Refbox

Refbox is the ultimate floating reference manager designed to keep creative professionals in their flow. It solves the universal frustration of constantly switching between tabs, folders, and applications to view source material. Instead of digging through your desktop or browser, Refbox lets you pin images, videos, GIFs, and notes in resizable, always-on-top frames that float above any other app on your screen. This means your inspiration and references are always visible at a glance, right where you're working. Whether you're sketching a character, designing a UI, animating a sequence, or modeling in 3D, Refbox provides a seamless and distraction-free environment. You can add media from anywhere—drag and drop from the web, your computer, or even paste directly from your clipboard. With smart viewing modes like Masonry Layout and a full-screen Gallery, it adapts to your workflow. Built for speed and organization, Refbox is an essential tool for graphic designers, illustrators, animators, photographers, and digital artists who value focus and efficiency.

Always-on-Top Floating Frames

The core feature of Refbox is its floating frames. You can pin any image, video, GIF, or note in a resizable window that stays on top of all other applications, like Photoshop, Blender, or your code editor. This eliminates the need for alt-tabbing or rearranging windows, keeping your reference material instantly accessible and your primary workspace uncluttered. You can have multiple frames open at once, each independently adjustable.

Masonry Mode & Gallery View

Refbox offers flexible viewing options to suit any task. Masonry Mode automatically arranges your references on an infinite canvas in a clean, Pinterest-style grid, perfect for mood boarding and seeing the big picture. For focused review, the full-screen Gallery View lets you flip through items like a slideshow, making detailed comparison quick and effortless.

Smart Media Handling & Tools

Beyond simple display, Refbox includes powerful tools for working with your references. You can step through GIFs frame-by-frame for detailed study, take screenshots of websites by pasting a URL, and use a built-in color picker on any media to copy hex codes. It also supports cropping images, viewing SVG files, and creating styled notes with checklists, making it a versatile hub for all your reference needs.

Streamlined Workflow Shortcuts

Designed for efficiency, Refbox is packed with intuitive controls. Quickly swap references in a frame using your arrow keys, minimize frames to access apps behind them, or instantly switch between different collections of references. You can auto-hide your entire "Box" and summon it only when needed, keeping your screen clean until inspiration strikes. These thoughtful shortcuts save countless clicks and hours over time.

Digital Illustration & Concept Art

Illustrators and concept artists can keep character sheets, environment photos, and color palettes floating right next to their canvas in Clip Studio Paint or Procreate. The ability to lock frames means they can even sketch directly over a reference without it moving, and the pixel-perfect rendering mode ensures pixel art references are displayed with crisp clarity.

UI/UX & Web Design

Designers building interfaces in Figma or Sketch can float style guides, competitor screenshots, and component libraries in Refbox. The website screenshot feature lets them quickly capture live pages for reference, and the color picker tool allows instant sampling and copying of colors directly from any inspiration image into their design tool.

3D Modeling & Animation

3D artists and animators working in Blender or Maya can pin orthographic reference images, texture photos, or motion study videos in floating windows around their viewport. The GIF playback control is invaluable for animators to scrub through frame-by-frame to study movement, all without leaving their 3D workspace.

Motion Graphics & Video Editing

Motion designers in After Effects or video editors in Premiere Pro can use Refbox to keep storyboards, style frames, and video reference clips visible. They can organize sequences in the Gallery view to flip through quickly, ensuring their creative direction stays consistent throughout the editing and compositing process.

What kinds of files can I use with Refbox?

Refbox supports a wide range of media types to cover most creative needs. You can directly add common image formats (JPG, PNG, WebP, SVG), video files (MP4, MOV), and GIFs. You can also create and format text notes right within the app. A standout feature is the ability to paste a website URL, and Refbox will automatically generate a screenshot of that page for you to use as a reference.

Does Refbox work on multiple monitors?

Yes, absolutely. Refbox is designed for modern workflows and works seamlessly across multiple monitors. You can drag your floating reference frames onto any screen, allowing you to dedicate one monitor entirely to your references in Masonry mode while keeping your main screen focused on your creative application.

Can I organize my references into different projects?

Yes, you can. Refbox allows you to create and save multiple Collections. This lets you separate references for different projects, clients, or tasks—like one collection for a logo design and another for a website redesign. You can switch between these collections instantly with a single click, keeping your workspace organized and context-specific.

Is there a free trial or version of Refbox?

Refbox operates on a simple, one-time purchase model. This means you pay once and own the current version of the app forever. While there isn't a traditional subscription, the website may offer a limited-time trial so you can test all the features and ensure it fits your workflow before making the one-time purchase.

Refbox is available for a single, one-time purchase fee. This model provides permanent access to the application without any recurring subscriptions. The exact price may vary based on promotions, so it's best to check the official Refbox website for the most current pricing and any available trial offers.