Reference Image Panel Plugin - An idea for those with programming knowledge.

[-Tragedy-]

Hey all,

So have you even been working on a painting in Photoshop, need a reference image but don't have the space?

... I have.

I tend to work on a small 11" laptop quite often with the tablet resting on the keyboard and programming all the buttons on the tablet that I need.

Now because of the small screen real-estate if I ever need reference I either have to keep going between PS and the reference image or move PS and the image side-by-side within Windows.

Anyway... I thought surely there must be a reference image plugin out there?!
Think like in ArtRage how you can "pin" a reference image on your working file yet be able to move the reference image around.

I want something like that.

I did some searching on the web and the closest thing I found was to utilise Adobe Configurator 3 for custom panels.
I managed to make a plugin that imported an image from my computer to the panels in Photoshop, however I thought it would be neat if it could be like the Navigator Panel in PS.
So you could zoom in and out of the reference image, but not the working file.
Also, with the plugin I made, you have to re-make the Reference Image Plugin everytime you want a new reference image which I think is a royal pain.



So, to sum it up:
A Photoshop plugin which acts as a panel which allows you to load a reference image it and to be able to continously be able to load a new image to it.
Also to have properties similar to the Navigation Panel within Photoshop allowing you to zoom in and out of the reference image and move across the image just like the spacebar.

Here's a picture for an idea:



Now I have no idea how to program something like this.

If anyone here knows of anything similar or wants to be awesome and program it I think the plugin would be a hit.

Otherwise I'm going to read up on how to program something like this...

Anyway, what do you guys/gals think of it as an idea?

Cheers.

[meth]

Try out paint tool Sai, i think it has this option you want.
But it would be interesting to see it in ps

Also i would like to suggest, i hope OP won't mind, color mixer panel like in Painter

M

[Whirly]

If I understand you correctly I use this http://www.fadsoft.net/AlwaysOnTopMaker.htm

This way you can have photoshop maximized and but always have your image ref on top. I use it with lovecastle so there is always a little naked person in the corner of my screen that no window can go over the top of at work so when my computer is rendering (I am a 3d artist) I can gesture draw.

[-Tragedy-]

Try out paint tool Sai, i think it has this option you want.
But it would be interesting to see it in ps

Also i would like to suggest, i hope OP won't mind, color mixer panel like in Painter

M

A colour mixer panel would be pretty awesome, you can get one here http://anastasiy.com/panels but I don't think it's as good as the one in Painter.
I have used Sai, but I prefer PS personally.

If I understand you correctly I use this http://www.fadsoft.net/AlwaysOnTopMaker.htm

This way you can have photoshop maximized and but always have your image ref on top. I use it with lovecastle so there is always a little naked person in the corner of my screen that no window can go over the top of at work so when my computer is rendering (I am a 3d artist) I can gesture draw.

Cool, thanks. I'm downloading it now.

I still wouldn't mind something within Photoshop, something that allows you to zoom in and load a picture at your own will without having to go to other software.
But hell, if it does the same job, why be nit-picky?

I'll still have a look at programming. A friend of mine may be able to help with some monetary persuasion as he's a games developer.

Thanks.

[progressordecay]

This would be an awesome plugin! - is there a similar option for mac?
What I do is just bring in the photo reference into a separate layer and flick the visablity on/off
OR
Bring it into another PS document and tab in-and-out between the two. (shortcut mac : control + tab)

[Portus]

Why not float the reference window?

[artmessiah]

OR try IrfanView. There is an option for "always on top" I use this all the time for ref images. Get it HERE!