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Board Ref

by Mohamed Targam·Workflow

Images © Mohamed Targam. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Board Ref stands out in the superhive library for keeping images, notes, and project organization inside the 3D Viewport rather than a separate window, with an interface built to stay compact and out of the way.

What is Board Ref?

Board Ref is a Blender add-on that builds a reference-board workflow directly into the 3D Viewport, so you can keep images and notes beside your work instead of switching between applications. Version 1.1 redesigns the interface and adds independent boards, saved project layouts, better image organization, and more precise control while keeping the original workflow fast and easy to use.

You can create up to four independent boards for concepts, materials, characters, environments, or other parts of a project. Each board keeps its own images, notes, appearance, layout settings, visibility, and position. Switch between boards quickly or hide individual boards without deleting their contents, and choose exactly which 3D Viewport displays BoardRef through the Show in This Viewport control.

Inside a board you can move and scale images freely, zoom and pan, adjust transparency, and add notes, then disable interaction to lock the layout. Arrange, Padding, and Columns apply to selected images only, or to the full active board when nothing is selected. Boards, notes, layouts, colors, and image links are all restored with your saved Blender project.

Who is Board Ref best for?

Board Ref is best for modeling, sculpting, texturing, look development, environment art, character work, and visual planning inside Blender's 3D Viewport.

How much does Board Ref cost?

Board Ref is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Up to four independent boards, each keeping its own images, notes, appearance, layout settings, visibility, and position; hide boards without deleting their contents
  • Project persistence — boards, notes, layouts, visibility, colors, and image links are restored with the saved Blender project
  • Show in This Viewport control to choose which 3D Viewport displays BoardRef, avoiding duplicate overlays
  • Selective arrangement — Arrange, Padding, and Columns apply to selected images only, or to the full active board when nothing is selected
  • Collect Board Images copies every board image into a BoardRef_Images folder beside the Blend file, keeping links portable with relative paths
  • Move and scale images freely, zoom and pan inside the board, adjust transparency, add notes, and disable interaction to lock the layout

Tags

#reference board#3D Viewport#image reference#notes#workflow#Blender add-on#look development

Frequently asked questions

Does Board Ref work with Blender 5.0?

Board Ref lists compatibility with Blender versions 5.0 through 5.2 and is marked as Blender Extension compatible. It installs as an add-on and uses the Blender-Internal render engine. Once enabled, it runs inside the 3D Viewport, where you load images, add notes, and organize reference boards beside your work. If you are on a version outside the 5.0 to 5.2 range, check the developer's page before installing to confirm the add-on behaves as described.

How does Board Ref keep references saved with a project?

Board Ref stores its data with the saved Blender project, so boards, notes, layouts, visibility, colors, and image links are all restored when you reopen the file. For portability, the Collect Board Images option copies every board image into a BoardRef_Images folder beside the Blend file and keeps the links working through relative paths. Together these let you continue exactly where you stopped and move a project without breaking its reference images.

Can Board Ref show references in just one viewport?

Board Ref includes a Show in This Viewport control that lets you choose exactly which 3D Viewport displays the boards, avoiding duplicate overlays across multiple viewports. Within a board you can move and scale images freely, zoom and pan, adjust transparency, and add notes. When your layout is set, you can disable interaction to lock it in place so the board stays out of the way while you focus on the work.

Is Board Ref free to use?

Board Ref is listed as free in this catalog. Licensing can change, so check the developer's page for the current terms before you rely on it. The add-on is distributed under the GPL license and is marked as Blender Extension compatible. It installs as a Blender add-on and works within the 5.0 to 5.2 version range, running inside the 3D Viewport once enabled.

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