Image Import
Place photos, logos, and mood-board images directly on your canvas as editable, printable objects.
Image Import places a picture on the canvas as a regular drawing entity — it lives in your active layer, can be selected, moved, resized, and rotated, and it exports and prints as part of your deliverable. Use it for client logos, mood-board references, product detail shots, or any image that belongs in the final plan. The import workspace lets you crop, rotate, and adjust the image before it lands on the canvas, so no external editing app is needed for basic cleanup. If you need a locked tracing reference that stays invisible in exports, use an Underlay instead.
Open the import workspace
In the top toolbar, open the Import menu and choose Image Object. The Image Import workspace slides open as a two-step panel — File and Adjust. You can also paste an image directly from the clipboard once the workspace is open — no file picker required.
Import an image
Go to File > Import > Image. A file picker opens — select a JPEG, PNG, WebP, or SVG file.
After selecting the file, the Import Image dialog appears with two purpose options:
- Underlay — for tracing reference
- Image Object — for a free-floating canvas element
Choose the appropriate purpose and click Import.
Underlay mode
When imported as an Underlay, the image:
- Is placed on a new locked layer named after the file
- Sits below all other canvas layers
- Has a default opacity of 100% (reduce in Inspector for easier tracing)
- Is excluded from exports by default
- Cannot be selected by clicking on the canvas until the layer is unlocked
After placing an image underlay, use the Calibrate Scale tool to align it with real-world coordinates.
Aerial photos often do not include a scale bar — calibrate against a known site feature such as a building footprint or boundary fence.
Image Object mode
When imported as an Image Object, the image:
- Is placed as a regular entity in the currently active layer
- Can be moved, resized, rotated, and layered like any canvas entity
- Exports and prints with the drawing
- Can be locked via the Inspector to prevent accidental moves
After import, click on the canvas to place the image at its natural size. Resize handles appear immediately for adjustment.
Large image performance
Images up to 16384×16384 pixels are supported. Very large images are automatically downsampled for canvas display while retaining the full resolution for export.
For best performance:
- Use images no larger than necessary — a 2000×2000 px image is sufficient for most site plans at typical working zoom levels
- Prefer PNG for line-art plans; JPEG for photographs
- Avoid importing the same large image multiple times — duplicate the entity instead
Move, resize, and lock the image object
With the image selected, drag it to the desired position or use the Inspector to enter exact coordinates. Pull the corner handles to resize while maintaining aspect ratio. To prevent accidental moves once the image is in position, toggle Lock in the Inspector — the object becomes non-interactive until you unlock it.
Right-click the image object and choose Arrange to send it behind other entities, useful when using the image as a background reference within the drawing.
Image objects export and print as part of your drawing deliverable. If you need a reference image that is excluded from exports and hidden from clients, import it as an Underlay instead — underlays sit below all drawing content and are never included in PDF or image exports.
Use Image Import for logos, product cutouts, and mood-board pictures you want to appear in the final plan. Keep site aerial photos and survey images as Underlays so they serve as a tracing guide without cluttering the deliverable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which image formats are supported?
PNG, JPEG (jpg/jpeg), GIF, WebP, and BMP. If your image is in another format, convert it to PNG or JPEG before importing.
What is the difference between an image object and an underlay?
An image object is a full drawing entity: it lives in your active layer, is selectable and editable, and is included in PDF and image exports. An underlay is a locked tracing reference at the bottom of the layer stack that is always excluded from exports and hidden from client-facing deliverables.
Can I paste an image from the clipboard instead of picking a file?
Yes. With the Image Import workspace open, paste (Ctrl+V / Cmd+V) and the clipboard image is loaded directly into the Adjust step — no file picker needed. This works with screenshots and images copied from a browser or design tool.
Where is the image placed when I click Finish?
The image is inserted into the currently active layer, centered on the current canvas view, at a default width of 5 m. Its aspect ratio is preserved. You can move and resize it immediately after placement.
Can I convert an image object into an underlay after placing it?
Not directly. Delete the image object and re-import the same file using Import > Underlay. The crop and adjustment settings from the original import are not carried over, so you may need to re-apply them.