Guide

REFLO compare guide — see the difference between two moments

REFLO Team2026. 7. 22. 오전 9:5915 min read

From entering compare mode through Split, Overlay, Heatmap, and Blink, plus text compare and how to keep working from the version you prefer.

This guide is for anyone using Compare in the REFLO Mac app for the first time. It follows the names on screen, from “what’s different between these two moments?” through picking the side you like and continuing work.

Why compare exists, and when to use it, is covered in the compare modes introduction. This is the hands-on guide for the actual steps.

What this guide covers

On the History screen (shortcut ⌘2), you pick two versions, check the difference in four ways, and after compare, continue from the side you prefer. Text compare for document files (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is included.

Before you start

Compare needs the following.

The REFLO Mac app is running, and a protected folder has been added. (If you’re new, start with the timeline guide.)
The file you’re comparing needs at least two save records. A file with only one save record shows a message that it can’t be used as a compare baseline.
On the Free plan, opening a version older than about 14 days may show a Pro prompt. Keep that in mind if you want to compare older versions.

> Compare places two versions side by side. The baseline is Baseline (A); the version you hold against it is Compare (B).

Entering compare mode

There are several ways in. Remember whichever is easiest.

Method A — from the icon rail (default)

On the History screen, click Thumbnail compare on the right icon rail. Compare setup opens and you pick versions in order: Baseline (A) → Compare (B).

Method B — straight from preview

While you’re looking at an older version on the timeline, turn on Compare with current file in the preview options (shortcut ⌘⇧C) to compare the version you’re viewing with the current file.

Method C — from search results

In timeline search or global version search (Pro) results, Add to comparison starts compare with that save record already in a slot.

Changing what’s being compared

In the compare setup bar, Browse picks another version, Change swaps a slot, and Swap baseline and compare exchanges A and B. To pick from scratch, Reset selection; to leave compare, Close compare.

Four compare modes

Once both versions are ready, choose how to look in the Compare mode section. Number keys 1–4 also switch modes.

| Mode | How it looks | Plan | |---|---|---| | Split (1) | Two moments side by side | Included on Free | | Overlay (2) | Layers the baseline image over the current one; the Overlay split slider sets how much of the baseline covers, 0–100% | Pro | | Heatmap (3) | Changed areas stand out; Heatmap sensitivity controls blend strength | Pro | | Blink (4) | Alternates the two moments quickly. You can adjust Blink speed | Pro |

A few things worth knowing:

Split is especially useful when the overall composition changed; Heatmap and Blink when you can’t find what changed.
If Reduce Motion is on in macOS Accessibility, Blink is disabled and the two moments are shown side by side instead.
On Free, tapping a Pro mode shows a plan prompt.

Documents use text compare

Documents such as Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx), and PowerPoint (.pptx) go to Text compare instead of overlapping pixels. Pick two versions of the same file and the text compare screen opens automatically.

View modes are Unified (changes in one flow) and Side by side (baseline and compare in two columns).
The top summarizes how much changed, like N ranges · A added · R removed.
If nothing in the text changed, you’ll see No text changes.

> Text compare only works on two versions of the same file. Different files can only use visual compare.

When you want a closer look — precision tools

For image-style compare, turn on Precision tools to inspect at the pixel level.

Magnifier — enlarge around the cursor.
Tolerance — how much tiny difference to ignore.
Channels — isolate a color channel.
Pixel info — values for the pixel under the cursor.
Metadata — file info for both versions, side by side.
Save compare PNG — save the compare view you’re looking at as a single PNG. Useful when you want to share “this is what changed” with a teammate or client.

Esc works in two steps. If precision tools are on, they close first; press again to exit compare mode.

After compare — keep working from the side you like

Once you’ve seen the difference, you can continue in one of three ways. All of these work when you’re comparing two versions of the same file.

1. Bring it in whole — continue from this save record

If you like the older version as a whole, click Continue from this save record. That entire version comes into the current flow as a new save record, and you keep working from there. You don’t need to select a region.

2. Bring in only part — region composite (partial merge)

Use this when you want only some of the area — “keep today’s background, but put the old logo back.”

Click Start region selection and drag the area you want on the version you’re taking from. Auto-select changed region can grab the changed area in one step.
In Save composite, choose how to save — Continue version (on the current flow) or Create new track (a separate branch).
On save, the current file is auto-backed up first, then the composite is applied.

Currently supported for PNG, JPG, JPEG, WEBP, BMP, and TIFF images.

3. For PSD, continue in Photoshop (Pro)

REFLO does not auto-merge layered files such as PSD. Instead, Open in Photoshop lets you inspect the differences between the two versions and continue the work yourself in Photoshop. The idea is that merge decisions on design files still need a person.

> You can visually compare versions of different files side by side, but import and merge only work on the same file.

Shortcuts (compare mode)

| Shortcut | Action | |---|---| | ⌘⇧C | Compare with current file | | 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 | Split / Overlay / Heatmap / Blink | | Arrow keys | Change compare target | | Esc | Close precision tools → press again to exit compare |

What changes by plan (summary)

Confirm details on the pricing page and in the app.

| Item | Free | Pro | |---|---|---| | Split | Available | Available | | Text compare (documents) | Available | Available | | Overlay · Heatmap · Blink | Not supported | Supported | | PSD Continue in Photoshop | Not supported | Supported | | Add to comparison from global version search | Not supported | Supported | | Open and compare versions older than 14 days | Limited | Available |

FAQ

On the History screen, select a file and a version (timeline dot) first. Then check Thumbnail compare on the right icon rail. A file with only one save record cannot start compare.

Compare preview doesn’t appear

Depending on format, size, and environment, preview can fail on its own. If Preparing compare… runs for a long time or you see an error, try another version or wait and try again. Versions without a preview can often still be restored.

Can I compare with a different file?

Yes. Browse or search can pick a version from another file to view side by side. Import and merge only work on two versions of the same file.

Overlay, Heatmap, and Blink won’t click

On Free you can only use Split. The other three modes open on Pro. If only Blink is unavailable, also check Reduce Motion in macOS Accessibility.

I want to show someone the compare result

Save compare PNG in precision tools saves the compare view you’re looking at as a single image.