How to Cite a Clip Art in APA

• Hannah Berry (Ph.D.)
• Published on 10/28/2025

Before using any image, confirm whether it allows free use or requires the credit.

• Credit required: Images under Creative Commons or from stock libraries such as Adobe Stock or Getty Images usually need credit.
• Free use (no credit needed): Images from Microsoft Office, Canva Pro, Pixabay, or Pexels are often covered under this category.

Images That Require Citing

Images with licenses that require attribution must include a figure note below the image and a reference list entry. Many Creative Commons–licensed images and some stock photos fall under this category.

The figure note should provide the image’s title, creator, year, website or platform, URL, and license type. The reference list entry provides full details for readers to locate the source.

Figure 2

Children Playing in a Park

Note. From Outdoor Playtime [Photograph], by L. Martinez, 2022, Unsplash (https://www.unsplash.com/photos/abcd1234). CC BY-SA 4.0.

Reference list:

Citation	Martinez, L. (2022). Outdoor Playtime [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://www.unsplash.com/photos/1uy72-9231brw/0utdoor-laytime
Structure	Author Surname, Author Initial. (Year). Title of photograph [Description of work], Website name. URL

Images That Do Not Require Citing

Some images are freely available for use without giving credit. These include many images from Pixabay, Pexels, and built-in clip art from Microsoft PowerPoint or Canva Pro.

• Place the figure number and title or short description above the image.
• Optionally, add a figure note below the image to explain its relevance.
• No reference list entry or in-text citation is necessary.

Figure 1

Young Woman Writing in a Notebook

Note. Image shown to illustrate note-taking habits in research.

This photograph is from Pexels, which allows free use without attribution. As such, no reference entry is needed.

Always Check the License: Always review the license of any picture prior to use to check whether attribution is mandatory. Although free pictures might also carry some restrictions, compensated stock pictures typically have some credit guidelines. Double-checking the license prevents you from violating copyright policy as well as APA policy. Put Figure Number and Title Above the Picture: In APA Style, the figure number (e.g., Figure 1) and a short descriptive title must be placed above the figure. This makes it easier for readers to identify and reference images clearly in your paper or presentation. Use Figure Notes for Attribution: For photographs that need to be credited, include a figure note below the picture with the creator’s name, year, title, source, URL, and type of license if necessary. This provides the quick acknowledgment without disrupting the flow of text. Cite All Attributed Images: Any image that is required to be attributed should also have an accompanying reference list entry. Include the author, year, title, format (e.g., [Photograph], [Illustration]), platform, and URL. This allows the readers to locate the original source.