Image considerations
- Why are you using an image? Is it decorative or functional? Remember that if the image is functional (is providing information) you need to include alt-text to ensure accessibility. For more on this, see the page in this guide on Alt-Text.
- This flowchart might help you decide whether or not to use an image online.
- Try to keep decorative images as small possible so they don't distract from your guide content, but just assist in providing visual interest.
- As a general rule, you shouldn’t make an image larger than it's original dimensions.
- Try to maintain the ration of the image dimensions: keep the aspect ratio locked (the padlock icon will show if it is locked or open), and just adjust the width. You can also set the image so that it takes up a percentage of the width of the box.
Adding Images
You can add an image to your LibGuide by either:
- adding your own new image; OR
- reusing an existing image.
If you are adding a new image to a LibGuide, you need to be sure that it is free from copyright, or that the Library owns the copyright. If you use someone else’s image, be sure provide an attribution as per the image usage requirements.
More information on finding, editing and using images can be found in the Visual Communication Guide for Library Staff.
The Image Manager
In LibGuides, you add an image into a box by first uploading it into your Image Manager. The Image Manager is a place within LibGuides where you store and manage images. There are 2 components to the Image Manager:
- Personal Library - for images that only you can use;
- Shared Library - for images that can (and, in many cases, should) be used by everyone.
There is LibGuides help information available in the articles on Image Manager.