Quote - I understand that Carrara does not allow a simple way to project a background image for creating a scaled model. Apparently I have to apply the reference images (top and side views) to planes. These images are .tif files. Will somebody please explain how I am to do this?

Carrara 7Pro; Win 7

Thank you.

I'm on 8.5 now, but it should be the same.  Go into the vertex modeler.  On the right hand side, there are four tabs called Model, Morph, Bones, and Global.  Click on the Global Tab.

Just underneth the tabs, it says Backdrop.  There are three areas Front/Back, Left/Right, and Top/Bottom.  To the right are three buttons with ... on them.  Click on the button, and browse to the file you want.  There is also an Enable check box.  Check these.  On my system you do not see the reference files in the directors camera, but if you select the top camera, you see the image you loaded for Top/Bottom.  It is the same with the Front/Back and the Left/Right Cameras.

ncamp