Digital Art & Illustration

Refbox helps digital artists and illustrators organize reference materials and keep them visible while working in their art software.

Using Refbox alongside digital art software

Organizing Reference by Type

Box Structure for Artists

Create separate Boxes for different reference categories:

• Anatomy Reference - Hands, faces, body proportions, muscle groups
• Pose Library - Action poses, gesture drawings, character expressions
• Color Studies - Palettes, lighting scenarios, atmospheric references
• Style Reference - Artists you admire, style goals, technique examples

Using Group Frames on Your Workspace

Create Group Frames to display related references together on your workspace:

• Hands - Multiple angles: palm, back, fist, relaxed
• Lighting Studies - Same subject under different lighting conditions
• Character Turnaround - Front, side, back, 3/4 views
• Color Palettes - Reference images with similar color schemes

Group Frames let you view and compare multiple Assets side-by-side in a single Frame. Learn more about Group Frames.

Common Workflows

Studying Anatomy

1. Create an Anatomy Box with reference images of the body part you're studying
2. Open multiple Frames showing different angles of the same anatomy
3. Use grayscale (⌃ +G ) to focus on form without color distraction
4. Zoom in (Wheel orZ +Drag ) to study specific details
5. Keep Frames visible while drawing in your art software

Character Design

1. Collect pose references in a Box or Group
2. Open 3-4 pose Frames arranged around your art software
3. Flip references (Shift +H ) to avoid copying directly
4. Adjust opacity (T +Drag ) to overlay references if tracing for proportion
5. Switch references quickly by focusing the Frame and using the left and right arrow keys.

Color and Lighting Studies

1. Import color reference images showing desired mood or palette
2. Use the color picker (⌃ +I ) to sample colors directly from Frames
3. Compare multiple lighting scenarios side-by-side
4. Create a Group of images with similar color palettes for inspiration

Life Drawing Sessions

1. Import photo references of poses into a Box
2. Use Gallery View (⌃ +⌥ +A ) to browse all your poses quickly
3. Create a Frame from your identified pose
4. Set a timer (external tool) and switch poses by closing Frames and opening new ones
5. Keep completed studies in a separate Box for progress tracking

Frame Management Tips

Multiple Reference Frames

Artists often need several references visible simultaneously:

• Open 3-5 Frames around your main art software window
• Use different zoom levels of the same reference for detail and overall view
• Lock Frames (⌃ +L ) once positioned to prevent accidental movement
• Close all Frames quickly with the Toolbar button when switching tasks

Non-Destructive Transformations

All Frame transformations help you study without altering original files:

• Rotate (R +Drag ) to match your drawing angle
• Flip to avoid copying poses too directly
• Grayscale to study values and form
• Opacity to overlay references for proportion checking
• Reset (double-click) to return to original state instantly

Asset Import Strategies

Building Your Reference Library

• Screenshot tutorials while watching by pasting (⌃ +v ) into Refbox
• Import photo studies from photography sites
• Save inspiration from social media as screenshots or URLs
• Organize by project as you collect references

Image Settings for Art Reference

Right-click Image > Image Settings to:

• Crop references to focus on specific areas (hands, faces, etc.)
• Set background color for transparent PNG references (white, black, or none)
• Use pixelated rendering for pixel art reference (maintains crisp edges)

Project-Based Organization

Active Project Setup

For a specific illustration or character design project:

1. Create a project Box - "Character Design - Fantasy Knight"
2. Add Assets:
   • Armor and costume references
   • Pose and action references
   • Color palette inspiration
   • Similar character designs for style direction
3. Pin the Box to Toolbar for instant access during the project
4. Export the Box when done to archive project references

Switching Between Projects

• Use the Boxes Menu to switch between project Boxes quickly
• Use multiple Boxes effectively to avoid reference confusion
• Archive completed projects by exporting to .refbox files

Tips for Artists