Hello again:

I apologize for the numerous posts but I thought that it might be helpful to add one other observation:

Importing a photo into a new window prior to inserting a character does indeed reveal the photo as desired, however, a subsequently inserted character brings with it the previously described gray background and the resultant grid.  So, it would seem that the software is not allowing the substitution of the imported photo for the default background.

Thank you once again for any assistance that you may be able to offer.