Image Trace 3D — Documentation

Convert any 2D image or logo into a 3D object, right inside Blender.

Version: 1.0.0 | Blender: 3.0+ 

What it does

Image Trace 3D traces the outline of a PNG, JPG, BMP, or TGA image and builds it as a Blender curve. Extrude it into a solid filled shape or keep it as a hollow outline, then finalize it into a real mesh. No Illustrator, no Inkscape, no SVG export — everything happens in Blender's sidebar.

Installation

1. Download image_trace3d.zip (don't unzip it)
2. Blender: Edit > Preferences > Add-ons > Install
3. Select the zip file, enable the checkbox next to Image Trace 3D
4. Press N in the 3D Viewport, open the Image Trace 3D tab

Quick Start

1. Open Image — pick a PNG, JPG, BMP, or TGA file
2. Adjust settings if needed (defaults work for most logos)
3. Trace Image — a curve object appears in your scene
4. Finalize — converts to a mesh with shading applied
5. Delete / Start Over to retrace with different settings

Settings Reference

Transparent PNGs are handled automatically via the alpha channel.

Tips

• Too many small pieces → raise Threshold
• Missing detail → lower Threshold or raise Detail Level
• Detail 10–15 is fast; use 20 only for high-res images
• Best on clean, high-contrast logos and icons, not multi-color photos

What it's not

Doesn't separate multiple colors into regions, and doesn't auto-unwrap UVs. Single-shape foreground/background tracing only.

Support

blenderustad.com · [email protected]

FAQ

1. What file types does Image Trace 3D support? PNG, JPG, JPEG, BMP, and TGA.

2. Does it work with photographs? No. It traces a single foreground shape against a background, so it's built for logos, icons, and flat silhouette artwork rather than multi-tone photographs.

3. Can it trace multiple colors separately, like Illustrator's Image Trace? No. It produces one shape based on foreground versus background detection, not separate colored regions.

4. Does my PNG need a transparent background? No, but if it has one, the add-on detects it automatically through the alpha channel and traces correctly without any extra settings.

5. What if my logo has a solid white or black background instead of transparency? Set the Background option to White or Black to match your image, then adjust Threshold until the preview looks clean.

6. What does the Threshold slider actually do? It controls how strict the color detection is when deciding what counts as foreground versus background. Around 0.3 to 0.7 works for most logos.

7. What does Detail Level control? It sets the working resolution of the trace. Higher values capture more detail but take longer to process. 10 to 15 is a good default; use higher values only for high-resolution source images.

8. My trace has too many small disconnected pieces. What do I change? Raise the Threshold slightly to reduce noise from stray pixels.

9. My trace is missing fine detail. What do I change? Lower the Threshold or raise the Detail Level.

10. What's the difference between Filled and Outline style? Filled creates a solid extruded 3D shape. Outline creates a hollow wireframe-style shape using a curve bevel instead of a fill.

11. What does Thickness control? The extrude depth of the filled 3D object. Lower values give a flat, plaque-like look; higher values give a chunkier 3D shape.

12. What happens when I click Finalize? The curve object converts into a real mesh, and smooth or flat shading is applied based on your Smooth Shading setting.

13. Can I still edit the shape after tracing but before finalizing? Yes. The result is a Blender curve object until you click Finalize, so you can inspect or adjust it in Blender's curve tools first.

14. Can I export the finished 3D object to another format? Yes. Once finalized to a mesh, it's a standard Blender object, so any of Blender's built-in exporters (OBJ, FBX, STL, glTF) work on it.

15. Does this add-on need an internet connection? No. Everything runs locally inside Blender.

16. Do I need to install Illustrator, Inkscape, or any other software? No. Image Trace 3D runs entirely inside Blender using Blender's own Python and numpy, both already included with Blender.

17. Which Blender versions does it support? Blender 3.0 and later.

18. What happens if I retrace an image after already tracing one? The previous traced object is automatically removed before the new one is created, so your scene doesn't accumulate duplicates.

19. Can I use this for laser cutting or 3D printing silhouette shapes? The Finalize step gives you a standard mesh you can further prepare for those pipelines, but the add-on itself is focused on getting you from image to 3D object inside Blender, not on print-specific settings.

20. Is this good for beginners who have never used Blender's curve tools? Yes. The whole process is three buttons: Open Image, Trace Image, and Finalize. No manual curve editing is required to get a usable result.