Login

u/Amine1859

r/learndesign r/SideProject r/coolgithubprojects r/designtools r/uidesign r/software
▲ 1 r/learndesign

I built a free Windows reference board that floats over Photoshop — looking for artist feedback

Hey! I’m building RefFlow Studio, a free and open-source Windows reference board for artists and designers. I wanted references to stay above Photoshop without blocking the canvas, with the option to drag an image straight into another desktop app when needed.

The current build includes:

• Always-on-top floating images and PDFs

• Transparent click-through areas and lockable references

• Multi-monitor positioning

• Notes, sketch pads, and project boards

• Color-palette extraction

• Native image drag into Photoshop and other Windows apps

It’s still early, and I’d rather improve it around real creative workflows than keep guessing. If you use Photoshop or another desktop art tool, what would make this useful enough to keep open every day? What is the biggest rough edge or missing feature you notice?

GitHub and Windows download: [https://github.com/amine1859/Referenceflow-Studio/releases/latest\](https://github.com/amine1859/Referenceflow-Studio/releases/latest)

The Windows installer is currently unsigned, so SmartScreen may display a warning. The full source is available in the repository.

Optional support for continued development: https://www.patreon.com/RefFlowStudio

**Update — new showcase media:**

reddit.com
u/Amine1859 — 10 days ago
▲ 1 r/SideProject

I made RefFlow Studio so artists can keep references floating over Photoshop

RefFlow Studio is a free, open-source Windows reference board for artists and designers. References can stay above Photoshop without blocking the canvas, work across multiple monitors, use click-through mode, and drag images directly into creative apps.

I made this short demo so you can see the workflow without downloading anything first. I would really appreciate feedback from artists and designers.

GitHub: https://github.com/amine1859/Referenceflow-Studio

Support development: https://patreon.com/RefFlowStudio

u/Amine1859 — 10 days ago
▲ 7 r/designtools+1 crossposts

RefFlow Studio — an open-source floating reference board for Windows artists

I built RefFlow Studio, an MIT-licensed Windows desktop reference-board app for artists and designers.

It supports always-on-top images and PDFs, transparent click-through and locked references, mixed multi-monitor layouts, notes and local project boards, color-palette extraction, and native drag-out into Photoshop and other desktop apps.

The app is built with Electron, React, and TypeScript. I’m especially interested in feedback on Windows interaction edge cases and creative workflows.

Repository and releases: https://github.com/amine1859/Referenceflow-Studio

The Windows installer is unsigned, so SmartScreen may show a warning; the full source is available in the repository.

Update — new showcase media:

u/Amine1859 — 10 days ago
▲ 4 r/software

I built a free, open-source Windows reference board for artists and designers

Hi r/software — I’m the developer of RefFlow Studio, a free and open-source Windows reference-board app. I built it because I wanted references to stay above Photoshop and other creative apps without blocking the canvas.

Current features include:

• Floating images and PDFs
• Transparent click-through areas and lockable references
• Multi-monitor positioning
• Notes, sketches, and project boards
• Color-palette extraction
• Native image drag into Photoshop and other Windows apps

I’m looking for feedback from people who use desktop creative software: what would make this useful enough to keep open every day?

Source and Windows download: https://github.com/amine1859/Referenceflow-Studio

The installer is currently unsigned, so Windows SmartScreen may show a warning. The complete source is available for inspection.

Update — new showcase media:

u/Amine1859 — 10 days ago
▲ 3 r/learndesign+2 crossposts

I built a free Windows reference board that floats over Photoshop — looking for artist feedback

Hey! I’m building RefFlow Studio, a free and open-source Windows reference board for artists and designers. I wanted references to stay above Photoshop without blocking the canvas, with the option to drag an image straight into another desktop app when needed.

The current build includes:

• Always-on-top floating images and PDFs

• Transparent click-through areas and lockable references

• Multi-monitor positioning

• Notes, sketch pads, and project boards

• Color-palette extraction

• Native image drag into Photoshop and other Windows apps

It’s still early, and I’d rather improve it around real creative workflows than keep guessing. If you use Photoshop or another desktop art tool, what would make this useful enough to keep open every day? What is the biggest rough edge or missing feature you notice?

GitHub and Windows download: https://github.com/amine1859/Referenceflow-Studio/releases/latest

The Windows installer is currently unsigned, so SmartScreen may display a warning. The full source is available in the repository.

reddit.com
u/Amine1859 — 9 days ago