[Extension] Reference Board for Aseprite

[CiudadanoV]

Hi everyone,

I’m working on an extension called Reference Board for Aseprite, a floating reference board that makes it easier to paint from concept art, screenshots or any image without leaving the editor, and I’m looking for user feedback.

The extension adds a floating window where you can collect and organize all your reference images while you work on your sprite, animate or change tools. It is designed as an external reference space, always accessible and fully integrated into your creative process. Since it’s a floating window inside Aseprite, you can also keep it on a secondary monitor.

The extension is currently under active development, with a demo version planned in approximately 1–2 weeks and a full version in about 3 weeks.

Why I’m developing it

I’m a freelance developer who recently started a game‑dev journey, dealing mainly with programming but also with all the other parts of making a game, including art.

I often work with several pieces of reference at once (concept art, palettes, screenshots, animation frames) and found myself constantly switching windows or using external tools. I know there is a plugin called “Reference Viewer”, but I wanted a more advanced solution, closer to what PureRef offers.

Main features planned for the first full version

• Persistent, non‑blocking floating window.
• Load multiple images (common formats like PNG, JPG, etc.) into a single floating window.
• Paste directly from the clipboard (great for grabbing references from the web or other apps).
• Move and reorder images inside the window, with multi‑selection support.
• Per‑image zoom and pan, so you can focus on details without changing your canvas zoom.
• Delete images quickly to keep your board clean.
• Paste any reference image back into Aseprite as a new sprite or as a new layer on the current sprite.
• Save and load “sessions” of references, so you can reopen a project and recover your full reference setup.

Below, there is a short video showing some of the possibilities.

Possible future improvements

Besides the features planned for the first version, I’d like to add more functionality in the future, depending on what users find most useful. Some ideas:

• Better arrangement options.
• Snapping.
• Notes attached to images.
• Any other workflow improvements users suggest.

Who is it for?

For example:

• Artists who work with multiple references at once.
• Animators who need to compare poses or frames.
• Users who want to avoid constantly switching between applications.
• Anyone who currently uses an external “reference board” app alongside Aseprite.

Development status and price

The extension is under active development, with a full version release planned in approximately 3 weeks. The idea is that Reference Board for Aseprite will be a paid extension, available on Itchio as a one‑time purchase. Before that, there will be a free demo version with basic features so you can try out the workflow, evaluate the tool, and allow me to improve the final version based on your feedback.

Even though there is no downloadable version yet, I’ve created an Itchio page where you can find more information, devlogs, and a discussion board for users.

Itch.io page

Feedback

I’d like to make sure this extension really fits with how people actually use Aseprite. I’m particularly interested in:

• How do you currently manage your references when working in Aseprite?
• What would you consider essential in a tool like this?
• Is there anything you feel PureRef (or similar tools) does that you’d really want inside Aseprite?

Any technical or real‑world feedback is very welcome.

Thank you for your time!

[saskiaking]

This is a dream come true, but I must ask if there will be a way for you to use the colour picker like the other tools?

[CiudadanoV]

Hi @saskiaking, thank you very much for your comment.

I’ve done a quick test and yes, I can add it to the first full version. I’ve already added it to my tasks.

My initial idea is that an “Eyedropper” mode can be activated with a key within the Reference Board window, so that, for example, the Pencil tool can be used in the main editor while the Reference Board is in “Eyedropper” mode. This would allow you to select a colour from the reference and start drawing without changing tools. The “Eyedropper” mode could be temporary (only when a key is holding down) or permanent (the ‘Eyedropper’ mode would always be activated until you switch to “normal” mode).

Let me know if you agree with this approach.

On the other hand, if there are more tools for the Reference Board that could be useful for users, just let me know and I will try out if it is possible to develop them.

[saskiaking]

Sorry for late reply… Perhaps as the default option for the shortcut to pick up colors? Like one click to activate instead of holding it down

Also many thanks for this basic options… like and having it on Aseprite will facilite a lot my life lol because i need to use the other software to make the colors palette since I am colorblind so i use eyedropper a lot using the references

For other tools…. Maybe these can be useful tools too?

rotate / reset rotation, fit on navigator, flip /mirror the image and maybe a Image list to open old/more stuff

[CiudadanoV]

Don’t worry @saskiaking , thanks for the reply!

Regarding the “Eyedropper” tool, you will have both options, activate it with a single click (the “I” key as in the main editor) or by holding down with “Alt”. The“Eyedropper” tool will be available in the full commercial version the next week, possibly earlier than I planned.

I will add some of the options you mentioned to the first commercial version, such as flipping the images. A transparency slider for images will also be available.

My intention is that future updates will include more characteristics.

In addition, tomorrow (instead of Friday) I will publish the free demo version, which will allow to test the full reference workflow, but with basic functionality and intentional limitations focused on non‑professional use and for testing the extension before purchasing.

[CiudadanoV]

Hi everyone, I was able to release a public demo of Reference Board, a reference image workspace extension for Aseprite, a couple of days before the deadline.

This is not the final release. The goal of the demo is to see how the tool behaves in real workflows, observe how people actually use it, and identify bugs or anything confusing before moving toward the full commercial version.

The core reference workflow is usable in this build. Some features are intentionally limited (like a maximum number of images, session persistence and advanced tools). The idea is to keep the demo focused on evaluation rather than long-term professional use.

You can:

• Keep references visible while working in the editor.
• Load up to 3 reference images.
• Move and organize them freely.
• Zoom each image independently.
• Adjust window to canvas and to images.
• Paste a reference to Aseprite editor as a new sprite.

If you try it, I’d really appreciate feedback on things like:

• Does it fit naturally into your drawing or animation workflow?
• Is anything confusing or unintuitive during normal use?
• Have you find any bugs?

Everything is still subject to change, and feedback at this stage can directly influence design decisions.

You can download the demo from the project page here:

Reference Board Demo

Thanks a lot to anyone who gives it a try and shares their experience — it really helps shape the final version.

[CiudadanoV]

Hi everyone — Reference Board for Aseprite v1.0.0 is now officially released.

Reference Board is designed to improve how reference material is used during drawing and animation by providing a persistent, flexible workspace for images directly inside the editor.

After several development iterations and new funtionalities added, the full commercial version of the reference image workspace plugin for Aseprite is now available. New features and adjustments were introduced throughout development.

Key features include:

• Persistent floating reference workspace.
• Clipboard and file import.
• Unlimited reference images.
• Independent zoom and positioning per image.
• Multi-image management and selection.
• Apply zoom to all the selected images.
• Session saving and loading.
• Automatic layout and reset tools.
• Colour picker tool (Eyedropper mode), showing RGB and HSV information.
• In Eyedropper mode, double click over a color shows a gradient.
• Image transformations: flip horizontally and vertically, rotate 90 degrees and change transparency.
• Send references to the editor as sprites or layers: original or with image transformations (excluding transparency).
• Advanced workflow tools and shortcuts.
• Stability and usability improvements.

Some examples are:

With this final version, the goal of Reference Board is reinforced: to make reference handling faster, clearer, and more integrated into the drawing process, feeling like a natural part of the drawing environment rather than an external process

If you rely heavily on reference material while drawing or animating, the full version is designed for continuous and professional use.

This release establishes the core functionality, but development does not stop here. More updates will be developed to add new functionalities, and users feedback will be very important.

On the other hand, the demo will remain available for anyone who wants to try the workflow before purchasing.

If you’d like to learn more or get the plugin, you can find it on the project page here:

Reference Bord for Aseprite

Thanks to everyone who tried the demo version.

If you try it, I’d love to hear how it fits your workflow or any ideas for future improvements.

[CiudadanoV]

Reference Board for Aseprite — Update v1.1.0: Notes support

Hi everyone,

I’ve just released a new update for Reference Board for Aseprite, adding a new feature: Notes support.

This update allows you to attach text notes directly inside the reference workspace, making it easier to keep track of ideas, colors, reminders, proportions to pay attention or design details while working.

Notes can be used for things like:

• Writing down color palette ideas.
• Marking animation timing notes.
• Keeping reminders about shapes or proportions.
• Annotating reference material.

Because the notes live in the same workspace as the images, they stay visible while you draw and can be saved together with your reference sessions.

Some characteristics:

• Notes can be linked to an image or be independent.
• You can choose different colors for your notes.
• The image and canvas menus have their own button for creating a note. Ctrl + N can be used too.
• The notes can be deleted with Delete or Backspace key.
• To edit a note, double-click on it.
• For linking a note to an image, an image needs to be selected before creating a note.
• If you move an image with notes linked, the notes are moving with the image, even when zooming.

This helps turn the reference board into something closer to a visual workspace, rather than just an image viewer.

In addition, a small feature has been added. You can add or remove an image from a selection by pressing Ctrl and clicking on image.

The update is available now on the project page.

Reference Board for Aseprite

If you’ve been using the plugin, I’d be very interested to hear how the notes feature fits into your workflow or if there are improvements that would make it more useful.

Thanks!