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Modeling with Images

Backdrop items are modeling aids for you to add images into a background plane. The backdrop image acts as reference for geometry creation and can be a photograph, a line drawing, or even a blueprint. Because backdrop items are only meant for reference, they do not contribute to the rendered output. They are items in the Item List, and Modo saves them with the scene. You can manipulate backdrop items with the standard transform tools.

Background Image Demo

To add a background image:

1.   Click Item > Create Backdrop.

Alternatively, on the right panel, click Add Item > Backdrop Item.

2.   On the right panel, in the Backdrop properties, click Images tab, and click Add Clip > (load image).
3.   Navigate to the image you want to use and click Open.
4.   In the Items list, select Backdrop Item.
5.   On the right panel, in the Properties tab, open the Backdrop tab.
6.   Set the appropriate properties.

Tip:  For multiple viewports (such as front, side, and back), you create three different backdrop items with the appropriate image and Projection Type specified for each.

Backdrop Item Transform Properties

Position XYZ

Specify the positional values for placing the backdrop image within the viewport. All transforms originate from the plane's center point.

Rotation XYZ

Adjust the backdrop item's rotation in the viewport. However, in most instances, consider adjusting the Projection Type option to position the image toward a specific viewport instead of rotating the image.

Scale XYZ

Adjust the size of the backdrop items.

Reset

Resets the selected transform values to (0,0,0) to return the items to the World Space center position.

Zero

Returns the item's center position to the World Space center (0,0,0) without changing the position of the backdrop item itself.

Add

Adds the selected set of transforms to the Channel list while keeping the default 0,0,0 values. (To override a channel, the transforms must first exist and be referenced.) Transform items are channel groups associated with an item that store the item's transform values (controlling its position, rotation, or scale). By default, new items do not have transform items associated with them (even though they are visible within the Properties panel). Modo adds only the necessary transforms on an as-needed basis to reduce scene overhead. There are several ways to add transforms. You can adjust the target item with one of the transform tools or specify values. With this action Modo adds the transform item automatically to the Channels viewport list.

Backdrop Item Backdrop Properties

Backdrop Item Panel

Image

Specifies an image or uses the load command to load an image from disk.

Show in Perspective

Backdrop items can be a hindrance when the 3D viewport is in Perspective view, as they are flat along a cardinal axis. This option enables/disables Backdrop items in Perspective view.

Projection Type

Specifies which viewport the backdrop image faces toward as well as a Camera projection mode that appears automatically in the background of any viewport that is set to Camera as the type. For multiple viewports (such as front, side, and back), you create three different backdrop items with the appropriate image and projection type specified for each.

Keep Aspect

When enabled, retains the aspect ratio of an image when you scale the image.

Flip

When enabled, mirrors the image's pixels across the vertical axis. This is useful when using the same image for front-and-back or left-and-right pairs.

Invert

When enabled, inverts the RGB values for the backdrop image. This is useful to invert a black-and-white line drawing to make the lines more visible.

Blend

When enabled, produces a small amount of smoothing between neighboring pixels to reduce the jagged appearance of low-resolution images.

Contrast

Determines the apparent visual difference between light and dark values in the backdrop image. When the value is greater than 0%, Modo increases the contrast; when the value is less than 0%, Modo decreases the contrast.

Brightness

Determines the degree or amount of light or luminosity in the backdrop image. With a value greater than 0%, Modo increases the brightness of the backdrop image; with a value less than 0%, Modo decreases the brightness.

Transparency

Determines the opacity of the backdrop image. A value greater than 0% increases the transparency. With a value of 100%, the image is completely invisible.

Use Uniform Size

When this option is enabled, backdrop items ignore image size, and base the scale of the backdrop on the item's Scale value.

Pixel Size

Specifies the pixel size of the backdrop image.

Auto Fit

Scales the backdrop item automatically to match the height of the currently active Mesh Items (or the height and width when Keep Aspect is disabled).

Note:  This setting only works if the Use Uniform Size option is enabled.

Backdrop Size

Specifies the width and height of the image used for the Backdrop item.

Backdrop Size Keep Aspect

Specifies the width of the image used for the Backdrop item and maintains aspect ratio.

Tip:  Within Modo's preferences, you can adjust some options related to backdrop items and how Modo scales images when placing them. For more information, see the Preferences topic.