This page gives you the core rules for referencing Figures, Images, and Tables (hereafter Figures) in APA 7th Edition.
When a Figure is only referred to in the text, it is sufficient to provide an in-text citation accompanied by an end-text reference. When a Figure is directly copied and embedded within an assessment, additional referencing requirements apply, you must include the following:
For text-based assessments (e.g. Essays or Reports):
See: Figures, Images, and Tables for Reports and Essays
For a non-text-based assessment (e.g. Poster, Presentation, or a Video):
See: Figures, Images and Tables for Non-Text Based Works
In addition to these requirements, all figures (used in text- or non-text-based assessments) require the following:
See Copyright and Permission for Images for information on Copyright statements.
You may want to use images from stock image catalogues such as Adobe Stock Images, Getty Images, or Pixabay.
First things to identify when using a stock image website:
You can find this information out on the license information page for most of these websites.
For assignments and educational purposes if they allow you to reuse the image as long as it is not the primary product (e.g. you submitting a single stock image for your photography assignment) then you can use any image that falls under that specific license.
e.g. Adobe Stock License terms: https://stock.adobe.com/au/license-terms
Not all images in a stock image library will have the same license. Some may have a stricter license as they are part of a premium package from the service.
Look in the image description to see if you can find the license statement. If you cannot find this and the license information for the site does not explicitly say ALL images are included under the website license then you may not use this image.
To reference a stock image website you can follow the caption for a standard webpage image:
Treat these as having no rights or acknowledgement needed. Exclude the copyright and provision statement.
Essay or report example:
Note. From Lizard, Iguana, Fijian iguana image [Photograph], by DavidClode, 2024, Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/photos/lizard-iguana-fijian-iguana-8787888/).
Non-text citation (for presentations or posters):
From DavidClode, 2024.
The full reference list entry will include the information required to identify the license.
You must provide the relevant creative commons license code.
Essay or report example:
Note. From Lava [Photograph], by Denali National Park and Preserve, 2013, Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/denalinps/8639280606/). CC BY 2.0.
Non-text example:
From Denali National Park and Preserve, 2013. CC BY 2.0.
Include either "In the public domain" or "CC 0" in the copyright statement field.
Essay or report example:
Note. The pendant symbolises the virtue of the subject. Adapted from Margaret of Austria, by J. Hey, [ca. 1490] (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/459072). In the public domain.
Non-text example:
Adapted from Hey, [ca. 1490]. In the public domain.
If using any stock images or clip art provided through a library available on the program you are using you probably have the right to freely use them under the license you have when purchasing/signing up to the software. ECU's Microsoft Office 365 grants the right for all students and staff to use the stock image library for non-commercial purposes.
If you are using a stock image from the application library of a program like Microsoft Word or PowerPoint then you can give credit to the app library. As you won't have any detail about the image you can include some descriptions of what the image is and how you got it.
Title: Look at the Alt Text of the image and use that description. This should help if we were to try to find that image again. Include this in square brackets to indicate that this is not the official title of the image but rather a description.
Date: Use "n.d."
Source: Credit the application you got the image from.
Note. Image of a cow. From [Cow in pasture], n.d., Microsoft Word Stock Images.
If you are using clip art or stock images from a program such as PowerPoint or Word, or if you are sourcing these from stock image websites, it may tell you that you can use it without attribution.
Coursework students should be referencing these as good practice. However if these are used as decorative images you may be able to use a less complex style similar to figures for non-text based works.
Researchers and publication authors are able to follow the license allowance including excluding references if allowed.
If you made a Figure or Table yourself then you do not have to reference it. The reader should assume everything not referenced is your own work.
But if you are using AI generated images (or images generated through an application) it is good practice to provide an acknowledgement of how you created it and with what tool. This is so if the image needs to be reused or if there is information in the Figure that we need to use then we can identify any limitations or issues that might arise with us using it (e.g. copyrighted works that are identifiable through AI generated images).
An acknowledgement would go in the caption:
Note. Image of a cow. [Midjourney (Version 5.1) was used to generate this image]
The end-text reference gives the details of the source, i.e. the book, journal article, or webpage where you found the figure or table. You don't need to reference the image or table separately in your reference list. If a table from a book was used, reference the book. For example:
Assael, M. J. (1998). Thermophysical properties of fluids. Imperial College Press.
The exact form will depend on the type of source used. Follow the examples on the Reference Examples page.
Edith Cowan University acknowledges and respects the Noongar people, who are
the traditional custodians of the land upon which its campuses stand and its programs
operate.
In particular ECU pays its respects to the Elders, past and present, of the Noongar
people, and embrace their culture, wisdom and knowledge.