# Tracing image without selecting image

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/tracing-image-without-selecting-image/2144>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [March 15, 2018, 1:10pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/tracing-image-without-selecting-image/2144 "2018-03-15T13:10:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Scribb1er](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Scribb1er](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Scribb1er)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 1:10pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/tracing-image-without-selecting-image/2144/1 "2018-03-15T13:10:49Z")

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Hi there

I’ve imported an image I want to trace a spline onto, but, when I trace it, I’m constantly selecting the image. Any ideas how I can make the image unselectable?

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**Author:** ![DanielR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/danielr/32/582_2.png) [@DanielR](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/DanielR)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 1:13pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/tracing-image-without-selecting-image/2144/2 "2018-03-15T13:13:42Z")

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Hi - it’s a less than ideal solution, but if you want to deselect ( I assume this is when you accidentally select the image) zoom out a little bit, and tap next to the picture.

We have some ideas on how to make this better, and we will work on it. Thanks for the report 🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Scribb1er](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Scribb1er](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Scribb1er)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 8:16pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/tracing-image-without-selecting-image/2144/3 "2018-03-15T20:16:41Z")

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Hi Dan,  
Yeah I can deselect ok, I just want to know how to ensure I don’t select. For eg the cyclist helmet demo on YouTube, splines are traced over the image, but the image doesn’t get selected.

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**Author:** ![Scribb1er](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Scribb1er](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Scribb1er)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 8:37pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/tracing-image-without-selecting-image/2144/4 "2018-03-15T20:37:25Z")

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Actually, though I hate too say it, but I think it’s just a case of handling the splinetool/pencil correctly.

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**Author:** ![Docabilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@Docabilly](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Docabilly)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2020, 5:10am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/tracing-image-without-selecting-image/2144/5 "2020-12-12T05:10:52Z")

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Did anything happen with this? 2020 talking. Can the image be made unselectable by then pen, perhaps until reset by some checkbox in the items pallet

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**Author:** ![RaptorPrinter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7bcc69/32.png) [@RaptorPrinter](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/RaptorPrinter)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2022, 6:06pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/tracing-image-without-selecting-image/2144/6 "2022-11-25T18:06:49Z")

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This is an annoying problem. I’d like an option to make images “construction images” which makes them non selectable. Maybe place an icon next to the “eye” which makes them invisible/visible place a finger or a selection box type icon for example which makes them not selectable.

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**Author:** ![Matt\_the-Rathje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/49beb7/32.png) [@Matt\_the-Rathje](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Matt_the-Rathje)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 4:30pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/tracing-image-without-selecting-image/2144/7 "2022-11-26T16:30:00Z")

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Hi Kevin,  
did you try to move the picture (1mm for instance) just a hair behind the sketch-plane?  
In my experience that helps not to select the picture during sketching.  
Maybe that helps.  
Generally a function to lock the picture is desirable to prevent from unwanted scaling or paning of the picture.  
HTH  
Cheers Matt

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**Author:** ![Zoli](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/zoli/32/592_2.png) [@Zoli](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Zoli)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 4:42pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/tracing-image-without-selecting-image/2144/8 "2022-11-26T16:42:17Z")

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Image selection is disabled during sketching in **orthogonal view**. Double tap on the image or hover+space.

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**Author:** ![RaptorPrinter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7bcc69/32.png) [@RaptorPrinter](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/RaptorPrinter)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 7:20pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/tracing-image-without-selecting-image/2144/9 "2022-11-26T19:20:25Z")

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Doesn’t really help, I find myself clicking on it mostly when I’m trying to deselect (I know there’s a button for deselect but I’d rather just click open space) problem is the image is a masked png so even tho it looks like open space often I’m clicking on a 0 opacity part of the image. 🤷🏻‍♂️