Organize Product References by Function and Construction
A product photograph can suggest a shape without explaining how it works. Build a reference set that separates appearance from mechanism, construction, and use context. Label the information you still need before treating an image as a solution.
Keep the collection useful
Keep source sets by product or research session. Record the maker, model, date when known, and the source of any specifications. Use tags for recurring details such as hinge, grip, seam, or surface finish.
| Part of the set | What to record |
|---|---|
| Use | How a person holds, reaches, or interacts |
| Mechanism | Views that explain movement or assembly |
| Form | Proportion and transitions between surfaces |
| Material | Finish and construction evidence |
Build the working selection
On a refern canvas, place overall views separately from mechanism close-ups. Keep documented dimensions labeled as such. Do not infer tolerances or ergonomic suitability from perspective photographs without further evidence.
Find and use the references
Use the library to retrieve details across projects. A crop can focus the study without changing the source image. Keep material and manufacturer notes attached to the entry so the board is not the only place that context exists.
Check the handoff
Use CAD, prototypes, technical documentation, and appropriate evaluation for engineering decisions. refern is a visual research tool, not a CAD viewer or product-safety validator. Preserve the approved research artifact and its sources for the 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 Sources With Your Reference Images.