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APA 7th edition

When using images in your assignment or PowerPoint for a class presentation, include the following:

  1. The word Figure followed by an Arabic number in bold.
  2. A caption that provides the title or brief description in italics and in title case (all major words capitalized).  
  3. The image
  4. Beneath the image the word Note is in italics, full stop, the word Source, colon, parenthesis, Creator name, year of creation, closed parenthesis, full stop. The format for this is as follows: 

Note. Source: (Creator, Year). 

Expand on the sections below to see in-text citation and reference examples.

 

Figure 1

Varied Structural Cross-Beams Utilized in the Eiffel Tower, Paris.

Note. Source: (Simpson, 2008, p. 23).

Include in reference list at the end of the paper:

Simpson, J.C. (2008). An architect's perspective of Paris [photograph]. Journal of Professional Travel 49(8). 

 

Figure 2

Pulteney Covered Bridge on the River Avon in Bath, UK.

Note. Source: (Reid, 2009, p. 213)

Include in reference list at the end of the paper:

Reid, J. (2009). Travels with my Aunt [photograph]. Where's That? Publishers.

 

Figure 3

Girl With Dog.

Note. Source: (Zarft, 2010).

Include in reference list at the end of the paper:

Zarft, K. (2010). Girl with dog [online image]. Pixbook. http://www.pixbook.ca/kzarft/2409357.

 

Figure 4

Snowy Owl.

snowy owl

Note. Source: (Lee, 2017).

Include in reference list at the end of the paper:

Lee, J. (2017). Snowy owl [online image]. Wikimedia Commons. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/Snowy_Owl_%28240866707%29.jpeg

 
  • If the specific author of the map cannot be found, use the copyright owner of the map.
  • If the author of the map is also the publisher, omit the publisher.
  • Because dynamically created maps (e.g., Google Maps) do not have a title, describe the location of the map in square brackets, and include a retrieval date.
  • If the map is available in an online repository, do not use the URL that leads to the image only; use the URL for the item in the repository (containing the full record of information about the map).

The caption is a brief description of the map type or mapping software used to create the image and map location in italics:

Figure 9

Google Maps image of NorQuest College, Edmonton, Alberta.

Map of NorQuest

Note. Source: (Google, n.d.).

Include in reference list at the end of the paper:

If you are using images from an online map (such as Google Maps)

Name of Mapping Company. (Date). [Description of map location - Map Software Name in italics]. Retrieved Month Day, Year from URL

Google. (n.d.). [NorQuest College, Edmonton, Alberta - Google Maps]. Retrieved March 27, 2025 from https://maps.app.goo.gl/KVcHHjqQux1SD2uv7

If you are using images from an online repository (like an archive or government ministry)

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of map in italics. [Map]. Publisher or Repository Name. URL

City of Edmonton. (1968). Edmonton general plan, land use plan 1981, urban growth and land use. [Map]. City of Edmonton Archives. https://cityarchives.edmonton.ca/edmonton-general-plan-land-use-plan-1981-urban-growth-and-land-use-2

(For more details, see p. 347 of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association)

 

For screenshots, cite the software in your reference using the following template:

Name of Group. (Date). Title of work (Version 1.2) [format]. Publisher or App Store. URL

(For more details and examples, see p. 273 of the Concise Guide to APA.)

The caption is a brief description of the image in italics followed by [screenshot by author] and the note below cites the software as the source:

Figure 5

Creating an Instagram account, Step 1 [screenshot by author].

Insta step 1

Note. Source: (Instagram, 2020).

Include in reference list at the end of the paper:

Instagram. (2020). Instagram from Facebook (Version 164.0). [Mobile app]. App store. https://apps.apple.com/app/instagram/id389801252?vt=lo

 

Images with no creator or title should be used as a last resort. Instead, use open source images that are in the public domain or find an alternative where it is clear who created the image. If you have no alternative, reference the image using the following template:

Figure 5

Bipolar Disorder, Range of Moods.

" "

Note. Source: [Bipolar disorder, range of moods, n.d.].

 

Include in reference list at the end of the paper:

[Bipolar disorder, range of moods]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/bipolar-disorder/bipolar-disorder-signs-and-symptoms.htm

 

APA states that it is not necessary to cite yourself when using an unpublished image you took. However, if you would like to be cautious and include a reference and citation for these types of images, we suggest using the following as a guide:

Figure 6

Dog Laying On Pillow.

" "

Note. Source: (Nugent, 2021).

Include in reference list at the end of the paper:

Nugent, S. (2021, April 5). [Dog laying on pillow]. [Photograph]. Personal phone.

 

Figure 7 

AI Generated Image 

image of a white square

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note. Image generated by the prompt "Canadian Winter," by OpenAI, DALL-E, 2023.

Include in reference list at the end of the paper:;

Name of Group. (Year). Title of work (Version #) [Descriptor]. URL 

Example:  

OpenAI. (2023). DALL-E (Version 2) [Large language model]. https://labs.openai.com  

 

When using creative commons (CC) licensed images you must provide attribution, we suggest using the following as a guide: "Title" (with hyperlink to image) by author is licensed under CC BY. (with hyperlink to license)

"Red Cross Nurse" by east_lothian_museums is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

 

When using free stock images, we suggest you provide attribution, such as: Photo by author (with hyperlink to website image)

Photo by Suhail Lone

You do not need a reference entry

  • If an image is reprinted and untitled, make up your own brief description as title.
  • Refer to figures in text by their number (Figure 1 or Figure 2), not as "the figure below" or "the figure above".
  • Text in a caption is sans serif font (Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Futura). Font size must be between 8 and 14 point.
  • Everything is double-spaced.
As noted above, the direction from NorQuest Library is meant for class assignments or presentations.
For works that will be shared widely and professionally, consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association for information on copyright attribution (12.14-12.15).
Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.