Today, I was provided with a product code for TrueRef, a site that provides monthly references for artists that are free from retouching and are not AI-generated. At the time of receiving the code, the site’s library features 27 different reference packs and the full collection stands at roughly 15,000 reference photos total.
I talked with artist and creator Abbey Esparza, and she describes TrueRef as “community-driven”, “a large high-quality library for a low price”, and a resource that has “a focus on diversity in skin tone, ethnicity, gender expression and body type while making sure they aren’t just fulfilling a requirement or beholden to stereotypes.”
10 TrueRef Reference Pack Recommendations for Artists
There may be more packs that fit each description, these are just my personal recommendations for each genre, aesthetic or prop. You can buy each pack individually, or you can get access to all of them on a monthly subscription called TrueRef+ via their Patreon. There’s also a select amount of free reference image via their Free Pose Library and Free Gesture Tool.
1. Fantasy
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For action-based fantasy, your best bet is going to be Armor & Cloth: Victoria, as you have armor and plenty of sword poses at your disposal. If you want a fantasy romance, Gothic Romance: Neri is your best bet. Lady of the Lake: Tori is a nice in-between, and Flowing Fabric I: Ean has a nice mix of flowing cloth and swords. The last outfit in Streetwear II: Kezz is also great for fantasy art (pictured on number 5 on this list). If you want more sword poses, refer to picture number 6.
2. Color
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This pack is an all-in-one . Vivid Lights: Marissa & Asia comes with two models, though they do not interact, all images are separate. But there are so many different lighting options between the two of them that this pack is really probably the best bang for your buck in the whole store. You can use it as a lighting reference, for color picking, setting the mood of a scene, and more.
3. Lo-Fi & Music
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If you’re looking for references to create art for lo-fi beats or just music in general, the streetwear packs are the ones you want. Personally, I feel Streetwear II: Kezz is the best option for this, with Streetwear I: Alaina at a close second. Streetwear III: Kezz & Neri doesn’t have nearly as much with the headphones on as the other two, but they do wear them around their neck and there’s interaction with the two models.
4. Horror
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It was actually Creature Poses: Brianne that alerted me to TrueRef in the first place. I thought the main pose (pictured above in the middle) was so cool, and I wanted to learn more. This creature pack in perfect for monsters, harpies, and things that go bump in the night. If you want a more gothic feel, once again, Gothic Romance: Neri is a fantastic pick. If you want the focus to be on those running from or fighting the horrors, Survivor I: Alaina & Carissa is a good option too.
5. Style
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If you’re looking for references that are all about the clothes, look no further than these packs. Classic Yukata: Mitsuru is perfect for Japanese and summer festival art, Streetwear II: Kezz has a great range of outfits to choose from, Armor & Cloth: Victoria is the only armor reference pack so far, and Modern Noir: Neri has a chic and sexy outfit with and without a black jacket.
Related: 50 Best Fonts in the Chequered Ink Mega Pack
6. Swords
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- Starter Poses: Sapphire
- Demo Poses: Brianne
- Starter Poses: Idrissou
- Starter Poses: Jess
- Starter Poses: Aaron
There are so many swords in this pack. In fact, most of the packages have swords. But for this selection I focused on references where the sword is the star when its held, rather than it competing with a fancy outfit of some sort.
If I had to choose one to be the best option, it’s Starter Poses: Aaron, since rather than it being a pack that happens to have a sword section, it’s nearly all action based with a variety of weaponry.
7. Guns
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There are less gun options than sword options, but there are still quiet a few! The ones where the gun is front and center are Modern Noir: Neri for a femme option and Professional Killer: Aaron for a masc option. Starter Poses: Bre isn’t centered around the gun prop, but has a great gun section, including dual wielding.
8. Drinks & Food
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While there are not a lot of drinking/eating options on the site yet, there are a few that are still worth your attention. Your best bet for drinking is once again Modern Noir: Neri, which has many reference images with the glass pictured above. The only food option I saw was a blue raspberry lollipop in Ivy’s Starter Pose pack, which comes with a bunch of cute and flirty poses. Lastly, Demo Poses: Ivy also has a few photos with a drink, but she does not drink it in the pack.
9. Romance
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These three reference packs have models posing with flowers, perfect for romantic art. The femme options are Gothic Romance: Neri and Gothic Romance II: Tanis which come with flowers, a candle holder, and a mirror. The masc option is Flowing Fabric II: Cade with two different types of flowers: red and yellow. While these are all solo images, if you’re looking for pairs, there are also the options below.
10. Ships & Pairs
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Right now, while four packs come with two models, only two of them are interactive between the models. These picks are Starter Partner Poses: Alaina & Ivy and Streetwear III: Kezz & Neri, which offer everything from friendly to rivalry. While they aren’t explicitly romantic, the packs can be good for ship art as well as there are some cutesy intimate moments like hugging.
Thank you for reading my TrueRef recommendations, and stay tuned for more Resource Roundups on Press SPACE to Jump!
