where to include pictures in a research paper

• USC Libraries
• Research Guides

Using Images and Non-Textual Materials in Presentations, Papers, Theses, and Dissertations

• Documenting and Citing Images
• Finding Images - Select Sources

Documenting and Citing Images/Photographs and Their Sources

Please note that this is advice on best practices and considerations in documenting and citing images and non-print materials. It does not represent legal advice on obtaining permissions.

Generally, images copied from other sources should not be used without permissions in publications or for commercial purposes. Many American academic institutions require graduate students to archive their finished and approved theses/dissertations in institutional electronic repositories and/or institutional libraries and repositories, and/or to post them on Proquest's theses database. Unpublished theses and dissertations are a form of scholarly dissemination. Someone else's images, like someone else's ideas, words or music, should be used with critical commentary, and need to be identified and cited. If a thesis/dissertation is revised for publication,  waivers or permissions from the copyright holder(s) of the images and non-textual materials must be obtained. Best practices also apply to materials found on the internet and on social media, and, properly speaking, require identification, citation, and clearance of permissions, as relevant.

Use the following elements when identifying and citing an image, depending on the information you have available . It is your responsibility to do due diligence and document as much as possible about the image you are using:

• Artist's/creator's name, if relevant;
• Title of the work/image, if known, or description;
• Ownership information (such as a person, estate, museum, library collection) and source of image;
• Material, if known, particularly for art works;
• Dimensions of the work, if known.

The Chicago Manual of Style online can be searched for norms on appropriate ways to caption illustrations, capitalize titles of visual works, or cite print materials that contain images.

Including images/photographs in a bibliography:

Best practice is to not include images within a bibliography of works cited. It is common, instead, to create a separate list of images (or figures) and their source, such as photographer (even if it's you) or collection. It may be useful to also include location, e.g., museum, geographic reference, address, etc.

Examples of Documenting Images

The image below is scanned from a published book. It can be used in a critical context within a presentation, classroom session, or  paper/thesis, as follows:

[ Figure 1. This photograph from 1990 shows the Monument against Fascism designed by Jochen Gerz and Esther Shalev-Gerz, Hamburg, 1986-1993. Image from James Young, ed.,  Art of Memory: Holocaust Memorials in History (New York: Prestel, 1994), 70]

If you need to use this image in a published work, you will have to seek permission. For example, the book from which this image was scanned should have a section on photo credits which would help you identify the person/archive holding this image.

The image below was found through Google Images and downloaded from the internet. It can be used in a critical context within a presentation,  classroom session, or paper/thesis, as follows:

[Figure 2. This image shows the interior of Bibliotheca Alexandrina designed by the Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta in 2001. Image downloaded from https://mgkhs.com/gallery/alexandria in March 2016.]

If you want to use this image in a published work, you will have to do your best to track down its source to request permission to use. The web site or social media site where you found the image may not be an appropriate source, since it is common for people to repost images without attribution. Just because "everyone does it" does not mean that you should be using such materials without attribution or documentation. In this specific example, you may need to write to the photographer or to the architecture firm. If you have done due diligence and were unable to find the source, or have not received a response, you may be able to use an image found on the internet with appropriate documentation in a publication.

The image below was downloaded from a digitized historic collection of photographs held by an institutional archive. It can be used in a critical context within a presentation,  classroom session, or paper/thesis, as follows:

[Figure 3. In the 1920s the urban landscape of Los Angeles started to change, as various developers began building multi-family apartment houses in sections previously zoned for single family dwellings. Seen in this photograph by Dick Whittington is the Warrington apartment building, which was completed in 1928, surrounded by older single family structures. Downloaded from the USC Digital Library in February 2016]

I f you plan to use this photograph in a publication, seek permission from the library/institution from whose digital archive you downloaded the image. Contact information is usually found in the record for the image.

The image below was taken by the author. It can be used in a critical context within a presentation, classroom session , paper/thesis, or a publication* as follows:

[Figure 4. Genex Tower, also known as West City Gate, is a residential tower located in New Belgrade. This example of late 20th century brutalist-style architecture was designed in 1977 by Mihajlo Mitrović. Photographed by the author in 2013.]

*Please note, if you re-photographed someone else's photograph or a work of art, or if you re-photographed a published image, you may not be able to publish your photograph without first seeking permission or credit for its content.  If you have done due diligence and were unable to find the source or have not received a response, you may be able to use your image with appropriate documentation.

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• Last Updated: Jan 19, 2023 3:12 PM
• URL: https://libguides.usc.edu/fair_use

• Ask a Librarian

Locating and Using Images for Presentations and Coursework

• Free & Open Source Images
• How to Cite Images
• Alt Text Image Descriptions

Copyright Resources

• Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States from Cornell University Library
• Copyright Overview from Purdue University
• U.S. Copyright Office
• Fair Use Evaluator
• Visual Resources Association's Statement of Fair Use of Images for Teaching, Research, and Study
• Creative Commons Licenses

Attribution

Again, the majority of images you find are under copyright and cannot be used without permission from the creator. There are exceptions with Fair Use, but this Libguide is intended to help you locate images you can use with attribution (and in some case, the images are free to use without attribution when stated, such as with stock images from pixabay). ***Please read about public domain . These images aren't under copyright, but it's still good practice to include attribution if the information is available. Attribution : the act of attributing something, especially the ascribing of a work (as of literature or art) to a particular author or artist. When you have given proper attribution, it means you have given the information necessary for people to know who the creator of the work is.

Citation General Guidelines

Include as much of the information below when citing images in a paper and formal presentations. Apply the appropriate citation style (see below for APA, MLA examples).

• Image creator's name (artist, photographer, etc.)
• Title of the image
• Date the image (or work represented by the image) was created
• Date the image was posted online
• Date of access (the date you accessed the online image)
• Institution (gallery, museum) where the image is located/owned (if applicable)
• Website and/or Database name

Citing Images in MLA, APA, Chicago, and IEEE

• Directions for citing in MLA, APA, and Chicago MLA: Citing images in-text, incorporating images into the text of your paper, works cited APA 6th ed.: Citing images in-text and reference list Chicago 17th ed.: Citing images footnotes and endnotes and bibliography from Simon Fraser University
• How to Cite Images Using IEEE from the SAIT Reg Erhardt Library
• Image, Photograph, or Related Artwork (IEEE) from the Rochester Institute of Technology Library

Citing Images in Your PPT

Currently, citing images in PPT is a bit of the Wild West. If details aren't provided by an instructor, there are a number of ways to cite. What's most important is that if the image is not a free stock image, you give credit to the author for the work. Here are some options:

1. Some sites, such as Creative Commons and Wikimedia, include the citation information with the image. Use that citation when available. Copy the citation and add under the image. For example, an image of a lake from Creative Commons has this citation next to it:  "lake"  by  barnyz  is licensed under  CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 .

2. Include a marker, such as Image 1. or Figure 1., and in the reference section, include full citation information with the corresponding number

3. Include a complete citation (whatever the required format, such as APA) below the image

4. Below the image, include the link to the online image location

5. Hyperlink the title of the image with the online image location

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• Home – AI for Research

How to include pictures in a research paper

It is often said that a picture can speak more than a thousand words. In all kinds of research papers, pictures are essential in adding to the richness of the literature and analysis because of the valuable insight they can offer. For example, pictures of measured data from statistical applications are very important additions to the “Data presentation and analysis” chapter or section of any research paper.

This is because they help to complement verbal discussions or analysis by offering a visual presentation of the statistical technique used to measure the variables of interest. However, where the researcher is not the originator of such pictures, it is very important to cite the source of the picture according to the prescribed format. In the case of statistical applications mentioned above, for example, be sure to disclose which application generated the picture or printout as well as the version of such an application (e.g., SPSS version 27).   

What is a research paper?

A research paper is a form of academic writing which involves formally investigating a field of knowledge or topic of interest in order to add to the existing stock of knowledge in that field and/or solve a particular problem. Educational research is formal because it is not based on the subjective discretions of the researcher but on an accepted and objective standard such as the scientific method of inquiry. Research papers can be of different types. These include term papers, seminar presentations, undergraduate projects, post-graduate thesis or dissertations, conference/workshop papers, and journal entries, among others.

Though these highlighted papers and others can be structured in diverse ways, conducting research in this context basically requires that the researcher identifies a problem or area of interest; formulates research questions and/or hypothesis; reviews the existing literature in the field; collects, measures and analyzes relevant data; discusses the findings; makes conclusions and recommendations based on the findings and then suggests possible directions for future research.

Some things to consider before including pictures in a research paper

As noted above, pictures can complement words to make a research paper richer in terms of providing more insight. However, the researcher must ensure that such pictures are optimally included to generate the desired effects. To this end, some of the tips below can help.

Ensure the picture adds value to your research paper

Pictures may be a necessary aspect of some research papers but this does not imply that they should not be selected meticulously and meritoriously. The researcher must critically evaluate all pictures he or she intends to include in their paper and select only the most relevant, i.e., those that will help illuminate verbal discussions/analysis and consequently deepen the understanding of readers.   

Proper labeling and citation

Research papers are formal documents with rules on how each of them should be written, structured, or formatted. Therefore, ensure that your pictures are labeled according to the rules provided by whoever the paper is meant for (such as a university department or a print journal). The rules are usually determined by Style Guides like the Modern Language Association (MLA), the American Psychological Association, etc. Properly citing the sources of any picture you have borrowed is necessary to enable you avoid plagiarism.

Pictures should be suitably located

After toiling hard to gather the pictures needed for his or her research, the researcher should ensure that the selected pictures are appropriately inserted into the desired areas of the paper. In some social science projects and theses, for example, a tabular presentation of the data used for the research is located on the first page of the fourth chapter titled “Data presentation and analysis.”

Sometimes the researcher may have several pictures that cannot all be accommodated in the main body of a project or thesis/dissertation. In such instances, it will be appropriate to attach such pictures in the “Appendices” section at the end of the paper.

Carry the images along

The pictures do not serve as mere decorations but have been selected to help provide more insight and thus enrich the research paper. To this end, the researcher should ensure that the pictures are properly integrated into the verbal discussions or analysis in the paper.  For example, “Figure 1.0 is a graphical representation of all the differenced variables in the time series.” etc.

Citing pictures in a research paper

There are many kinds of pictures as well as picture sources and they can also be cited in a variety of ways. For simplicity, the examples in this article will focus entirely on how to cite digital (internet) pictures.

Format: Image Creator’s Last Name, First Name. “Image Title.”  Website Name , Day Month Year Published, URL.  

Example: Jones, Daniel. “The Hope Creek nuclear plant.” LearnersHub ,  9 November 2017, www.learnershub.net/2017/09/11/nuclear-technology-explained.html.

Chicago style

Format: Last Name, First Name. M [initials]. “Title.” Digital image. Website Title. Month Date, Year published. Accessed Month Date, Year. URL.

If the picture has no title, then a description can be used instead.

Date Accessed should only be included if the publication date is unavailable.

Example: Jones, Daniel R. “The Hope Creek nuclear plant.”Digital image. LearnersHub ,  Accessed 9 November 2017. www.learnershub.net.

Format: Author’s last name. First initial. (Publication or creation date). Title of image [Type of image]. Name of publisher. Museum or university. URL.

Example: Jones,  R. 2017.   The Hope Creek nuclear plant .[Photo]. National Science Museum. https//:www.nationalsciencemsuem.org/nuclearscience/2017/11/the-hope-creek-nuclear-plant.jpg.

Pictures of all kinds (including tables, charts, graphs, figures, photographs, etc) are useful components in a research paper. This is because of the insight they can bring by complementing verbal discussions and analysis. However, pictures should not be included in a research paper arbitrarily but follow some guidelines such as those presented above.

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Using Images in Publications

Many scholarly publications are enhanced with images, ranging from reproductions of fine art to graphs showing the results of scientific research. Including images in books and articles can complement the text, visually demonstrate the author's analysis, and engage the reader. Using images in publications, however, raises copyright issues, which can be complex, time-consuming, and expensive. To help authors navigate this process, publishers often provide specific guidance, including what rights must be requested, acceptable file formats, image resolution, etc. See Requesting 3rd party Permissions  from Oxford Journals or Image Guidelines from Johns Hopkins University Press as examples. 

The primary issues that you need to aware of when incorporating images in your publication are: 

The right to publish a copyrighted image is controlled by the copyright owner, so each copyrighted image that you use must have permission or fall within an exception to the general copyright statue, such as public domain, fair use, or open access. Copyright permission fees are sometimes waived or reduced for scholarly publications; if not, however, they can be quite expensive as well as time-consuming to obtain. We recommend that you begin the permissions process early to avoid any last-minute complications that may delay publication of your work. In addition to copyright permission, some museums and other providers of images charge a fee for the production or use of a digital image from their collections, even if the underlying work is in the public domain. Like permissions fees, use fees are sometimes waived or reduced for scholarly publications.

High resolution images

Publishers will require a high resolution image for publication (usually at least 300 ppi). These may come from museums, archives, other collections, your own work, or suppliers of stock photos. There may be a fee assessed for use, the amount of which can vary significantly depending on who is supplying the image and how you are using it.

Printing costs

The cost of printing images can be substantial for the publisher, so be sure to discuss with your editor how many images they will publish, whether they will be in color, and whether a subvention will be required if the manuscript contains a large number of images.

Privacy and publicity rights

If you have a photograph with people in it, there may be privacy or publicity rights that need to be addressed.

• Susan Bielstein,  Copyright Clearance: A Publisher's Perspective  (2005) (article begins on page 19)
• Susan Bielstein,  Permissions, A Survival Guide: Blunt Talk about Art as Intellectual Property  (2006) (ebook - Georgetown NetID required for off-campus access)
• Lois Farfel Stark, Obtaining Image Permissions for Your Book: An Author’s Perspective (2018)

Copyright Principles

Public domain.

If you can find a usable image in a book or journal article published before 1927, it will be in the public domain , and therefore free of any copyright restrictions. Certain images published between 1927 and 1989 may also be in the public domain, depending on if they were published with a copyright notice and if the copyright was renewed. For more information, use this public domain chart or contact [email protected] .

Works of the United States government are also in the public domain and may be used freely.

Some museums, libraries, and archives make public domain images freely available with few or no restrictions. Read more in the Finding Images  section.

Open Access / Creative Commons

Wikimedia Commons has a large collection of images that are licensed using the Creative Commons licensing system . Restrictions, if any, are listed with the image. It is important to recognize that if you use Wikimedia, you are relying on copyright information provided by the person uploading the image. You should review the copyright information carefully to be sure it appears to be accurate.

Many of the licenses in Wikimedia permit noncommercial uses only. The definition of noncommercial for purposes of the CC BY-NC license is, “NonCommercial means not primarily intended for or directed towards commercial advantage or monetary compensation.” Creative Commons provides some further guidance on how to  interpret  the NC license. 

Under certain circumstances, publishers may be comfortable with relying on fair use when publishing images accompanying scholarly works.

The guidelines in the College Art Association’s Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for the Visual Arts set out the fair use arguments for using art for educational purposes: 

PRINCIPLE In their analytic writing about art, scholars and other writers (and, by extension, their publishers) may invoke fair use to quote, excerpt, or reproduce copyrighted works, subject to certain limitations:

Limitations

• The writer’s use of the work, whether in part or in whole, should be justified by the analytic objective, and the user should be prepared to articulate that justification.
• The writer’s analytic objective should predominate over that of merely representing the work or works used.
• The amount and kind of material used and (where images are concerned) the size and resolution of the published reproduction should not exceed that appropriate to the analytic objective.
• Justifications for use and the amount used should be considered especially carefully in connection with digital-format reproductions of born-digital works, where there is a heightened risk that reproductions may function as substitutes for the originals.
• Reproductions of works should represent the original works as accurately as can be achieved under the circumstances.
• The writing should provide attribution of the original work as is customary in the field, to the extent possible.

Your own work

If you have your own high resolution photograph, you may use it freely since you own the copyright in your photograph. If, however, your photograph is of a copyrighted work of art, permission of the artist will be required unless it is a fair use . Note that many museums do not allow photography of works in their collections, so obtaining your own image of a work of art may not be an option. While architectural works are subject to copyright protection, photographs of publicly viewable buildings may be used. 17 U.S.C. § 120(a) .

If your image does not fall into any of the above categories, you will need to request permission from the copyright holder for use of the image. You may be able to obtain permission from one of the sites listed in the next section, or you may need to request permission from the artists or their representatives. The Artists Rights Society represents the intellectual property rights interests of visual artists and their estates worldwide and covers works in private collections as well as museums and galleries. ARS has a request form for permissions requests. Note that ARS handles permission requests only and does not supply images of the works.

For more general information on requesting permission, visit our Requesting Permission page.

Finding Images

Museums, libraries, and archives.

Some museums, libraries, and archives have collections of public domain images available for use in scholarly publications. The content of the collections and the permitted uses vary among institutions. Many do not allow images to be used as cover art since that is usually considered to be a commercial use, and some limit use to print publications. Below is a list of libraries and museums that make works available with few or no restrictions. 

• British Library  - The British Library’s collection on flickr allows access to millions of public domain images from the Library's collections. Higher quality images, if required, are available for purchase through the British Library. For more information, visit the Library's Images Online page.  
• J. Paul Getty Museum  - The Getty makes available, without charge, all available digital images to which the Getty holds the rights or that are in the public domain to be used for any purpose. More information about the content of the collections is available on their  Open Content Program  page.
• Library of Congress - Prints and Photographs - This collection has over 1,200,000 digitized images from the Library's collections. Rights information is available for each image - look for the field marked "Rights Advisory." Many collections have no known restrictions on use. For further information about using the collection, read the Copyright and Other Restrictions That Apply to Publication/Distribution of Images . Information on restrictions on use by collection is also available.
• National Gallery of Art  - NGA Images is a repository of images  presumed to be in the public domain  from the collections of the National Gallery of Art. Users may download— free of charge and without seeking authorization from the Gallery— any image of a work in the Gallery’s collection that the Gallery believes is in the public domain and is free of other known restrictions.
• New York Public Library  - This collection contains more than 180,000 photographs, postcards, maps and other public-domain items from the library’s special collections in downloadable high-resolution files. High resolutions downloads are available with no permission required and no restrictions on use.
• Victoria & Albert Museum - These images of art from the collections of the V&A are available for academic publishing with some limitations (print runs up to 4,000 copies or 5 years online use). Read the full  terms and conditions  to see if your use qualifies.

Stock image sites

There are many companies that provide both a high quality image for publication and a license for publication. These sites usually have good selection of images, the images are high quality, and the search features are sophisticated. Licensing fees vary considerably and can be high, though you may be able to negotiate a discount for use in a scholarly publication.

For some of the sites listed below, the price will vary depending on which rights you need for publication: print/electronic, region of the world, number of languages, number of books, where the image will be placed (inside/cover), and size of the image. After entering that information, a license fee will display based on your use. The license fee is not automatically available for some images; for those, you will usually receive an email message after submitting your request. You should consult with your editor when selecting options to be sure you have selected the appropriate options for your book or article.

• Art Resource (license fee based on rights needed)
• Bridgeman Images (license fee based on rights needed)
• Getty Images (license fee based on rights needed)
• iStock (flat fee)
• Shutterstock (flat fee)

Artstor (Georgetown NetID required for off-campus access) is a subscription database that includes some images specifically licensed for academic publishing. These images are identified with “IAP” (Images for Academic Publishing) under the thumbnail image in your search results. Details of the use, including size of print run and credit line, vary among IAP images. You can view these by clicking on the IAP icon under the thumbnail image. The Terms and Conditions agreement displays when you download the image. Most Artstor images, however, are not in the IAP program and are not licensed for use in scholarly publishing. To use a non-IAP image in a book or article, you will usually need to request permission or go through a fee-based stock photo archive, often Art Resource, for a license. Artstor provides contact information for permissions in the "Rights" section of image information page.

You may also find usable images for publication on the sites listed on.

Additional options

• College Art Association's list of image sources
• Georgetown Library's Copyright and Multimedia: Images page
• Georgetown Library's Images LibGuide

Specific Uses

Cover images.

Images that appear on the cover of a book often require specific permission for that use and a higher fee.

Film frames

The Association of University Presses has this statement on fair use and film frames in their Permissions FAQ :

You may use frame enlargements and publicity stills (both from films and from television shows) when you can justify their inclusion in the work under fair use guidelines—for example, when it can be argued that the illustration serves as a quote from the filmic “text” to illustrate a point. Be conservative in selecting material—if the still or frame illuminates a point you are making or is specifically discussed, then the use may qualify as fair use. Where possible, limit the number of frames reprinted from any one film and from different films that represent the subject of your work. If your use is decorative, you must seek permission from the rightsholder to include it. When purchasing material from a photo agency, read the conditions stated on the agreement and on the back of the photo very carefully (particularly the fine print). In all cases, acknowledge the original copyright holder. For a more in-depth analysis of fair use as related to stills and frame enlargements, the fair use section of the Society for Cinema and Media Studies website offers a number of policy statements and disciplinary guidelines that may be useful.

If your use goes beyond fair use, or if your publisher has a more restrictive policy, you will need to get permission from the copyright owner. Most major film studios have a licensing division where you can submit a request –  MGM ,  Sony ,  Warner Brothers , Paramount Pictures ,   Universal , and Walt Disney Studios , for example. For smaller producers, you will need to contact them directly with your request.

Charts, graphs, and figures

There are differences among publishers with respect to what permissions they require for graphs, so a good first step is to consult with your editor on their policies. A few sample policies are:

• Princeton University Press - "Where a chart, graph, or table is being reproduced in a critical study of the work or to buttress an argument of the writer, no permission is needed. Data is not copyrightable. Unless there is a creative element to data depiction that is being reproduced without alteration, fair use can be asserted, with attribution."
• Harvard University Press - "Data is not protected by copyright. However, graphics like tables and charts are copyright protected if the data is organized or presented in a unique way or if the graphic provides interpretation of the data. If you plan to reprint a graphic from another source that is protected by copyright, please clear permission. If you plan to reprint existing tables and charts, adapt existing tables and charts, or create your own tables and charts that will not be subject to copyright protection, please refer to the following guidelines for credit: The standard way to credit tables and charts you are reprinting is: Source: Credit."
• Oxford University Press - "As a guide, you should always seek permission for:  . . . Pictures (paintings, drawings, charts, engravings, photographs, cartoons, and so on); Figures and maps; Tables."

There are permissions guidelines that many STM publishers use in setting policies for the reuse of images from their publications. The guidelines include gratis permission for the use of limited numbers of figures/tables/images from journal articles or books, though note that not all members have adopted policies exactly as written in the guidelines.

Many publishers who follow the STM guidelines, or who have similar policies, provide free permissions through the Copyright Clearance Center's Marketplace  so those requests are usually quick, easy, and free. The Marketplace system requires information about your publication and exactly what rights you are seeking. For charts, graphs, or figures that fall outside the guidelines, the license fees are often in the $20-$50 range, although that depends on many factors and could be higher or lower.

If you have questions about using images in a scholarly publication, please email [email protected] .

CUE Library Essentials

Everything you need to know about Concordia University of Edmonton Library

How To Cite & Format Images in APA (7th Edition)

References list & in-text citations.

Follow these examples when citing museum artworks, graphics or stock images in your paper or presentation. 

Artwork (From A Museum or on a Museum Website):

• Artist last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year). Title of artwork [Format]. Museum Name, Location. URL
• Renoir, A. (1883). By the seashore [Painting]. The Metropolitan Museum of Art,  New York.  https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/437430
• In-Text Citation: (Renoir, 1883) 

Graphics or Stock Photographs (Not From a Museum or Museum Website):

• Author. (Year). Title of image [Format]. Website. URL
• Ungaro, F. (2019). Brown turtle underwater [Photograph]. Pexels. https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-turtle-underwater-3150271/
• In-Text Citation: ( Ungaro, 2019)

For untitled stock photographs or graphics, include a description in square brackets in place of a title. Please note that images from clip art programs like Microsoft Word or PowerPoint do not require citations.

Google Images:

• Click through to the original website image and cite it using one of the formats above.

Formatting Images in Your APA Style Research Paper

Follow the steps and example listed below to properly format an included image in APA style paper:

• Center the image in the center of your page
• Create a figure number in bold type
• Create a title for the image below the figure number in italics
• Insert your image below the image title
• Notes can be included below the image to give a copyright attribution.

Portrait of a cat playing

Copyright Permissions & Attributions:

Please note that when including actual images in a paper, poster, or presentation, author permissions and/or a copyright attributions may be required. Please note that images from clip art programs like Microsoft Word or PowerPoint do not require copyright attributions.

Search for freely-useable images in the websites listed below:

• Creative Commons Search

Reference List Entries:

Most included images need to have their own entry in your reference list.

For details on which reference entry format to use, follow the examples as listed above. Please note that images from clip art programs like Microsoft Word or PowerPoint do not require a reference list entry but they should still be formatted properly when included in your paper.

Referring to Your Included Images:

When you refer to an included image in your text, make sure to refer to it using the figure number you created for the image:

• “As you can see in Figure 1, …”

For more information, please look at the citation guides found on the CUE Library website.

Photo by Pauline Loroy on Unsplash

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TODAY'S HOURS:

Using Images in Research and Presentations

• Finding Images
• Using Images

Why Do I Need to Cite Images?

Creative commons attribution.

Citing all your sources of information and creative work you use is part of academic integrity. You are giving credit where credit is due.

In academic work, images should be followed by and attribution or in text citation whether that be in a note or caption immediately following the image or at the bottom of a presentation slide. A full citation should be found in your Works Cited or Reference List, though you might separate them out into an Image Credit List, depending on the style of citation you are using.

The 7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association expended their explanations and examples of how to cite multimedia sources including multimedia materials. Examples of reference are found in Chapter 10 of the Manual and the following sections focus on multimedia sources

• 10.12 Audiovisual works (films, streaming videos, television series, etc.)
• 10.13 Audio works (music, podcast, radio broadcast, etc.)
• 10.14 Visual works (fine art, clip art, infographics, photographs, maps, etc.)
• 10.15 Social media (including Instagram posts).

A related section of the Manual is Chapter 7 which deals with the presentation of tables and figures, so the Manual shows you how images should be incorporated into your work in addition to how they should be cited; see Sample Figure 7.3 for how to include an attribution in the figure note.

Here is an example of how the following photograph (found through Pixabay) should be cited using the APA style.

stokpic. (2015, February 10). Blonde Girl Taking Photo [Photograph]. Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/photos/blonde-girl-taking-photo-629726/

Remember, the library has a copy of the Manual at the Reference Desk if you need to use it.

The 9th edition of the MLA Handbook Appendix 2 has several examples of works-cited-list entries and the examples of citing fine art and still images can be found on pages 331 - 333. The online  MLA Style Center  also has examples of image citations.

• Citations by Format | MLA Style Center Are you using any other types of information sources in your project? Find more examples of MLA citation styles here.

Here is an example of how the following photograph (found through Pixabay) should be cited using the MLA style.

stokpic. Blonde Girl Taking Photo. 10 February 2015.  Pixabay . pixabay.com/photos/blonde-girl-taking-photo-629726/

Remember, the library has a copy of the Handbook at the Reference Desk if you need to use it.

• Use & Remix - Creative Commons The "Use & remix" section of the Creative Commons website details how to properly attribute content licensed under a CC license. Attribution is a condition of all CC licenses. more info... less info... Creative Commons is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a globally-accessible public commons of knowledge and culture. They provide Creative Commons licenses and public domain tools that give every person and organization in the world a free, simple, and standardized way to grant copyright permissions for creative and academic works; ensure proper attribution; and allow others to copy, distribute, and make use of those works.
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Guide to Using Science Images for Research Papers

One easy way to include science images in your manuscripts is to download and customize them for your figures..

When downloading images from the internet to use in your scientific papers and presentations, you need to be careful that they match the copyright, resolution, and sizing rules that allow them to be used in academic journals. This science image guide provides tips to help you choose the right kinds of files that you can use to create your own impressive designs.

Which image format is best for research papers?

There are two categories of images that can be used for scientific publications: editable and uneditable. Editable images that can be fully customized and scaled without losing resolution are called vector files. Uneditable images don't allow you to adjust the design or color and come in wide range of formats from low to high resolution. Both of these image types can be used in scientific papers as long as you follow the proper copyright and resolution rules. Learn more about these image types and the different uses below.

1. Editable Images

The best kind of science images are editable vector files that allow you to customize the designs to best match the main points of your research. These include image file types such as Scalable Vector Graphics (.svg), Adobe Illustrator (.ai), Affinity Designer (.afdesign), Encapsulated PostScript (.eps), and some files in PowerPoint (.pptx) if they were drawn using PowerPoint shape tools.

Editable Image Tips:

• Editable images are important because some scientific journals, such as Science, require that you provide them with figures that are formatted using editable vector files.
• Be cautious of using images and database tools that only offer limited design customization options such as BioRender. Partially editable images can be difficult to make an illustration that looks professional and seamless with your data and other designs.
• Vector images have customizable sizes, resolution and transparent backgrounds, so you can always scale the image and insert it into any background.
• Make sure you follow the copyright rules associated with your image download. Some vector image databases require attribution and others allow you to use them for any purpose.

How to Find Editable Images

The easiest ways to find editable images is to explore science image databases or use Google search. I recommend using the search terms "drawings", "vector art", or "vector images" paired with the image type keyword.

The example below shows the Google Image search results for "cancer cell drawings" with a variety of different options for downloading different types of science images. You will still need to make sure that the image is available as a vector file type to be fully editable (e.g. SVG, AI, or EPS file types). Most vector images will require some sort of payment or subscription to download the high resolution files and use without copyright issues.

1. Uneditable Images

The second best format is uneditable images. Common uneditable image types are PNG, TIFF, or JPEG formats and these can be incorporated into your scientific figures and presentations as long as they have high enough resolution and have copyright rules that allow you to use them in academic publications. 

Uneditable image tips:

• Check the resolution of downloaded images to make sure they are high enough to use in scientific publications without looking grainy or unclear (see the "How to check image resolution" instructions in the section below). 
• Try to find PNG images with transparent backgrounds to make it easier to incorporate into your scientific figures and posters.
• Be very careful in checking the source of uneditable images and follow all copyright rules associated with the image. Uneditable image are more likely to have copyright rules associated with them that do not allow their use in scientific journals.

How to Find High Resolution and Transparent Images

The easiest ways to find high resolution and transparent images is to explore science image databases or use Google search. I recommend using the search terms "transparent background" and using the Google "Tools" feature to limit the search for "Large" images. 

The examples below shows the Google Large Image search results for "plant cell diagram transparent background" that show a variety of different options for downloading high resolution and transparent science images.

What image sizes are best for scientific publication?

Size and resolution are important because images need to be high resolution enough to show sharp shapes and lines when it is used in a printed or digital figure. Below are tips on how to choose the right image sizes and resolutions.

Image Resolution

Resolution is the most important aspect of a downloaded image or scientific figure and affects the sharpness of the details. A low-resolution image will have around 72 PPI and high resolution images are at least 300 PPI.

• Most scientific journals require images and figures to be at least 300 PPI/DPI.
• The "PPI" stands for Pixels Per Inch and is used when referring to digital file resolution and "DPI" stands for Dots Per Inch and is used for printing resolution.

How to Check Image Resolution:

• Windows computer: Right-click on the file, select Properties, then Details, and you will see the DPI in the Image section, labeled Horizontal Resolution and Vertical Resolution. 
• Mac computer: Open the image in Preview and select Tools, then Adjust Size, and find the label Resolution.

The size requirements will depend on how you plan to use the image. Most scientific journals use a maximum figure width of 180mm, so if you only plan to use images in scientific publications, then you only need them large enough to look sharp within a 180 mm wide figure (~600 pixels wide).

If you plan to use the image in presentation or posters slides, you will need to have much larger images to not have resolution issues when shown on a big screen that is 1280 x 720 pixels or printed on a poster that is approximately 48 x 36 inches.

How Can I Find Copyright-Free Images?

Copyright laws ensure that an image is only used in a way that is approved by the image creator. The best way to ensure that you download images with copyright rules that allow you to use them for academic journal submissions is to read the fine print on the image source. The summary below describes how to find images that are allowed for use in scientific papers.

Copyright License Review

Anyone who creates their own original artwork has the right to be acknowledged as the creator of that image. They automatically own the copyright for the image, which means that legally, they have the right to decide where and how that image can be used. In order to be able to use images in scientific papers, you will need to know what kind of copyright license is being used, which you can usually find by looking for the original source of the image or by reading the fine print of the image database.

Types of copyright licenses for scientific use:

• Public Domain  - Images generally become public domain after 70 years after the creator's death. If the copyright is not renewed on the creator's behalf, the image can become part of the ‘public domain’, and the copyright no longer applies.
• Creative Commons 4  - You can adapt and share the image in anyway you like, but this license requires attribution, so you will need to include the original creator in the acknowledgements of the research paper, posters, and acknowledged on your presentation slides.
• Stock Images  - Image databases that allow you to license the designs. Make sure to read the fine print on how you are allowed to use the image (e.g. personal and commercial uses). 

How to Find Copyright-Free Images:

Look for image databases that have copyright licenses that allow you to use the images "For personal, academic, and commercial projects and to modify it" such as: 

• FreePik  
• Simplified Science
• Wikimedia Commons

NOTE: Some copyright-free image databases may still require that you attribute the illustration to the original author in your scientific publication. Read the fine print to make sure you are using the image correctly!

Here is an example of Simplified Science Usage Rules for comparison to other image databases.

How to Use Downloaded Images in Publications?

After downloading images, the next step is to format them into your scientific designs. Two of the most common software tools that scientists use for figure formatting are Adobe Illustrator and PowerPoint. Below is a link to free online courses that show you how to use the downloaded images in your scientific publications and graphical abstracts.

Create professional science figures with illustration services or use the online courses and templates to quickly learn how to make your own designs.

Interested in free design templates and training.

Explore scientific illustration templates and courses by creating a Simplified Science Publishing Log In. Whether you are new to data visualization design or have some experience, these resources will improve your ability to use both basic and advanced design tools.

Interested in reading more articles on scientific design? Learn more below:

Scientific Presentation Guide: How to Create an Engaging Research Talk

Data Storytelling Techniques: How to Tell a Great Data Story in 4 Steps

Best Science PowerPoint Templates and Slide Design Examples

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Images in Research Paper

Have you ever wondered how to insert a picture in a research paper? Well, you are not alone. Our article will explore the top strategies for including pictures in a research paper.

Can you put pictures in a research paper? The answer is Yes.

It's true that pictures in research papers are not really necessary.

However, one photo is the equivalent of a thousand words. In this way, illustrations improve an article’s appearance and add valuable insights. Furthermore, images in research paper complement verbal discussions and are even more valuable for presenting data or analysis.

But, since images in research papers are not an integral part of writing, many struggle with finding & integrating pictures. The reason is that, beyond including photos, the writer must cite them to avoid copyright infringement. So, check out how to cite an image in a research paper and where to find the right images in the sections below.

What is a Research Paper?

A research paper is an academic writing that presents the results of an investigation or study. Unlike most writing types, it is a formal piece. In other words, it is not based on a researcher’s subjective opinion. As a result, the article provides a detailed analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of a topic. There are different research paper types that include:

• Term papers.
• Seminar presentations.
• Undergraduate projects.
• Pot-graduate theses or dissertations.
• Journal entries.
• Conference or workshop papers.

Using Homework Help for Research Papers

Researchers structure articles in different ways, but, despite this, they all revolve around similar processes:

• The scientific paper starts with identifying a problem or interest area.
• The scientist formulates some research questions or hypotheses and reviews existing field literature.
• Additionally, the paper writer measures and analyzes relevant data, discusses findings, and concludes.
• Optionally, the author adds pictures in research paper.
• It ends with recommendations and suggestions on possible directions for future research.

Due to the sheer workload, it can be hard to balance it with all types of academic work and personal life. A good alternative is to hire a writer from PapersOwl research papers writing service, to help you with your homework. Those professionals have experience in different fields, and you can choose the perfect writer for your assignment. With this, you have enough time to manage deadlines and keep your grades up.

Research papers are written by scientists, scholars and researchers in different fields. They include social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and engineering. So, hire a professional writer or ask for help with homework from your professor when you encounter issues.

How to Include Images in a Research Paper Correctly

Including pictures in scientific papers enhances data presentation, provides concept illustration or demonstrates examples. Use this guide to learn how to include pictures in a research paper accurately:

1. Where to Find Pictures To Include in Research Papers

Start by defining the purpose of the picture in your article. Do you want it to illustrate a concept, support data, or provide an example?

After understanding the specific purpose, investigate different sources. Reputable image sources include online image repositories, academic databases, websites, and scholarly journals .

Public Domain Images

Public domain images are photos and graphics that are available for anyone to use, free of charge. These images have no copyright, either because the copyright expired, or it never had one to begin with.

In the United States, copyright protection usually expires 70 years after the author’s death.

So, if you are looking for free images for educational use, free images for presentations or free images for academic use, check out the sources below.

Websites or platforms such as JSTOR , Wikimedia Commons or Library of Congress have several high-quality free-to-use photo collections.

Free Stock Images

Alternatively, you can use stock images from sites like Pixabay or Unsplash that are free for all types of projects including commercial projects.

IMPORTANT: Some free image databases may still require that you give attribution to the original author in your scientific publication. Track license & author details so you can reference the owner later.

2. What Types of Images To Include in Research Papers

Select a pic that is relevant to the research paper. These pictures must be high-quality, clear, and legible. Below are the types of illustrations you can use:

• Graphs in research paper.
• Photographs in research paper.
• Charts in research paper.
• Screenshots in research paper.

How to create figures for scientific papers? Choose charts & graphs, tables, infographics to present your data visually. There are lots of software that can help you create infographics.

Any visuals you choose must shed light on verbal analysis and deepen the reader’s understanding.

Optimize the image and resize it to fit within the margins. We recommend you use image editing software to adjust contrast, enhance clarity, annotate the picture, add other elements like highlighted text, arrows, etc.

There are different types of image formats that you can choose for your scientific paper:

• Editable images like SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics), AI (Adobe Illustrator), EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) . These vector images have high resolution and you can resize them without losing quality.
• Uneditable images like PNG, TIFF, or JPEG . Among these, PNG images with transparent backgrounds are probably the best choice. Try to find images at 300 DPI (Dots Per Inch) that have high resolution and are the right images for printing. If you need to add text, check out my post on how to edit text in image .

It's important that the images you use in a research paper to have high-quality and good resolution (300 dpi for print is recommended) .

3. Where & How to Include Pictures in a Research Paper

Most times, researchers determine where they want a picture to be placed inside a scientific publication.

The most important thing is to use it in a section to promote clarity. For example, close to texts or in a separate section like an appendix. A tabular data presentation is often on the fourth chapter’s first page.

Don’t forget to provide a clear description or image caption to explain the pic’s purpose. Also, assign a label to each illustration for easy in-text referencing. For example, figure 1, 2, or any other desired labeling. Some ways to format a research paper with pictures include:

• Directly embed them within the text.
• Create a separate space in the Figure Section.
• Put them in the appendix.
• Online repository or hyperlinks.
• Supplementary file or digital companion.

4. Refer to the Image in the Text

Assigning numbers to visuals is not sufficient to convey its message. If the goal is to provide clarity, there is a high chance that readers will need to reference the information while reading. Hence, carry the images along.

You can use descriptive text like:

• “As shown in Figure 1, the data shows a relationship between A and B.”.
• “Figure 1 is a pictorial representation of the variables in the experiment.”

5. How to Cite Images to Avoid Copyright Infringement

Do not use images in your research paper without a proper license to avoid copyright infringement.

Copyright infringement is the use or production of copyright-protected material without the permission of the copyright holder. Most teaching and paper-writing uses of images fall under the famous “fair use” provision (single use for scholarly purposes). However, it’s better to use free images or to get permission from the authors to use their image(s) in your scientific work.

How to cite an image in research paper? Follow these steps to reference images in scientific papers:

How to Cite an Image MLA Style (Modern Language Association)

• The owner’s name.
• Image name, title, or description.
• Source or website where it was first published.
• Contributor's name, if any.
• Serial number, if any.
• Publisher’s detail.
• Full date (DD:MM: YYYY) of the first published image.
• Link to the original picture

Format: Image Creator’s Last Name, First Name. “Image Title”. Website Name, Day Month Year Published, URL.

Example: Trent, Paul. “McMinnville UFO photographs”. McMinnville Telephone-Register Newspaper, 11 May 1950, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMinnville_UFO_photographs .

How to Cite an Image APA style (American Psychological Association)

• Image owner’s name.
• The complete date or year alone where the date or month is unknown.
• The place where it was first published.
• Image title or name (Optional).
• Publisher’s name or organization.

Format: Author’s last name. First Initial. (Publication date). Image Title [Type of image]. Publisher’s Name. Museum or university. URL.

Example: Trent, P. 1950. McMinnville UFO photographs.[Photo]. McMinnville Telephone-Register Newspaper. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMinnville_UFO_photographs

Visualization of Information

Information visualization , often referred to as data visualization or simply visualization, is the practice of representing data in a graphical or pictorial format to help people understand complex information more easily. It involves the use of visual elements such as charts, graphs, maps, and diagrams to convey patterns, trends, and insights that might be difficult to discern from raw data or text alone.

Types of Research Papers with Pictures

Research paper with pictures usually focus on data visualization. Below you have a list of different types of research papers that benefit from using photos, graphics, charts, infographics and other visuals.

Academic and research papers that benefit from the inclusion of images and graphics can vary widely depending on the subject matter and the specific goals of the paper. So, here are some types of student papers and research papers where images and graphics are commonly used:

• Scientific Research Papers: In scientific papers, graphs, charts, diagrams, and images are often included to illustrate data, experimental setups, and results. This helps in conveying complex scientific information more effectively.
• Engineering Reports: Papers related to engineering disciplines frequently use images, CAD drawings, schematics, and charts to explain designs, processes, and technical concepts.
• Geological Studies: Geology papers often incorporate maps, cross-sections, and images of rock formations to support geological findings and observations.
• Medical and Healthcare Research: Research papers in the medical field often include medical images, such as X-rays, MRI scans, and microscopy images to illustrate conditions, procedures, or research findings.
• Environmental Studies: Papers in the field of environmental science may use maps, satellite images, and charts to visualize data related to environmental changes, ecosystems, and geography.
• History and Archaeology Papers: Historical research papers may include images of historical artifacts, maps, photographs, and archival materials to support historical narratives and analysis.
• Art and Art History Papers: Papers in art-related fields may include images of artworks for analysis, as well as illustrations and diagrams to explain artistic techniques or concepts.
• Architecture and Design Papers: Papers related to architecture and design often feature sketches, CAD drawings, and architectural diagrams to demonstrate design concepts and plans.
• Social Sciences and Psychology Research: Research papers in psychology and social sciences may incorporate charts, graphs, and infographics to display research data and statistical analysis.
• Educational Papers: Educational research papers may use graphics, flowcharts, and illustrations to explain teaching methodologies or to visually represent educational theories and concepts.
• Computer Science and IT Research: Papers in these fields can include code snippets, flowcharts, network diagrams, and screenshots to illustrate algorithms, software, and technology concepts.
• Literary Analysis and Humanities Papers: While less common, literary analysis papers may include images of book covers, artwork, or manuscripts as visual aids in discussing literary themes or historical context.

How to Make Images for Research Paper

In the reasearch paper Detecting Photoshopped Faces by Scripting Photoshop" that I found on Arxiv, you can see lots of examples of images that are used to better illustrate the data. Arxiv is a free online archive of preprint and postprint manuscripts and reaserch papers in physics, mathematics, computer science, etc.

You can use Photoshop to make images in research paper. Photoshop is a great tool if you want to merge images, combine multiple photos, add text to image , create custom illustrations and diagrams, edit and enhance photographs, create maps, overlays, image annotations , etc.

Here on PSDDude we have lots of tutorials and resources that will help you create images for research papers. In my opinion more and more research papers use pictures and focus on visual data display. So, it is important that you do the same!

In Conclusion: Use Pictures to Boost Your Research Paper’s Quality

The use of images such as graphs and photos in a presentation enhances its quality and impact. Thus, consider utilizing tables, charts, graphs, or infographics to present findings. Graphs in research paper give value to your work and increase trust. Insert images to illustrate concepts, provide examples, or support comparisons.

Images in research paper enhance storytelling. But, strike a balance. Utilize imagery to boost your article’s appearance and not overwhelm it. Likewise, the ones that reinforce the research. Most importantly, follow the proper citation guidelines to reference pics to avoid punishment. Check with your academic institution or target journal for more information before publishing your work.

Credit: Freepik & Unsplash

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Home » Figures in Research Paper – Examples and Guide

Figures in Research Paper – Examples and Guide

Table of Contents

Figures in Research Paper

Figures play an essential role in research papers as they provide a visual representation of data, results, and concepts presented in the text. Figures can include graphs, charts, diagrams, photographs, and other visual aids that enhance the reader’s understanding of the research.

Importance of Figures in Research Paper

Here are some specific ways in which figures can be important in a research paper:

• Visual representation of data : Figures can be used to present data in a clear and concise way. This makes it easier for readers to understand the results of experiments and studies.
• Simplify complex ideas: Some concepts can be difficult to explain using words alone. Figures can be used to simplify complex ideas and make them more accessible to a wider audience.
• Increase reader engagement : Figures can make a research paper more engaging and interesting to read. They break up long blocks of text and can make the paper more visually appealing.
• Support arguments: Figures can be used to support arguments made in the paper. For example, a graph or chart can be used to show a correlation between two variables, providing evidence for a particular hypothesis.
• Convey important information: Figures can be used to convey important information quickly and efficiently. This is particularly useful when the paper is being read by someone who is short on time and needs to quickly understand the main points.

Types of Figures in Research Paper

There are several types of figures commonly used in research papers, including:

• Line graphs: These are used to show trends or changes in data over time.
• Bar graphs: These are used to compare data across different categories or groups.
• Pie charts: These are used to show proportions or percentages of data.
• Scatterplots : These are used to show the relationship between two variables.
• Tables : These are used to present large amounts of data in a structured format.
• Photographs or images : These are used to provide visual context or examples of the research being presented.
• Diagrams or schematics : These are used to illustrate complex processes or systems.

How to add Figures to Research Paper

Adding figures to a research paper can be a great way to visually convey important information to the reader. Here are some general guidelines for adding figures to your research paper:

• Determine the appropriate type of figure: Depending on the information you want to convey, you may want to use a graph, chart, table, photograph, or other type of figure.
• Label the figure: Give your figure a descriptive title and number it. Also, include a brief caption that explains what the figure shows.
• Place the figure in the appropriate location : Generally, figures should be placed as close as possible to the text that refers to them. For example, if you mention a figure in the middle of a paragraph, it should be placed within that paragraph.
• Format the figure appropriately: Ensure that the figure is clear and easy to read. Use consistent fonts and font sizes, and make sure the figure is large enough to be easily seen.
• Cite the source of the figure: If the figure was not created by you, you must cite the source of the figure in your paper. This includes citing the author or creator, the date of creation, and any relevant publication information.
• Consider copyright : Ensure that you have permission to use any figures that are copyrighted. If the figure is copyrighted, you may need to obtain permission from the copyright holder to use it in your paper.

How to Label Figures in Research Paper

Labeling figures in a research paper is an important task that helps readers to understand the content of the paper. Here are the steps to label figures in a research paper:

• Decide on the numbering system: Before labeling the figures, decide on the numbering system that you want to use. Typically, figures are numbered consecutively throughout the paper, with the first figure being labeled as “Figure 1,” the second figure as “Figure 2,” and so on.
• Choose a clear and concise caption: A caption is a brief description of the figure that appears below the figure. It should be clear and concise and should describe the content of the figure accurately. The caption should be written in a way that readers can understand the figure without having to read the entire paper.
• Place the label and caption appropriately: The label and caption should be placed below the figure. The label should be centered and should include the figure number and a brief title. The caption should be placed below the label and should describe the figure in detail.
• Use consistent formatting: Make sure that the formatting of the labels and captions is consistent throughout the paper. Use the same font, size, and style for all figures in the paper.
• Reference figures in the text : When referring to a figure in the text, use the figure number and label. For example, “As shown in Figure 1, the results indicate that…”

Figure 1. Distribution of survey responses

In this example, “Figure 1” is the figure number, and “Distribution of survey responses” is a brief title or description of the figure.

The label should be placed at the top of the figure and should be centered. It should be clear and easy to read. It’s important to use a consistent format for all figures in the paper to make it easier for readers to follow.

Examples of Figures in Research Paper

Examples of Figures in Research Papers or Thesis are as follows:

Line graphs Example

Bar graphs Example

Pie charts Example

Scatterplots Example

Tables Example

Photographs or images Example

Diagrams or schematics Example

Purpose of Figures in Research Paper

Some common purposes of figures in research papers are:

• To summarize data: Figures can be used to present data in a concise and easy-to-understand manner. For example, graphs can be used to show trends or patterns in data, while tables can be used to summarize numerical information.
• To support arguments : Figures can be used to support arguments made in the text of the research paper. For example, a figure showing the results of an experiment can help to demonstrate the validity of the conclusions drawn from the experiment.
• To illustrate concepts: Figures can be used to illustrate abstract or complex concepts that are difficult to explain in words. For example, diagrams or illustrations can be used to show the structure of a complex molecule or the workings of a machine.
• To enhance readability: Figures can make a research paper more engaging and easier to read. By breaking up long blocks of text, figures can help to make the paper more visually appealing and easier to understand.
• To provide context : Figures can be used to provide context for the research being presented. For example, a map or diagram can help to show the location or layout of a study site or experimental setup.
• To compare results : Figures can be used to compare results from different experiments or studies. This can help to highlight similarities or differences in the data and draw comparisons between different research findings.
• To show relationships : Figures can be used to show relationships between different variables or factors. For example, a scatter plot can be used to show the correlation between two variables, while a network diagram can be used to show how different elements are connected to each other.
• To present raw data: Figures can be used to present raw data in a way that is easier to understand. For example, a heat map can be used to show the distribution of data over a geographic region, while a histogram can be used to show the distribution of data within a single variable.

Advantages of Figures in Research Paper

Figures (such as charts, graphs, diagrams, and photographs) are an important component of research papers and offer several advantages, including:

• Enhancing clarity : Figures can help to visually communicate complex data or information in a clear and concise manner. They can help readers better understand the research and its findings.
• Saving space : Figures can often convey information more efficiently than text, allowing researchers to present more information in less space.
• Improving readability : Figures can break up large blocks of text and make a paper more visually appealing and easier to read.
• Supporting arguments: Figures can be used to support arguments made in the text and help to strengthen the overall message of the paper.
• Enabling comparisons: Figures can be used to compare different data points, which can be difficult to do with text alone. This can help readers to see patterns and relationships in the data more easily.
• Providing context : Figures can provide context for the research, such as showing the geographic location of study sites or providing a visual representation of the study population.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Images can be used to enhance the textual content of a research poster. When selecting images, it is important to ensure that they are of a high-quality resolution and that they depict content relevant to your research. Photos should be saved as .jpg or .png files and adjusted for color and contrast if necessary.

Providing captions for your images allow you to contextualize the relevance of this visual content as it relates to your research. When utilizing maps, charts, or graphs, be sure to create labels to describe the data you are presenting. Take note of the citation style that you're using — APA, for example, has specific requirements for captioning and labeling graphs, tables, and figures. 

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Poster Design Guide

Required Poster Dimensions: 32 inches wide x 40 inches tall

Planning and managing your content.

• Examples & Tutorials

Designing Your Poster

• Title: 100-144 points
• Section Headings: 72-84 points
• Main Content: 18-24 points, double spaced
• Acknowledgements and References: 10-16 points, single spaced

External Examples & Tutorials

• Master Your Homework
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Including Pictures in a Research Paper: Pros & Cons

The inclusion of visual elements such as images, diagrams, and graphs can be a powerful tool in effectively communicating the main points of a research paper. In this article, we discuss both the potential benefits and drawbacks to consider when deciding whether or not to include pictures within one’s research paper. Through an examination of the evidence that exists on this topic, along with highlighting perspectives from experts in various fields, we will provide readers with pertinent information for making decisions about using visuals as part of their written work.

I. Introduction

Ii. the benefits of including pictures in a research paper, iii. factors to consider when inserting an image into a research paper, iv. negative aspects of images in research papers, v. strategies for finding appropriate and legitimate sources for pictures used within academic writing, vi. techniques for citing images correctly in mla formatting style, vii conclusion.

When embarking on any academic journey, it’s important to consider the importance of an introduction . Introductions not only offer a way for readers to grasp the main idea of a paper quickly and easily, but they also provide an opportunity for authors to draw in their audience through engaging writing.

Including images is one way that research papers can effectively engage readers. Adding visuals can help break up long passages or enhance explanations of key concepts throughout a text. For example, if discussing complicated processes related to biology or chemistry, diagrams may be included within the body of work as visual aids which explain more complex information.

• Pictures : adding relevant imagery can be extremely helpful when attempting to demonstrate difficult topics.

A picture is worth a thousand words. This saying applies to research papers as well, which can be greatly enhanced by incorporating the right visuals. There are several benefits of including pictures in a research paper.

• Gives Your Paper Depth: Incorporating relevant photos and diagrams into your paper allows you to provide more detail about the topic than just words alone could accomplish. Pictures can help break up long sections of text, adding visual interest for readers who may not have time or energy to devote solely to reading your entire piece. Plus, since most humans process images faster than they do language-based content, it’s likely that your audience will gain a better understanding of what you’re trying to convey with an image instead.
• Can Enhance Understanding: The addition of meaningful images alongside scientific data helps readers comprehend complex topics more quickly and easily without having any prior knowledge on those subjects; this makes them particularly helpful when discussing difficult concepts like thermodynamics or quantum mechanics.

When incorporating an image into a research paper, there are several factors to consider. First , one must determine if the chosen image is relevant to the argument being made in the paper. For example, inserting a photograph of an historic building alongside evidence about its past inhabitants will add clarity and visual interest to this discussion. Moreover, readers can draw further connections between ideas or learn more about certain topics simply by viewing associated images.

Second , it is important that any visuals used within a research paper are properly cited according to style guidelines established by the academic institution or journal publishing outlet – plagiarism rules still apply! This ensures proper attribution for artistic work included in your writing and prevents readers from misinterpreting where source material has come from.

• Can a research paper have pictures? Absolutely – as long as they have been sourced responsibly.

Lastly, always ensure that images complement rather than distract from text; while some visuals may be striking on their own, too many colorful diagrams or photographs could create confusion around main points being conveyed in written form. Remember: it’s not enough just to include an image—it should also provide clear value when paired with related content throughout your document.

One of the key considerations when producing a research paper is the use of images. While photographs and illustrations can add value to written content, it’s important that researchers understand both the positive and negative implications they may bring.

• Lack of Detail

In many cases, photos used in research papers provide an overall idea or concept but don’t offer much detail. It’s possible that using additional figures would be beneficial for illustrating certain aspects not fully understood from just one image. In other words, if you’re aiming to explain a complicated concept, relying solely on pictures could cause readers to misinterpret your intentions – something which should be avoided at all costs!

• Can You Include Pictures?

When writing up research papers with any kind of visual aid such as diagrams or charts – there are two main options available: including them within the text body itself or linking out to external sources like websites hosting these resources online. The former requires more effort due to formatting requirements; while links take users away from reading material so must only be used where appropriate. Despite this though, providing visuals still has its place within academic literature; giving readers greater understanding into complex topics being discussed throughout by complementing theoretical ideas with tangible evidence presented via imaging tools.

Using Online Databases In the digital age, much of our research material is found on online databases. While these are incredibly useful for finding accurate and legitimate information from reliable sources, they can also be used to locate appropriate images. Many academic journals and other publications provide access to an array of photographs or diagrams which support their text. When searching through any online database, it’s important to ensure that whatever photos you use are permitted for educational purposes; often websites will contain a disclaimer specifying what usage rights have been granted.

Reputable Publishers & Digital Image Banks Another way of obtaining pictures related to your topic is by accessing reputable publishers’ collections or using digital image banks such as Getty Images and Unsplash which offer free downloads (under certain conditions). Using books specifically written about the subject matter may help too – some authors include illustrations in their writing so they could act as great visual aids when discussing a particular issue within your paper! Additionally, can a research paper have pictures? Yes – providing each photo is appropriately cited according to acceptable academic referencing standards alongside being labeled correctly with captions describing its context in relation to the given text.

Correctly Citing Images

Citations are a critical part of all academic writing, and it is essential to know how to cite an image correctly in MLA format. In the same way that you would include information from a book or journal article, citing images provides credit for visual sources so readers can track down the originals.

• Images taken from websites require both copyright and permission statements when published online. Include links with each image citation as well as any relevant source details such as author name or publisher.
• Image files like photos, illustrations and charts should be labeled with captions that identify them as figures along with titles or descriptions.

In this paper, we explored the potential of using pictures in research. To summarize:

• Pictures can be valuable elements to a successful research study.
• Images used should have educational value and not solely decorative use.

When considering images for inclusion in one’s work, it is important to carefully consider their impact on the message being delivered. When included thoughtfully they can contribute significantly by conveying an idea with more clarity than text alone ever could. But when selected poorly or abused too frequently, they may detract from a reader’s overall understanding and experience of your work – ultimately damaging its effectiveness as persuasive evidence.

The inclusion of visual elements in a research paper can often times be beneficial to its content. Through the integration of pictures, graphs and diagrams, authors are able to more effectively communicate their ideas while also providing readers with additional insight into the topic at hand. However, it is important for researchers to understand both the pros and cons associated with incorporating visuals into their work so that they may make an informed decision regarding how best to utilize them within their own papers. In this way, not only does including images add value from a narrative perspective but also helps elevate overall scholarship standards by ensuring sound conclusions are drawn based on tangible evidence whenever possible.

How-To Geek

How to make only one page landscape in a word document.

Sometimes landscape is just the way to go.

Quick Links

Turn specific pages landscape by inserting a break, change specific pages to landscape with page setup.

By default, Microsoft Word orients its pages in portrait view. While this is fine in most situations, you may have page or group of pages that would look better in landscape view. Here are two ways to make this happen.

Regardless of which method you use, be aware that if the text runs over to an extra page as a result of the rotation, that new page will also adopt the landscape orientation.

You can make a page or group of pages landscape by using section breaks , but there are slight differences in how to do this depending on the position of those pages in your document.

Enable Show/Hide

Unless you change your settings, section breaks are invisible pagination controls and can cause confusion if you forget where you've added them. To make them visible, click the Show/Hide (¶) icon in the Paragraph group of the Home tab.

Re-orientate the First Page or Pages

Place your cursor at the end of the page or pages you want to change to landscape. In the Layout tab, click "Breaks," and choose "Next Page." This inserts a next page section break in your document.

With your cursor on the first page (before the section break you just added), in the Layout tab, click "Orientation," and pick "Landscape."

This changes the first page or group of pages (depending on where you added your section break) to landscape.

Re-orientate Pages in the Middle of Your Document

If you have three or more pages, and you need to change the middle page or pages to landscape, place your cursor at the start of the first page you want to change. Then, as before, in the Layout tab, click "Breaks" and "Next Page." This inserts a section break at the start of the pages you want to re-orientate.

Next, with your cursor at the beginning of the new section you have just created, head to the Layout tab, click "Orientation," and then click "Landscape." This changes the current and all subsequent pages to landscape view.

But, as you only want certain pages in the middle of your document to be landscape, you'll need to add a second page break at the end of your landscape section.

Then, click anywhere after this new section break, and use the Orientation option in the Layout tab to turn the remaining pages to portrait, leaving the pages in between your section breaks in landscape view.

Re-orientate the Last Page or Pages

To change the end of your document to landscape, simply place your cursor at the start of this final section, add a next page section break here, and change the orientation accordingly (using the same steps as outlined above).

To delete a section break, place your cursor before the paragraph marker (¶), and press Delete.

Another way to convert a page or a number of adjacent pages from portrait to landscape in Word is to select the content and turn only those pages manually. This method works with text, images , tables, and other items you have on the page.

Select all items on the page or pages you want to rotate 90 degrees. If you have text, drag your cursor through all of it. If you have an image, table, chart, or another type of object, simply select it.

In the Layout tab, click the arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Page Setup group.

In the Page Setup dialog box that opens, confirm that you're on the Margins tab . In the Orientation section, choose "Landscape." Then, at the bottom, change the "Apply To" drop-down choice to "Selected Text," and click "OK."

When the dialog box closes, you will see the pages you selected turn to landscape view.

While this method is the simplest, you may run into difficulties. For instance, if you have an image or table with text wrapped around it , changing the page's orientation may alter its layout. Also, you might run into difficulties if you want to add more landscape pages to your document. The most structurally secure way to change page orientation is through the first method described at the top of this article.

If you use Google Docs, you can change the page orientation in Google Docs just as easily.