Ktlyst is a web-based reference canvas for concept artists, illustrators, and visual creators. You gather references on one canvas — drag in images, GIFs, or video frames, or import a whole Pinterest board in one click — and Ktlyst explores new concept directions guided only by the references you chose (a feature called Catalyze). It runs in any modern browser on desktop and tablet, with cloud sync and a free plan.

What is the best PureRef alternative for iPad and tablet?

Ktlyst is a web-based reference board that runs in any browser — including Safari on iPad — with cloud sync so your boards follow you between desktop and tablet automatically. Unlike PureRef, which has no iOS or iPad app, Ktlyst is designed for cross-device creative workflows from the ground up. No installation needed.

Is there a PureRef that works on iPad?

PureRef does not have an official iOS or iPad app. Ktlyst fills that gap: it runs in any browser, syncs your reference boards to the cloud, and works on iPad, tablet, and desktop with the same canvas — so your references are always with you wherever you create.

How does Ktlyst compare to PureRef?

PureRef is a desktop-only overlay tool for keeping reference images visible while you paint or model in other apps. Ktlyst is a cloud-synced, browser-based alternative that adds: iPad and tablet support, Pinterest board import in one click, smart organisation with tagging and collections, freehand sketching overlaid on references, the ability to grab specific frames from videos and GIFs, and a concept-exploration layer (Catalyze) that explores new directions guided by your own references. No installation required — it works in any modern browser.

Do I need to learn prompts or any special tools?

No. You work the way you already do — gather references, sketch, note what you're after. Ktlyst handles the rest behind the scenes, so you stay focused on the vision, not on tooling.

Is this just an image generator?

No. Ktlyst is a reference-driven canvas for clarifying YOUR direction — built around how you already work, collecting references and browsing Pinterest. What it surfaces is an exploration of your own references, for you to take forward.

Can I bring in my Pinterest boards?

Yes. Connect Pinterest and pull an entire board onto a canvas in one move — every pin laid out and ready, instead of saving and re-uploading each one. (Free: 1 board · Pro: unlimited.)

Can I use videos or GIFs as references?

Yes. Drop an MP4, WebM, MOV, M4V, or OGV video — or a GIF — and a frame picker opens so you can scrub through and grab the exact frames you want. Only the frames you pick are saved as reference images; the source video or GIF never leaves your device. (Frame-by-frame GIF picking needs a recent browser; older ones add the first frame instead.)

Can I reuse the same character or element across projects?

Yes. Distil a group of references into one clean, typed element (a character, a costume, a prop), then save it to your Elements library. Drag it onto any canvas to reuse it, merge it with other elements, or paint it into a composition sketch — build it once, use it everywhere.

Can I correct a generated image?

Yes, with Redline (a Pro feature): draw your corrections in red straight on the image — arrows, circles, and handwritten notes — and Ktlyst applies them beside the original, non-destructively, so your original stays put.

Who owns what I create?

Ktlyst claims no ownership over your canvases or the directions you explore — they're yours to take forward into your own work. You're responsible for clearing any rights you need before using output commercially. (How copyright applies to generated images varies by country, so we don't make legal guarantees about that.)

Do you use my images or art to train AI?

No. Ktlyst never uses your uploads, canvases, or prompts to train AI models, and never sells them. Your references and prompts are sent to our AI providers only to generate or analyse images at your request. OpenAI does not use data submitted through its API to train its models; fal.ai processes your content under its own terms to run the generation.

Does it work on tablet?

Yes. Your canvas is cloud-synced, so you can collect on desktop and refine on tablet — or anywhere you work.

What devices and browsers does Ktlyst support?

Editing works on tablets and desktops (iPad, Windows, Mac) in recent versions of Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox. Phones get a view-only experience. Ktlyst runs in the browser and needs an internet connection.

Is there a free plan?

Yes — the free plan gives you 5 canvases (each with as many references as you like) and 15 Catalyze runs a month. No credit card required.

October 7, 2026

Are Reference Boards Obsolete? Why the Next Generation of Tools Moves From Collecting to Creating

reference boardPureRef alternativeBeeRefCatalyzeAI concept art

Ktlyst is a reference board built to take you past "collect and arrange" and into "what should I make next?" It respects what PureRef and BeeRef do well (gathering references), and adds a step those tools leave to you: turning a pile of images into new creative directions. That step is handled by Catalyze, Ktlyst's core feature. In this article, we look at how expectations for reference image tools are shifting, and what that means when you choose one.

Reference Boards Have Mastered "Collecting"

Tools like PureRef and BeeRef have become very good at one job: putting images on a canvas so you can arrange and compare them. They are lightweight, quick to learn, and stay out of your way while you work, which is why so many concept artists and illustrators keep one open next to their main app. If your only goal is to keep references in view, these tools already do the job well.

Because collecting is largely a solved problem, the question artists ask when choosing a tool is starting to change. It is less "How many images can I gather?" and more "What can I do with them once they are gathered?"

The Real Bottleneck Comes After Collecting

As a board grows, the hard part is rarely finding more images. It is making sense of the ones you already have. You might have dozens or hundreds of references on a canvas and still struggle to say what ties them together, which qualities you are actually drawn to, or which direction to explore next.

In other words, the bottleneck is not the volume of material but the step from material to idea. That step, the work that happens after collecting, is something traditional reference boards were never really designed to support. It usually happens in your head, in sketches, or in scattered notes.

From "Collecting" to "Creating"

Against this backdrop, reference tools are starting to take on a broader role: not just a place to look at images, but a place that helps you think with them. Instead of sorting and interpreting every image yourself, the tool helps surface what your references have in common and suggests where you could take them next.

When a tool covers more of that ground, you spend less time organizing boards and more time on the creative decisions that actually move a project forward. To be clear, we are not claiming this shift has already transformed the whole market. It is a direction that follows naturally from the problems artists describe in their day-to-day work.

Where Ktlyst Fits: Catalyze

Ktlyst is designed specifically for that after-collecting stage, and Catalyze is at its center. Catalyze looks at the references on your board, extracts their defining qualities, and uses them to run concept explorations: new directions built from what you already collected. The goal is simple: references should lead to your next idea, not just sit on a canvas.

Ktlyst is not about forcing you to abandon PureRef or BeeRef. It is an option for artists who want to go from collecting to creating on the same board. (For exact details on how Catalyze works and what it outputs, please check the latest information on the official site. Needs verification.)

Tips for Trying Ktlyst

Ktlyst offers a free plan, so you can try Catalyze with your own references before committing to anything. (For the features and limits included in each plan, please see the official pricing page. Needs verification.)

A good way to start is to pick around five references from a project you are working on right now, add them to a Ktlyst board, and run Catalyze to see which directions it suggests. You can also keep using your current tool alongside it: collect in the tool you already know, and use Ktlyst when you want to figure out what comes next.

FAQ

Are reference image tools becoming obsolete? No. Collecting and arranging references is still essential, and tools like PureRef and BeeRef handle it well. Ktlyst adds the next step: using those references to generate new directions.

What is Catalyze? Catalyze is Ktlyst's core feature. It reads the references on your board, extracts their key qualities, and runs AI-powered concept explorations to suggest new directions.

Do I have to switch from PureRef or BeeRef? No. You can keep collecting in the tool you already use and bring references into Ktlyst when you want Catalyze to help you explore ideas.

Can I try Ktlyst for free? Yes, there is a free plan. Check the official pricing page for the current features and limits. (Needs verification.)

Conclusion

The value of a reference tool is no longer only about how well it collects. It is also about how well it helps you use what you collected and turn it into your next idea. That is the gap Catalyze is built to fill. If you want to keep what you like about your current reference board and take one step further, from collecting to creating, try Ktlyst with a few references from your current project.