How to Render a Background Image in Blender Using the Document World Settings

[@12thevil]

Thank you bro. It is ridiculous that something so simple has to be so difficult. This shows that despite the big push to improve the Grease Pencil it is still not the best option for frame-by-frame 2D animation.

[@henryegloff]

No worries at all and thanks for the feedback.

[@vmaximus12]

This is the best tutorial I've seen for incorporating background images, being new to blender, it really helped me!!!

[@henryegloff]

Great to hear, and thanks for the feedback @vmaximus12 :)

[@fliptopjim]

THANK YOU!! Just what I was looking for. Very simply explained too.

[@stevekellison4025]

Great video thanks!

[@BlazeSwordYT]

WHAT A LEGEND! Thank you SO MUCH!

[@bryanfidelman3846]

Finally how to add background images without compositors or nodes THANK U SO MUCH !!!!

[@henryegloff]

Hey Bryan. No worries at all, and glad to help. Henry

[@hongkim3533]

Amazing!! I really like your tutorials. It's so relaxing and easy to follow. You are a lifesaver!

[@henryegloff]

Hi Hong Kim, thanks for the kind feedback. I'm looking forward to adding more tutorials in the future. Cheers, Henry

[@PieterHanja]

Thank you!!

[@divonoartista9904]

Thank you,very useful.

[@shimmeringtrashpile]

Excellent. Thanks!

[@tychen7915]

Thank you so much. I have been looking for this for a long time. Hope you can upload more blender tutorials.

[@henryegloff]

Thanks for the feedback TY Chen. I'm hoping to upload more tutorials soon. If you have any ideas for any tutorials that would help you please keep me posted.

[@tychen7915]

@@henryegloff I want to figure out how "Fluid Animation" works, but most tutorials are out of date. I have followed the instructions, but it never works out. Maybe you can make one with fluid animation if you have some time. Thanks!

[@henryegloff]

@@tychen7915 Hi TY Chen, that's a great suggestion. I was even already thinking of doing a tutorial along those lines, so that's sealed it. Thanks. I'm a bit busy at the moment but I'll post here when I've got something.

[@pixelwrinkly1528]

Extremely useful. Many thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@Cristyioan2012]

Great tutorial! I was trying to add everything under a Python script but using Nodes was harder, this should work. Thank you!

[@vadimkantorov]

Have you succeeded with a Python script? Would you be kind to share the script?

[@Cristyioan2012]

@@vadimkantorov I did manage to create a workaround with a 2plane image placed in space, if you're interested give me your e-mail or something to send the code to

[@maryistubing]

Good sir, thank you. They made this harder than it should be. Well explained!

[@dafff08]

great tutorial

[@figotheanimator4883]

💖💖💖Your voice is so incredibly charming and relaxing.

[@henryegloff]

Hi Goofy, thanks for the kind feedback. :)

[@Kaffeeteria]

Thank you so much for this!!!

[@brunolibano6513]

Thanks i got it

[@cineshot_by_wy6688]

Good work! Does this work in cycles?

[@cineshot_by_wy6688]

Just watched again. It works in cycles, thanks!

[@henryegloff]

Yep, as far as know. At the time I created this tutorial I did everything in cycles. :)

[@da-drifter967]

Great tutorial. Now how do I add a video to my background?

[@henryegloff]

Hi Shane, thanks again for the feedback and suggestion. I have some notes ready to make a video along these lines and have done this technique with video quite a number of times. Generally the technique is much the same as for a still image just with the different file format, however I need to double check the method as I think this might be easier with the camera method (see the other tutorial of mine). There is even a cool technique for tracking the 3D space to the motion of the camera if the camera is moving with the video. There should be lots of tutorials along these lines on KZbin. Hopefully I will be able to get something together soon. :)

[@adityakaushik7702]

Hello! I was rendering an animation that had metallic textures with no roughness, and the image wasn't reflecting on it. Any idea how I could get that to work? I loved this tutorial! Thank you!

[@henryegloff]

Hi Aditya, it's tricky when you are working with an image from a single view through through the camera, as for reflections normally you would use something like an hdri image so you can get the correct reflection from all angles. You can imagine that if you are using a standard image for the background you don't have the imagery available for the correct reflections on the front of the object. You can try using the same image for the reflections anyway (you could find tutorials for this), and it sometimes this looks OK, but it won't be as realistic as using an hdri etc. Otherwise I hope this info helps, and sorry that I don't have a straightforward solution for this.

[@adityakaushik7702]

@@henryegloff Thank you so much! I completely forgot that I could use hdris :/

[@flipnap2112]

Henry great tut! really helped me out. now how can I get the glass her to properly diffract and distort the background properly? I got it figured out but its also bringing in the edges of the film back, so im gettin slight black borders in the refraction of the glass sphere. any ideas? thanks so much

[@michelarcange3150]

thank you !

[@moesaadi4601]

Will this also work if I am trying to render a video with the same background image while the camera is rotating around the object? if not, would you please make a tutorial on how to use an image as 360 degree background while the camera rotates around an object. ( Stars, or glowing lights in the dark image as background)

[@henryegloff]

Hi Moe, I could be wrong but I believe it would work because essentially the image is stuck to the background whichever way the camera is facing. It sounds like you are interested in using a 360 degree image though, which is a bit of a different process and I will keep this in mind for a future tutorial. :)

[@luxamofficial]

Thanks a lot. Can you still light using HDR with this setup?

[@henryegloff]

Hi Lucas, I could be wrong but I believe you can, however it may be tricky making it match with the background image. I imagine for that type of HDR effect you may be best to do it all via HDR.

[@acmtsing]

Great question. Thanks for bringing it up.

[@klugerpunkt2050]

Hi, Is there a way to use Hdri lighting together with the background image? This tutorial (which is great by the way) seems to replace Hdri with the background image. Thanks.

[@henryegloff]

Hi Kluger, yes that is definitely possible. Also if you use an HDri for the background you will get a much better result, especially if you want the environment to be reflected on the object. This method here is mostly just appropriate if you have to use a non HDri image for whatever reason. I have done backgrounds with HDri images before but this is not something I know well enough to give you some good instructions here. If you search for 'HDri background image blender' you should be able to find some good tutorials focused on that. Otherwise I hope this info helps, cheers, Henry.

[@valentine1713]

Now what about multiple background images with png transparencies? Would be nice to not have to take it into after effects or premier to add those kinds of elements. This was helpful tho thank you.

[@henryegloff]

Thanks for the feedback Valentine. I'm not sure about that one... And I agree that it would be nice to be able to handle all that from within Blender. Perhaps it would be best handled with images to planes? Otherwise I'll think about it and will keep you posted if I have any ideas. Cheers, Henry

[@valentine1713]

@@henryegloff thank you yea in my case specifically don't want the images to be affected by the lighting tho that did give me some cool looks so planes weren't really working out but it would be a super useful feature.

[@henryegloff]

@@valentine1713 Yes, image planes have never really worked well for me either, for the same reason you mention, so I usually don't bother with them even thought some people seem to prefer them over methods like this one... I've also tried different ways to tweak image planes so they aren't affected by lighting but I have never had any real success with this approach. Otherwise if that would work, that could be a potentially good solution... Hopefully someone out there will add a comment / solution in this regard...

[@superdirt2]

In fact, the two methods creates really different results, both with different properties. Especially if you are working with reflecting surfaces. E.g.: 1. In this method, the background image IS reflected by the reflecting materials. 2. The background will be re-rendered (and changed according to the renderer e.g de-noised).

[@henryegloff]

Hi Superdirt, thanks heaps for your comments. I think it will be really useful for other people to know that there are these different properties of the two different methods and I’m thankful for you pointing these out. I am thinking that I will most likely add your points to the descriptions at some point. For me, initially when I created the first method using the camera settings and nodes etc all I was trying to achieve was to simply render a background image and at the time that was the best solution I stumbled across. I wasn’t really considering reflections at that point and generally that method seemed way too complicated for such a simple requirement. Then I stumbled across this method using the World settings and as it was so much simpler I realised the first method using the camera settings really wasn’t that great at all. I feel bad for people that follow that method even though I put the note about this method in the description and comments. And as you point out, as this method accommodates the reflection of the background I figure that it is generally much more versatile and practical as well as being simpler and more intuitive. If by chance you find a better method, or ways to improve this method please keep me posted :)

[@superdirt2]

@@henryegloff Thanks you for your reply! I'm new to Blender and just figured this out... I was looking to put a 3D animation on a 2D background, but in a technical context rather than in a cinematographic one, and in my case Method 1 was what I was looking for (and Method 2 wasn't) :) So I definitely wouldn't say one is better than the other, they just render different results. Maybe you can point this somewhere? Thank you for both tutorials, I learned a lot!

[@henryegloff]

@@superdirt2 Thanks again for your comment/feedback. I too feel relatively new to Blender. And again, I think it's really useful to draw attention to your point, in that it depends on what you are trying to achieve as to which method is most suitable. This information will be useful for others. :) Henry.

[@alexmckenzie1063]

How would you add in a HDRI light to this? as you have to have transparency checked - it makes the HDRI and the plane disappear? or am I being stupid? ahaha

[@apollomarconi]

Is there a reason you did not employ Fspy to get the vanishing points correct? [yes Suzanne doesn't need it, but in my case I need to put sign letters on walls, and because dimensional architectural lettering employs a simpler, less bio-morphic geometry than Suzanne, they hence make it very easy for anyone to spot an iffy perspective].

[@henryegloff]

Hi Apollo Marconi, the only reason I didn't use Fspy is because I didn't know about it, until now. - It looks like a great tool to achieve more accurate perspective as you mention. I think that at some point I will redo this tutorial to incorporate Fspy. Thanks for the tip / comment. Henry.

[@apollomarconi]

@@henryegloff Thanks for that -- glad you've connected with it. I'm just getting to know Blender but have come from a couple of years with Autodesk's Fusion 360, which is abysmal at providing much in the way of camera and lighting control, let alone dealing with vanishing points intelligently. I like your honest approach here and will subscribe.

[@acmtsing]

Thanks for both of your matching scene tutorials. Also, I need to upgrade my MAC, do you have any recommendations on any new models?

[@davidsolena4853]

Thanks a lot for that. Problem I have with this method: you cannot zoom in to work in your camera view and get closer to the background. Am I missing something? Therefore so far I use the Import image as plane, which then triggers tweaks to get rid of lightening render (I haven't found exactly how Blender can be totally neutral with it)

[@henryegloff]

Hi David, Thanks for the feedback. And yes this method has limitations, as you describe. It could possibly work to zoom the background image in and crop it differently etc before bringing it into Blender, using an image editing program. And yes the import image as plane is often a better technique depending on what you are after. I also get frustrated with the lighting etc on images as planes. I'm currently looking into techniques to better match the shadow with the background image and also for the object to reflect the environment as well as other objects in the scene. I feel that there is still a long way to go in terms of finding the ideal technique for this. I've made some progress recently and I'm really hoping to get an updated tutorial uploaded shortly.

[@robinreso6240]

does this method works the same way for importing videos as image planes?

[@henryegloff]

Hi robin reso, this method does not use image planes. I could be wrong but I believe it is possible in this method to use a video rather than an image. Henry

[@famitory]

is there a way to do this such that the colour of the background image is not used to light the model? i'm trying to do an effect similar to skyboxes used in old games, where everything behind the model would be a static image drawn underneath the model. when trying to do this using the compositing nodes (the technique shown in your previous tutorial), it almost works, but there's an odd halo at the transition from model to background where depth of field blur isn't calculated correctly. edit: checking "use premult" and putting a colorramp between the render alpha and alpha over input makes it better. not perfect, but good enough to not be super distracting

[@henryegloff]

Hi Famitory, I've never encountered the same issue you described with the halo, so I'm sorry but I'm not sure what is going on there... I find that generally the world settings method works OK but my problems with it are more in terms of getting the background image to reflect off the object, and I'm currently working out a method to best achieve that. Otherwise I'm glad you were able to get to an acceptable result and thanks for posting the updated edit.

[@famitory]

@@henryegloff ideally blender would just have an option to let you have an object be transparent to sun lights. then I'd just put a really big plane with the image on it far away and rotate it around based on the active camera

[@henryegloff]

@@famitory Yes, I couldn't agree more, that would make things a lot easier. If you ever figure out another way, please keep me posted.

[@vadimkantorov]

Did not work for me as well (Blender 2.93). After choosing the image path, it simply does not get displayed at all. Has anyone tried to achieve this with a Python script?

[@KlausBecker_Rtbg]

Blender 2.93. "Strenght" in World Properties has 0 by default. Set it higher than 0 and you´ll see the bg-image

[@alankin26]

Hi, this seems pretty cool, unfortunately, at least for me, when I change to cycles and viewport shading, the image is no longer visible :c

[@henryegloff]

Hi Mau Diaz, I'm sorry to hear that. I'm not sure what is going on there. For some reason I think it may have something to do with lighting, like something else in the scene etc that is affecting the background that is happening in cycles and not Eevee. It's weird that it is working in Eevee and not cycles, because ormally you would have more problems the other way around. I also wonder if the problem may have been caused from switching to cycles, rather than starting with cycles, but I think this is long shot...

[@keithm178]

Hey Thanks ,though as much as the plane catches the shadow....it's stil reflected as a white plane on the monkey head... So how do you make the monkey head reflect the rooms floor and not the white plane?....for realism I hope you understand my question.

[@henryegloff]

Hi Keith, I see what you mean and that is a really good question. I'm a bit busy at the moment but I would like to look into that in detail and maybe create another tutorial about it soon. I think that would be really useful. I guess the trick here is that in this example the image is a background image only and it is all a bit of an illusion, otherwise you might want to look into using HDRI background images in the World settings as I think this is normally the best way to have objects reflect the environment around them from all sides. There are plenty of demos of this on youtube etc but here is one quick link I found that seemed OK: blender.stackexchange.com/questions/81007/how-can-i-render-an-object-with-an-hdr-background. If by chance you find a good tutorial about this, could you please let me know in another comment.

[@flipnap2112]

use render layers. set up fake walls the same color as your "room" or whatever SHOULD be around the monkey, if it was real life. then use those render passes to comp back onto the monkey, without the fake geo you created. you have to have something in the 3D world for cycles to generate the bounce light.. and you can turn off the emitted light from the shadow Catcher in the render setting for it

[@ryantaylor9219]

I can't have transparent background with this. which I really need

[@henryegloff]

Hi Ryan, I have another tutorial which uses the camera rather than the document world settings. It's a bit more complicated but perhaps that will help you get the effect you are after.

[@ryantaylor9219]

@@henryegloff ok will try later

[@GinoZump]

what if you don't have the option "shadow catcher" to tick?

[@GinoZump]

because you have to choose "cycles" as the render engine first.

[@yazidboufous6541]

Please how can I do this with evee ?

[@henryegloff]

I'm afraid that currently Evee doesn't support a shadow catcher object. I'm going to see if I can figure out way to do this Evee. I'll keep you posted here if I work it out.

[@frubolax8695]

didnt work for me :(