diff --git a/src/components/nodes/BaseNode.tsx b/src/components/nodes/BaseNode.tsx
index 8f395ff5..6958818c 100644
--- a/src/components/nodes/BaseNode.tsx
+++ b/src/components/nodes/BaseNode.tsx
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ interface BaseNodeProps {
   contentClassName?: string;
   minWidth?: number;
   minHeight?: number;
+  /** When true, node has no background/border — content fills the entire node area */
+  fullBleed?: boolean;
 }
 
 export function BaseNode({
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@ export function BaseNode({
   contentClassName,
   minWidth = 180,
   minHeight = 100,
+  fullBleed = false,
 }: BaseNodeProps) {
   const currentNodeIds = useWorkflowStore((state) => state.currentNodeIds);
   const nodes = useWorkflowStore((state) => state.nodes);
@@ -71,14 +74,16 @@ export function BaseNode({
       />
       <div
         className={`
-          bg-neutral-800 rounded-lg shadow-lg border h-full w-full flex flex-col
-          ${isCurrentlyExecuting || isExecuting ? "border-blue-500 ring-1 ring-blue-500/20" : "border-neutral-700/60"}
-          ${hasError ? "border-red-500" : ""}
-          ${selected ? "border-blue-500 ring-2 ring-blue-500/40 shadow-lg shadow-blue-500/25" : ""}
+          h-full w-full flex flex-col overflow-clip
+          ${fullBleed ? "rounded-lg" : "bg-neutral-800 rounded-lg shadow-lg border"}
+          ${fullBleed ? "" : (isCurrentlyExecuting || isExecuting ? "border-blue-500 ring-1 ring-blue-500/20" : "border-neutral-700/60")}
+          ${fullBleed ? "" : (hasError ? "border-red-500" : "")}
+          ${fullBleed && selected ? "ring-2 ring-blue-500/40 shadow-lg shadow-blue-500/25" : ""}
+          ${!fullBleed && selected ? "border-blue-500 ring-2 ring-blue-500/40 shadow-lg shadow-blue-500/25" : ""}
           ${className}
         `}
       >
-        <div className={contentClassName ?? "px-3 pb-4 flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-hidden flex flex-col"}>{children}</div>
+        <div className={contentClassName ?? (fullBleed ? "flex-1 min-h-0 relative" : "px-3 pb-4 flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-hidden flex flex-col")}>{children}</div>
       </div>
     </>
   );
diff --git a/src/components/nodes/ControlPanel.tsx b/src/components/nodes/ControlPanel.tsx
index bb432512..4a8afc08 100644
--- a/src/components/nodes/ControlPanel.tsx
+++ b/src/components/nodes/ControlPanel.tsx
@@ -353,61 +353,26 @@ function GenerateImageControls({ node }: { node: Node }) {
   return (
     <>
       <div className="space-y-3">
-        {/* Provider Selector */}
+        {/* Model display + Browse */}
         <div>
-          <label className="block text-xs font-medium text-neutral-300 mb-1">Provider</label>
-          <select
-            value={currentProvider}
-            onChange={handleProviderChange}
-            className="nodrag nopan w-full px-2 py-1 text-xs bg-neutral-700 border border-neutral-600 rounded text-neutral-200 focus:outline-none focus:ring-1 focus:ring-blue-500"
-          >
-            {enabledProviders.map(p => (
-              <option key={p.id} value={p.id}>{p.name}</option>
-            ))}
-          </select>
-        </div>
-
-        {/* Model Selector */}
-        {isGeminiProvider ? (
-          <div>
-            <label className="block text-xs font-medium text-neutral-300 mb-1">Model</label>
-            <select
-              value={nodeData.model || "nano-banana-pro"}
-              onChange={handleModelChange}
-              className="nodrag nopan w-full px-2 py-1 text-xs bg-neutral-700 border border-neutral-600 rounded text-neutral-200 focus:outline-none focus:ring-1 focus:ring-blue-500"
-            >
-              {GEMINI_IMAGE_MODELS.map(m => (
-                <option key={m.value} value={m.value}>{m.label}</option>
-              ))}
-            </select>
-          </div>
-        ) : (
-          <div>
-            <label className="block text-xs font-medium text-neutral-300 mb-1">Model</label>
-            <div className="flex gap-1">
-              <select
-                value={nodeData.selectedModel?.modelId || ""}
-                onChange={handleExternalModelChange}
-                className="nodrag nopan flex-1 px-2 py-1 text-xs bg-neutral-700 border border-neutral-600 rounded text-neutral-200 focus:outline-none focus:ring-1 focus:ring-blue-500"
-                disabled={isLoadingModels}
-              >
-                <option value="">Select model...</option>
-                {externalModels.map(m => (
-                  <option key={m.id} value={m.id}>{m.name}</option>
-                ))}
-              </select>
-              <button
-                onClick={() => setIsBrowseDialogOpen(true)}
-                className="nodrag nopan px-2 py-1 text-xs bg-neutral-700 hover:bg-neutral-600 border border-neutral-600 rounded text-neutral-300 transition-colors"
-              >
-                Browse
-              </button>
+          <label className="block text-xs font-medium text-neutral-400 mb-1">Model</label>
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+            <div className="flex-1 min-w-0">
+              <div className="text-sm text-neutral-100 truncate">
+                {nodeData.selectedModel?.displayName || GEMINI_IMAGE_MODELS.find(m => m.value === nodeData.model)?.label || "Select model..."}
+              </div>
+              <div className="text-[10px] text-neutral-500 truncate">
+                {enabledProviders.find(p => p.id === currentProvider)?.name || currentProvider}
+              </div>
             </div>
-            {modelsFetchError && (
-              <p className="text-xs text-red-400 mt-1">{modelsFetchError}</p>
-            )}
+            <button
+              onClick={() => setIsBrowseDialogOpen(true)}
+              className="nodrag nopan shrink-0 px-3 py-1.5 text-xs bg-neutral-700 hover:bg-neutral-600 border border-neutral-600 rounded text-neutral-300 transition-colors"
+            >
+              Browse
+            </button>
           </div>
-        )}
+        </div>
 
         {/* Gemini-specific controls */}
         {isGeminiProvider && (
diff --git a/src/components/nodes/GenerateImageNode.tsx b/src/components/nodes/GenerateImageNode.tsx
index 878a6d92..0e432bd4 100644
--- a/src/components/nodes/GenerateImageNode.tsx
+++ b/src/components/nodes/GenerateImageNode.tsx
@@ -486,6 +486,7 @@ export function GenerateImageNode({ id, data, selected }: NodeProps<NanoBananaNo
       selected={selected}
       isExecuting={isRunning}
       hasError={nodeData.status === "error"}
+      fullBleed
     >
       {/* Input handles - ALWAYS use same IDs and positions for connection stability */}
       {/* Image input at 35%, Text input at 65% - never changes regardless of model */}
@@ -547,113 +548,112 @@ export function GenerateImageNode({ id, data, selected }: NodeProps<NanoBananaNo
         Image
       </div>
 
-      <div className="flex-1 flex flex-col min-h-0 gap-2">
+      <div className="relative w-full h-full min-h-0">
         {/* Preview area */}
         {nodeData.outputImage ? (
           <>
-            <div className="relative w-full flex-1 min-h-0">
-              <img
-                src={nodeData.outputImage}
-                alt="Generated"
-                className="w-full h-full object-contain rounded"
-              />
-              {/* Loading overlay for generation */}
-              {nodeData.status === "loading" && (
-                <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-neutral-900/70 rounded flex items-center justify-center">
-                  <svg
-                    className="w-6 h-6 animate-spin text-white"
-                    fill="none"
-                    viewBox="0 0 24 24"
-                  >
-                    <circle
-                      className="opacity-25"
-                      cx="12"
-                      cy="12"
-                      r="10"
-                      stroke="currentColor"
-                      strokeWidth="3"
-                    />
-                    <path
-                      className="opacity-75"
-                      fill="currentColor"
-                      d="M4 12a8 8 0 018-8V0C5.373 0 0 5.373 0 12h4zm2 5.291A7.962 7.962 0 014 12H0c0 3.042 1.135 5.824 3 7.938l3-2.647z"
-                    />
-                  </svg>
-                </div>
-              )}
-              {/* Error overlay when generation failed */}
-              {nodeData.status === "error" && (
-                <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-red-900/40 rounded flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1">
-                  <svg
-                    className="w-6 h-6 text-white"
-                    fill="none"
-                    viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+            <img
+              src={nodeData.outputImage}
+              alt="Generated"
+              className="w-full h-full object-cover"
+            />
+            {/* Loading overlay for generation */}
+            {nodeData.status === "loading" && (
+              <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-neutral-900/70 flex items-center justify-center">
+                <svg
+                  className="w-6 h-6 animate-spin text-white"
+                  fill="none"
+                  viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+                >
+                  <circle
+                    className="opacity-25"
+                    cx="12"
+                    cy="12"
+                    r="10"
                     stroke="currentColor"
-                    strokeWidth={2}
-                  >
-                    <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" d="M12 8v4m0 4h.01M21 12a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z" />
-                  </svg>
-                  <span className="text-white text-xs font-medium">Generation failed</span>
-                  <span className="text-white/70 text-[10px]">See toast for details</span>
-                </div>
-              )}
-              {/* Loading overlay for carousel navigation */}
-              {isLoadingCarouselImage && (
-                <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-neutral-900/50 rounded flex items-center justify-center">
-                  <svg
-                    className="w-4 h-4 animate-spin text-white"
-                    fill="none"
-                    viewBox="0 0 24 24"
-                  >
-                    <circle
-                      className="opacity-25"
-                      cx="12"
-                      cy="12"
-                      r="10"
-                      stroke="currentColor"
-                      strokeWidth="3"
-                    />
-                    <path
-                      className="opacity-75"
-                      fill="currentColor"
-                      d="M4 12a8 8 0 018-8V0C5.373 0 0 5.373 0 12h4zm2 5.291A7.962 7.962 0 014 12H0c0 3.042 1.135 5.824 3 7.938l3-2.647z"
-                    />
-                  </svg>
-                </div>
-              )}
-              <div className="absolute top-1 right-1">
-                <button
-                  onClick={handleClearImage}
-                  className="w-5 h-5 bg-neutral-900/80 hover:bg-red-600/80 rounded flex items-center justify-center text-neutral-400 hover:text-white transition-colors"
-                  title="Clear image"
+                    strokeWidth="3"
+                  />
+                  <path
+                    className="opacity-75"
+                    fill="currentColor"
+                    d="M4 12a8 8 0 018-8V0C5.373 0 0 5.373 0 12h4zm2 5.291A7.962 7.962 0 014 12H0c0 3.042 1.135 5.824 3 7.938l3-2.647z"
+                  />
+                </svg>
+              </div>
+            )}
+            {/* Error overlay when generation failed */}
+            {nodeData.status === "error" && (
+              <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-red-900/40 flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1">
+                <svg
+                  className="w-6 h-6 text-white"
+                  fill="none"
+                  viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+                  stroke="currentColor"
+                  strokeWidth={2}
                 >
-                  <svg className="w-3 h-3" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth={2}>
-                    <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" d="M6 18L18 6M6 6l12 12" />
-                  </svg>
-                </button>
+                  <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" d="M12 8v4m0 4h.01M21 12a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z" />
+                </svg>
+                <span className="text-white text-xs font-medium">Generation failed</span>
+                <span className="text-white/70 text-[10px]">See toast for details</span>
+              </div>
+            )}
+            {/* Loading overlay for carousel navigation */}
+            {isLoadingCarouselImage && (
+              <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-neutral-900/50 flex items-center justify-center">
+                <svg
+                  className="w-4 h-4 animate-spin text-white"
+                  fill="none"
+                  viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+                >
+                  <circle
+                    className="opacity-25"
+                    cx="12"
+                    cy="12"
+                    r="10"
+                    stroke="currentColor"
+                    strokeWidth="3"
+                  />
+                  <path
+                    className="opacity-75"
+                    fill="currentColor"
+                    d="M4 12a8 8 0 018-8V0C5.373 0 0 5.373 0 12h4zm2 5.291A7.962 7.962 0 014 12H0c0 3.042 1.135 5.824 3 7.938l3-2.647z"
+                  />
+                </svg>
               </div>
+            )}
+            {/* Clear button */}
+            <div className="absolute top-1 right-1">
+              <button
+                onClick={handleClearImage}
+                className="w-5 h-5 bg-neutral-900/80 hover:bg-red-600/80 rounded flex items-center justify-center text-neutral-400 hover:text-white transition-colors"
+                title="Clear image"
+              >
+                <svg className="w-3 h-3" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth={2}>
+                  <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" d="M6 18L18 6M6 6l12 12" />
+                </svg>
+              </button>
             </div>
 
-            {/* Carousel controls - only show if there are multiple images */}
+            {/* Carousel controls - overlaid on image bottom */}
             {hasCarouselImages && (
-              <div className="flex items-center justify-center gap-2 shrink-0">
+              <div className="absolute bottom-0 left-0 right-0 flex items-center justify-center gap-2 py-1.5 bg-neutral-900/60 backdrop-blur-sm">
                 <button
                   onClick={handleCarouselPrevious}
                   disabled={isLoadingCarouselImage}
-                  className="w-5 h-5 rounded bg-neutral-800 hover:bg-neutral-700 disabled:opacity-50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed flex items-center justify-center text-neutral-400 hover:text-white transition-colors"
+                  className="w-5 h-5 rounded hover:bg-white/10 disabled:opacity-50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed flex items-center justify-center text-white/70 hover:text-white transition-colors"
                   title="Previous image"
                 >
                   <svg className="w-3 h-3" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth={2}>
                     <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" d="M15 19l-7-7 7-7" />
                   </svg>
                 </button>
-                <span className="text-[10px] text-neutral-400 min-w-[32px] text-center">
+                <span className="text-[10px] text-white/70 min-w-[32px] text-center">
                   {(nodeData.selectedHistoryIndex || 0) + 1} / {(nodeData.imageHistory || []).length}
                 </span>
                 <button
                   onClick={handleCarouselNext}
                   disabled={isLoadingCarouselImage}
-                  className="w-5 h-5 rounded bg-neutral-800 hover:bg-neutral-700 disabled:opacity-50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed flex items-center justify-center text-neutral-400 hover:text-white transition-colors"
+                  className="w-5 h-5 rounded hover:bg-white/10 disabled:opacity-50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed flex items-center justify-center text-white/70 hover:text-white transition-colors"
                   title="Next image"
                 >
                   <svg className="w-3 h-3" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth={2}>
@@ -664,7 +664,7 @@ export function GenerateImageNode({ id, data, selected }: NodeProps<NanoBananaNo
             )}
           </>
         ) : (
-          <div className="w-full flex-1 min-h-[112px] border border-dashed border-neutral-600 rounded flex flex-col items-center justify-center">
+          <div className="w-full h-full min-h-[112px] bg-neutral-900/40 flex flex-col items-center justify-center">
             {nodeData.status === "loading" ? (
               <svg
                 className="w-4 h-4 animate-spin text-neutral-400"