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Adding a picture

Put a picture on an Exponential site in plain steps - upload it to the media library or straight from the edit form, write a good alternative text, use it in an article or inside the text - and what to do when an upload.

  • Topic type: Concept
  • For: Visitors Editors Non-technical people
  • doc.help.non-technical-people.first-steps.adding-a-picture
  • Last changed
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Contents

  1. Three ways, one result
  2. Upload to the media library
  3. Upload while editing an article
  4. Put a picture inside the text
  5. Writing the alternative text
  6. If it does not work

Three ways, one result

Every picture you upload becomes an item of its own, of the type Image, with a title and an alternative text (Images, media and uploads). You upload it once and can then use it in as many places as you like. The site makes the smaller copies it needs for lists and pages by itself, so you never resize a picture for each place (Image variations).

Upload to the media library

Best for pictures you will reuse, or many pictures at once.

  1. Click Media, or Upload files in the dashboard's quick actions.
  2. Check the Target location (for example Images). Quick locations offers the usual places.
  3. Press Choose files..., or drag the pictures onto the dashed area.
  4. In the queue, check each title and fill in the alternative text where the site asks for it.
  5. Press Upload all.

(Upload files has every option, including uploading a whole ZIP file.)

Upload while editing an article

Best for the one picture that belongs to one article.

  1. Edit the article.
  2. In its Image field, press Upload new (or Upload a file) and choose the picture from your computer.
  3. Fill in the alternative text when asked.
  4. Press Send for publishing.

To use a picture that is already on the site, press Add existing instead and pick it (Relations and images).

Put a picture inside the text

  1. Edit the item and click into the text where the picture should go.
  2. Press Insert/edit image in the toolbar.
  3. Upload a new picture (with a name and alternative text) or find one that is already there.
  4. Choose a size (small, medium, large) and an alignment.
  5. Press Insert, then Send for publishing.

(How do I insert an image in the online editor?)

Writing the alternative text

The alternative text is read aloud to people who cannot see the picture, and shown when the picture cannot load. Many sites require it.

PictureWeakBetter
A photo of the shop front"image1""Our shop on Main Street with the blue awning"
A chart"chart""Visitors doubled between May and June"
A team photo"team""The five volunteers of the summer fair, smiling at the camera"

Describe what matters in the picture in one sentence. Do not start with "picture of".

If it does not work

What you seeWhat to do
The upload is refused as too largeThe page shows the largest file it accepts. Make the picture smaller on your computer first (a photo for the web rarely needs more than 2000 pixels wide)
The type is not allowedUse JPEG, PNG or WebP (When an upload fails)
No permission thereUpload into another folder, or ask your administrator
The picture looks huge on the pageChoose a smaller size in the image dialog rather than uploading a smaller file

Only use pictures you are allowed to use: your own, or ones whose license allows it. Ask before publishing photos of recognizable people.

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