diff --git a/backend/nodes/helpers.py b/backend/nodes/helpers.py
index 70d480b..4a15a68 100644
--- a/backend/nodes/helpers.py
+++ b/backend/nodes/helpers.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from typing import Callable
 
 import numpy as np
 
-from backend.runtime_paths import demo_dir, input_dir, output_dir
+from backend.runtime_paths import demo_dir
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Scalar payload helpers  (from display.py)
@@ -522,8 +522,6 @@ def _rasterize_mask(width, height, strokes, default_pen_size):
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 DEMO_DIR = demo_dir()
-INPUT_DIR = input_dir()
-OUTPUT_DIR = output_dir()
 
 _MAX_SAVE_FIELDS = 8
 
@@ -532,21 +530,8 @@ from backend.importers import all_extensions, get_importer
 _PATH_COMPATIBLE_EXTENSIONS = all_extensions()
 
 
-def _resolve_path(filepath: str):
-    path = Path(filepath)
-    if path.is_absolute():
-        return path
-    candidate = INPUT_DIR / filepath
-    if candidate.exists():
-        return candidate
-    candidate = DEMO_DIR / filepath
-    if candidate.exists():
-        return candidate
-    return INPUT_DIR / filepath
-
-
 def list_channels(filepath: str) -> list[dict]:
-    path = _resolve_path(filepath)
+    path = Path(filepath)
     if not path.exists():
         return [{"name": "field", "type": "DATA_FIELD"}]
 
@@ -564,7 +549,7 @@ def list_channels(filepath: str) -> list[dict]:
 
 
 def list_folder_paths(folderpath: str) -> list[dict]:
-    path = _resolve_path(folderpath)
+    path = Path(folderpath)
     if not path.exists() or not path.is_dir():
         return []
 
diff --git a/backend/nodes/image.py b/backend/nodes/image.py
index 1ff610e..59bd7bd 100644
--- a/backend/nodes/image.py
+++ b/backend/nodes/image.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from backend.node_registry import register_node
 from backend.execution_context import emit_warning
 from backend.data_types import COLORMAPS, DataField, resolve_colormap_input
-from backend.nodes.helpers import _resolve_path
 from backend.importers import get_importer, calibrated_extensions
 
 
@@ -44,7 +43,7 @@ class Image:
         selected_path = str(path).strip() if path is not None else str(filename).strip()
         if not selected_path:
             raise ValueError("No file selected — use Browse to pick a file.")
-        path_obj = _resolve_path(selected_path)
+        path_obj = Path(selected_path)
         if not path_obj.exists():
             raise FileNotFoundError(f"File not found: {path_obj}")
         if path_obj.is_dir():
diff --git a/backend/nodes/note.py b/backend/nodes/note.py
index 18ac241..f2a5444 100644
--- a/backend/nodes/note.py
+++ b/backend/nodes/note.py
@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 import re
 
+from pathlib import Path
+
 from backend.node_registry import register_node
 from backend.data_types import DataTable
-from backend.nodes.helpers import _resolve_path, _import_ibw_loader
+from backend.nodes.helpers import _import_ibw_loader
 
 
 def _parse_ibw_note(note_bytes: bytes) -> list[dict]:
@@ -57,7 +59,7 @@ class Note:
         selected = str(path).strip() if path is not None else str(filename).strip()
         if not selected:
             raise ValueError("No file selected.")
-        path_obj = _resolve_path(selected)
+        path_obj = Path(selected)
         if not path_obj.exists():
             raise FileNotFoundError(f"File not found: {path_obj}")
         if path_obj.suffix.lower() != ".ibw":
diff --git a/backend/runtime_paths.py b/backend/runtime_paths.py
index 1ac0817..fa7b4cf 100644
--- a/backend/runtime_paths.py
+++ b/backend/runtime_paths.py
@@ -54,14 +54,6 @@ def demo_dir() -> Path:
     return project_root() / "demo"
 
 
-def input_dir() -> Path:
-    return app_data_dir() / "input"
-
-
-def output_dir() -> Path:
-    return app_data_dir() / "output"
-
-
 def plugins_dir() -> Path:
     return app_data_dir() / "plugins"
 
@@ -84,7 +76,5 @@ def plugins_enabled(*, native: bool) -> bool:
 
 
 def ensure_runtime_dirs(*, with_plugins: bool = False) -> None:
-    input_dir().mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-    output_dir().mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     if with_plugins:
         plugins_dir().mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
diff --git a/frontend/public/default-workflow.png b/frontend/public/default-workflow.png
index 2cb7bdb..0252825 100644
Binary files a/frontend/public/default-workflow.png and b/frontend/public/default-workflow.png differ