# Quickstart > Sign in, pick a model and run your first generation, with references when needed. Source: https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/docs/quickstart Last verified: 2026-10-13 (checked against FlashBoards app build 042ae39db) This guide takes you from an empty board to your first generation. You need a FlashBoards account, and generating uses your AI balance from a paid plan or top-up. ### Step 1: Open the app Go to [flashboards.yaroflasher.com/panel](https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/panel) and sign in. Your first board, **Main Board**, opens automatically. The first time, a **Welcome to FlashBoards** window explains that your boards are stored in this browser. Click **Got it** to close it. An empty board also shows a **Get Started** card, and you may see a bar at the top saying browser storage may not persist between sessions. A card saying **This board is empty** reminds you that boards from another browser or device move with Export/Import; **Open Import/Export Guide** shows how, or click **Dismiss**. > **Note.** Boards are saved in this browser. Read [Storage](https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/docs/boards/storage.md) once so you don't lose work if browser data is cleared. ### Step 2: Add references if needed For a prompt-only first image, skip this step and choose a text-to-image model. Other models may require image, video or audio inputs. Drag images, videos or audio files from your desktop onto the board. You can also paste an image with `⌘ + V`. [Video: Drop files from your desktop straight onto the board](https://media.yaroflasher.com/docs/media/quickstart-add-media.h264.7aea886b.mp4) Common image, video and audio formats work. See [Supported formats](https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/docs/reference/supported-formats.md). ### Step 3: Pick a model Click the **Models** button in the bottom toolbar (it shows **None** until you choose one). In **AI Models**, open the **Models** tab and click a model card. Each card shows the input type, estimated time and price. Some prices are per second (common for video) or a starting price marked with **+**. Close the window when you're done. [Video: Open Models, pick a model card, and close the window. The toolbar now shows the model](https://media.yaroflasher.com/docs/media/pick-model.h264.8eb3f99f.mp4) ### Step 4: Set your inputs and write a prompt For a prompt-only model, leave the input slots empty and write your prompt. To pin a reference as an input, click it on the board, then click the **+** row with its file name in the input slots at the bottom left (such as **Reference Images**), or press `I` (press it again to remove the assignment). It gets an **INPUT** badge and appears in the input slots at the bottom left. Selected media can also fill empty compatible slots when you click **Generate**, without an **INPUT** badge. Check the slot previews and deselect media you don't want to use. Then click the prompt box and describe the shot. [Video: Select a reference and click the + row with its file name under Reference Images to make it the input. Then write the prompt and pick an aspect ratio](https://media.yaroflasher.com/docs/media/inputs-prompt.h264.7c2b5119.mp4) ### Step 5: Generate Check the price on the **Generate** button (the purple button with a sparkle icon and the price, at the bottom right of the prompt box), then click it. The run starts straight away at that price (if the job would cost more, FlashBoards shows the price and asks you to confirm first), and the result appears in free space next to your references with its model, prompt and inputs saved. [Video: Add a reference as the input, write the prompt and click Generate. A placeholder shows progress in free space, then the result replaces it](https://media.yaroflasher.com/docs/media/generate-run.h264.1b2ee0ed.mp4) > **Note: Check History before retrying.** Confirmed failures aren't charged. Timed-out or unconfirmed runs may still finish and be charged. Check **Generation History** before retrying. See [Billing](https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/docs/generation/billing.md) for details. ## Next steps - [Interface tour](https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/docs/interface.md) - [Generate images and video](https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/docs/generation/generate.md) - [Back up your boards](https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/docs/boards/import-export.md)