PureRef
PureRef is a free, lightweight application for Windows that helps artists and designers quickly view visual references without cluttering their workspace. It's useful for keeping photos, drawings, webpages, etc. easily accessible while working on graphics, illustrations, pre
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PureRef: Free Visual Reference Viewer
PureRef is a free, lightweight application for Windows that helps artists and designers quickly view visual references without cluttering their workspace. It's useful for keeping photos, drawings, webpages, etc. easily accessible while working on graphics, illustrations, presentations, documents, and more.
What is PureRef?
PureRef is a free application developed specifically for artists, designers, and other creatives to help view and organize visual references efficiently. It provides a clean and intuitive interface for collecting, viewing, and pinning images, webpages, and other documents in a resizable frame that sits above active windows and applications.
Some key features of PureRef include:
- Resizable and movable frame to place anywhere on your screen
- Organizes references into grouped collections that can be saved and reopened
- Zoom, pan, rotate images for detailed inspection
- Draw directly onto images to sketch concepts
- Hide images temporarily or change opacity
- Support for common image formats like JPG, PNG, GIF, etc.
- Drag and drop files directly into the frame
- Completely free with no ads, limits, or watermarks
PureRef helps declutter the workspace by keeping visual references easily accessible but out of the way in a dedicated utility window. For digital artists, designers, illustrators, and other creatives who rely heavily on reference materials, PureRef is an invaluable tool for improving workflow and organization.
PureRef Features
Features
- Tabbed interface to organize references
- Resizable panels
- Zoom and pan images
- Minimal UI
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Search references
- Fullscreen mode
- Portable app
- Dark mode
Pricing
- Free
Pros
Lightweight and fast
Clean and simple interface
Easy to use
Good for quick reference viewing
Free with no ads or limitations
Cons
Limited features compared to full reference managers
No cloud sync
Windows only
Official Links
The Best PureRef Alternatives
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