Graph Views for Visual References: refern and Obsidian

Before choosing a graph tool, decide what you want its links to mean. A connection between two notes is different from a record that an image was cropped from another image or placed on a canvas.

Correction, September 8, 2026: An earlier version said Obsidian's graph was only for text and implied that no one else had graphed images. Obsidian documents an Attachments toggle in Graph view. The distinction is the relationship model, not whether images can appear at all.

Compare the links

This is a comparison of these two workflows. It does not establish a market-wide exclusive feature or a graph-performance ranking.

Use refern when the reference relationship matters

refern's relationship views connect files, folders, canvases, groups, and tags. Supported relationships include grouped items, derived-from links, canvas placements, and manual cross-references.

For example, a reference used on several boards can be useful to trace back from the library. A cropped reference can retain a relationship to its source. These are library relationships; they do not establish the copyright or original creator of a file by themselves.

Start with one project. Add a few images, place them on a canvas, and inspect the related entries. Check whether the link answers a question you actually ask, such as “where did I use this?” A larger graph is not automatically more useful. The Graph row is hidden in the sidebar by default; show it in Settings > Navigator, or right-click an item and choose Show in graph view.

Use Obsidian when notes lead the research

Obsidian's Graph view represents links in a vault. Its filters can show attachments and tags, so image files need not be excluded. The local graph can focus on the files connected to the current note.

Its Canvas can arrange notes, attachments, and web pages, with groups and labeled connections. Canvases use the open JSON Canvas format. A note-centered research workflow can use these tools without becoming a dedicated reference-library app.

Choose it when written research is central and linked images support those notes. Do not assume a canvas card and a file backlink always behave identically: the handbook distinguishes text-only cards from saved note files.

You can also use both. In refern, files, folders, and tags can each carry an ordered list of named links. A link can open another app, such as an obsidian:// link to a note, after a confirmation.

Check storage and portability

refern normal workspaces index existing files; explicit imports can copy. Keep its associated workspace data along with source media when backing up.

Obsidian keeps vault data locally. Its sync guide documents several methods, including optional Obsidian Sync and third-party approaches. The paid service is not the only way to move data between devices. Follow the documented platform caveats and keep backups separate from sync.

When a graph is unnecessary

If your usual task is finding a pose by tag and keeping it visible while drawing, a folder, search, and board may be enough. Use a graph when the connections help you navigate; there is no need to rebuild a working library around one.

Compare canvas and library tools if arranging images matters more than tracing links.