Team Mode for Research Labs — Shared AI Figure Credits

The Case for a Shared Credit Pool in Research Labs

Scientific work is inherently a group effort. Whether your lab has a handful of graduate students or spans multiple institutions, every researcher eventually needs high-quality AI-generated academic figures. Juggling separate subscriptions for each person quickly becomes both costly and chaotic.

AutoFigureEdit Team Mode eliminates that hassle. A single subscription provides one pooled credit balance with granular oversight of individual usage -- freeing your team to concentrate on producing publication-quality figures rather than wrestling with account logistics.

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Inside AutoFigureEdit Team Mode

1. Pick the Right Team Plan

Select one of three tiers from the Pricing page:

Every plan comes with advanced auto figure edit capabilities, no restrictions on image dimensions, priority support, and credit rollover from year to year.

2. Bring Your Team On Board

Once your plan is active, navigate to Settings -> Team. Enter each member's email to grant instant access -- there are no invitation links to manage and no approval queues.

Three role levels are available:

• Owner -- Unrestricted access to every setting and feature.
• Admin -- Authorized to add or remove members, adjust credit budgets, and handle API keys.
• Member -- Can generate figures using the shared credit allocation assigned to them.

3. Configure Individual Credit Budgets

Assign a personal credit ceiling to each team member. For instance, a PhD candidate focused on a single manuscript might receive 500 credits, while a postdoc juggling several projects could be allocated 5,000. Setting the limit to 0 grants unlimited access to the pool.

Usage data for every member is visible at a glance, and you can reset counters whenever needed.

4. Team Members Get to Work

Once added, team members log in and use AutoFigureEdit exactly as they normally would. Behind the scenes, the system handles everything automatically:

• Team credits are consumed first -- drawing from the shared pool before anything else
• Individual caps are enforced -- nobody can exceed their assigned budget
• Personal credits serve as a backup -- if the team pool runs dry, each member's own balance kicks in without interruption

There is nothing for individual members to toggle or configure on their end.

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The Member Dashboard Experience

On their Credits page, each team member sees two straightforward figures:

• Team Credits -- what remains of their allocated share from the team pool
• Personal Credits -- their own independent credit balance

Both balances function identically, and each includes an option to purchase more. The interface keeps things minimal and clear.

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API Keys and Throughput Limits for Teams

Every team receives dedicated API keys (prefixed with sk-team-*) tied to plan-specific throughput caps. You can generate multiple keys to segment access by project or by team member.

Throughput limits apply at the team level rather than per key, so your entire rate allowance remains available no matter which key handles a given request.

Refer to the API Documentation for full integration guidance.

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Built Around How Academic Labs Actually Operate

We shaped Team Mode specifically for the rhythms of academic research:

• Zero invitation overhead -- PIs and lab managers add people directly by email
• Spending guardrails -- ensure no single researcher exhausts the shared pool
• Full usage visibility -- track exactly who generated what and when
• Delegated administration -- hand off management duties to trusted lab members
• Year-over-year rollover -- leftover credits carry forward so nothing goes to waste

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Common Questions

What happens when team credits run out -- can members still generate figures?

Absolutely. When the shared pool is depleted, AutoFigureEdit seamlessly switches to drawing from the member's personal credit balance. No manual action is required.

Is it possible to adjust a member's credit limit after the fact?

Yes. Owners and admins can modify any member's credit ceiling at any time through Settings -> Team. Resetting their usage counter is equally straightforward.

Do unused credits expire at the end of the year?

No. Any remaining credits automatically roll over into the following year.

Can a single user belong to more than one team?

Not currently. Each account is limited to membership in one team at a time.

How do the Owner, Admin, and Member roles differ in practice?

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Get Started with Team Mode

1. Head to the Pricing page
2. Select a Team plan that fits your lab
3. Invite your team through Settings -> Team
4. Begin producing publication-ready figures as a group

Need help? Contact us at support@autofigureedit.com.