around the node.
3. Create a connected node from the handle or connect it to another node.
4. Write the next prompt as a continuation, variation, or refinement.

Connected parent nodes become context for the next generation, so you can keep the path of an idea visible instead of rewriting the same setup prompt every time.

What to try next

• Run x4 on a node to compare several directions at once.
• Use the left and right arrow keys to switch between versions on a selected node.
• Drag a .png, .jpg, .jpeg, or .webp file onto the canvas to use it as a reference.
• Right-click a finished image node and choose Copy as PNG or Download PNG.