How do I cite an online image in APA Style?
Answer
In APA Style, the way a clip art or stock image is credited depends on its licensing terms. Stock image websites such as Getty images, Pixabay, and Flickr specify the required attribution for each image. These guidelines apply whether the image is purchased or freely available. Clip art from programs such as Microsoft Word or PowerPoint may be used without attribution.
Image with no attribution required
If the license associated with the stock image or clip art states "no attribution required," then do not provide an APA Style reference, in-text citation, or copyright attribution.
To use the image as a figure in a paper, provide a figure number and title and then the image. An optional description of the image can be included as a figure note. In a presentation (such as a PowerPoint presentation), the figure number, title, and note are optional.
Image with attribution required
If the license for a clip art or stock image requires attribution, include a copyright attribution in the figure note and a corresponding reference list entry.
The copyright attribution replaces an in-text citation and contains the same elements as the reference entry but in a different order: title, author, date, site name, and URL, followed by the name of the Creative Commons license.
A reference list entry, consisting of the author, year of publication, title, description in square brackets, and source (usually the name of the website and the URL), should also be provided.
For examples and additional information about citing stock images and clip art, consult the APA Website Clip Art References.