If you need to use reference images for a drawing in Photoshop and don't have dual-monitors or a fairly large desktop set up, you may end up doing one of 3 things:
- Open Photoshop and the browser window side-by-side
- Open the image in PS and have 2 PS windows open side-by-side
- Paste the image in the PS document on its own layer and delete it when done
I got tired of working this way and realized it would be easier if I could just have images open in a separate panel. Reference Panel is a Photoshop CC extension for holding reference images while you work. Drag-and-drop, copy-and-paste, or open files the old-fashion way and the images will stay in the panel. No need to resize the Photoshop window or needlessly add another layer to what may already be a very large project.
Compatible with Photoshop CC 2015 and newer.
- Add images files already on your computer using the image button
- Right-click menu: "Add Image" for the same option
- Drag and drop files
- Copy and paste images from your clipboard
- Select image(s) to remove & click the trashcan button
- Or select images and hit the "Delete" key
- Right-click menu: "Delete All" to completely clear the board
- Use handles to resize and rotate images
- Double-click or double-tap an image to reset rotation 🔸
- Hold the
ctrlkey to select multiple images - Right-click menu: "Find Off-Screen Images" to re-center any images not on-screen 🌟
- Right-click menu: use "Bring Forward" and "Send Back" options to change an image's placement in the stack
- Save/Open/Delete image sets ❓
- Export images ❓
- Drag-and-drop PS layers ❓
- Move all images into view 🌟
- Reset rotation w/ doubleclick 🔸
| Key | |
|---|---|
| 🌟 | In progress |
| 🔸 | Working, but needs kinks worked out |
| ❓ | May nix this idea if it ends up being a pain to add |