Ktlyst is a web-based reference canvas for concept artists, illustrators, and visual creators. You gather references on one canvas — drag in images, GIFs, or video frames, or import a whole Pinterest board in one click — and Ktlyst explores new concept directions guided only by the references you chose (a feature called Catalyze). It runs in any modern browser on desktop and tablet, with cloud sync and a free plan.

What is the best PureRef alternative for iPad and tablet?

Ktlyst is a web-based reference board that runs in any browser — including Safari on iPad — with cloud sync so your boards follow you between desktop and tablet automatically. Unlike PureRef, which has no iOS or iPad app, Ktlyst is designed for cross-device creative workflows from the ground up. No installation needed.

Is there a PureRef that works on iPad?

PureRef does not have an official iOS or iPad app. Ktlyst fills that gap: it runs in any browser, syncs your reference boards to the cloud, and works on iPad, tablet, and desktop with the same canvas — so your references are always with you wherever you create.

How does Ktlyst compare to PureRef?

PureRef is a desktop-only overlay tool for keeping reference images visible while you paint or model in other apps. Ktlyst is a cloud-synced, browser-based alternative that adds: iPad and tablet support, Pinterest board import in one click, smart organisation with tagging and collections, freehand sketching overlaid on references, the ability to grab specific frames from videos and GIFs, and a concept-exploration layer (Catalyze) that explores new directions guided by your own references. No installation required — it works in any modern browser.

Do I need to learn prompts or any special tools?

No. You work the way you already do — gather references, sketch, note what you're after. Ktlyst handles the rest behind the scenes, so you stay focused on the vision, not on tooling.

Is this just an image generator?

No. Ktlyst is a reference-driven canvas for clarifying YOUR direction — built around how you already work, collecting references and browsing Pinterest. What it surfaces is an exploration of your own references, for you to take forward.

Can I bring in my Pinterest boards?

Yes. Connect Pinterest and pull an entire board onto a canvas in one move — every pin laid out and ready, instead of saving and re-uploading each one. (Free: 1 board · Pro: unlimited.)

Can I use videos or GIFs as references?

Yes. Drop an MP4, WebM, MOV, M4V, or OGV video — or a GIF — and a frame picker opens so you can scrub through and grab the exact frames you want. Only the frames you pick are saved as reference images; the source video or GIF never leaves your device. (Frame-by-frame GIF picking needs a recent browser; older ones add the first frame instead.)

Can I reuse the same character or element across projects?

Yes. Distil a group of references into one clean, typed element (a character, a costume, a prop), then save it to your Elements library. Drag it onto any canvas to reuse it, merge it with other elements, or paint it into a composition sketch — build it once, use it everywhere.

Can I correct a generated image?

Yes, with Redline (a Pro feature): draw your corrections in red straight on the image — arrows, circles, and handwritten notes — and Ktlyst applies them beside the original, non-destructively, so your original stays put.

Who owns what I create?

Ktlyst claims no ownership over your canvases or the directions you explore — they're yours to take forward into your own work. You're responsible for clearing any rights you need before using output commercially. (How copyright applies to generated images varies by country, so we don't make legal guarantees about that.)

Do you use my images or art to train AI?

No. Ktlyst never uses your uploads, canvases, or prompts to train AI models, and never sells them. Your references and prompts are sent to our AI providers only to generate or analyse images at your request. OpenAI does not use data submitted through its API to train its models; fal.ai processes your content under its own terms to run the generation.

Does it work on tablet?

Yes. Your canvas is cloud-synced, so you can collect on desktop and refine on tablet — or anywhere you work.

What devices and browsers does Ktlyst support?

Editing works on tablets and desktops (iPad, Windows, Mac) in recent versions of Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox. Phones get a view-only experience. Ktlyst runs in the browser and needs an internet connection.

Is there a free plan?

Yes — the free plan gives you 5 canvases (each with as many references as you like) and 15 Catalyze runs a month. No credit card required.

September 21, 2026

Ktlyst vs Storyflow: Which AI Ideation Canvas Fits Concept Artists?

Storyflow alternativeAI ideation canvasconcept art tools

Introduction: Why Concept Artists Compare AI Ideation Canvases

Concept artists increasingly work on an infinite canvas rather than in a single-image editor — pinning up references, sketches, and notes in one place so a whole project stays visible at once. As AI features get added to these canvases, two names come up in very different contexts: Ktlyst, built specifically around reference images for concept art and illustration, and Storyflow, a general-purpose AI ideation canvas used across marketing, storytelling, filmmaking, and product strategy. Because both are "AI on an infinite canvas," it's worth being precise about what each one is actually for before choosing between them.

What Is Ktlyst?

Ktlyst is a reference board built for concept artists and illustrators. You gather reference images onto a canvas the way you would with PureRef or BeeRef, then Ktlyst's AI-powered Catalyze feature helps tag, organize, and surface the right references as your board grows — and can generate new exploratory images guided by the references you've placed. The focus throughout is visual and image-first: Ktlyst is built around the reference-gathering workflow concept artists already use, with AI added specifically to help manage and build on a growing image library.

What Is Storyflow?

Storyflow is a general-purpose AI ideation canvas: an infinite board where you diverge (generate options), converge (narrow them down), and plan — all in one place, with AI that can read the whole board rather than just one card at a time. It ships with frameworks for several creative and business disciplines, including marketing, storytelling, content creation, filmmaking, and product strategy. Rather than focusing on images specifically, Storyflow is built around cards, structured frameworks, and keeping the reasoning behind a decision (the options considered, the one chosen, and why) visible on the canvas alongside the plan itself.

Feature Comparison: AI Ideation & Canvas Tools

	Ktlyst	Storyflow
Core focus	Reference images for concept art	General ideation & planning across disciplines
AI feature	Catalyze: tagging, organization, image generation from references	Board-aware AI assistance, selection-aware suggestions
Canvas content	Images, boards	Cards, frameworks, text and structured notes
Built-in frameworks	Concept-art-specific (reference boards)	Frameworks for marketing, storytelling, filmmaking, product strategy
Best suited for	Image-heavy concept art and illustration workflows	Text- and structure-heavy ideation across many disciplines

The two tools overlap in that both put AI on an infinite canvas, but they're solving different problems: Ktlyst is about managing and building on a growing visual reference library, while Storyflow is about structuring an idea from a rough spark through to a plan.

Ease of Use and Learning Curve

Ktlyst's learning curve is shallow if you've used any board-style reference tool before — the core interaction (place images, arrange them, let Catalyze help organize) closely follows the PureRef/BeeRef pattern concept artists already know. Storyflow's learning curve depends more on which framework you use: its strength is in guiding a structured ideation process, so getting the most out of it means learning how its diverge/converge workflow and frameworks are meant to be used, which is a different skill from arranging a visual reference board. Artists whose main need is organizing images will likely find Ktlyst more immediately familiar; those doing broader creative or strategic ideation may get more value from ramping up on Storyflow's frameworks.

Pricing Comparison

Storyflow's published pricing (as of this writing) is Free at $0, Plus at $7.99/month billed annually, Pro at $14/month billed annually, and Max at $39/month billed annually, with an expanded free tier (unlimited boards and objects, AI as the paid upgrade) reportedly planned before the end of 2026. Always check Storyflow's own pricing page for the current numbers, since plans change. Ktlyst offers a free tier as well; see Ktlyst's pricing page for current plan details and costs.

Which Tool Fits Your Workflow?

If your work centers on collecting and organizing reference images — mood boards, visual development, style exploration — Ktlyst's Catalyze feature is built directly for that job. If your work is broader than images alone, spanning story structure, marketing plans, or cross-discipline brainstorming with a team, Storyflow's frameworks and board-aware AI are built for that kind of structured ideation. Some concept artists may find a use for both: Ktlyst for the visual reference side of a project, Storyflow for planning and pitching it.

Conclusion

Ktlyst and Storyflow both bring AI to an infinite canvas, but they aren't direct substitutes for each other. Ktlyst is a reference-board tool built specifically for concept artists and illustrators, with Catalyze handling the organization and generation work around images. Storyflow is a broader ideation and planning canvas aimed at creative and business teams working across disciplines. The right choice comes down to whether your bottleneck is managing a growing image library or structuring an idea into a plan.