Build a Moodboard From Files Already on Your Disk
To build a board from files already on disk, add their folder as a refern workspace content root and use the indexed images on a canvas. Normal indexing leaves those source files in place. It also creates workspace data and previews, so it is not a zero-storage operation.
Choose indexing rather than an import
Follow the workspace setup guide to point at the existing folder. If the images live in several locations, check the workspace's content-root and data-location settings before adding them.
An explicit import, copy, web capture, or save-as-new operation can create files. Importing an Eagle library is a separate copying workflow; it is not equivalent to indexing the original photo folder.
Place indexed images on the canvas
Create or open a canvas and use its library panel to find the images. Add the chosen references, arrange them, and save the board. The canvas records placements and adjustments; it needs its referenced media to remain available.
For the composition steps, see making a moodboard from your photo library. This page concentrates on file behavior rather than repeating that walkthrough.
Know what is saved where
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Original media | Supplies the pixels the board displays |
| Canvas document | Records the layout and supported element adjustments |
| Workspace data | Preserves organization such as tags and relationships |
| Generated previews | Help the library display content; they are not original-media backups |
Canvas crop and image adjustments can change the placement without rewriting the source pixels. A library crop that replaces a file is a different action.
Move and back up with the references in mind
Do not assume copying the canvas file alone creates a portable, self-contained board. Preserve the required source media and workspace data, and reopen a copied workspace to check representative boards before relying on it.
If an external drive is disconnected or a file is moved outside the app, a preview may remain while the original is unavailable. Reconnect the drive and investigate the actual path before removing records. Rescanning does not guarantee that every externally moved reference will relink correctly.
See the backup guide for protecting both source files and the work you put into organizing them.