How to Import Images as Planes in Blender 4.2 or Later

By Gachoki
Updated January 9, 2025
3 Min Read

Blender 4.2 brings some exciting changes, including a streamlined way to import images as planes. If you’re used to relying on the “Import Images as Planes” add-on, you’ll be happy to know that its functionality is now baked directly into Blender. No need to activate add-ons or hunt for extensions—here’s your step-by-step guide to using this feature like a pro.

Why the Change?

Blender’s developers have integrated the “Import Images as Planes” feature into the core software to simplify the workflow. It’s now faster and easier to use without the need for additional setup. Let’s dive into how it works.

Step 1: Adding the Image

In Object Mode, follow these simple steps:

How to add the image as plane to blender

Press Shift + A to open the “Add” menu. Alternatively, you can click the Add button in the top menu.
Navigate to Image and select Mesh Plane.
After selecting Mesh Plane, a file browser will pop up, just like the old add-on.
Browse to your desired image file.

Step 2: Adjusting Material Settings

Before importing your image, you’ll see several material setup options. Let’s break them down:

Principled: Creates a basic Principled Shader setup. This is great for general-purpose workflows.
Shadeless: Removes most shading effects, giving your plane a flat, unlit appearance.
Emission: Routes the image through the emission node of the Principled Shader, making it slightly emissive. This setup is perfect for projects that require brighter, glowing visuals, though it might not always look realistic.

My Recommendation: The Emission setting is a favorite for its ability to make images pop in your scene.

Step 3: Importing the Image

Once you’ve selected your material settings:

Click Import Images as Planes.
Your image will appear in your scene as a single plane. You can now manipulate it like any other object in Blender—scale it, rotate it, or move it around.

Ready to Try It?

That’s all there is to it! Importing images as planes in Blender 4.2 and above is intuitive and efficient. Now it’s your turn to give it a go.

Join the Conversation

Did this guide help you? Have questions or tips to share? Leave a comment below—I’d love to hear from you! You can also explore related content on our blog for more Blender tutorials.