MAXScript Tools and Interaction with 3ds Max > Interacting with the 3ds Max User Interface > Viewports >

# Viewport Background Images

The following methods provide access to the values in the Viewport Background dialog.

    getBkgFrameNum <time>

Returns the viewport background image frame displayed at the specified time. Returns a value of -1 if no frame is to be used for specified time.

    getBkgImageAnimate()
    setBkgImageAnimate <boolean>

Get and set whether Animate Background is on ( true ), or off ( false) .

    getBkgImageAspect()
    setBkgImageAspect <name>

Get and set the background image Aspect Ratio option. Valid <name> values are:

    #view -- Match Viewport
    #bitmap -- Match Bitmap
    #output -- Match Rendering Output

    getBkgORType <start_end_integer>
    setBkgORType <start_end_integer> <name>

Get and set the background image Start Processing and End Procession options.

<start_end_integer> = 0 - Start Processing; 1 - End Processing

Valid <name> values are:

    #blank -- Blank Before Start/After End
    #hold -- Hold Before Start/After End #loop -- Loop After End

    getBkgRangeVal()

Get the background image Use Frame range as a Point2 value. The first component of the Point2 value is the Start Frame, the second component is the End Frame.

    setBkgFrameRange <point3>

Set the background image Use Frame range and step value. First component of <point3> is Start Frame, second component is End Frame, and third component is Step Frame.

    getBkgStartTime()
    setBkgStartTime <time>

Get and set the background image Start At frame.

    getBkgSyncFrame()
    setBkgSyncFrame <integer>

Get and set the background image Synch Start To Frame frame.

### The following 3ds Max system global variable is associated with the Viewport Background dialog:

    backgroundImageFileName

Lets you get and set a String value that defines the viewport background image bitmap file name. It contains the corresponding bitmap file name set in the Viewport Background dialog.

    setAsBackground <bitmap>

Sets the specified bitmap as the viewport background image. The <bitmap> must be associated with a bitmap file, which it true if:

1 - the bitmap is read from a file via openBitmap() or selectBitMap( );

2 - the bitmap was saved via save <bitmap> ;

3 - the MAXBitMap constructor is passed a BitmapInfo whose Name length isn't 0 (for example if you retrieve a bitmap from a BitmapTexture); or

4 - the bitmap is saved in the render() command.

### The following method affects Viewport Background redraws:

    InvalidateAllBackgrounds()

Invalidates the viewport background image for all viewports, causing then to be redrawn