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DarkRef - Art Reference Board
Reference board for artists
US
1 of 1 storefronts
Content in en-US
Content in en-US
Information
Preview 2 platforms
iPhone 2 images
iPad 2 images
What’s New Version 1.5
Major updates in Version 1.5:
- New References home: every image you've saved on one searchable wall, with color palettes and automatic tags and descriptions (created on your device, private, free).
- Complete UI and navigation overhall across the application.
- References can live on multiple boards at once now.
- Share images to DarkRef from any app, even a whole batch. New Chrome extension for saving from the web.
- Sign in with Google or Apple.
- Sync is much faster and updates across devices in seconds.
- Cleaner navigation: one menu everywhere, canvas search, folders, name canvases on creation.
- New guided walkthrough that follows along as you add your first reference and build your first board.
- Lots of polish and fixes throughout.
Description
Your art references, everywhere you work. Free.
DarkRef is a powerful reference board designed specifically for digital artists. Organize your inspiration with images, GIFs, notes, and folders; all in one beautiful, intuitive app.
100% FREE TO USE
All core features are completely free. Create unlimited boards, add unlimited images and GIFs, take notes, and organize with folders.
WORKS ON ALL YOUR DEVICES
• Sync across all your devices
• Secure backups of all your references for peace of mind
• Cloud sync keeps everything in sync (premium)
BUILT FOR ARTISTS
• Drag-and-drop interface
• Support for all standard image formats
• Animated GIF support
• Quick notes and annotations
• Smart automatic organization
• Folders and collections
• Fast and responsive, even with large libraries
WORKS OFFLINE
All your references are stored locally on your device. Work anywhere, even without internet. With DarkRef Sync, changes sync automatically when you're back online.
DARKREF SYNC (OPTIONAL)
Upgrade to DarkRef Sync to unlock cloud sync across all your devices. Your references are always up to date and securely backed up to the cloud.
WHY DARKREF?
Unlike other reference board apps, DarkRef truly works everywhere. Whether you're sketching on your iPad at a coffee shop, at the office or working at home, your references are always with you.
Perfect for:
• Digital artists and illustrators
• Concept artists
• Character designers
• Environment artists
• Animators
• Game artists
• Anyone who needs organized visual references
Download DarkRef for free today and never lose track of your inspiration again.
In-App Purchases US pricing
Sync Subscription Subscription
Sync Monthly · Monthly 1-month free trial$1.99
Sync Annual · Yearly$9.99
Capabilities
In-App Purchases
Accessibility
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Version history 5 versions
Build 887832015v1.52026-07-07 13:29:22
Major updates in Version 1.5:
- New References home: every image you've saved on one searchable wall, with color palettes and automatic tags and descriptions (created on your device, private, free).
- Complete UI and navigation overhall across the application.
- References can live on multiple boards at once now.
- Share images to DarkRef from any app, even a whole batch. New Chrome extension for saving from the web.
- Sign in with Google or Apple.
- Sync is much faster and updates across devices in seconds.
- Cleaner navigation: one menu everywhere, canvas search, folders, name canvases on creation.
- New guided walkthrough that follows along as you add your first reference and build your first board.
- Lots of polish and fixes throughout.
Build 887140218v1.3.02026-06-19 07:15:09
This update is a big round of polish to make DarkRef feel right at home on iPhone and iPad, plus some helpful new tools for organizing your boards.
• Share photos into DarkRef straight from Photos or Safari
• Faster, smaller image imports — with correct orientation and HEIC support
• Long-press to delete images and boards
• More reliable image resizing and group dragging
• New Select All, Delete, and Auto-Organize tools
• Undo/Redo now work reliably
• A fresh app icon, plus stability, security, and performance improvements
Build 883128530v1.2.02026-03-08 09:00:19
New to DarkRef? You'll now be greeted with an interactive walkthrough guide to help you get started quickly and make the most of the app from day one.
We've also squashed a bug that was preventing images from being imported on iPad when starting a new project — sorry for the hassle, this should now work smoothly.
Finally, we've added a link to submit bug reports, request features, and vote on what we build next. We'd love to hear from you!
Build 882911703v1.1.02026-03-02 07:55:22
iPhone support — Save references on the go, right from your phone.
Share extension — Save references as you browse without leaving the app you're in. They'll be waiting for you when you get back to DarkRef.
Build 881537216v1.02026-02-24 15:47:13
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Availability 1 of 1 storefronts
| Region | Language | Price | Ratings | Avg | Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | en-US | Free | 3 | 2.7 | 1.5 |
Change log 9 changes · US
✎
releaseNotes updated
Major updates in Version 1.5:
- New References home: every image you've saved on one searchable wall, with color palettes and automatic tags and descriptions (c
✎
description updated
Your art references, everywhere you work. Free.
DarkRef is a powerful reference board designed specifically for digital artists. Organize your inspiration with
✎
subtitle updated
Reference board for artists
✎
name updated
DarkRef - Art Reference Board
◆
Version 1.5 released
Major updates in Version 1.5:
- New References home: every image you've saved on one searchable wall, with color palettes and automatic tags and descriptions (created on your device, private, free).
- Complete UI and navigation overhall acr
◆
Version 1.3.0 released
This update is a big round of polish to make DarkRef feel right at home on iPhone and iPad, plus some helpful new tools for organizing your boards.
• Share photos into DarkRef straight from Photos or Safari
• Faster, smaller image imports
◆
Version 1.2.0 released
New to DarkRef? You'll now be greeted with an interactive walkthrough guide to help you get started quickly and make the most of the app from day one.
We've also squashed a bug that was preventing images from being imported on iPad when s
◆
Version 1.1.0 released
iPhone support — Save references on the go, right from your phone.
Share extension — Save references as you browse without leaving the app you're in. They'll be waiting for you when you get back to DarkRef.
◆
Version 1.0 released