An image saved for visual study is not automatically an asset you can put into your own thumbnail. Separate folders make that distinction visible during production.
Create clear categories
Keep inspiration references, permitted source assets, editable projects, and final exports apart. A reference can illustrate an approach to spacing or hierarchy without being copied into the finished work.
Translate the lesson
Write what you learned from the reference in plain language. For example, the subject stays readable because the background is quiet. Apply that principle using your own suitable materials rather than reproducing another creator's exact arrangement.
Review before export
Check every imported element in the final project and confirm its source and intended use. Remove temporary references that were placed on the canvas only for comparison. Save the clean project with its asset notes so a future editor understands which files belong in the published design and which were study material only.