Writing and Citing: APA 6th Edition: Images and Figures

Images, diagrams and other visual artistic works should be cited as any other type of work. Below are some examples:

Try to find as much information as possible when citing an image and include it in the citation.

Basic Format:

Artist Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Title of the artwork [Format]. Retrieved from URL.

Image Without Author:

Title of work [Type of work]. (Year image was created). Retrieved from URL

Image With No Author, Title, or Date

[Subject and type of work]. Retrieved from URL

Note: You still need to cite the image even if you are missing much of the information. Please try to find images that do provide this information.

Google Images:

Go to the original location (website) of the image and cite in one of the formats above.

When you use a graph or another visual representation that is not a photograph or an image, it must be cited as Figure. The figures must be numbered in succession throughout the paper or slideshow, and must be cited individually under the figure itself. It is not necessary to put the citations both under the figure and on the References page, but check with your instructor for their preference.

Basic Format:

Figure X. An explanation or description of figure. Reprinted [or adapted] from Book Title (page number), by Author First Initial. Second Initial. Last Name, Year, Place of Publication: Publisher. 

Figure From a Website:

Figure X. Descriptive phrase that serves as title and description. Reprinted [or adapted] from Title of Website, by Author First Initial. Second Initial. Last Name, Year, Retrieved from URL.

Figure From a Journal Article:

Figure X. Descriptive phrase that serves as title and description. Reprinted [or adapted] from “Title of Article,” by Author First Initial. Second Initial. Last Name, Year, Journal Title, Volume(issue), page number. If from a database, include Retrieved from URL here.