Reference board
A reference board that follows you to your phone.
A reference board keeps the images you work from in one place: poses, lighting, materials, palettes, shots. embeddd keeps them online, so the same board is on your computer and your phone, and Reels and TikToks play right on it.
No credit card · Free to start · Private by default
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0:13- Warm, low light
- Natural materials
Reference board vs moodboard
A moodboard sets a direction: the feel of a project, shown to a client or team. A reference board is practical: the specific images you look at while making something, like a pose, a light setup or a material. In embeddd both are boards; the difference is what you put on them.
Collect from anywhere
Drop image files, paste links, or share from Instagram, TikTok and YouTube on iPhone. Short videos are saved as videos with sound.
- Images keep their proportions in a masonry grid
- Reels, TikToks and Shorts saved as playable video
- A note on each card for what to look at
Saved as the video itself — still here if the post is deleted.
Find the reference in seconds
Tag boards by subject, search across every board at once, or pick a colour and see every reference that matches.
Make a reference board
- 01Create
Make a board for the piece you’re working on.
- 02Collect
Drop images, paste links, share Reels from your phone.
- 03Tag
Tag what each reference is for: pose, light, colour, material.
- 04Open anywhere
Keep the board open on your phone or a second screen while you work.
Built on
The features behind it
- BoardsA visual grid for one idea: pictures, videos, links and notes side by side.
- SearchFind a reference by its words, its tags or its colour, across every board.
- MobileSave from your phone’s share sheet and browse boards anywhere.
- ProjectsGroup boards by client, campaign or idea — and share them as one.
Questions
What is a reference board?
A collection of the images you work from while drawing, designing, shooting or building something, such as poses, lighting, materials and colour. It’s more practical than a moodboard, which sets the overall direction.
Is this reference board free?
Yes. The free plan has unlimited boards and 5 GB of storage, with no ads.
Can I arrange images freely on a canvas?
No. embeddd arranges cards in a grid you reorder by dragging. For overlapping and scaling images on a freeform canvas, PureRef is built for that.
Does it work offline?
No. embeddd is a web app, so it needs a connection. For an offline desktop board, PureRef or Eagle fit better.
Keep reading
Related
- PureRef alternativesPureRef is a fast desktop canvas for keeping reference images on screen while you work. If you need your references on your phone too, want to save Reels and TikToks, or share a board as a link, an online reference board may suit you better.
- Moodboard makerMake a moodboard from images, videos, links and notes — free.
- Visual researchA searchable library of what things look like — by subject, tag and colour.
- PhotographersLighting, locations, poses and styling references for every shoot.
Start your first board.
Save a Reel, drop a picture, paste a link. It takes a minute.
No credit card · Free to start · Private by default