Hello Everyone! I am so stoked about Blender 2.8!!! Specifically the Grease Pencil animation feature. However, I have a question: will I be able to import reference image(s) into Blender 2.8 so I can trace over them in Grease Pencil? If so, How? Maybe put the reference images on a bottom layer in grease pencil, and draw over them that way? If that’s possible, how do I put the reference images on a bottom layer in Grease Pencil? Please help, I really need this feature for use in the near future?
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I figured this out more as a work around. Incidently Blender did freeze once so remember to save frequently.
You need to create a new scene which will then give you all the normal functionality. Use Shift-A to add a reference image and scale it as needed. Rename your new scene. Then go back to your Grease Pencil animation Scene and enable your new scene as a reference scene under the Scene tab of the properties panel.
HOW TO ADD BACKGROUND OR REFERENCE IMAGES IN BLENDER 2D GREASE PENCIL
When you start in 2D animation Mode. your option will be set to “DRAW” mode instead of
“object mode” you need to SWitch from Draw mode to object Mode.
When you switch to object mode you will notice new button options and one of them is “Add”
you can use that or just SHift A.
1 -shift+A to add background image or reference Image.
2 - Shift + A to add Grease Pencil then select blank or stroke or the monkey if you dont know what they each mean google it. if you just want to draw select blank
3 - now change mode from object mode to “DRAW MODE”
enjoy.
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Thank you guys!
I added the reference image in the object mode but i am not able to go back to the draw mode…there is no other option than object mode.
Make sure the Grease Pencil “stroke”, or “blank” Grease Pencil object, or the Monkey is selected after you add, and try again. If it still does not work, uninstall Blender WITH it’s user preferences, then reinstall it.
Is there a way to import easily one reference image by keyframe ?
For newbies 
This extra step will clarify as to how to add “blank”
Press shift A, click on Grease pencil and Select Blank
Now you can get Draw mode again
Thanks for helping us newbies Dorine! 