Set Up References for a 3D Modeling Session

A modeling reference should answer a specific question about form, construction, material, or scale. A beautiful single photograph may leave the back, underside, or thickness of an object unresolved. Keep those gaps visible instead of filling them with assumptions.

Keep the collection useful

Keep a source folder for the object or shoot, and distinguish orthographic drawings, perspective photos, surface details, and size references. Record known dimensions when the source supplies them. Do not treat a perspective image as an exact measurement drawing.

Build the working selection

Place the silhouette views together and material close-ups in a separate group. Label missing views and uncertain dimensions. Keep a full image near a crop when the surrounding form explains the detail. A material reference should inform the look you want, not be mistaken for a physically calibrated shader specification.

Find and use the references

Use tags for material and object type across projects. Search those tags when you need a familiar surface on a new model. Pin the working reference window beside the viewport if useful; Windows and macOS also offer opacity and click-through controls, with Linux limitations.

Check the handoff

refern organizes reference images and supports optional generic file entries; it is not a 3D model inspector or CAD measurement tool. Open model files in the modeling software. Keep the reference board and any approved dimensions with the project handoff.

Normal refern workspace indexing reads existing files in place. Imports and file actions can create or change files. Back up the source media and workspace data that preserves your organizing work.

Continue with Keep a Reference Window Visible While You Work.