How to Cite Images in PowerPoint

Buzz

Content

Steps

MLA Style

APA Style

Chicago Style

Tips

When preparing a PowerPoint presentation, any visual content not created by you must be properly cited. This includes charts, tables, or other elements copied from books, websites, or other sources. Unlike text citations, image captions in presentation slides also include copyright statements or licensing information. While it may sound complicated, the process is straightforward if you know where to look. Additionally, the citation format varies depending on whether you're using MLA (Modern Language Association), APA (American Psychological Association), or Chicago style. Today, Mytour will guide you on how to cite images according to international standards.

Steps

MLA Style

Assign a number to the image. Images are labeled with the term "Fig" (short for "Figure"), followed by a sequential number. If this is the first image in the presentation, the citation will start with "Fig. 1". You need to bold both the abbreviation and the number, followed by a period.

Example: Fig. 1.

Include the title or description of the image. If the image has a title, enter it within quotation marks. If not, provide a brief description of the image. Then, type "from:".

Example: Fig. 1. Pedestrians walking by street art graffiti of the word love from:

Identify the source of the image with a full citation. You need to include the complete Works Cited entry in the image caption. MLA does not require you to add this entry to the Works Cited section of your presentation.

Example: Fig. 1. Pedestrians walking by street art graffiti of the word love from: "Pedestrian Street Art Protest," 26 Dec. 2016, pxhere.com/en/photo/10722. Accessed 29 Oct. 2018.
If the image is available online, you can directly include the URL to the webpage containing the image instead of a page number.

End with copyright or Creative Commons license information. If the image in your presentation is copied, the copyright or license details must be included in the caption. This information is usually listed directly below the image. If you cannot find the copyright or license information, avoid using the image in your slides. If you do find it, add a period at the end of the license or copyright details.

Example: Fig. 1. Pedestrians walking by street art graffiti of the word love from: "Pedestrian Street Art Protest," 26 Dec. 2016, pxhere.com/en/photo/10722. Accessed 29 Oct. 2018. Creative Commons CC0.

MLA Caption Format

Fig. x. Description of the image from: Last Name, First Name. "Original Image Title." Publication, Date, p. x. right or CC License.

APA Style

Label the image with a number. Directly below the image, type the word "Figure" followed by a number, both in italics. Then, add a period after the number.

Example: Figure 1.

Describe the image in the caption. Since the image in your presentation is a copy and titles only apply to the original, APA style requires a description of the image. Provide a brief description (capitalizing the first letter and proper nouns) and end with a period.

Example: Figure 1. Cat watching World of Warcraft on a laptop.

Include the source of the image. Type "Adapted from" followed by the title, creator, and location of the image. Since most images are sourced online, include the URL.

Example: Figure 1. Cat watching World of Warcraft on a laptop. Adapted from "World of Warcraft Obsession," by Stacina, 2004, retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/staci/14430768.

End with copyright or Creative Commons license information. This indicates your right to copy and use the image in your presentation. If the image has a Creative Commons license, use the abbreviated license name. Finally, add a period after the copyright or license details.

Example: Figure 1. Cat watching World of Warcraft on a laptop. Adapted from "World of Warcraft Obsession," by Stacina, 2004, retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/staci/14430768. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

APA Caption Format

Figure 1. Description of the image (capitalize the first letter). Adapted from "Original Image Title," by Artist Name, Year, retrieved from URL.

Include a reference list entry to complement the caption. APA style does not require a full citation in the image caption. Instead, the complete citation should be included in the reference section. Below is the basic APA format for citing an image.

Example: Stacina. (2004). World of Warcraft Obsession [photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/staci/14430768.

APA Reference List Citation Format

Artist's Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. (Year). Image Title (Capitalize First Letter) [Format Description]. Retrieved from URL.

Chicago Style

Number the image. Place the caption directly below the image. Start with the word "Figure" followed by the number and a period.

Example: Figure 1.

Add a caption for the image. Include the title and artist's name in the caption, followed by a brief sentence linking the image to the rest of the presentation. Depending on the image, the caption may describe its content or its relevance to the presentation.

Example: Figure 1. The Banquet of Cleopatra by Giambattista Tiepolo depicts a contest between Cleopatra and Mark Antony.

Include the full citation of the image in the footnote. The superscript number for the footnote can appear in the presentation text or at the end of the image caption. In the footnote, list the artist's name, the title of the work, the creation date, and the source of the image. You may also include the dimensions and materials of the original artwork if relevant.

Example: Giambattista Tiepolo, The Banquet of Cleopatra, 1743-44, oil on canvas, 250.3 x 357.0 cm, accessed 24 May 2018, http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/col/work/4409.
For presentation slides, you can use endnotes instead of footnotes to keep the slides concise. The format remains the same.

Chicago Footnote Format

Artist's First Name Last Name, Image Title, Year, Medium, Dimensions, accessed Month Day, Year, URL.

Tips

All visual elements in the presentation, except tables or musical scores, must be labeled with "Fig." or "Figure" followed by a sequential number.

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