Getting Started

Create your first scientific visual in PaperBanana

PaperBanana help center screenshot

1. Sign up or log in

You can view public pages without an account, but generation, saving, downloads, billing, and My Creations require login. Use the same email for your account and payments so credits and orders can be matched correctly.

2. Check your credit balance

After login, your credit balance appears in the top navigation. Each generation or edit button shows the required credits before you submit the task.

If you do not have enough credits, open Pricing to choose a subscription or a one-time credit pack.

3. Choose the right tool

ToolBest for
Scientific Diagram MakerPaper mechanism diagrams, workflows, pathways, and experimental schematics
AI Scientific IllustrationText-to-illustration, image-to-illustration, and quick image edits
Scientific Poster MakerConference posters and lab meeting posters
Workspace EditorEditing generated SVG diagrams after creation

4. Write a specific prompt

A good prompt includes the topic, structure, labels, style, and constraints. For example:

Create a mechanism diagram showing macrophage activation after nanoparticle uptake.
Use three panels: uptake, lysosomal escape, and cytokine release.
Label nanoparticles, endosome, nucleus, IL-6, and TNF-alpha.
White background, publication-ready vector style.

5. Review and refine

After generation, review the result before downloading. If it is close but still needs changes, open it in Workspace and refine it with manual editing or AI edit.

Small, targeted edits are usually more stable than asking AI to redesign the whole figure.