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Refdeck - Viewport Reference Manager

by netkingZ·Workflow

Images © netkingZ. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Refdeck earns its place in the superhive library by keeping reference images and their transform controls inside the 3D Viewport, with named libraries to save and reload full overlay setups.

What is Refdeck - Viewport Reference Manager?

Refdeck - Viewport Reference Manager is a Blender add-on that brings reference images into the 3D Viewport as interactive overlays, removing the need to alt-tab away from your scene. Images are organized in a Collections, Sub-categories and Images hierarchy with color coding, full-text search and folder import, and a favorites system automatically promotes starred images to the top of every grid.

You can add multiple references at once, with each overlay fully independent. Click an image in the viewport to select it, then use the floating HUD toolbar to transform it in real time: move by dragging, rotate at 0.5° per pixel, reset to 0° in one click, scale with no arbitrary limits, adjust opacity from 0% to 100%, and mirror horizontally or vertically. ESC or right-click cancels and reverts any transformation.

Grid zoom ranges from 1 to 12, shifting from a compact six-column grid to a single large preview, with automatic pagination for large collections. Named libraries save your entire setup, including overlay positions, transforms and opacity, and reload in one click. Refdeck requires Blender 4.0 or later, has no external dependencies, runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and is distributed under the GPL license.

Who is Refdeck - Viewport Reference Manager best for?

Refdeck - Viewport Reference Manager is best for blender artists working from reference images while modeling, sculpting, posing or creating character art.

How much does Refdeck - Viewport Reference Manager cost?

Refdeck - Viewport Reference Manager is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Collections → Sub-categories → Images hierarchy with color coding, full-text search and folder import
  • Favorites system that automatically promotes starred images to the top of every grid
  • Multiple independent overlays, each selectable by clicking it in the viewport
  • Floating HUD toolbar with move, rotate, reset, scale, opacity, horizontal and vertical mirror, and remove controls
  • Grid zoom from 1 to 12 with automatic pagination for large collections
  • Named libraries that save overlay positions, transforms and opacity for one-click reload

Tags

#reference#overlay#viewport#posing#sculpting#modeling#workflow#character art

Frequently asked questions

Does Refdeck work with Blender 4.0?

Refdeck runs on Blender 4.0 and later, and it's listed as compatible with Blender's extension system as an add-on. It requires no external dependencies, so there's nothing extra to install alongside it, and it works across Windows, macOS and Linux. The render engine noted for the product is Cycles. If you're on an older Blender build, update to at least 4.0 before installing, and check the developer's page for the latest compatibility notes.

How do I transform a reference image once it's in the viewport?

Refdeck lets you add multiple reference images to the 3D Viewport at once, with each overlay independent of the others. Click any image in the viewport to select it, then use the floating HUD toolbar to transform it in real time. You can move it by dragging, rotate at 0.5° per pixel, reset rotation to 0° in one click, scale with no arbitrary limits, set opacity from 0% to 100%, and mirror horizontally or vertically. Pressing ESC or right-clicking cancels and reverts a transformation.

Can Refdeck save my reference setup between sessions?

Refdeck includes named libraries that save your entire setup, including overlay positions, transforms and opacity. You can reload any saved session in a single click, which brings back your references as you arranged them. On the organization side, it keeps images in a Collections, Sub-categories and Images hierarchy with color coding, full-text search and folder import, plus a favorites system that automatically moves starred images to the top of every grid. Grid zoom runs from 1 to 12 with automatic pagination for large collections.

Is Refdeck free?

Refdeck is listed as free in this catalog, so you can add it here without a purchase. Licensing and pricing can change over time, and the add-on itself is distributed under the GPL license. For the current terms and to confirm what's included, check netkingZ's developer page directly. A demo video is also available, and the listing notes documentation, both useful for getting familiar with how the reference overlays and HUD controls work before setting them up in your own scenes.

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