user: How do I use Add Image Strip in Blender? Include parameters, examples, warnings and best practices.

assistant: Move Strips
:   Use the mouse to position the strip in the timeline immediately after adding it. If this option is enabled, Start Frame and Channel properties are not displayed since they are determined interactively.

Start Frame
:   The [Start Frame](../../../../editors/video_sequencer/sequencer/sidebar/strip.xhtml#bpy-types-strip-frame-start) to place the left handle of the strip.

Channel
:   The [Channel](../../../../editors/video_sequencer/sequencer/channels.xhtml) to place the strip.

Replace Selection
:   Previously selected strips will be deselected. Only added strips will be selected.

Relative Path
:   Store the location of the image file relative to the blend-file.

Fit Method
:   Determines how images with an aspect ratio different than the scene’s
    [Resolution](../../../../render/output/properties/format.xhtml#bpy-types-rendersettings-resolution-x) are scaled to fit inside the render area.

    Scale to Fit:
    :   Adjusts the strips [Scale Transforms](../../../../editors/video_sequencer/sequencer/sidebar/strip.xhtml#bpy-types-striptransform-scale) so the visual contents of
        the strip to fit exactly within the project’s [Resolution](../../../../render/output/properties/format.xhtml#bpy-types-rendersettings-resolution-x)
        while maintaining the original aspect ratio.

        This may mean that the transparent areas may be added
        along the content’s border to fit the content in the rendered area.

    Scale to Fill:
    :   Adjusts the strips [Scale Transforms](../../../../editors/video_sequencer/sequencer/sidebar/strip.xhtml#bpy-types-striptransform-scale)
        so the visual contents of the strip to span the project’s
        [Resolution](../../../../render/output/properties/format.xhtml#bpy-types-rendersettings-resolution-x) while maintaining the original aspect ratio.

        This may mean that portions of the original image no longer fit the content inside the rendered area.

    Stretch to Fill:
    :   Adjusts the strips [Scale Transforms](../../../../editors/video_sequencer/sequencer/sidebar/strip.xhtml#bpy-types-striptransform-scale) so the visual contents of
        the strip to fill the project’s [Resolution](../../../../render/output/properties/format.xhtml#bpy-types-rendersettings-resolution-x). Note, unlike
        the other two methods described above, *Stretch to Fill* does not maintaining the original aspect ratio.

        This may mean that the original image becomes distorted to fit the content inside the rendered area.

Set View Transform
:   Automatically sets an appropriate [View Transform](../../../../render/color_management/displays_views.xhtml#bpy-types-colormanagedviewsettings-view-transform)
    based on the [Color Space](../../../../glossary/index.xhtml#term-Color-Space) of the imported media. In most cases, the *Standard* should be used;
    using the wrong transform could result in inaccurate colors or degraded rendering performance.

Import As
:   Determines the method for importing images.

    Auto Detect:
    :   Filenames that are numbered consecutively (see [Opening an Image Sequence](../../../../files/media/image_formats.xhtml#image-formats-open-sequence)) will be imported as a single image sequence with length equal to the number of images. Otherwise, files are imported as separate image strips with the given length.

    Image Sequence:
    :   All images are imported as a single image sequence, no matter their extension or filename. Note that since these files do not have to be numbered, placeholders are not supported for this mode.

    Individual Images:
    :   Each image is imported as a separate image strip with the given length, placed one after the other.

Use Placeholders
:   Image sequences can use placeholder files.
    This works by enabling *Use Placeholders* checkbox when adding an image strip.
    The option detects the frame range of opened images using Blender’s frame naming scheme
    (`filename + frame number + .extension`) and makes an image sequence
    with all files in between even if they are missing.
    This allows you to render an image sequence with a few frames missing, while ensuring that the image sequence strip
    maintains the correct length. Placeholder frames are rendered in pink in the VSE preview.

    When the missing frames are rendered out or placed into the folder with the rest of the image sequence,
    you can [refresh](../../../../editors/video_sequencer/sequencer/navigating.xhtml#bpy-ops-sequencer-refresh-all)
    the Sequencer and the placeholder frames will be filled in.
    The option is also available when using the *Change Data/File* operator and
    allows you to add more images to the range.

Length
:   Length of added strip. This value is not used when importing image sequences, since their length in frames is determined by the number of images in the sequence.