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How to Cite an Image MLA: A Detailed Guide

how to cite an image MLA
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Today, students and researchers might need to use visuals and learn how to cite an image or a picture in MLA format. It is also considered a source of valuable information for writing. People better perceive new ideas and theories by looking at pictures, photographs, etc. Your research, as well as writing, looks unattractive without those additional visual tools. Pictures will diversify your writing and keep readers attention. That is why we want you to be good at citing an image or picture in MLA style.

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How to Cite an Image From a Website MLA

Nowadays, a great deal of visual information is found on Google search. So citing an image from website in MLA format is quite popular. Internet access allows exploring the network and opting for appropriate visuals. So, after finding visual materials online, one should know how to add the entry correctly in references and in the text. The general format includes such components:

Works Cited reference 

Artist’s Surname, First Name. “Picture Title.”/ Description (if there is no title). Website name, date created (Day-Month-Year format), URL.

Example

How to cite an image from a website mla


Additionally, it is important that you follow some punctuation marks used between details. A comma is placed between last and first names, after website name, and date. The citation should end up with a period after the website’s link.

How to Cite an Image MLA in Text

It is another thing how to cite an image in MLA in text citation. Once a complete citation is presented in references, it can be noted in the text simpler. Thus, only an artist’s last name should be mentioned in parentheses after a quote.

Example

How to cite an image from a website mla in text.png

How to Cite an Image From a Database: MLA

When dealing with writing a research paper, MLA citing an image from an online database is a frequent phenomenon. Students or researchers can access databases where they can find much relevant material. They usually include various collections of articles, abstracts, data on different topics, and even pictures. This kind of information should be mentioned as well. 

The respective format is very similar to that of a website. But some components are substituted with elements that identify the database’s name. It is as follows:

Works Cited reference 

Artist’s Surname, First Name. “Picture Title.” Date created (Day-Month-Year format), Database Name (italicised), Number (if there is any), URL. Access date. 

Example

How to cite an image from a database mla.png


An in-text citation is exactly the same as the one for a website. No caption should be used. Only creator’s name is included in parentheses.

Example

How to cite an image from a database mla in text.png

MLA: Citing an Image From Museum Website

While referencing an artwork found online, MLA citing an image from museum website is necessary too. This citation includes additional information about the museum’s website name and link. The general structure is as follows:

Works Cited reference 

Artist’s Surname, First Name. Image Title/ Description (if there is no title). Year of Creation. Website, URL.

Example

How to cite an image from museum website mla.png


Keep in mind that a comma is used after publication.

In Text Museum Website Image Citation: MLA

When discovering images on the museum website and inserting them in references, in text museum website image citation MLA should also be used. There is no need to  mention complete data of a visual fragment in the in-text citation. Just creator’s last name should be given after a certain statement.

Example

How to cite an image from museum website in text mla.png

How to Cite an Image From a Book: MLA

Anyway, the standard source of information remains a book. So it is essential that you know how to cite an image in a book MLA. This kind of citation might seem more complicated for students as other details should be pointed out. But in fact, your entry should only contain general information about the book:

Works Cited reference 

Book Author’s Surname, First Name. Title of a Book. Publisher Name. Year. 

Example

How to cite an image from a book mla.png


Keep in mind that a comma is used after publication.

MLA in Text Book Image Citation

MLA in text book image citation can be produced differently. First, when an entry is explicitly given to a picture in a book, the in-text citation includes only the creator’s last name.

Example

How to cite an image from a book in text mla.png


Second, it makes sense to mention the picture’s page and a figure’s number with an entry to the whole book. Each component is separated by commas.

Example

How to cite an image from a book in text mla.png

How to Cite Book Cover Image: MLA

Sometimes, citing book cover image MLA comes into a writing experience when a picture is quite useful. There is nothing difficult in pointing entry description of the artwork reflected on a book cover. Additionally, the details about a designer and publication are mentioned too. An entry’s format is next:

Works Cited reference

Creator’s Last Name, First Name. Image Title or description. Designed by Designer’s Full Name. Book’s Name, by Author’s Name, Publisher, year. Front cover.

Example

How to cite an image from a book cover mla.png


The creator’s or author’s last names are usually mentioned in parentheses when it comes to in-text citations. When they are missing, then put designer’s name.

Example

How to cite an image from a book cover in text mla.png

How to Cite Image in Journal: MLA

Articles are an integral part of writing. MLA image citation from journal article might count more than 50% in your Works Cited page. When referencing an image within the article, a complete citation should be mentioned with a figure and page number specifying the picture’s location. Accordingly, your entry will involve such format:

Works Cited reference

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Article’s Title.” Journal Name, vol. volume number, no. issue number, date (month-year format), pp. (page range), DOI or URL.

Example

How to cite an image from a journal  mla.png

How to Cite an Image From Journal in MLA in Text

Image from journal MLA in text can be often referred to. When the entry contains a page range, you should point out the location of the picture. It is specified with an exact page and a figure it is illustrated on and added with the name of its creator.

Example

How to cite an image from a journal in text mla.png

How to Cite an Image With No Author: MLA

Many pictures are searched without authors, and it is crucial to learn a proper way of citing a digital image in MLA with no author. If it is a precious source of information from a website, it should be included in reference list for sure. The citing structure is simple – start with the picture title. Follow the format below:

Works Cited reference

“Picture Title.” Or Description (if there is no title). Website name, date created (Day-Month-Year format), URL.

Example

How to cite an image with no author mla.png

How to Cite Online Image With No Title in MLA

When no author and title are mentioned on an image, MLA citation image with no title is applied. Therefore, the structure is shortened more compared to the previous example. It incorporates only Website’s Name and URL. An Image Description should be noted before these two components and given in square brackets.

Example

How to cite an image with no author mla.png

Final Thoughts on Citing an Image in MLA

Keeping in mind the principles of how to cite an image MLA will help cope with this task quickly. When there is a real necessity or demand to use some pictures, don’t be afraid of inserting and citing them. We believe our detailed guide on citing an image in MLA style will help you handle it easily and efficiently. Being aware of the rules mentioned above, you will become a fast and organized writer who meets deadlines and succeeds in research. Adhere to our guide on citing an image and boldly spice up your writing with illustrations.

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FAQ About Citing Pictures in MLA

1. In an MLA style citation for an image, what information should be listed first?

To MLA cite an image, one should include such information as taker’s name, image title, and year it was taken. For example, if an image is cited from a book, then a number of pages should be mentioned before year, where the picture is located.

3. How to cite an image from Facebook in MLA?

Another challenging question concerns how to cite an image courtesy of Facebook in MLA. Social media presents a wide audience with various pictures taken by many authors. Thus, the format is as follows: Author’s Last Name, First Name (or Account Name). Description of Post. Facebook, Post’s Date (Day-Month-Year), Post’s Time, URL. Access Date when the post was viewed.

2. How to cite an image from Google Maps in MLA?

When researching a specific location, it is necessary that you know how to cite a Google Maps image in MLA. For this reason, you need to follow this structure: Fig. X (Figure). Creator, Title of explanatory legend, Date.

4. How to cite an image made by yourself in MLA?

There are some cases when even personal image citation MLA can be used in writing. For example, having a suitable photograph from your collection, you can incorporate it into your writing. Thus, you need to stick to a respective structure when citing it: Your Last Name, First Name. Picture’s Title (or its Description). Date it was created (Day-Month-Year format). Author’s personal collection.

5. How to cite a photo in MLA?

A photo can serve as a visual material and be provided through MLA photo citation. It is not regarded as some famous artwork or something but helpful to add to paper. Its citing structure is quite similar to caption’s format and involves such elements: Last Name, First Name. Photo Description. Creation Date. Digital File (optional).

Article posted on:Jun 22, 2022
Article updated on:Jul 26, 2022

Comments

Leave your comment here:
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Sarah
8/22/2022 9:03 AM
Hey there! I’ve read your article and it helped me a lot with my citations, thanks. Anyway, I have one question left. How to cite a google image in MLA Style? Is the citation the same as for other kinds of images?
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StudyCrumb
8/22/2022 9:45 AM
Hi Sarah,

Basically yes, the Google image citation in MLA style is similar to the citation of any other pictures found online. The general formula for google picture citation is as follows: Last name, First name of creator. “Title” or description of the image. Title of the Website, Publisher, Date of publication, URL or DOI.

Hope this helps!
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Hadja
8/25/2022 8:56 AM
Hey! I also have an additional question about image citation. How to cite an image in powerpoint in MLA style?
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StudyCrumb
8/25/2022 9:29 AM
Hi Hadja,

Citing an image used in a Powerpoint presentation or web project will be done the same way you would cite it in a printed paper. Your reference will look like this:

1. Author’s last, a comma, and then first name;
2. Image title in quotation marks;
3. Site name, written in italics, followed by the date of citation (in DD-Month-YYYY format), and the URL, all separated by commas.