Inserting Images

Inserting Images in LaTeX

Images are often needed to clarify explanations in articles, reports, worksheets, and scientific writing. In $\LaTeX$, you can insert external image files and then control their size, position, rotation, and relationship to surrounding text.

Basic Requirements

Before inserting an image, keep these points in mind:

• add the graphicx package in the preamble,
• store the image file in the same folder as the document or use the correct path,
• use \caption{...} when the image needs a caption.

\usepackage{graphicx}

If you are working in Overleaf, upload the image file into the same project first.

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Inserting a Single Image

The simplest example looks like this:

\begin{figure}[h]
  \centering
  \includegraphics[width=0.5\textwidth]{image.png}
  \caption{Example image}
\end{figure}

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Inserting Two or More Images

To show multiple images in one section, you can place multiple \includegraphics commands together.

\begin{figure}[h]
  \centering
  \includegraphics[width=0.35\textwidth]{image1.png}
  \includegraphics[width=0.35\textwidth]{image2.png}
  \caption{Two images in one figure}
\end{figure}

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Resizing Images

Common options include:

• \includegraphics[scale=...]{image}
• \includegraphics[width=...,height=...]{image}
• \includegraphics[width=...]{image}
• \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{image}

Example:

\includegraphics[width=0.6\textwidth]{image.png}

Rotating Images

You can rotate an image with the angle option.

\includegraphics[width=0.4\textwidth,angle=45]{image.png}

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Image Alignment

To control spacing between images, you can use horizontal and vertical spacing commands such as \quad or \baselineskip.

\includegraphics[width=0.3\textwidth]{image1.png}
\quad
\includegraphics[width=0.3\textwidth]{image2.png}

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Image Position in the Document

Images are usually placed inside the figure environment.

\begin{figure}[h]
  \centering
  \includegraphics[width=0.5\textwidth]{image.png}
  \caption{Image at a chosen position}
\end{figure}

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Common placement options for \begin{figure}[...]:

• h: here
• t: top
• b: bottom
• p: special float page
• !: force the placement more strongly
• H: place it exactly here, usually with the float package

For alignment:

• \centering centers the image,
• \flushleft aligns it left,
• \flushright aligns it right.

Multiple Images with Subfigures

If readers need to compare several images, use subfigures or subcaptions.

\usepackage{subcaption}

\begin{figure}[h]
  \centering
  \begin{subfigure}{0.45\textwidth}
    \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{image1.png}
    \caption{First image}
  \end{subfigure}
  \begin{subfigure}{0.45\textwidth}
    \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{image2.png}
    \caption{Second image}
  \end{subfigure}
  \caption{Two subfigures}
\end{figure}

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Image and Text with Minipage

To place an image beside a block of text, minipage is a practical option.

\begin{minipage}{0.45\textwidth}
  \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{image.png}
\end{minipage}
\hfill
\begin{minipage}{0.45\textwidth}
  Write the explanation here.
\end{minipage}

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Alternative: wrapfig

If you want text to wrap around an image, use the wrapfig package.

\usepackage{wrapfig}

\begin{wrapfigure}{r}{0.4\textwidth}
  \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{image.png}
\end{wrapfigure}

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Closing

Those are some of the most common ways to insert images in $\LaTeX$. With graphicx and supporting environments such as figure, subfigure, minipage, and wrapfig, image layout becomes much more flexible and easier to manage.