Calculation a Groundwork Paradigm to Blender mail service version 2.8+ and newer is gone, at to the lowest degree the way information technology worked in previous versions equally a component of View » Properties. Instead an editable groundwork plainly is now used to provide similar capabilities.

Design note: a background image can be added to a scene using several different approaches in Blender 2.8+ and in a higher place, whereas for Blender 2.79 and below they are an Image [i] component of Background Image [ii], office of the 3D View'due south properties and options that merely display in Orthographic orientations (Front, Right, Top etc.). Using an contained object works effectually this limitation.

Using View Properties to set scene background image in Blender 2.79
In versions of Blender pre 2.8 groundwork images [i] could exist gear up in View » Properties using the Background Image [ii] option. Once placed images simply appeared in Orthographic orientations however.

Background Object

For Blender post 2.8 and above, a scene tin can exist assigned what is effectively a groundwork paradigm using a defended object blazon called Image, substantially a obviously. Two variations are provided, Reference and Groundwork, the divergence largely beingness where the object appears – in between other objects in the scene (Reference) or backside them (Background). To add together either, in the 3D Viewport click the Add [one] menu (Shift + A), select Epitome and then either Reference or Groundwork [two] as required – Add » Prototype » Reference or Background. This opens the File Browser. Browse to and select the asset to be used then click the Load Background Image push button. Blender will switch back to the 3D Viewport with the selected image displayed in an image apparently orientated face-on to the viewport camera ready to apply [three].

Design annotation: the 3D Cursors location, and the full general orientation of the view, are used to determine the Epitome objects initial orientation and placement in the scene so it may not announced where needed. To recoup or correct for this, select the obviously, access Object Properties or the Sidebar [iii] – View » Sidebar (North) – and adjust the Location, Rotation and Scale [four] values as needed (beneath top). Alternatively employ the transform manipulators (while orientation is set to Local [5]), Move, Scale and Rotate to modify or adjust the evidently, or mouse over a border or corner to reveal the inbuilt manipulation controls – click-drag and modify (when using the Transform widgets aligning is made relative to the objects Origin, using the inbuilt controls the plain adjusts proportionally).

Image object added to the scene face-on to camera
Adjusting the Rotation and Location of the Image object/background plain in Object backdrop.

Image objects proportional editing controls
The Prototype object tin exist modified using the standard manipulation widgets – Scale, Rotate and Move – or using the in-build edge and corner command elements (shown in a higher place highlighted yellowish) which modify the manifestly/surface proportionately depending on the action used.

Adding a background image plain object
Adding [two] a Background Paradigm object to a scene [two], a dedicated object blazon that tin be freely manipulated equally needed once an image is loaded in for use – the plains dimensions automatically arrange proportionately to the image existence loaded, shaped to fit its (texture) bounding box (the overall pinnacle and width of the epitome).

Modifying the image plains properties
Once the Epitome plain is available its behaviour can be inverse in Object Information Properties [3] (non Object Properties), its Depth (position relative to objects in the scene), Size and so on.

Image Empty

Similar to the Prototype object, an Empty tin also exist used. Here a defended blazon called Image is bachelor. To identify an Paradigm Empty to the 3D Viewport, click the Add [4] carte du jour (Shift + A), Empty, so select Prototype [5] – Add » Empty » Image . A wireframed object will appear at the 3D Cursor [6]. Ensure this new object is selected, click Object Data Properties [7] (green axes icon) and then the Open Paradigm button [8] in Image options. In the File Browser find and select the image to use as a groundwork and then click Open Epitome to load the selection into the Image Empty gear up for use [9] and/or adjusted in Object Information Backdrop [ten].

Design note: for all intents and purposes the Epitome Empty and Image Object differ only with respect to the underlying datablocks that define them, one being an entity the other being an object; both are subject to the aforementioned Object belongings adjustments (Rotation, Location, Scale) and Object Data settings (Depth, Size etc.) – care should be taken not to confuse Object properties with Object Data backdrop, and vice versa, they practice differ.

Adding an Empty Image entity
A Background Image can be placed in a scene using an Epitome Empty – click Add together » Empty » Paradigm [iv] – [6]…

Load background image in Object Data
… and then in Object Information Properties [seven] click Open Image[8] to notice and select the image to load in as a background – evidently auto-adjusts to fit the paradigm being loaded based on its (texture) bounding box.

Empty Image options in Blender 2.8
Once the Image Empty is bachelor, in Object Data Properties [10] its behaviour can be modified to suit requirements [9], for instance changing the Depth order information technology appears in the scene relative to other items and and then on.

Blender 2.9+/three.0+

For Blender ii.ix+, Blender 3.0 and beyond, adding a background image hasn't inverse from the procedure described higher up except as relates to the options and settings bachelor and their arrangement. To add a background image evidently (Image or Empty) click Add » Epitome » Background, load in the image then in Object Information Properties [11] gear up the options every bit needed [12] for instance displaying the image in both Perspective and/or Orthographic viewport perspectives or projections.

Background Image Blender 3.0
The Background Paradigm options in Object Information Backdrop [eleven] for Blender 3.0 showing much the same controls and settings [12] as previous versions except their layout and labelling.

Background Image Transparency

The Groundwork Image object can be fabricated transparent, an additional option to accompany the default xray similar (Depth) behaviour. To practise this, with the Background Image object selected, in Object Data Properties enable Opacity (checkbox) [13] then click-drag (or click-type) the Color slider to set a value [14] – 0.000 is 100% transparent (not visible), 1.000 is 100% opaque (visible).

Background Image Transparency
Background Images default to ten-ray like behaviour then mesh objects always announced in front or behind. This tin be augmented setting an Opacity [thirteen] value [14] to make the plain fully or partially transparent or opaque.