diff --git a/examples/notebooks/nb_test_utils.py b/examples/notebooks/nb_test_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..576d82806
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/notebooks/nb_test_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import os
+
+import imageio as iio
+
+from fastplotlib.layouts._base import PlotArea
+
+
+def test_plot(name, plot: PlotArea):
+    if os.environ["REGENERATE_SCREENSHOTS"] == "1":
+        snapshot = plot.canvas.snapshot()
+        regenerate_screenshot(snapshot.data)
+        
+    assert_screenshot_equal(name, snapshot.data)
+
+
+def regenerate_screenshot(name, data):
+    pass
+
+
+def assert_screenshot_equal(name, data):
+    # do stuff
+    if not is_similar:
+        update_screenshot_diff(name, data)
+
+
+def update_screenshot_diff(name, data):
+    pass