Modonize: FAQs
Modo UI and Workflow
How do I add Backdrop images to my viewports?
Posted by AcidArrow on Saturday, April 08, 2006 (GST)
This FAQ is being rewritten to include newer info.

note : This FAQ is about adding images to aid you with modeling tasks and not adding visible images in the environment that show up in renders.
Loading Backdrop Images

There are two ways to add a backdrop image to your viewports.

  1. By drag and dropping an image to your viewport. (note: in 20x versions of modo, dragging and dropping an image, adds a backdrop item instead)
  2. By clicking the second Viewport popup and choosing Backdrop -> Load Image (or pick an image you have already loaded)


 
Adjusting Backdrop Images
 
To adjust the backdrop images you can use the Adjust Backdrop Image tool, which is located at View -> Adjust Viewport Image, and then clicking on the viewport whose Backdrop Image you want to adjust. The Backdrop Image settings are independent for each viewport.

The Adjust Backdrop Image has a number of options and properties (found in the Tool Properties when you have the tool active).
 
  • Image : From here you can choose the image file you want to use for the currently selected Backdrop Image.
  • Resolution : Regardless of the actual resolution of the image, here you can choose the resolution that it's going to be displayed. The minimum value is 64x64 and the maximum is 1024x1024 with the all the intervals being powers of two. High resolutions will display more detail but you may get a performance hit.
  • Center H/V : Center has two parameters. H for Horizontal and V for Vertical. These are simply the coordinates for the center of the Backdrop Image. You can edit these interactively by clicking and dragging the image is the viewport.
  • Size H/V : As with Center, Size has two parameters for Horizontal and Vertical which define the size of the backdrop Image. You can edit these interactively by clicking and dragging the corners of the image.
  • Angle : Angle rotates the Image counter-clock wise.
  • Contrast/Brightness/Transparency : These Parameters allow you to adjust how to adjust the Contrast, Brightness and Transparency of the image so that you can adjust is so that it's more or less visible
  • Keep Aspect : With this on, the ratio of the horizontal and vertical values will always be the same as the one of the original file. With this off, you can change the Horizontal and Vertical Size independently.
  • Invert : This inverts all the colors of the image.
  • Pixel Blend : Pixel Blend interpolates between two adjacent pixels so the output is smoother when you zoom in. (to better see what it does, set Resolution to 64x64 and try turning Pixel Blend on and off)
  • Flip : This options Flip the backdrop image horizontally.
  • Overlay : Overlay sets the backdrop image "above" the geometry. Can be useful if used with some transparency.
  • Projection : (only available in the perspective viewport) This allows you to change the orientation of the Backdrop Image in the perspective viewport.


Saving Your Backdrop Image Settings

It should be noted that the Backdrop Image settings are not saved with the model data when you save your work. To save your Backdrop settings so that you can reuse them later, there are two options.

  1. You can go to Layout -> Save As... and save the whole layout settings along with the backdrops.
  2. You can click the arrow of the top right corner of each viewport and go to Viewport Controls -> Save Viewport As... This will save a new kind of viewport that you just created that you can reuse anywhere you want. You have to do this for each viewport that has backdrop settings you want to keep.



New in 20x: The Backdrop Item

In later versions of modo, the backdrop item was introduced. The main difference with the backdrop image (which is still available) is that the backdrop item is saved within the lxo file (not the image itself, just the reference to it and the settings) so you don't have to use the workarounds mentioned above. In that aspect the Backdrop Item is superior to the Backdrop Image, but it is missing any image manipulation capabilities (the brightness/contrast/transparency settings).

To add a background item, you can simply drag and drop an image in a viewport, or you can use the new item drop down list found in the item list and select "Backdrop Item". You can add multiple Backdrop Items in a scene.
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