Overview

You can add and position images to pages on your Drupal 8 site where there is a text editor. This works very similarly to our Drupal 7 sites, but it is easier to align images and add captions now. 

Table of Contents

Option 1: Inserting Large (Oversized) Images

Step 1: Place Image

Within the text editor, place your cursor where you want your image to appear.

I'm putting this image at the beginning, above my text.

Step 2: Click on the icon that looks like a picture frame.

When you mouse over it, it reads "image." Image RemovedClick on 'Choose File'

Image Added

Step 3: Select a

Photo From Your Computer.

This image is 800 pixels wide by 621 pixels tall. 

For this particular theme, if the image is larger than 720x720, the text editor will automatically resize it to fit within those dimensions.

I see that the image has been resized. (For some reason the message appears twice. Ignore that for now.)

Step 4: Add

Alternative, or "alt"

Text.

I wrote, "Young Margaret Hamilton adjusts some dials on Apollo II in a historic black and white photograph."

About alternative textAlternative Text:

Alt text allows people who have visual impairments to understand what the image is about. You don't need to say "image of" or "picture of," but in this example I mention that it is an historic photograph, because I think that helps explain the significance of the photo.

If this were an artist's rendering of the planet Venus, I would say "An illustration of the surface of Venus..."

Modern headshots generally don't require alternative text, because the alt text would not provide any information that is missing to someone who can't see. I would just enter two quotation marks, which signals blank alt text.

Step 5: Align Image and add Caption

If desired, align your image and select 'Caption' for captions.

Because this image is at its max size, 720px, I'm not going to align it. The image will fill the column. I'll show you how to align images that are smaller next.

You can add a caption, which is different than the alt text, if you wish. Once we save the image, we will see a place to add a caption beneath the image.

Step 6: Click the 'Save' button

You will now see your image with your content.

Step 7: Adding a Caption

Add a caption beneath the image, if you selected that option.

Image RemovedImage Added

Click on 'Save'

Image Added

Step 8:

View Page

The image resizes automatically no matter what device someone views the page with. 

This image is rather large and takes up a lot of space at the beginning of my content.

Remember, for this theme the maximum dimensions are 720x720. I'm going to go to resize my image to be half the size of that.

Option 2: Inserting and Aligning Smaller Images

I'm going to click edit and add a resized version of this photo of Margaret Hamilton.

Step 1: Place Image

Within the text editor, place your cursor where you want your image to appear.

Again, I put my cursor where I want the image to appear-- this time, beneath the first paragraph-- and click on the picture frame icon.

Step 2: Click on the

Image Removed

Picture Frame Icon

Image Added

Step 3: Select a

Photo from Your Computer

I select the resized image from my computer.

This image is less than half the width of the maximum width of 720 pixels. 

Step 4: Format Image

Add alternative text.

Align your image and, if desired, click to add a caption.

Notice that I don't get the green box telling me that Drupal and the text editor have resized my image.

I've added my alt text again, and I'm going to make this image float, or align, to the right. The text will wrap to the left.

I'm going to add a caption too, so you can see what it looks like.

Click on 'Save'

Step 7: View Page

Here's what it looks like in the text editor.

Tip: If you need to go back and edit the photo's alignment or alt text, simply double click the photo within the text editor. 

Step

8: Add a

Caption

Step 8: Save

Page

Image Added

Step 9: View Page

I've saved everything, and here's how the image looks at a width of 350 pixels instead of the maximum 720. 

And here's how it looks compared to the first image I added, which was as large as it could be.

Option 3: Inserting an Image Already on the Website

Step 1: Reusing

Images in

Fields Specifically for

Images

If you are uploading an image using a field specifically for images, it is possible to use an existing image on the site.

For example, the Article content type has an image field specifically for the thumbnail.

Image Removed

I can either use "Choose File" to select a file from my computer, or I can use the "Open File Browser" link to access all images (and files) on the site.

Image Added

I found the image of Margaret Hamilton that I previously uploaded to the Basic Page in the above examples, and I am using it for this article's thumbnail.

As when I insert images with the text editor, I need to include some alt text.

I've saved my Article with my thumbnail image.

Because this image was uploaded with an image field, there are some automatic alignments placed on the image to make it go to the right. 

This image appears cropped and resized in the preview version of the article on the News page.

Step 2: Reusing

Images (and

Files) in the

Body Text Fields

However if you want to insert an existing image into a body text field, it is more complicated.
The easiest thing to do is upload another copy of the image from your Desktop. 

Please Note: We do have documentation on another option, but as it involves working with html source, it is an Intermediate topic : Inserting an Image or File That is Already Being Used on the Website