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How do I put a backdrop behind the model that I am creating so that I can compare the picture to the model while editing?

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See Cannot find Background Images feature in Blender 2.8 if using 2.8.

Background images are gone in Blender 2.8, at least in the traditional pre-2.7# sense. The old system was aging and prone to failure ... and it has been retired due to inherent limitations.

Information was stored as User Interface data, as such if you opened a file without the Load UI option ticked they would appear to be missing, and any previously assigned background images mysteriously absent.

Saving the file would then silently erase them, permanently eliminating without warning or explicit user intervention.

As an alternative to Gwenn's answer, you can also use an empty. Empties in Blender now have an image type.

enter image description here

This is very useful as it gives you more control over positioning your references and users coming from other software can use this method as it is the norm for them. (most Max users I know use frozen planes with textures when modeling).

Control the image object properties in the "Object Data" tab:

Where to edit image data in Blender's maze interface

Once added, you have a lot of control over the reference. You can adjust the opacity, scale it, rotate it etc. Much more flexible than the common way using the N panel in the other answer. You can also lock it so it behaves the same way. Another advantage this has is that it's visible in both orthographic and perspective views.

enter image description here

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    $\begingroup$ This is a really great solution. I've been wanting to view my reference photo in the viewport directly on top of my model (with transparency) to compare more easily. By using one of these image empties with transparency, and using object > display > x-ray, you can do so in the viewport even with cycles! Thanks for this. $\endgroup$
    – Qutorial
    Commented Jul 30, 2013 at 14:11
  • $\begingroup$ You can also use this to setup a virtual multi-monitor reference display like this: example $\endgroup$
    – GilesDMiddleton
    Commented Oct 1, 2016 at 18:33
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In the View Properties panel (accessed by pressing N), there should be a category called Background Image. To enable it check on the box to its left.

To load an image, press the 'Add Image' button. All of your relevant image and display options are included in that menu.

Background Image menu (from Blender wiki)

However, remember that background images will only be displayed in:

  1. Camera Perspective view (Numpad 0)

  2. Any of the preset orthographic views which you can access using the keys on the number pad:

    • Front/Back (Numpad 1 or CtrlNumpad 1)
    • Right /Left (Numpad 3 or CtrlNumpad 3)
    • Top/Bottom (Numpad 7 or CtrlNumpad 7)

Background images will not show in perspective view. To switch between perspective and orthographic view use Numpad 5

Background images are used for reference only and will not be part of the final render.

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    $\begingroup$ Also note that dragging and dropping images into the 3D view will add it as a background image. $\endgroup$
    – gandalf3
    Commented Apr 19, 2014 at 1:31
  • $\begingroup$ When you render it. Can you see it? $\endgroup$
    – Meri
    Commented Sep 1, 2015 at 10:58
  • $\begingroup$ @Meri No, this is only for editing purposes. You'll have to use another technique for that. $\endgroup$
    – TrakJohnson
    Commented Sep 16, 2015 at 20:13
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Starting with Blender 2.8, you can do Add -> Image --> Background

Release notes documentation

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When I am trying to adjust a camera's transform to match an existing image, I add the image as a background for the camera, not the viewport. The "Image > Background" answer by @MCCCS adds an object into the scene with a specific rotation that matches the current camera; when you adjust the camera the image no longer fills the viewport.

The simplest way is to drag an image from the file system onto the viewport when your camera is active; this will add a Background Image to the active camera.

Alternatively, select the camera, and in the Properties panel select the Object Data Properties tab (green camera icon near the bottom), scroll down to the Background Images section and click on Add Image.

The image remains unchanged on screen as you transform the camera until you can get the grid or objects lined up with your reference content.

Image of a desk in the background of a Blender viewport, with a Blender grid overlayed that matches the desk
Answer and image from Blender 3.3

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