Images can make your Blackboard course more engaging, organized, and easier for students to navigate. You can set a tone for your course with a banner, make learning modules visually distinct with custom icons, add visual interest to a lesson document — and more — with one essential process: Insert Image.

"Insert image" icon

“Insert image”

Process Overview

Image tool in text editor

“Image” document block

Course Image (Banner)

No matter where you want to add an image in your Blackboard course, you will follow basically the same process:

Step 1: Choose an Image Source.

Step 2: Find and select the desired image.

Step 3: Make final adjustments and save.

Image Sources

Just like it sounds, “Image Source” is where your image comes from. In most cases, there are three image sources to choose from:

Detailed, step-by-step instructions specific to each image source are provided below.

 

 

Jump to:
Upload from Device   |    Stock images from Unsplash    |    Generate image

Image Source Option 1: “Upload from Device”

Image Source: “Upload from Device”

Choose this option to add an image file from your computer or mobile device. Examples: a photo you took on your phone, a diagram or design you created, or an image you downloaded from another source. (Need help sourcing images? See Finding Free Photos, Images, and Videos for Your Courses.)

  1. Choose an Image Source:
    • In the Insert image dialog box, open the Image Source drop-down menu and select Upload from Device.

  2. a computer’s file navigation

    Find and select the desired image:

    • Click Upload file and use your computer’s file navigator to find the desired image file, select the file, and click “Open.” (Alternatively, drag and drop the file from a computer folder into the grey rectangle.)
    • Check the image preview and click Next > if the image is correct. (If not, click the trash can icon and try again.)
  3. Make final adjustments and save:
    • Select an Aspect Ratio appropriate to your image and its placement. (Note: When adding a banner/learning module image, the aspect ratio cannot be changed.)
    • Adjust image crop and zoom. (See Additional Tips.)
    • Click Next > and set your file options such as Display Name and Alternative text description. (Note: For banner/learning module images, options become available after the image has been inserted.)
    • Click Save to complete the process.

Jump to:
Stock images from Unsplash  |  Generate image

Image Source Option 2: “Stock images from Unsplash”

Image Source: “Stock images from Unsplash”

Access an image library that lets you search thousands of high-quality, royalty-free images from the stock photo website Unsplash — without ever leaving Blackboard.

  1. Choose an Image Source:
    • In the Insert image dialog box, open the Image Source drop-down menu and select Stock images from Unsplash.
  2. Unsplash search results

    Unsplash search results

    Find and select the desired image:

    • Click to clear the default search terms (keywords automatically pulled from your course).
    • Type your own keywords into the search field and click Search. (Tip: Use specific, visual keywords to get the best search results.)
    • Use the arrow buttons <  > to browse through results pages.
    • Select an image you like and click Next >.
  3. Make final adjustments and save:
    • Select an Aspect Ratio appropriate to your image and its placement. (Note: When adding a banner/learning module image, the aspect ratio cannot be changed.)
    • Adjust image crop and zoom. (See Additional Tips.)
    • Click Next > and set your file options such as Display Name and Alternative text description. (Note: For banner/learning module images, options become available after the image has been inserted.)
    • Click Save to complete the process.

Jump to:
Upload from Device  |  Generate image

Image Source Option 3: “Generate images”

Image Source: “Generate images”

Use Blackboard’s AI Design Assistant to generate an entirely new image based on your text input. (Note: This option is not currently available for banner images.)

  1. Choose an Image Source:
    • In the Insert image dialog box, open the Image Source drop-down menu and select Generate images.

  2. AI-generated images

    Find and select the desired image:

    • Blackboard will generate an image based on keywords pulled from your course.
    • Type a prompt into the “Describe an image” field and click Generate.
    • Each time you click Generate, a new image will be generated. Previous images are added to the generation history (and may still be selected). However, generation history is only saved temporarily: when the process is completed or cancelled, these images are deleted.
    • Select an image you like and click Next >.
  3. Make final adjustments and save:
    • Select an Aspect Ratio appropriate to your image and its placement. (Note: When adding a learning module image, the aspect ratio cannot be changed.)
    • Adjust image crop and zoom. (See Additional Tips.)
    • Click Next > and set your file options such as Display Name and Alternative text description. (Note: For learning module images, options become available after the image has been inserted.)
    • Click Save to complete the process.

Jump to:
Upload from Device  |  Stock images from Unsplash

Additional TIPS

Crop Overlay

Adjusting image crop and zoom:

Click/drag and use the zoom slider to resize and reposition the image within the crop overlay. The crop overlay maintains the correct aspect ratio, helping you visualize the final image. It is also divided vertically and horizontally into thirds, to help with alignment and balance. Everything outside the crop overlay, including greyed out parts of the image, will be cropped out of the final image. Additionally, even some areas inside the crop overlay may be cropped on smaller screens, so a good rule of thumb is to keep the most important visuals close to the center.

General Image TIPS:

  • Keep file sizes under 1MB and use .JPG or .PNG formats.
  • The best learning module images are square; the best banner images are short and wide, no smaller than 1200×240 pixels.
  • Add alt text for accessibility — describe what’s shown and why it matters.
  • Avoid images with embedded text in most cases; exceptions include banners made with our banner maker.