ImagePaste

Important

ImagePaste is no longer actively maintained.

For Blender 4.2 and newer, use Pasty instead. Pasty carries the main ImagePaste workflow forward with a smaller design that relies more on Blender's own clipboard support.

A simple Blender add-on to paste images from the clipboard to various places in Blender and copy them to the clipboard to be pasted anywhere. Works with Blender 2.80 and above.

This repository is kept as project history for existing ImagePaste users. New bug reports, feature requests, and compatibility work should go to Pasty.

Installing

ImagePaste is not recommended for new installs. Use Pasty if you are on Blender 4.2 or newer.

1. Download the latest release (you can also view the changelog on the release page).
2. Go to Edit|Preferences. On the Add-ons tab, choose Install and select the downloaded .zip file.
3. Tick the box beside the add-on name.

Using

The add-on supports copying images to the clipboard and pasting them from various places:

Image Editor

Copy Image:

• Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+C
• UI: Image|Copy to Clipboard

Paste as Images:

• Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+V
• UI: Image|Paste from Clipboard

Video Sequencer

Paste as Image Strips:

• Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+Alt+V
• UI: Sequencer Context Menu|Paste from Clipboard

Shader Editor

Paste as Image Textures:

• Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+V
• UI: Node Context Menu|Paste from Clipboard

3D Viewport

Paste as Planes:

• Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+Alt+V
• UI: Add|Image|Paste from Clipboard as Plane

Paste as References:

• Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+V
• UI: Add|Image|Paste from Clipboard as Reference

Configuring

Customizing the save folder

By default, pasted images will be stored in a temporary folder, this one will be deleted when you close Blender. If you want, you can redirect these images to a different directory.

On the other hand, after you save the .blend file, these pasted images will be saved where the .blend file is located - in the ImagePaste folder. This folder can also be customized in the preferences.

Customizing the image filename

You can customize the filename of the pasted image with the help of some predefined variables:

Variable	Description	Example
${addonName}	Name of the add-on	ImagePaste
${yearLong}	Year with the century	2021, 2022, …
${yearShort}	Year without the century	21, 22, …
${monthNumber}	Month as a zero-padded decimal number	01, 02, …, 12
${monthNameLong}	Full month name	January, February, …, December
${monthNameShort}	Abbreviated month name	Jan, Feb, …, Dec
${day}	Day of the month as a zero-padded decimal number	01, 02, …, 31
${weekdayNumber}	Weekday as a decimal number	0, 1, …, 6
${weekdayNameLong}	Full weekday name	Sunday, Monday, …, Saturday
${weekdayNameShort}	Abbreviated weekday name	Sun, Mon, …, Sat
${hour24}	Hour (24-hour clock) as a zero-padded decimal number	00, 01, …, 23
${hour12}	Hour (12-hour clock) as a zero-padded decimal number	01, 02, …, 12
${minute}	Minute as a zero-padded decimal number	00, 01, …, 59
${second}	Second as a zero-padded decimal number	00, 01, …, 59
${index}	Order of the image	1, 2, …
${index:N}	N-digits image order number with zero padding	${index:2} gives 01, 02, …

The default filename is ${addonName}-${yearShort}${monthNumber}${day}-${hour24}${minute}${second}.

Choosing the image type to move when saving the file

This feature will move (actually copy) images into the save directory after you save the file, so you can paste images anytime, no need to save it first. There's also an option in the add-on preferences you can choose the type of images to move:

• Pasted images: Only images that were pasted using the add-on would be moved to the save directory.
• All images: Images existing in the .blend file will be moved.
• No moving: Don't do anything when saving the file.

Troubleshooting

If ImagePaste doesn't work, try:

• Running Blender as adminstrator
• Using an earlier version of ImagePaste, particularly v1.4.0 and v1.3.2 (Windows 7 doesn't seem to work with the newer versions)

Contributing and getting support

This project is no longer accepting new ImagePaste maintenance work.

If you need the same workflow in modern Blender, use Pasty. New bug reports and feature requests should be opened in the Pasty issue tracker.

Thank you to all ImagePaste contributors and everyone who shared ideas, reports, fixes, and testing over the years.