Photoshop: Reference image holder as a panel

Currently I just paint large "paint dabs" on a layer, and move it around as needed. But obviously that isn't ideal for zooming and moving around the canvas.

Just loading an image file (or grabbing the clipboard, ideally) is all I'm aiming for.

Do you need to be able to paint on the reference image/color palette? Or just load a JPEG or PNG with colors on it?

I tried both, but the floating option just hides the window when I'm working on the artwork window, and the 2-up option is a bit unwieldy.

What I am actually attempting to do is create a small "color palette" I can eyedropper from when painting in Photoshop. 

Usually I do not need to save these color palettes, so swapping them out and remembering to save my master swatch palette is just too much extra work for what is often just a single need-use. 

That said, a floating reference image would also be handy, so a custom panel would be more ideal for multiple uses. 

Thanks Jeffrey!

A built in solution would either be to change the Window arrangement to two up and change dimensions of the two views so your reference is in one pane and the document(s) you're working on is in the other view. Or use a floating document to the right of your panels for a reference view.

Aha, thanks. I am still on CS6. 

It's the current solution for creating panels in Photoshop CC.

Is this a different solution? I'm a bit confused. I'm more of an artist than a coder, was hoping for something a bit less daunting. Thanks.

Can you share how you went about making this custom panel?