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Add and configure images

Images make your content visually engaging and extend the impact of narrative text.

Add images

You can add images to stories, briefings, frames, and collections.

  • In stories, you can add an image to the cover, the body of a story, sidecar narrative panels, sidecar media panels, map tour media panels, express map pop-ups, image galleries, swipes, timelines.

  • In briefings, you can add video to the cover, briefing slide panels of any type, express map pop-ups, image galleries, swipes, and as a briefing attachment.

  • In frames, you can add an image to frame slide panels on any slide.

  • In collections, you can add an image as a collection item.

  • Images can be added by uploading files from your computer or by linking images hosted on a web server or on third party websites; however, linked images cannot be added on the cover.

Important:

If you are using ArcGIS StoryMaps in an ArcGIS Enterprise environment that is not connected to the internet, linked media and online content are not available.

Image options summary

The sections below summarize the available configuration options for images. You can access the Image options by hovering over an image and clicking the Options button ⛭.

Display options for inline images

The following options are available on the Display tab for images in the main body of a story and sidecar narrative panels.

  • Allow readers to expand image—Readers can tap or click to make the image larger and see the full extent of cropped images.

  • Fit image to screen—Enable this option for portrait images you would like readers to see in their entirety without scrolling. This constraint does not apply when the story is viewed on a small screen, and other image sizing options may have no effect when it is enabled.

  • Attribution—Add attribution to give credit to the content creator.

  • Image link—Add a URL that will open in a new tab when readers click this image. An image with a link cannot be expanded.

Display options for media panel images

The following options are available on the Display tab for images in sidecar media panels, map tour media panels, briefing slide panels, frame slide panels, and collection items. A subset of these options are available for images in swipes, timelines, and image galleries.

  • Image preview—Configure how the image is positioned in its panel.

  • Attribution—Add attribution to give credit to the content creator.

  • Caption—Add caption text that is visible when readers expand the media.

  • Image link—Add a URL that will open in a new tab when readers click this image. An image with a link cannot be expanded.

Accessibility options

The following options are available on the Accessibility tab for all images.

  • Alternative text—Describe the media for screen readers and search engines. This text is shown to readers if the media can’t be loaded.

Add attribution

You can add attribution for uploaded and linked images to give credit to the content creator.

Use the following steps to add attribution for media:

  1. Hover over the media and click the Options button.

  2. Type or paste citation text in the Attribution field on the Display tab.

  3. Optionally, select text and format it using the formatting toolbar.

  4. Click Save.

The attribution can be seen by hovering over the information icon in the top corner of the media.

Add a caption

Use the following steps to add a caption for media:

  1. Hover over the media and click the Options button ⛭.

  2. Type or paste the caption text in the Caption field on the Display tab.

  3. Optionally, select text and format it using the formatting toolbar.

  4. Click Save.

The attribution can be seen by hovering over the information icon ℹ️ in the top corner of the media.

Add an image link

Use the following steps to add a link to an image:

  1. Hover over the media and click the Options button ⛭.

  2. Type or paste the link URL in the Image link field on the Display tab.

  3. Click Save.

The image link can be previewed by hovering over the image and clicking it.

Add alternative text

Adding alternative text is required for media to provide support for search engines and readers using assistive technologies. Alternative text is also shown to readers if the media can’t be loaded.

Use the following steps to add alternative text to media:

  1. Hover over the media and click the Options button ⛭.

  2. Click the Accessibility tab.

  3. Type or paste alternative text that describes the media in the Alternative text field.

  4. Click Save.

Alternative text is added for the media.

Tip:

The ArcGIS StoryMaps assistant can generate alternative text suggestions for images. For more information, see Work with the ArcGIS StoryMaps assistant.

Edit images (beta)

Beta:

Image editor is in beta. If you encounter issues with a beta feature, share your feedback on the Esri Community.

You can crop and mark up images using the image editor. Open the image editor by hovering over an uploaded image and clicking Edit.

On the Crop tab, you can alter the dimensions of the image. Drag the corners of the resizing box that appears over the image to crop it. You can use the menus to apply a preset shape or aspect ratio to the cropped image. To reorient the image, use the Rotate and Flip buttons.

Click Markup to show the image markup controls. From the toolbar, you can add various elements, including colored pins, numbered points, lines, shapes, and arrows. Use the Scale button to change the size and thickness of the markup elements on the image.

After applying edits, click Save to apply the changes and close the image editor.

Resize image

In a story, to change the size of media, hover over the media block and click Small, Medium, or Large. Alternatively, you can choose Float left or Float right to position the media block on one side of the page and have text flow around it.

Note:

An image's original size determines which block sizes are available. Images must be a minimum of 1,200 pixels wide for medium and 1,920 pixels wide for large.

Replace image

Complete the following steps to replace media:

  1. Hover over the media and click the More actions button.

  2. Click Replace.

  3. Upload or link to a new piece of media.

    • To upload a media file from your computer, drag a file to the Upload tab or click the Browse your files button to find the file.

  4. Click Replace.

The media is replaced.

Delete image

Use the following steps to delete media:

  1. Hover over the media and click the More actions button.

  2. Click the Delete button.

The media is deleted.

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