Latest revision: 2026-01-14

An iconic picture of a chair and a symbolic picture of a wiring diagram Keep in mind that pictures in first hand are a way of communicating. Choose images that match or reinforce what you want to say, instead of chsosing what you think is pretty. Keep in mind that pictures mean different things to different people. If you choose
an image that clearly imitates real things/situations most people will interpret them in the same way, while symbolic images may be interpreted in very different ways by different people.

Name and file format

Give the image you want to use a name that describes what it represents, e.g. Map-Sweden.jpg, which makes it easier for you as a teacher when searching for images.

Your images should be in PNG or JPG format (which is preferable for photos as the file size is smaller).

Images directly from the camera can make the page slow

Images and photos that you want to upload are sometimes very large in terms of memory. Images directly from your smartphone can, for example, be as large as 4.7 MB. This much memory means that the page takes a long time to load, and Canvas will be perceived as slow. This is especially true if you have several large images on the same page. You can reduce this image to, for example, 230 KB, which speeds up Canvas a lot.

A photo from your smartphone can be over 3000 pixels wide. However, when it is displayed in the course room, it will still only be a maximum of 900 pixels wide. This means that the user's browser must first download the large image and then reduce it. This takes time. Large images also take up unnecessary file space in the course room. If you reduce the photo to 900 pixels wide before uploading it to Canvas, you avoid this.

Exempelbild som visar hur en bild som som är 1080 x 720 pixlar men visas som 600 x 400 och minskas av webbläsaren

Choosing to display the image as smaller in the built-in editor in Canvas is not enough, as it works in such a way that the image must first be downloaded in its original size and then changed to the set size for display. This is fast, but still makes the learning platform feel slow. You should therefore make images smaller before uploading them. There are several free services where you can reduce images online. You can also use programs on your computer such as the Photos app in Windows or Preview (or Images) in Mac OS, see below.

Basic principles for images

A basic rule is that images should not be larger than 900 pixels wide on a page in Canvas. Consider the purpose of the image; if it is a smaller image that will be displayed, for example, 600 x 400 pixels, the image that is uploaded should be slightly larger, for example, 800 pixels. It is important that images maintain the ratio between height and width when the size is changed. You can, before uploading the image, name it with its dimensions, for example, Map-Sweden-400x150.png.

Smaller images such as icons and photos of you as a teacher should never be larger than 200 pixels wide. Keep in mind that if you have multiple images of teachers in the course overview, they should be the same width.

How large an image should be depends on how large it will be displayed on the page, for example, if it is supposed to be a 200 x 133 pixel icon it can be made to be slightly larger than it is supposed to be displayed (3-400 pixels wide).

The basic rule is that an image should be made before uploading.

Reduce Image Size Using the Photos App in Windows

If you have a PC, you also have the program called Photos. You can either open the program first, or just double-click on your image. This will open the image in the program.

Photos - how to change size, next step

Click the three dots next to the trash can.
Select Resize image (Ändra bilstorlek in swedish) from the menu that appears.

Photos - how to change size

Choose to change either the width or the height of your image. If you change the height, the width will follow proportionally. The same goes for the height.
Then click Save. You will now have the option to save the new edited image somewhere on your computer.

How to add an image from your computer

How to insert an image in Canvas. Screenshot.

You can find the text editor in Canvas' pages, discussions etc.

You can upload images from your computer in the text editor by going to the text menu's Insert > Image > Upload image
In the same way, it is possible to upload images through the icon menu. If you have already uploaded the image from before, select "Course images" instead of "Upload image"

How to upload image. Screenshot.

Click on the rocket if you want to upload the image from your computer to Canvas. It is also possible to drag and drop the image from the computer to the rocket.
Write a short description about the image. The description needs to be available for accessibility reasons and can be read out if the visitor cannot see the image. If the image is not meaningful but only decorative, you can tic the Decorative image- box.
If you want to show the image, select Embed image. If you only want to sow a link instead of an image, select the other option.
Complete by selecting Submit.

NOTE: It is no longer possible to select images from Unsplash directly in edit mode, but you can still find free images on the Unsplash website for use on your canvas pages.

Accessibility and images

Accessibility checker. Screnshot.

Keep in mind that if the image is meaningful or used to help the visitor in some way, it should have descriptive alternative text. If it is purely decorative, it should be marked as a decorative image.

Bildalternativ

Do not use images that contain text, as it cannot be read out by screen readers and therefore does not work from an accessibility perspective. For example, if you use a diagram with text in the image, the content should also be explained outside the image.

The accessibility checker, found below the edit box, will show you if you need to make any adjustments.

Rights and licenses

Do not use images from the internet if you have not been given the copyright holder's permission. There are good license systems where the copyright holder have decided if and how you are allowed to use their images and videos. Creative Commons is a good license that is used for i.a. images, but different image services uses similar licenses where you are given the right to use pictures without having to ask for permission.

Other things about pictures

Want a nice-looking course card? Read about how to change the picture on the course card

A profile picture can also be good for you as a teacher!

Tips on how to find images

Here are links to image banks where you can find images with open licenses:

https://unsplash.com/ (The image service which is built-in in Canvas)
https://www.pexels.com/?locale=en-us (Images and videos with free license)
Search motor for Creative Commons