In this Blender tip video, we’ll take a look at how to set the aspect ratio of a Plane object to match that of the image mapped to it. This is important to prevent distortion in the mapped image. This knowledge will be helpful when using image planes for cutout trees and people, instanced image planes for particle effects, and any situation where you need non-distorted images on Plane objects.

The “Add Image As Mesh” script (created by Ed Mackey) can be downloaded at:
http://www.blinken.com/blender-plugins.php

You can find help with installing python scripts at:
http://www.alienhelpdesk.com/using_python_scripts

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Discussion

13 Responses to “Tip: Match Image Plane Aspect Ratio to Image”
  1. Solineoz
    Posts: 95

    Thanks a lot for this nice unknown feature of Blender 2.49.

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    1
    Jan 27, 2010 at 11:30 pm
  2. comeinandburn
    Posts: 51

    Hi Kernon,

    I’m not sure you’re aware of this but there is an excellent script called “2d cutout Import Script” which goes one step farther.

    It allows you to select the image and have it recognize the alpha as well. This is great for logos and cut out trees like you mentioned.

    You can find the blender artist thread here: http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?t=99626

    just as a note you may have to go in and change to “premul” in the texture/image tab to clean up the edges after running the script (and of course change the draw type to texture).

    thanks to forTe for this excellent script.

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    2
    Jan 28, 2010 at 1:53 pm
  3. Nixon
    Posts: 61

    cool hint.
    the days of me trying to eyeball the aspect ratio of images are counted…
    thx for that tip :)

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    3
    Jan 28, 2010 at 3:04 pm
  4. swims
    Posts: 18

    Thanks. I was just wondering if there a way to import some vector illustrations mapped on planes that would be automatically generated with the same shape as the illustration?

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    4
    Jan 28, 2010 at 4:34 pm
  5. comeinandburn
    Posts: 51

    You’ll have to do it as two steps.

    Save out your vector file as .eps or .svg then use the import dialog/paths….svg or .eps.
    This will generate the shape of the object.

    Then export a bitmap from your vector program (anything that keeps alpha info) and import it using the script I mentioned above. It will put the image on a plane with transparency. After that just line it up with the front of your curve object created in the first step.

    hope this helps.

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    5
    Jan 28, 2010 at 7:58 pm
  6. Tobey
    Posts: 98

    Great tip. Calculating the aspect ratio and applying it on the mesh could also work but definitely much more tediously.

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    6
    Jan 29, 2010 at 11:17 am
  7. Posts: 208

    Nice tutorial , thank you .

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    7
    Feb 2, 2010 at 5:40 pm
  8. Rick
    Posts: 2

    How do you do this in Blender 2.5? (Alt V and “Scale to Image Aspect Ratio” is, like sooooooo many other things…

    GONE.

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    8
    May 7, 2010 at 7:34 am
  9. Posts: 54

    This one never seems to work for me in either 2.49 or 2.5. The image never appears on the object unless the picture is rendered. There must be some setting that needs to be on that wasn’t mentioned in the video.

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    9
    Aug 7, 2010 at 5:48 pm
  10. Raphaff
    Posts: 1

    Thank you.
    Very well explained.

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    10
    Sep 18, 2010 at 10:45 am
  11. BobReg
    Posts: 5

    I wish this could be updated as it doesn’t work in the more current 2.5x versions of Blender. Anyone?

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    11
    Nov 4, 2010 at 4:57 pm
    • Posts: 1394

      Actually there is an addon included in 2.55 (and 2.54 I believe) called Import Images as Planes. It isn’t quite the same as the previous feature but it allows you to import images and automatically create planes with the correct aspect ratio. It also creates a material and maps the image to the UVs.

      -Jonathan

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      11.1
      Nov 5, 2010 at 2:09 am
  12. immobilier
    Posts: 3

    Hello les amis quel est votre avis de mon nouveau blog sur l’immobilier?

    #
    12
    Dec 20, 2011 at 12:18 am

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