How to cite an image in PowerPoint

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Graphics and images can make a presentation much more effective. Fortunately, the Internet is full of great images that you can use for this purpose, but not all of them are free to use. However, when you decide to insert a licensed image into your presentation, you need to cite its source and creator.

In this article, you will discover why it is important to cite images in your presentations and learn how to do it correctly.

Why cite an image?

Just because an image is available online does not mean it is free to use. In fact, the author or copyright holder of an image can demand that their work be removed if it is used without permission. Under copyright laws, downloading and using images is illegal unless they are approved for use, and simply providing a link to the source page will not solve the problem. That is why it is important to cite correctly.

APA versus MLA versus Chicago style

There are several styles of citing images. They all include references and citations, but vary in format. Below are citation and reference formats for the most common styles:

APA style:

The citation provided in the text must contain the author’s last name and the year of publication of the image in parentheses, that is, (Author, year).

The reference must include:

• Last name and initial of the author’s first name, separated by a comma
• The year of publication in parentheses.
• The title of the image and, in brackets, its format.
• The name of the website from which the image was taken.
• URL

All points must be pided by a point.

MLA style:

The in-text citation will contain only the author’s last name in parentheses.

The reference should look like this:

• Author’s last name, a comma and then first name.
• Image title in quotes
• Site name, written in italicsfollowed by the date of the appointment (in DD-Month-YYYY format) and the URL, all separated by commas

Chicago style:

Chicago style may not require a reference entry; an in-text citation might suffice. However, if you need to insert a full quote, the entry will include:

• Author’s surname and first name, interrupted by a comma
• The title of the image in italics
• Date in Month-DD, YYYY format
• Image format
• Site name and URL with a comma between them

You must separate each point with a period.

Now that you understand the different citation styles and how they should look, here’s how to cite a photo on different devices.

How to Quote a Photo in PowerPoint on Windows PC

On a Windows PC, you can use the desktop version or PowerPoint online. The method to insert quotes will be the same:

1. Go to the slide that contains the photo you need to cite.
   
2. Click on Insert in the menu bar.
   
3. In the toolbar below the menu, click Text’s box.
   
4. Click and drag below the photo to create a box. You will insert the quote into that box.
   
5. Double-click inside the box to start typing.
   
6. Make the font italic by selecting the Yo button below Fountain or pressing Ctrl+I on your keyboard.
7. Guy Figure 1. followed by a short sentence that describes the photo. Finally, write the reference text according to the style you have chosen. Please note that all text must be italicized.
   

How to cite a photo in PowerPoint on a Mac

To cite a photo on a Mac, follow this method:

1. While you are on the slide that contains the photo, open the Insert menu.
   
2. In the menu, click Text’s box.
   
3. You will see a text box appear. Drag it below the photo. Don’t worry about the size of the box – you can change it once you’ve created the appointment.
   
4. Double-click the box and a flashing cursor will appear inside it.
   
5. Click on the Yo icon located below the font type drop-down menu or press Command + me on the keyboard to make the text italic.
6. Guy Figure 1., then write a description of the photo in one sentence. After that, insert the reference in the style of your choice.
   

How to cite a photo in PowerPoint on an iPhone or iPad

You can cite a photo in PowerPoint on your iPhone using the same method that applies to the iPad:

1. Open the PowerPoint app on your phone, enter your presentation and find the slide with the photo.
   
2. From the Home either Insert menu, choose Text’s box.
   
3. Place the new text box below the photo by tapping and dragging the box.
   
4. When the box is in the correct position, tap it again and tap Edit text in the menu that appears.
   
5. Hit the Yo icon on the Home Menu to activate the italic font.
   
6. Guy Figure 1. in the text box. Then, insert a sentence describing the photo and then the citation reference, following APA, MLA, or Chicago style.
   

How to Quote a Photo in PowerPoint on Android App

To quote a photo in the Android app, follow these steps:

1. Open the app and corresponding presentation and navigate to the slide with the photo you need to cite.
   
2. You will see a toolbar at the bottom of the screen. Find and tap the Text’s box icon, the letter A in a rectangle.
   
3. The text box will appear in the center of the slide. Tap inside the box to start typing.
   
4. A different toolbar will appear above the virtual keyboard. Tap on the Yo on this toolbar to make the text italic.
   
5. Start the date with Figure 1. Follow this with a brief photographic description, then write the reference using the appropriate citation style.
   

Use Images in Your Presentations the Right Way

Citing photos in your PowerPoint presentations doesn’t require much extra work, but it makes the presentation much more ethical and professional. On top of that, you can avoid copyright issues by correctly citing the photographs you use.

Now that you have learned how to insert correct quotes, you can create an effective and interesting presentation with the help of illustrative photographs. All that’s left to do is choose the best possible images and your presentation will immediately be enriched.

Have you successfully cited photos in PowerPoint? What citation style did you use? Tell us in the comments section below.