Nefesh HaChayim, Reb Itzele's Long Annotation

And the matter is that just as the definition of tzellem is “model”455Heb.: Reb Itzele uses the term d’foos, perhaps relating to the classical process of printing using engraved or carved blocks of type, ink and paper. We translate it as “model”, where a model is employed as a reference in creating something else that is just like the model.—see RaSh”Y’s commentary on the verse “with our tzellem, per our d’moot”—as for example, one who forms a mental image456Heb.: sheh-m’tza-yeir b’makh-shahv-toe—a mental visualization of some specific form457Heb.: ei-zeh d’moot pra-tee, to create an end result according to his mental image. First, he stimulates his mind to bring into existence a tzellem and model, in a manner that it will be able to be made—via the tzellem—the specific form that he desires.