Using referance images

apply the texture to the diffuse slot of a material, assign the material to the object, hit that pretty little checkered box in the material editor, and make sure the view you're looking at it in isn't wireframe [:)]

hahaha, i feel like such a tool. Thanks JI simple and sweet, it's just i was trying the joan of arc tute and it didn't explain it to well

Just one more quetion, how do i disable the plane of the referance image so i can see it but not manipulate it.

>>Create a plane the same ratio as the ref image.
>>Press 'M' by default to bring up the material editor.
>>grab an empty material slot.
>>click on the little button next to diffuse.
>>pick bitmap.
>>navigate to the ref image.
>>make sure you tick the little checker maped box in the top right of the option panel in the material editor, this enables the texture to be viewed in the viewport.
>>I generally set the material to be 100% illuminated, that way its easily viewed no matter the angle and I also turn on backface culling so its invisble from behind.
>>go into properties and turn of grey when frozen.
>>freeze plane so you can't select it.

That should be everything.

Thanks for the help guys and sorry to be piling all the quetions. but i got just one more. Does max 4 have ring select u know the one where you can select one edge and hit a button to select all the edges in a ring. I want to select cross sections. hope you know what i mean.

The view port background it a powerful tool and that is what I use, so give both ideas a go and see what you like.