Using Lattice and Empty in Blender: References and Deformation

What will you learn in this guide?

When modeling in Blender, you may need to place reference images in a scene, manage a group of objects through a single control, or reshape a model with dense geometry without editing it directly. Empty and Lattice address different parts of these workflows: an Empty is a visible control or reference-image carrier, while Lattice is an object-and-modifier workflow for deforming linked geometry.

This guide covers using an Empty as a modeling reference, options for controlling objects or a camera target with an Empty, and the basic principles of managing deformation with the Lattice modifier. It’s also important to remember that the two tools don’t do the same job: an Empty does not deform geometry by itself, and Lattice is not used to display reference images.

Requirements and workflow preparation

You only need to be working in Blender with the objects you want to edit in your scene. The source guide does not specify a particular Blender version or hardware requirements, so we make no claims about version numbers or performance. If you’ll be working with a reference, choose the image file you plan to use in advance. For Lattice deformation, plan which objects should be affected and whether the entire surface or only part of it needs to change.

Empties contain no additional geometry, so they are invisible in renders. However, they can be used in Blender’s 3D Viewport with different display types. These include plain axes, arrows, circles, cubes, spheres, cones, and Image. The Image type lets you display images such as drawings or character sheets as modeling references.

The Lattice modifier changes an object’s shape based on a Lattice object. The affected objects are not limited to meshes: curves, surfaces, text, lattices, and particles are also listed. Since the same Lattice can be applied to multiple objects at once, you can make shared shape changes through a single control.

Step by step: Setting up references and controls with Empty

1. Use an Empty for a reference image. Display an image in the scene using an Empty’s Image display type. This does not turn the image into a renderable surface; the Empty itself is not rendered. Its purpose is to show the image as a reference in the Blender viewport while you model.

2. Adjust the image’s position and visibility. In the Empty settings, you can change the X and Y offsets of the image origin. The source guide specifies that values of 0.5 and 0.5 correspond to a centered origin, 0.0 and 0.0 to the bottom-left corner, and 1.0 and 1.0 to the top-right corner. Set Depth to Front to display the image in front of other objects. Using a low Opacity can also help blend the reference into the background.

3. Limit the views in which the image appears. You can control whether the Empty is displayed in perspective or orthographic views. If you don’t want the reference to obscure the view while inspecting the model, disabling it in the relevant view can help. The Only Axis Aligned option is also available, making the image visible only when viewed along an axis aligned with the object’s local axis.

4. Use the Empty as a control handle. An Empty can parent multiple objects, letting you control the group without adding extra geometry to the render. It can also serve as a target for normal or bone constraints. For example, you can make a camera point at an Empty using a Track To constraint. An Empty can also control the offset for an Array Modifier.

Step by step: Non-destructive deformation with Lattice

1. Identify the objects to deform. The Lattice modifier can affect meshes, curves, surfaces, text, lattices, and particles. Consider using Lattice if you want to quickly reshape a large part of an object or apply the same change to multiple objects.

2. Use the Lattice object as a deformation control. The modifier deforms the base object according to the shape of the Lattice object. One practical way to add the modifier to selected objects is to parent them using the Lattice Deform option. This establishes the deformation relationship while preserving the model’s original geometry through the modifier workflow.

3. Limit the effect to a region. The Vertex Group field in the modifier lets you restrict the effect to a specific area of the base mesh. When Invert is enabled, the group’s weights are inverted; in this case, the group represents the vertices that will not be deformed. Controlling these options lets you affect specific areas without changing the entire model.

4. Adjust the transition with Strength. Strength controls the blend between the original and deformed vertex positions. Use this setting to reduce or increase the effect of the deformation. Lattice can offer faster control for smooth shape changes, particularly on objects with dense geometry, than editing points individually.

5. Test shared changes on multiple objects. The same Lattice can be used by multiple objects, which is useful for shaping a group of models together. However, check each object’s suitability for deformation separately. Since the source guide does not provide scene-specific examples, verify the results for your project with a test render or viewport inspection.

Common mistakes

Expecting an Empty to appear in a render is a basic misconception: an Empty has no volume or surface, so it cannot be rendered. Placing a reference image in the scene does not turn it into a surface that will be rendered. Another common point of confusion is treating Empty and Lattice as if they serve the same purpose. An Empty can be used as a group control, target, or reference, while Lattice deforms geometry.

When using Lattice, overlooking the Vertex Group selection or the Invert state can cause the deformation to affect an unexpected area. Strength, meanwhile, controls the blend between the original and modified positions; trying to achieve the same control by changing only the group selection is not the right approach.

Modifier order also matters for particles. According to the Blender manual, the Lattice modifier must come after the Particle System modifier to deform particles. Note, too, that texture coordinates are not affected by Lattice deformation. This helps avoid confusing a geometric change with a change to texture coordinates.

Next steps for architecture and visualization workflows

In architectural modeling, an Empty can be used to keep a drawing or image reference visible in the viewport, control a camera target, or manage a group of objects together. Lattice can be useful when a model with many vertices needs a broader, smoother shape change instead of being edited point by point in Edit Mode. The ability to affect multiple objects with the same Lattice is also worth exploring in scenes where repeated elements need to be adjusted together.

Set up the workflow in a small test scene and verify the reference’s visibility settings and which objects are affected by the deformation. For particles in particular, check the modifier order; if you need a localized effect, check the Vertex Group. Since the sources do not specify particular hardware, pricing, or version requirements, avoid making assumptions about these factors. Evaluate compatibility and performance with your own files in the production scene.

Sources and license

This guide was translated and adapted from the “Lattice Modifier” and “Empties” pages in the official Blender manual. Both sources are published under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.