Refbox
Getting Started

Your First Box

A hands-on guide to exploring the Tutorial Box and creating your first custom Box in Refbox.

Let's explore Refbox and create your first custom Box. This hands-on guide will walk you through the essential actions using the included Tutorial Box.

Welcome to Refbox

When you first launch Refbox, you'll start with a Tutorial Box already loaded. This Box contains example Assets (images, videos, notes) designed to help you test out Refbox's features.

Refbox works as an overlay app that floats above your other applications. You can show/hide it anytime using the global shortcut (default: ⌃ ⌥ R ).

The Tutorial Box appears on your first launch with example Assets

Explore the Tutorial Box

Before creating your own Box, take a moment to:

  • Browse the example Assets in the sidebar
  • Drag an Asset onto the workspace to create a Frame
  • Try zooming, panning, and rotating a Frame
  • Watch the instructional videos included in the Tutorial Box
The Tutorial Box is a great reference to come back to when learning new features. You can always switch back to it from the Boxes Menu, or if you delete it, recreate it by going to Settings > Info > Learn > Create Tutorial Box.

Step 1: Create Your First Custom Box

When you're ready to start organizing your own references, let's create a new Box.

Open the Boxes Menu

Click the Boxes icon in the Toolbar.

The Boxes Menu icon in the Toolbar

Click "Add Box"

In the dropdown menu, select Add Box. A modal dialog will appear.

The "Create A Box" modal with icon and name fields

Choose an Icon and Name

In the modal:

  1. Click the Icon button to choose a custom icon (or keep the default folder icon)
  2. Enter a Name for your Box based on what you'll store in it:
    • "Character References"
    • "UI Inspiration"
    • "Landscape Studies"
    • "Project: Website Redesign"
  3. Click Create

Refbox will create your new Box and automatically switch to it. You'll now see an empty Box ready for your Assets.

Creating and naming your first custom Box

Step 2: Add Your First Assets

Now let's add some reference materials. The quickest way is to drag and drop files from your desktop directly onto the Box sidebar. You can also use the Add File or Paste from Clipboard buttons in the Toolbar.

Dragging files into a Box

Learn all the ways to add Assets, including pasting from clipboard and importing URLs.

Step 3: Browse Your Assets

Once you've added some Assets, you'll see them as thumbnails in the Box sidebar. Here are some ways to interact with them:

Click Preview

Click any Asset to open it in a temporary Frame beside the Box. This lets you see a larger preview while keeping the Box visible. Click the X button on the Frame or press Delete backspace to dismiss it if you have it focused.

Clicking an Asset to preview it in a temporary Frame

Zoom Preview

Hold ⌃ while hovering over an Asset to see a zoomed preview. Release to dismiss.

Scroll the Box

Use your mouse wheel or trackpad to scroll through your Assets in the Box.

Reorder Assets

Click and drag any Asset up or down in the Box to reorder your collection.

Step 4: Create Your First Frame

Now let's open an Asset as a Frame on your workspace:

Drag an Asset Out

Click and drag an Asset from the Box sidebar out onto the empty workspace area.

Drop to Create Frame

Release the mouse button to create a Frame. The Asset opens in a floating window.

Dragging an Asset to create a Frame

Position the Frame

Click and drag the Frame to move it anywhere on your screen.

You can create multiple Frames from different Assets, or even multiple Frames from the same Asset to view it in different ways.

Step 5: Interact with Your Frame

Now that you have a Frame open, try these basic interactions:

  • Move: Click and drag the Frame body
  • Resize: Drag edges or corners
  • Reset: Double-click the Frame

For image and video Frames, you can also try:

  • Zoom: Wheel Z Drag
  • Pan: Space Drag Wheel Drag
  • Rotate: R Drag

Zooming and panning inside a Frame

Explore all the Frame controls and transformations including opacity, flip, grayscale, and more. All transformations are non-destructive.

Step 6: Explore Gallery View

Press ⌃ ⌥ A to open Gallery View — a full-screen view of all your Assets. You can zoom, pan, and browse your entire collection.

Browsing Assets in Gallery View

Learn more about Gallery View modes and controls.

Step 7: Customize Your Workspace

Before we wrap up, let's explore a few workspace customization options:

Move the Box sidebar

Change the sidebar position in Settings > Style > Box > Sidebar Position, or enable the Flip Sides button in Settings > Toolbar for quick toggling.

Hide the Box

Click the Hide Box button in the Toolbar to make the sidebar slide away when you're not using it. Reveal it by using the Reveal button along the edge of the screen. Check out the Auto Hide setting to automatically hide your Box when you don't need it.

Adjust Box Width

Drag the resize handle between the Box sidebar and the Toolbar to make it wider or narrower.

Adjusting Box position and width

What You've Learned

Congratulations! You now know how to:

  • Create a new Box
  • Add Assets using multiple methods
  • Preview and reorder Assets in the Box
  • Create Frames from Assets
  • Move, resize, zoom, pan, and transform Frames
  • Browse Assets in Gallery View
  • Customize your workspace layout

Where to Go from Here

Now that you're familiar with the basics, you can explore more advanced features:

Deep Dive: Boxes

Learn about Box export/import, pinning, and advanced organization techniques.

Working with Groups

Organize related Assets into Groups and explore different layout modes.

Master Shortcuts

Speed up your workflow with keyboard shortcuts for every action.

Practical Workflows

See how to apply Refbox to real-world creative workflows.

If you ever get stuck, check out the FAQ or visit the Troubleshooting section for help.

The Fundamentals

Understand the core building blocks of Refbox and how they work together.

Boxes

Learn about Boxes - containers for your Assets, how to create, edit, export, and organize them.