Keep a Reference Window Visible While You Work

Pin a refern window when you want a reference to remain visible above your working application. You can use an image viewer or a canvas of selected references. Start with an opaque, small window so you can check its position before changing other controls.

Choose what to display

For one detail, open the image. For several views, arrange them on a canvas first. Put the most useful reference at a readable size and leave space around the part of your drawing application you need to operate.

The moodboard guide covers selecting and arranging a board. You do not need to display your entire library during the session.

Pin the window

Use the window's pin-on-top control. Switch to your drawing or modeling app and verify that the reference stays where you expect. Main and pop-out windows support pinning, but desktop environments and window managers can affect how it behaves.

If a window obscures a tool panel, resize or reposition it before lowering opacity. A separate monitor is another useful layout when available. On that monitor, press Shift+F in the viewer for presentation mode: one file full screen on black, with the controls hidden. Arrow keys move between files, and Esc exits.

Use transparency and click-through carefully

Transparency and click-through are separate controls. Transparency changes visibility; click-through sends pointer interaction to the app behind the reference window. Current opacity and click-through controls are available on Windows and macOS, with Linux limitations.

Check the command or shortcut that turns click-through off before enabling it. Shortcuts are configurable, so use the controls and bindings shown in your installation. Test on a harmless area of the underlying app before drawing through the window.

An overlay is a viewing aid. It does not insert the reference into the painting file or guarantee color agreement between applications.

Restore a normal window

Disable click-through when you need to select or move references again. Turn pinning off when you finish if the window is covering unrelated work. If the desktop environment handles a control unexpectedly, use a normal side-by-side layout while checking platform support.

Keep a focused board for the next session rather than repeatedly collecting the same images. The library organization guide covers finding that material again.