{"id":1908,"date":"2019-10-02T17:52:51","date_gmt":"2019-10-02T16:52:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/?p=1908"},"modified":"2023-09-07T16:03:01","modified_gmt":"2023-09-07T15:03:01","slug":"background-image","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/background-image\/","title":{"rendered":"Add a Background Image"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69fe53aabfcdd\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69fe53aabfcdd\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/background-image\/#background-object\" >Background Object<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/background-image\/#image-empty\" >Image Empty<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/background-image\/#blender-2930\" >Blender 2.9+\/3.0+<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/background-image\/#background-image-transparency\" >Background Image Transparency<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: black; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; padding-top: 25px; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%;\"><center><iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gYH-GKnw0dM\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center><\/div>\n<p>Adding a <b>Background Image<\/b> to Blender post version 2.8+ and newer is gone, at least the way it worked in previous versions as a component of <i>View \u00bb Properties<\/i>. Instead an <i>editable background plain<\/i> is now used to provide similar capabilities.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><b>Design note<\/b>: a background image can be added to a scene using several different approaches in Blender 2.8+ and above, whereas for Blender 2.79 and below they are an <b>Image<\/b> [i] component of <b>Background Image<\/b> [ii], part of the 3D View&#8217;s properties and options that only display in Orthographic orientations (Front, Right, Top etc.). Using an independent object works around this limitation.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/background-image\/background-image-old.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 98.5%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/background-image\/background-image-old.jpg\" alt=\"Using View Properties to set scene background image in Blender 2.79\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>In versions of Blender pre 2.8 background images [i] could be set in <b>View \u00bb Properties<\/b> using the <b>Background Image<\/b> [ii] option. Once placed images only appeared in <b>Orthographic<\/b> orientations however.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"background-object\"><\/span>Background Object<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For Blender post 2.8 and above, a scene can be assigned what is effectively a background image using a dedicated object type called <b>Image<\/b>, essentially a plain. Two variations are provided, <b>Reference<\/b> and <b>Background<\/b>, the difference largely being where the object appears &#8211; in between other objects in the scene (<i>Reference<\/i>) or behind them (<i>Background<\/i>). To add either, in the <b>3D Viewport<\/b> click the <b>Add<\/b> [1] menu (<span class=\"shortcutkey\">Shift<\/span> + <span class=\"shortcutkey\">A<\/span>), select <b>Image<\/b> and then either <b>Reference<\/b> or <b>Background<\/b> [2] as required &#8211; <b>Add \u00bb Image \u00bb Reference<\/b> or <b>Background<\/b>. This opens the <b>File Browser<\/b>. Browse to and select the asset to be used then click the <b>Load Background Image<\/b> button. Blender will switch back to the 3D Viewport with the selected image displayed in an image plain orientated face-on to the viewport camera ready to use [3].<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><b>Design note<\/b>: the <b>3D Cursors<\/b> location, and the general orientation of the view, are used to determine the <b>Image<\/b> objects initial orientation and placement in the scene so it may not appear where needed. To compensate or correct for this, select the plain, access <b>Object Properties<\/b> or the <b>Sidebar<\/b> [iii] &#8211; <b><i>View \u00bb Sidebar<\/i><\/b> (<span class=\"shortcutkey\">N<\/span>) &#8211; and adjust the <b>Location<\/b>, <b>Rotation<\/b> and <b>Scale<\/b> [iv] values as needed (below top). Alternatively use the transform manipulators (while orientation is set to <b>Local<\/b> [v]), <b>Move<\/b>, <b>Scale<\/b> and <b>Rotate<\/b> to modify or adjust the plain, or mouse over a edge or corner to reveal the inbuilt manipulation controls &#8211; click-drag and modify (when using the Transform widgets adjustment is made relative to the objects <b>Origin<\/b>, using the inbuilt controls the plain adjusts proportionally).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/background-image\/image-background-orientation.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 98.5%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/background-image\/image-background-orientation.jpg\" alt=\"Image object added to the scene face-on to camera\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>Adjusting the <b>Rotation<\/b> and <b>Location<\/b> of the Image object\/background plain in Object properties.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/background-image\/proportional-resize.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 98.5%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/background-image\/proportional-resize.jpg\" alt=\"Image objects proportional editing controls\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>The <b>Image<\/b> object can be modified using the standard manipulation widgets &#8211; <b>Scale<\/b>, <b>Rotate<\/b> and <b>Move<\/b> &#8211; or using the in-build edge and corner control elements (shown above highlighted yellow) which change the plain\/surface proportionately depending on the action used.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/background-image\/add-image-background.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/background-image\/add-image-background.jpg\" alt=\"Adding a background image plain object\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>Adding [2] a <b>Background Image<\/b> object to a scene [2], a dedicated object type that can be freely manipulated as needed once an image is loaded in for use &#8211; the plains dimensions automatically adjust proportionately to the image being loaded, shaped to fit its (texture) bounding box (the overall height and width of the image).<\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/background-image\/image-background-object-data.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/background-image\/image-background-object-data.jpg\" alt=\"Modifying the image plains properties\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>Once the Image plain is available its behaviour can be changed in <b>Object Data Properties<\/b> [3] (not Object Properties), its <b>Depth<\/b> (position relative to objects in the scene), <b>Size<\/b> and so on.<\/i><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"image-empty\"><\/span>Image Empty<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Similar to the Image object, an <b>Empty<\/b> can also be used. Here a dedicated type called <b>Image<\/b> is available. To place an <b>Image Empty<\/b> to the <b>3D Viewport<\/b>, click the <b>Add<\/b> [4] menu (<span class=\"shortcutkey\">Shift<\/span> + <span class=\"shortcutkey\">A<\/span>), <b>Empty<\/b>, then select <b>Image<\/b> [5] &#8211; <b><i>Add \u00bb Empty \u00bb Image<\/i><\/b>. A wireframed object will appear at the 3D Cursor [6]. Ensure this new object is selected, click <b>Object Data Properties<\/b> [7] (green axes icon) and then the <b>Open Image<\/b> button [8] in <b>Image<\/b> options. In the <b>File Browser<\/b> find and select the image to use as a background and then click <b>Open Image<\/b> to load the selection into the <b>Image Empty<\/b> ready for use [9] and\/or adjusted in <b>Object Data Properties<\/b> [10].<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><b>Design note<\/b>: for all intents and purposes the <b>Image Empty<\/b> and <b>Image Object<\/b> differ only with respect to the underlying datablocks that define them, one being an <b>entity<\/b> the other being an <b>object<\/b>; both are subject to the same <b>Object<\/b> property adjustments (Rotation, Location, Scale) and <b>Object Data<\/b> settings (Depth, Size etc.) &#8211; care should be taken not to confuse Object properties with Object Data properties, and vice versa, they do differ.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/background-image\/add-empty-image.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/background-image\/add-empty-image.jpg\" alt=\"Adding an Empty Image entity\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>A Background Image can be placed in a scene using an <b>Image Empty<\/b> &#8211; click <b>Add \u00bb Empty \u00bb Image<\/b> [4] &#8211; [6]&#8230;<\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/background-image\/empty-object-data.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/background-image\/empty-object-data.jpg\" alt=\"Load background image in Object Data\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>&#8230; then in <b>Object Data Properties<\/b> [7] click <b>Open Image<\/b>[8] to find and select the image to load in as a background &#8211; plain auto-adjusts to fit the image being loaded based on its (texture) bounding box.<br \/>\n<\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/background-image\/empty-image-options.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" style=\"width: 98.5%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/background-image\/empty-image-options.jpg\" alt=\"Empty Image options in Blender 2.8\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>Once the <b>Image Empty<\/b> is available, in <b>Object Data Properties<\/b> [10] its behaviour can be modified to suit requirements [9], for example changing the <b>Depth<\/b> order it appears in the scene relative to other items and so on.<\/i><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"blender-2930\"><\/span>Blender 2.9+\/3.0+<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For Blender 2.9+, Blender 3.0 and beyond, adding a background image hasn&#8217;t changed from the process described above except as relates to the options and settings available and their organisation. To add a background image plain (Image or Empty) click <b>Add \u00bb Image \u00bb Background<\/b>, load in the image then in <b>Object Data Properties<\/b> [11] set the options as needed [12] for example displaying the image in both <b>Perspective<\/b> and\/or <b>Orthographic<\/b> viewport perspectives or projections.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/background-image\/background-blender-3.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/background-image\/background-blender-3.jpg\" alt=\"Background Image Blender 3.0\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>The Background Image options in <b>Object Data Properties<\/b> [11] for Blender 3.0 showing much the same controls and settings [12] as previous versions except their layout and labelling.<\/i><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"background-image-transparency\"><\/span>Background Image Transparency<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Background Image object can be made transparent, an additional option to accompany the default <i>xray<\/i> like (<b>Depth<\/b>) behaviour. To do this, with the Background Image object selected, in <b>Object Data Properties<\/b> enable <b>Opacity<\/b> (checkbox) [13] then click-drag (or click-type) the <b>Color<\/b> slider to set a value [14] &#8211; <b>0.000<\/b> is 100% transparent (not visible), <b>1.000<\/b> is 100% opaque (visible).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/background-image\/background-image-transparency.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/background-image\/background-image-transparency.jpg\" alt=\"Background Image Transparency\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>Background Images default to x-ray like behaviour so mesh objects always appear in front or behind. This can be augmented setting an <b>Opacity<\/b> [13] value [14] to make the plain fully or partially transparent or opaque.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5676,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34,230],"tags":[593,609,607,610,595,220],"class_list":["post-1908","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blender","category-tutorials","tag-background-image","tag-empty","tag-empty-image","tag-image-object","tag-meshing-aids","tag-transparency"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1908","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1908"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1908\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5673,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1908\/revisions\/5673"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}