User plans and feature access

In one sentence

arcana.plan_tiers.php normalizes users.plan_type into capability flags used by the generator UI and some enforcement paths.

Current behavior

Capabilities differ by tier (portraits, multi-aspect, styles, priority queue, permanent gallery, upscaling, poster store, monthly credit hints). The image generator disables or blocks features based on these flags. Admin UI historically edits free/paid only, while the helper also understands CREATOR.

Evidence

• arcana.plan_tiers.php — arcana_normalize_plan(), arcana_plan_caps(), arcana_user_plan().
• Generator enforcement for portraits/styles/aspect UI.

Known limitations

• users.plan_type is selected/updated in code but no CREATE/ALTER for the column was found in-repo.
• Older files still check plan_type === 'paid' directly.
• Aspect-ratio plan gating is primarily UI-level; server validation accepts all supported ratios.

Related functionality

• Credit balances
• Image-generation form
• Portrait reference uploads