Move and show Reference layers content outside canvas

This is a reboot of Steam thread Reference layers being able to go outside the canvas. :: Aseprite New Features & Ideas on this forum because the Steam topic gained no traction and there is no way to vote there.

I’ve been using reference pictures in other graphics software like Krita, placing them all around the canvas, and it was very convenient to have my references nearby while not overlapping my own drawing.

Currently, moving a reference outside the canvas crops it, strongly reducing its usefulness.

I’d like to be able to see Reference layer content beyond the canvas edges.

I was having a look at Pixelorama and it has a method to offset References outside the canvas but you have to use XY sliders so it’s not as convenient as just dragging them. Also the offset doesn’t seem to go beyond 50% of the canvas dimensions.

So the current Aseprite drag way + not cropping references seems like a better approach to me.

In the meantime I’ll use a side panel for my references, but it’s not as extensible since it may be complicated to add a panel on the left, right, top bottom and even diagonals, esp. if my references have different sizes.