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Refboard - Reference Image Board & Color Picker

by Ludiax Studio·Workflow

Images © Ludiax Studio. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Refboard earns its place in the superhive library for keeping reference viewing, exact color sampling, and mesh coloring together in a single Blender sidebar panel.

What is Refboard - Reference Image Board & Color Picker?

Refboard - Reference Image Board & Color Picker is a Blender 5.1 add-on from Ludiax Studio for artists who work with reference images, color palettes, material studies, stylized assets, and visual mood boards. It places a reference board inside the 3D View sidebar, with tools for previewing images, sampling exact colors, and applying solid or gradient colors to selected mesh areas, so references, color choices, and object editing stay in one place.

The workflow starts by adding a reference image, selecting a mesh object, then entering Edit Mode and choosing the face, edge, vertex, or region you want to color. Pick Color samples a color from the image and applies it only to the selected area through the Blender material workflow. Gradient Pick Mode lets you sample 2 to 4 colors and apply them as a gradient across the selection, with direction options for how the transition runs.

References can be added from your computer or from supported direct image URLs, though some websites may block direct image downloads. A demo video is available.

Who is Refboard - Reference Image Board & Color Picker best for?

Refboard - Reference Image Board & Color Picker is best for quick color studies, stylized materials, palette testing, object variations, and reference-based color matching inside Blender.

How much does Refboard - Reference Image Board & Color Picker cost?

Refboard - Reference Image Board & Color Picker is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Reference Image Board to add and manage reference images directly inside Blender, kept close to your modeling and shading workflow
  • Image preview inside the RefBoard panel, with the option to open a larger preview before sampling colors
  • Exact color picking that reads the selected image color directly and uses it in the Blender material workflow
  • Paint selected mesh areas: apply a picked color only to a selected face, edge, vertex, or region in Edit Mode instead of the whole object
  • Gradient Pick Mode to sample 2 to 4 colors from a reference image and apply them as a gradient across the selected region
  • Direction control for the gradient with Auto, Local X, Local Y, and Local Z options
  • Add images locally from your computer or by supported direct image URLs

Tags

#Blender#reference board#color picker#gradient#mesh coloring#material studies#color palette

Frequently asked questions

Does Refboard work with Blender 5.1?

Refboard is built as a Blender 5.1 add-on, so it targets that version of Blender. It installs into the 3D View sidebar, giving you a reference board next to your modeling and shading work rather than a separate window. Because compatibility can shift between Blender releases, check Ludiax Studio's developer page for the exact versions supported before installing, especially if you run a build older or newer than 5.1.

How does Refboard color only part of a mesh?

Refboard applies a picked color only to the mesh region you have selected, not the whole object. Select a mesh object, enter Edit Mode, and choose the face, edge, vertex, or region you want to color. Use Pick Color to sample a color from your reference image, and Refboard assigns that color to the selected area through the Blender material workflow. This makes it suited to coloring specific cube faces, blocking out stylized assets, and assigning color regions.

Can Refboard create gradients across a mesh?

Refboard includes a Gradient Pick Mode that lets you sample 2 to 4 colors from a reference image and apply them as a gradient across the selected mesh region. You can set the gradient direction using Auto, Local X, Local Y, or Local Z for more control over how the transition runs. Gradient results are best viewed in Material Preview or Rendered View. It suits stylized color transitions, gradient palette testing, and simple material exploration.

Can I add reference images by URL in Refboard?

Refboard supports adding reference images from your computer and from supported direct image URLs. Local image loading works reliably, while some websites may block direct image downloads, so a URL will not always load. Once added, images sit in the reference board inside Blender, where you can preview them, open a larger view, and sample colors directly. Keeping references in the panel means you can pick colors without switching to an external image viewer.

Is Refboard free?

Refboard is listed as free in this catalog. For current licensing terms, any usage conditions, and the most up-to-date details, check Ludiax Studio's developer page, since terms can change over time. A demo video is also available if you want to see the add-on before installing. Refboard keeps reference images, exact color picking, and mesh coloring together in the Blender 3D View sidebar.

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