> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://resources.latex-cloud-studio.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Insert Images in LaTeX with \includegraphics and graphicx

> Insert images in LaTeX with \includegraphics, resize them, trim them, and place them in figure environments. Includes the common graphicx fixes.

To insert an image in LaTeX, load `graphicx` and use `\includegraphics{...}`. Then set width, height, scaling, trimming, captions, labels, and placement with the `figure` environment.

<Info>
  **Quick answer**: add `\usepackage{graphicx}` to the preamble, then write `\includegraphics[width=0.8\textwidth]{image-file}`. Use `trim=... , clip` to crop whitespace and `figure` when you need captions and labels.

  **Related topics**: [Figure positioning](/learn/latex/figures/positioning) | [Tabular environment](/learn/latex/tables/tabular) | [Package management](/learn/latex/package-management)
</Info>

## Common image tasks

| If you need...                 | Use                                                                   |
| ------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Insert one image               | `\includegraphics{image}`                                             |
| Set width relative to the page | `\includegraphics[width=0.7\textwidth]{image}`                        |
| Keep the aspect ratio          | `\includegraphics[width=5cm,keepaspectratio]{image}`                  |
| Crop whitespace                | `\includegraphics[trim=1cm 0.5cm 1cm 0.5cm,clip]{image}`              |
| Add caption and label          | wrap the image in `\begin{figure}...\end{figure}`                     |
| Put two images side by side    | use two `\includegraphics` commands with widths like `0.45\textwidth` |

## Quick Start

```latex quick-image.tex theme={null}
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{graphicx}

\begin{document}

\begin{figure}[htbp]
  \centering
  \includegraphics[width=0.7\textwidth]{example-image}
  \caption{Example image}
  \label{fig:example}
\end{figure}

\end{document}
```

## Basic Image Insertion

### Simple Image Include

<CodeGroup>
  ```latex basic-image.tex theme={null}
  \documentclass{article}
  \usepackage{graphicx}
  \begin{document}

  % Basic image insertion
  \includegraphics{example-image}

  % With file extension
  \includegraphics{photo.jpg}

  % From subfolder
  \includegraphics{images/diagram.png}

  % With full path (use forward slashes)
  \includegraphics{/Users/name/pictures/graph.pdf}

  \end{document}
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### Supported Image Formats

| Compiler        | Formats Supported         |
| --------------- | ------------------------- |
| **pdfLaTeX**    | PDF, PNG, JPG/JPEG        |
| **XeLaTeX**     | PDF, PNG, JPG/JPEG, EPS\* |
| **LuaLaTeX**    | PDF, PNG, JPG/JPEG, EPS\* |
| **LaTeX (DVI)** | EPS, PS                   |

\*EPS requires additional configuration

<Tip>
  **Best practices for formats:**

  * **PDF**: Vector graphics, diagrams, plots
  * **PNG**: Screenshots, images with transparency
  * **JPG**: Photographs, images without transparency
</Tip>

## Scaling Images

### Width and Height Control

<CodeGroup>
  ```latex scaling-images.tex theme={null}
  \documentclass{article}
  \usepackage{graphicx}
  \begin{document}

  % Scale by width
  \includegraphics[width=5cm]{image}
  \includegraphics[width=0.8\textwidth]{image}
  \includegraphics[width=\columnwidth]{image}

  % Scale by height
  \includegraphics[height=3cm]{image}
  \includegraphics[height=0.25\textheight]{image}

  % Scale by both (may distort)
  \includegraphics[width=5cm,height=3cm]{image}

  % Keep aspect ratio with one dimension
  \includegraphics[width=5cm,keepaspectratio]{image}

  % Scale factor
  \includegraphics[scale=0.5]{image}  % 50% of original
  \includegraphics[scale=1.2]{image}  % 120% of original

  \end{document}
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### Common Width References

<CodeGroup>
  ```latex width-references.tex theme={null}
  % Page dimensions
  \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{image}      % Full text width
  \includegraphics[width=\columnwidth]{image}    % Column width
  \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{image}      % Current line width
  \includegraphics[width=\paperwidth]{image}     % Full paper width

  % Relative sizes
  \includegraphics[width=0.5\textwidth]{image}   % Half text width
  \includegraphics[width=0.33\columnwidth]{image} % Third of column

  % Using calc package
  \usepackage{calc}
  \includegraphics[width=\textwidth-2cm]{image}  % Text width minus 2cm
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Figure Environment

### Basic Figure

<CodeGroup>
  ```latex figure-environment.tex theme={null}
  \documentclass{article}
  \usepackage{graphicx}
  \begin{document}

  \begin{figure}[h]
    \centering
    \includegraphics[width=0.6\textwidth]{example-image}
    \caption{A sample figure with caption}
    \label{fig:sample}
  \end{figure}

  As shown in Figure \ref{fig:sample}, the image demonstrates...

  % Alternative with short caption for list of figures
  \begin{figure}[h]
    \centering
    \includegraphics[width=0.5\textwidth]{graph}
    \caption[Short caption]{Long descriptive caption that appears below the figure}
    \label{fig:graph}
  \end{figure}

  \end{document}
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### Figure Placement Options

| Option | Meaning                | Priority |
| ------ | ---------------------- | -------- |
| `h`    | Here (approximately)   | Low      |
| `t`    | Top of page            | Medium   |
| `b`    | Bottom of page         | Medium   |
| `p`    | Page of floats         | Low      |
| `H`    | HERE (exactly)\*       | Forced   |
| `!`    | Override LaTeX's rules | Modifier |

\*Requires `\usepackage{float}`

<CodeGroup>
  ```latex figure-placement.tex theme={null}
  % Preferred placement order
  \begin{figure}[htbp]  % Try here, then top, bottom, finally float page

  % Force placement
  \usepackage{float}
  \begin{figure}[H]  % Place exactly here

  % Override LaTeX's aesthetic rules
  \begin{figure}[!h]  % Try harder to place here
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Multiple Images

### Side by Side Images

<CodeGroup>
  ```latex side-by-side.tex theme={null}
  \documentclass{article}
  \usepackage{graphicx}
  \begin{document}

  % Method 1: Simple side by side
  \begin{figure}[h]
    \centering
    \includegraphics[width=0.45\textwidth]{image1}
    \hfill
    \includegraphics[width=0.45\textwidth]{image2}
    \caption{Two images side by side}
  \end{figure}

  % Method 2: With individual captions (subcaption package)
  \usepackage{subcaption}
  \begin{figure}[h]
    \centering
    \begin{subfigure}[b]{0.45\textwidth}
      \centering
      \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{image1}
      \caption{First subcaption}
      \label{fig:sub1}
    \end{subfigure}
    \hfill
    \begin{subfigure}[b]{0.45\textwidth}
      \centering
      \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{image2}
      \caption{Second subcaption}
      \label{fig:sub2}
    \end{subfigure}
    \caption{Main figure caption}
    \label{fig:main}
  \end{figure}

  \end{document}
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### Grid of Images

<CodeGroup>
  ```latex image-grid.tex theme={null}
  \usepackage{subcaption}

  \begin{figure}[h]
    \centering
    % First row
    \begin{subfigure}[b]{0.3\textwidth}
      \centering
      \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{img1}
      \caption{Image 1}
    \end{subfigure}
    \hfill
    \begin{subfigure}[b]{0.3\textwidth}
      \centering
      \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{img2}
      \caption{Image 2}
    \end{subfigure}
    \hfill
    \begin{subfigure}[b]{0.3\textwidth}
      \centering
      \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{img3}
      \caption{Image 3}
    \end{subfigure}
    
    % Second row
    \begin{subfigure}[b]{0.3\textwidth}
      \centering
      \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{img4}
      \caption{Image 4}
    \end{subfigure}
    \hfill
    \begin{subfigure}[b]{0.3\textwidth}
      \centering
      \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{img5}
      \caption{Image 5}
    \end{subfigure}
    \hfill
    \begin{subfigure}[b]{0.3\textwidth}
      \centering
      \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{img6}
      \caption{Image 6}
    \end{subfigure}
    
    \caption{Grid of six images}
  \end{figure}
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Image Transformations

### Rotation and Flipping

<CodeGroup>
  ```latex transformations.tex theme={null}
  \documentclass{article}
  \usepackage{graphicx}
  \begin{document}

  % Rotate image
  \includegraphics[angle=90]{image}              % 90 degrees
  \includegraphics[angle=-45]{image}             % -45 degrees
  \includegraphics[angle=180]{image}             % Upside down

  % Rotate and scale
  \includegraphics[angle=45,width=5cm]{image}

  % Origin of rotation
  \includegraphics[angle=90,origin=c]{image}     % Center (default)
  \includegraphics[angle=90,origin=tl]{image}    % Top left
  \includegraphics[angle=90,origin=br]{image}    % Bottom right

  % Reflection (negative scaling)
  \includegraphics[width=5cm]{image}             % Normal
  \includegraphics[width=-5cm]{image}            % Horizontal flip
  \includegraphics[width=5cm,height=-3cm]{image} % Vertical flip

  \end{document}
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### Clipping and Trimming

<CodeGroup>
  ```latex clipping.tex theme={null}
  % Trim: left bottom right top
  \includegraphics[trim=1cm 2cm 1cm 2cm,clip]{image}

  % Trim and scale
  \includegraphics[trim=1cm 1cm 1cm 1cm,clip,width=5cm]{image}

  % Viewport (absolute coordinates)
  \includegraphics[viewport=20 20 200 200,clip]{image}

  % Show only part of image
  \includegraphics[trim=0 0 0 50mm,clip,width=\textwidth]{panorama}
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Advanced Techniques

### Wrapping Text Around Images

<CodeGroup>
  ```latex wrap-text.tex theme={null}
  \documentclass{article}
  \usepackage{graphicx}
  \usepackage{wrapfig}
  \begin{document}

  \begin{wrapfigure}{r}{0.4\textwidth}
    \centering
    \includegraphics[width=0.38\textwidth]{image}
    \caption{A wrapped figure}
  \end{wrapfigure}

  This text wraps around the figure. The figure is positioned on the 
  right side of the page, and the text flows around it naturally. 
  This is useful for smaller images that don't need the full width 
  of the page. Continue with more text to see the wrapping effect...

  % Options: r (right), l (left), i (inner), o (outer)
  \begin{wrapfigure}{l}{0.3\textwidth}
    \vspace{-20pt}  % Adjust vertical position
    \centering
    \includegraphics[width=0.28\textwidth]{small-image}
    \vspace{-20pt}
    \caption{Left aligned}
    \vspace{-10pt}
  \end{wrapfigure}

  \end{document}
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### Image Paths

<CodeGroup>
  ```latex image-paths.tex theme={null}
  % Set graphics path
  \graphicspath{{images/}{figures/}{../pics/}}

  % Now you can use just the filename
  \includegraphics{photo}  % Searches in all specified paths

  % Multiple paths with subdirectories
  \graphicspath{
    {./images/}
    {./figures/photos/}
    {./figures/diagrams/}
    {../common/images/}
  }
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### Draft Mode

<CodeGroup>
  ```latex draft-mode.tex theme={null}
  % Show boxes instead of images (faster compilation)
  \usepackage[draft]{graphicx}

  % Or document-wide
  \documentclass[draft]{article}

  % Override draft mode for specific image
  \includegraphics[draft=false,width=5cm]{important-image}
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Image Formats and Conversion

### Working with Different Formats

<CodeGroup>
  ```latex format-handling.tex theme={null}
  % Let LaTeX determine format
  \DeclareGraphicsExtensions{.pdf,.png,.jpg,.jpeg}
  \includegraphics{image}  % Finds image.pdf, image.png, etc.

  % Force specific format
  \includegraphics[ext=.png]{image}

  % EPS to PDF conversion (pdfLaTeX)
  \usepackage{epstopdf}
  \includegraphics{diagram.eps}  % Automatically converted
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Best Practices

<Tip>
  **Image guidelines:**

  1. **Resolution**: Use 300 DPI for print, 96-150 DPI for screen
  2. **File size**: Optimize images before including them
  3. **Formats**: Use vector (PDF) for diagrams, raster (PNG/JPG) for photos
  4. **Naming**: Avoid spaces and special characters in filenames
  5. **Organization**: Keep images in a dedicated folder
  6. **Captions**: Always include descriptive captions
  7. **References**: Label all figures for cross-referencing
</Tip>

## Troubleshooting

<Warning>
  **Common image problems:**

  1. **Image not found**: Check path and filename (case-sensitive)
  2. **Wrong format**: Ensure format is supported by your compiler
  3. **Distorted image**: Use only width OR height, not both
  4. **Image too large**: Scale relative to `\textwidth`
  5. **Bad placement**: Use `[htbp]` for flexible positioning
  6. **Missing package**: Add `\usepackage{graphicx}`
</Warning>

## Quick Reference

### Essential Commands

| Command              | Purpose       | Example                 |
| -------------------- | ------------- | ----------------------- |
| `\includegraphics{}` | Insert image  | `\includegraphics{pic}` |
| `width=`             | Set width     | `width=5cm`             |
| `height=`            | Set height    | `height=3cm`            |
| `scale=`             | Scale factor  | `scale=0.5`             |
| `angle=`             | Rotate        | `angle=90`              |
| `\caption{}`         | Add caption   | `\caption{Description}` |
| `\label{}`           | Add reference | `\label{fig:name}`      |

### Figure Template

```latex theme={null}
\begin{figure}[htbp]
  \centering
  \includegraphics[width=0.8\textwidth]{filename}
  \caption{Descriptive caption}
  \label{fig:reference-name}
\end{figure}
```

***

<Info>
  **Next**: Master [Figure positioning](/learn/latex/figures/positioning) to control exactly where your images appear, or learn about [Creating tables](/learn/latex/tables/creating-tables) for structured data presentation.
</Info>