A panto is a paper pattern used in LA quilting and placed on a table behind the machine. You follow the design with a laser light and the machine stitches that design. A groovy board or EZ board is about 3 feet in length and has grooves in the shape of quilting designs carved in the board. You follow with a stylus much the same as the laser light and the design is stitched. With a board you need more than one to complete the length of the quilt or you have to stop and move it whereas with the paper panto you have about a 10 foot length to work with. Boards are expensive, pantos aren't so expensive. Does this help? :)