How to Import Images as Planes in Blender 4.2 or Later

If "Import Images as Planes" is missing for you in Blender version 4.2 or newer, here's how to do it.
In Blender 4.2 the "Import Images as Planes" addon was fully incorporated into Blender so there is no longer a need for the plugin. But, the labeling changed slightly and this Blender tutorial will show you how to Import Images as Planes in a Blender scene without the addon.
Importing Images as Planes is a great tool in Blender. It allows you to bring an image into a scene as a flat plane that is perfectly proportional to the image's aspect ratio. There are three methods of shading the imported image and we will also cover those in this quick Blender tip video.
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[@m1nji]

YOURE A LIFESAVER TY

[@Brandon-3D]

Happy to help!

[@robbie9629]

Thanks for a clear and concise tutorial, well worth a like and subscribe!

[@jimtexwenyira]

My blender teacher 😊thank you for that sir

[@Brandon-3D]

Happy to help. Took me a while to figure it out lol !

[@fadepanther6224]

Thank you, so VERY much for being to the point and showing just what is going on. ^^

[@petrknedlik]

Omg, thanks!

[@terrytjandra]

the image is not shown when its render though. how to fix that?

[@knightdweller9541]

same here we need help pretty please

[@Kfcmaann]

you need to change it to viewpoint shading rendered you probably have it on viewpoint shading solid

[@thosewhitegatess]

@@Kfcmaann how do i fix it?

[@Kfcmaann]

@@thosewhitegatess it is up in the top right cornor

[@thosewhitegatess]

@@Kfcmaann nevermind i figured it out, thanks

[@deztexas8895]

Very useful, thx!

[@Brandon-3D]

Thank you!!

[@fortragexx]

Thank you

[@Brandon-3D]

You’re welcome and thank you too!

[@robfrydryck127]

thanks could find it!

[@xDE_Vx]

Thanks a lot!

[@Brandon-3D]

You’re welcome!!

[@EditingDog]

Sir please make a detailed video about weight paint in blender 😄
I eagerly wants to learn that
Full Detailed Video Explaining all the tools 🔥

[@mortimerc317]

ah that's where it goes. Thanks

[@Brandon-3D]

You’re welcome!!!

[@CoreSystemDev]

based, ty

[@Soycatnip1]

when i tried to import my image it only made a blank picture show up, is there any way i could fix this?

[@kingofthechads3531]

same

[@sresaz8623]

choose display in material preview mode

[@sresaz8623]

@@kingofthechads3531 choose display in material preview mode

[@PokettoMusic]

cool, thanks!

[@Brandon-3D]

You’re welcome!

[@ConsistentlyImpressive]

YOU SAVED FROM LOSING 6 HOURS OF BLENDER PROGRESS

[@Brandon-3D]

Happy to help!

[@PsychoticWolfe]

thank you thank you thank you

[@Brandon-3D]

You are very welcome!

[@mikenow3050]

It seems to struggle with svg files. Gone back to using version 2.8. ( hilariously) which has images as plane add on and can select shadeless. works perfect for my needs.

[@snheadart_]

tks!

[@Brandon-3D]

Thank you!

[@cyberwacho1]

loviu bro

[@Brandon-3D]

@@cyberwacho1 thank you!!

[@nevillecreativitymentor]

Thanks for that update ... but for some reason all the images are showing up .. I think I am doing something wrong ...but don't know what ....yikes !!!

[@humorforras]

ty

[@gianlucacillo]

thaaaaank you was getting crazy

[@Brandon-3D]

You’re welcome. So was I !!

[@MeIsZwi]

How can I add transparency. I seem to have all the right settings but it doesn't work

[@microbry]

Haven't tried 4.2 yet, but does it still support drag and drop direct import of images as planes?

[@cas_sim]

Yes, you can drag and drop images into Blender's 3D Viewport. It creates a 'reference' image, but you can right-click it and convert it to Mesh Plane.

[@chrishenze3984]

@@cas_sim my true hero!!!! i have been at this for like an hr, and this video, while answered the og question, it didnt tell me why mine were just coming out as normal gray planes. then i saw this lil thread! I just dragged it in and POOF! it worked! Thanks!

[@ahenderson833]

Do you have a fix for Export fbx, when its missing the file name

[@Hainatek]

but the image sill can't appear in the animation video. could you tell me why?

[@Hainatek]

I found a solution, thanks.

[@nguyengiorno9026]

@@Hainatek and what the solution?

[@samiee_yt]

For some reason my image didnt show up in rendered preview until i changed it to emissive. Not sure why this is the case but if anyone else is having this problem, that's what worked for me!

[@dukegreer1915]

So I got a question can you export these as objects

[@Pavitr_prabhakerYT]

What about sculpting?

[@samuelbarreto6752]

how to change the opacity of the image?

[@blockchainmafia4635]

youre a goat

[@JarikFr]

why is it not showing when i render

[@ASdP.13]

You have to enter in Viewport Shading (On top right-hand) the last of the four options

[@loyisobooi5040]

@@ASdP.13 FUCK YES YOUR HIM
THanks

[@bmd_videos]

Once import reference video and start to animate the video start to slow down along side the animation, what am i doing wrong, thanks

[@talat2k4]

Can't use proportional editing on it?

[@Brandon-3D]

@@talat2k4 if you subdivide the plane in edit mode you can.

[@talat2k4]

@@Brandon-3D I tried before subdividing with 10 loopcuts, and it didn't work.

[@chrishenze3984]

Not sure why but my plane just comes out gray... tried both png and jpg

[@Brandon-3D]

Are you in render preview mode or look dev? In object mode it will just look like a normal plane.

[@normg2242]

At the top right in Blender you will see a couple of balls, one looks like a beach ball, and the one beside it looks like a shiny ball. The shiny is the one you have to select for render preview as Brandon said.

[@Spittoon]

what about import video as plane?

[@Dr.shellbrivk]

sir how to import image into the object

[@lowald]

Thank you.
Have to say I liked the old version more. Now it's more clicking and adjusting than just drag and drop the file in.
Not a fan.

[@ComplexJonez45234]

I hit shift A I dont see the option for image in the menu I have blender 4.2.1

[@MarielChavez-Barragan]

I dont see it. Im on Mac and It doesnt show image options

[@Lizardforce]

Thanks dude

[@Brandon-3D]

You are very welcome! Thank you!

[@seadenzetter7249]

Yeah, bro. Whenever i load up the image, it doesnt appear and instead it just forms a swarm of gnats.

[@Beezyfaceahh]

mine showing up pink help sensi

[@adampark4199]

thanks

[@Ahmed-Abbas]

how to view the image while in wireframe mode 🙄

[@YngPup]

this only applys to PDF not JPEGs

[@Brandon-3D]

?

[@azizal157]

thanks ❤. But it loses detail and quality.

[@raccboon]

rip, doesnt work

[@technopathic7599]

uuuh the image is nothing but gray, why

[@henrypeepee39]

same problem here

[@henrypeepee39]

weirdly enough it shows if i go to the texture paint mode

[@henrypeepee39]

ok i figured it out, you click the circles in the top right and change it to rendered view or viewport shading

[@iamsalvofps]

someone cooked here

[@Opusgeo]

was it really necessary ? ..sigh..