diff --git a/gates/loader.py b/gates/loader.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9ed70aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gates/loader.py
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+# gates/loader.py
+import hashlib
+import os
+
+import numpy as np
+import torch
+from PIL import Image, ImageOps
+
+from . import scan
+
+NODE_CLASS_MAPPINGS = {}
+NODE_DISPLAY_NAME_MAPPINGS = {}
+
+
+def load_image_and_mask(path):
+    img = Image.open(path)
+    img = ImageOps.exif_transpose(img)
+    arr = np.array(img.convert("RGB"), dtype=np.float32) / 255.0
+    image = torch.from_numpy(arr).unsqueeze(0)              # [1,H,W,3]
+    h, w = arr.shape[0], arr.shape[1]
+    if "A" in img.getbands():
+        a = np.array(img.getchannel("A"), dtype=np.float32) / 255.0
+        mask = (1.0 - torch.from_numpy(a)).unsqueeze(0)     # [1,H,W]
+    else:
+        mask = torch.zeros((1, h, w), dtype=torch.float32)
+    return image, mask
+
+
+class FolderImageLoader:
+    CATEGORY = "Datasete Gates"
+    FUNCTION = "run"
+    RETURN_TYPES = ("IMAGE", "STRING", "MASK", "STRING", "INT")
+    RETURN_NAMES = ("image", "text", "mask", "filename", "index")
+
+    @classmethod
+    def INPUT_TYPES(cls):
+        return {
+            "required": {
+                "folder": ("STRING", {"default": ""}),
+                "index": ("INT", {"default": 0, "min": 0,
+                                  "max": 0xffffffffffffffff,
+                                  "control_after_generate": True}),
+                "depth": ("INT", {"default": 0, "min": -1, "max": 64}),
+            }
+        }
+
+    def run(self, folder, index, depth=0):
+        files = scan.list_images(folder, depth)
+        idx = scan.resolve_index(len(files), index)
+        path = files[idx]
+        image, mask = load_image_and_mask(path)
+        return (image, scan.read_sidecar(path), mask, scan.stem(path), idx)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def IS_CHANGED(cls, folder, index, depth=0, **kwargs):
+        try:
+            files = scan.list_images(folder, depth)
+            idx = scan.resolve_index(len(files), index)
+            path = files[idx]
+            sc = scan.sidecar_path(path)
+            parts = [folder, str(depth), str(idx),
+                     str(os.path.getmtime(path)),
+                     str(os.path.getmtime(sc)) if os.path.isfile(sc) else "0"]
+        except Exception as e:  # surface errors as a changed hash, not a crash here
+            parts = [folder, str(depth), str(index), f"err:{e}"]
+        return hashlib.sha256("|".join(parts).encode()).hexdigest()
+
+
+NODE_CLASS_MAPPINGS = {"FolderImageLoader": FolderImageLoader}
+NODE_DISPLAY_NAME_MAPPINGS = {"FolderImageLoader": "Folder Image Loader"}
diff --git a/tests/test_loader.py b/tests/test_loader.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..91f4f69
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_loader.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+# tests/test_loader.py
+import io, os, torch
+from PIL import Image
+from gates import loader
+
+def _save(path, color=(255, 0, 0), size=(4, 6), mode="RGB"):  # size=(w,h)
+    os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(path), exist_ok=True)
+    Image.new(mode, size, color).save(path)
+
+def test_run_loads_image_text_stem_index(tmp_path):
+    _save(str(tmp_path / "img1.png"), (255, 0, 0))
+    _save(str(tmp_path / "img2.png"), (0, 255, 0))
+    (tmp_path / "img2.txt").write_text("green frame\n", encoding="utf-8")
+    n = loader.FolderImageLoader()
+    image, text, mask, filename, index = n.run(folder=str(tmp_path), index=1, depth=0)
+    assert image.shape == (1, 6, 4, 3)
+    assert float(image[0, 0, 0, 1]) > 0.99          # green
+    assert text == "green frame"
+    assert filename == "img2"
+    assert index == 1
+    assert mask.shape == (1, 6, 4) and float(mask.max()) == 0.0  # no alpha -> zeros
+
+def test_run_alpha_becomes_mask(tmp_path):
+    # RGBA image, fully opaque alpha=255 -> mask = 1-1 = 0
+    _save(str(tmp_path / "a.png"), (255, 255, 255, 255), mode="RGBA")
+    n = loader.FolderImageLoader()
+    _, _, mask, _, _ = n.run(folder=str(tmp_path), index=0, depth=0)
+    assert float(mask.max()) == 0.0
+    # transparent alpha=0 -> mask = 1-0 = 1
+    _save(str(tmp_path / "b.png"), (255, 255, 255, 0), mode="RGBA")
+    _, _, mask2, _, _ = n.run(folder=str(tmp_path), index=1, depth=0)
+    assert float(mask2.min()) > 0.99
+
+def test_run_out_of_range_raises(tmp_path):
+    import pytest
+    _save(str(tmp_path / "only.png"))
+    n = loader.FolderImageLoader()
+    with pytest.raises(IndexError):
+        n.run(folder=str(tmp_path), index=9, depth=0)
+
+def test_is_changed_differs_by_index_and_sidecar(tmp_path):
+    _save(str(tmp_path / "img1.png")); _save(str(tmp_path / "img2.png"))
+    h0 = loader.FolderImageLoader.IS_CHANGED(folder=str(tmp_path), index=0, depth=0)
+    h1 = loader.FolderImageLoader.IS_CHANGED(folder=str(tmp_path), index=1, depth=0)
+    assert h0 != h1