Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

opti VS PureRef

Compare opti VS PureRef and see what are their differences

opti logo opti

simple, transparent media viewer

PureRef logo PureRef

The simple way to view and organize your multiple reference images.
  • opti Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-18
  • PureRef Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-23

opti features and specs

  • Flexibility
    Opti is designed to be highly flexible, allowing users to customize their optimization processes significantly to suit various applications.
  • Open Source
    Being open source means that Opti is freely available for anyone to use and modify, promoting collaboration and wider adoption.
  • Extensive Community Support
    The project benefits from a strong community that contributes to its improvement and helps users solve problems.
  • Comprehensive Documentation
    Opti is supported by detailed documentation, which can help new users to get started and understand its features effectively.

Possible disadvantages of opti

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its complexity and wide range of features, new users might find Opti difficult to master without spending significant time.
  • Potential for Overhead
    The flexibility of Opti may introduce unnecessary overhead if not optimized correctly for specific tasks or applications.
  • Limited Out-of-the-box Solutions
    Users looking for quick, out-of-the-box solutions may find Opti lacking, as it focuses on customization and flexibility.
  • Reliance on Community Contributions
    As an open-source project, its development heavily relies on community contributions, which can lead to varying support and feature updates.

PureRef features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    PureRef offers a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to organize and manage reference images. The minimalistic design allows users to focus on their work without unnecessary distractions.
  • Lightweight and Portable
    The software is lightweight and does not require installation, making it highly portable. Users can run PureRef from a USB drive or any location on their computer.
  • Flexible Canvas
    PureRef provides a flexible canvas that can be easily resized and adjusted to fit usersโ€™ needs. This allows for seamless scaling of images without quality loss and the ability to organize the workspace freely.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    PureRef is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing users to maintain a consistent workflow across different operating systems.
  • Customizable Shortcuts
    Users can customize keyboard shortcuts to fit their workflow, which increases efficiency and speeds up navigation within the software.
  • Multiple Image Formats
    PureRef supports a wide range of image formats, ensuring compatibility with most reference images beyond basic formats like JPG and PNG.

Possible disadvantages of PureRef

  • Limited Editing Tools
    While PureRef excels in organizing and displaying reference images, it lacks advanced editing tools, which means users need to rely on other software for image adjustments or annotations.
  • No Cloud Integration
    PureRef does not offer built-in cloud storage or syncing options, which could be inconvenient for users who work across multiple devices and want seamless access to their reference boards.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic functionalities are easy to grasp, some advanced features and keyboard shortcuts may require time to learn and master, particularly for users new to PureRef.
  • Not Free for All Users
    Although PureRef offers a pay-what-you-want pricing model, users may face ethical dilemmas or budget constraints when deciding what to pay, especially if they plan to use it for professional purposes.
  • Occasional Performance Issues
    Some users report occasional lag or performance issues when handling extremely large collections of high-resolution images, which can disrupt workflow.

opti videos

Optimum Nutrition Opti-Men Multivitamin | Science-Based Overview

More videos:

  • Review - Optimum Nutrition Opti Men MultiVitamin Supplement Review
  • Review - Opti-Men by Optimum Nutrition Review Vitamins/ Minerals

PureRef videos

The Best Free Tool for Artists - PureRef

More videos:

  • Tutorial - PureRef tutorial: a free, cross-platform virtual board for artists!
  • Review - PureRef Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to opti and PureRef)
Digital Drawing And Painting
Productivity
18 18%
82% 82
Digital Asset Management
0 0%
100% 100
Image Editing
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using opti and PureRef. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, PureRef should be more popular than opti. It has been mentiond 4 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

opti mentions (1)

  • Can't for the life of me figure out how to use this software. Help?
    When I tried to use this with osiva , it didn't prompt me to make it click-through like it did with framed/rectangular-bordered programs. So I searched online and found opti, which seems like basically the same thing but with a rectangular border. But I can't for the life of me figure out how to import images of my choosing into the program, could anyone help? Source: almost 4 years ago

PureRef mentions (4)

  • how do u guys organize your visual inspiration/refs digitally?
    I mainly use offline means: organising all my files in a hierarchy of folders and using pureref (which I highly recommend) to make moodboards, and ofc an external hard drive to save backups. The only online means I use is google drive for online backups. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • HELP! So I want to trace this Image(704x702) into a Pixel art (32 x 32 or 40 x 40) but when I resize it, it gets like this (2nd picture) and if I don't, then the pixels are too small, What do i do?
    If you just want the image to be a transparent overlay while you draw 'through the image'(with it being unchanged) you can use something like Pureref(pureref.com) to set the image as always on top + turn opacity down a bit. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Hide user name in menu bar.
    If you canโ€™t get it to work inside of max, I thought of a free easy workaround you could try. I use the software pureref to manage and quickly access reference images. You could just resize an empty pureref window to cover your username. Change the color and opacity to whatever you want, lock the window and switch turn on the transparent to mouse option and you should be good to go! Source: over 4 years ago
  • Hello Reddit! this is my 1st time posting and i'm excited to share some of my sketches with you guys. I like drawing dynamic poses, it's a really fun exercise!. These 4 girls are from reference pics out of Pinterest. Suggestions are welcome :D. Have a great day!
    The high kicking girl on the right is in a PureRef board I keep to practice gesture. Source: almost 5 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing opti and PureRef, you can also consider the following products

BeeRef - A Simple Reference Image Viewer

Eagle App - Unify your creative inspiration in one place. Store anything โ€“ inspiring images, design mockups, illustrations, screenshots and more.

Kuadro - Kuadro is an image viewer that allows you to open as many windows as you want, lay them out as you...

Milanote - Milanote is a note taking app for creative work.

WindowTop - Easly set any window on top, just move the mouse to the top area of the window.

Pinterest - Pinterest is a visual discovery tool that you can use to find ideas for all your projects and interests.