Add an image

You can add photos and graphics to any page and replace media placeholders with your own images. You can add photos from a photo library, drag them from a website or from the Finder, or take a photo on a nearby iOS device.

Add or replace an image

Do any of the following:

If you can’t replace an image on a page, the image may be locked or grouped, or it may be a master object.

Create a media placeholder

You can add a media placeholder (to which you can add an image, video, or audio file) to a document. Using a media placeholder lets you easily replace media without disturbing other elements on the page.

  1. Add an image to your document, then format it the way you want your document’s images to look.

    You can add a mask, add a border, rotate the image, change its size, and more.

  2. Select the image, then choose Format > Advanced > Define as Media Placeholder (from the Format menu at the top of your screen).

Take a photo or scan with an iOS device and add it to a document

If you have an iOS device nearby, you can use it to take a photo or scan and insert it directly into your document on your Mac.

Note: To make sure you can do this with your Mac and iOS device, see the Apple Support article System requirements for Continuity on Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch.

  1. On the page where you want to add the photo or scan, click the Media button in the toolbar, then choose Take Photo or Scan Documents below your device name.

  2. On your iOS device, do one of the following:

    • Take a photo: Tap  the Shutter button, then tap Use Photo (tap Retake to retake the photo).

    • Scan a document automatically: Position the document in view of the camera to automatically capture the page, crop it, and correct its perspective. To insert the scan in your document, tap Save.

    • Scan a page manually: Tap  the Shutter button, then drag the frame to adjust the area you want to scan. Tap Keep Scan, then tap Save.

  3. Drag the image to move it, or drag any selection handle to resize it in your document.

Note: If you scan more than one item, only the first one appears in your document.

If you can’t replace an image or other object

If you can’t replace an object on a template, the object may be locked or it may be a master object. To make it editable, do one of the following:

Add an image description

You can add a description to any image in your document. Image descriptions are read by assistive technology (for example, VoiceOver) when someone uses that technology to access your document. Image descriptions aren’t visible anywhere in your document.

  1. Select the image, then, in the Format  sidebar, click the Image tab.

  2. Click the Description text box, then enter your text.

To add descriptions to the images in an image gallery, see Add an image gallery.

To add a caption to your image, see Create a caption for an image or other object.

See alsoPlace objects with textAdd watermarks and background objectsUse object stylesResize, rotate, and flip objectsPosition and align objects