Images in Canvas

Overview

You can add images in Canvas. It also outlines recommended dimensions and available tools for creating images.

Upload Images in Canvas

Canvas allows instructors to place images anywhere the Rich Content Editor appears. Refer to the Canvas guide in your course for detailed steps.

• How do I upload and embed an image in the Rich Content Editor?
• How do I add an image to a course card in the Dashboard?
• How do I manage alt text and display options for images embedded in the Rich Content Editor?

Apply Accessibility and Design Principles

To maintain accessibility across devices:

• Provide meaningful alternative text for all non-decorative images.
• Provide detailed long descriptions for complex images.
• Do not place essential text inside images, unless necessary.
• Check color contrast.
• Ensure images do not push essential content downward.
• Limit decorative elements that do not support clarity.
• Use the Canvas Accessibility Checker.
• Keep file sizes small to improve load times.
• Maintain a clear and uncluttered layout.

Add Alt Text With or Without Long Descriptions 

• Use the Image Accessibility Creator to create alt text and long descriptions.
• Avoid using words such as “image,” “photo,” or “graphic” in alt text, as screen readers already indicate the presence of an image.
• Use the Mark as Decorative option only when the image is purely aesthetic and conveys no instructional information.
• Use alternative text alone when a brief explanation is sufficient. If the information in the image cannot be conveyed in one or two short sentences, add a longer description. Canvas flags alternative text over about 120 characters as a suggestion.
• When a long description is needed, place “Long description follows” in the alt text field. Enter “Long Description:” followed by the explanation under the image.

Position Images and Wrap Text

• Use features in the Rich Content Editor to float text around the image. Click the image and select Left Align or Right Align.
  
• Text is automatically positioned right next to the image, which is not always visually pleasing. If you are comfortable using the Canvas HTML editor </>, you can add space (padding) around the image by adding the following code to the image tag:
  
  style="float: left; padding-right: 10px;"
  
  style="float: right; padding-right: 10px;"
  
  EXAMPLE: <p><img style="float: left; padding-right: 10px;" src="/courses/####/files/#####/download?wrap=1" alt="ALT TEXT WILL VARY" /></p>

Create Images

The use of images, icons, and course cards can add to visual appeal.

Tools for Image Creation

Instructors at UW–Eau Claire have access to Adobe Express, which offers templates and simple design tools for creating course images. Other AI tools may be used when copyright, accessibility, and quality standards are met.

• Adobe Express: How to Access.
• Other Adobe Express guides.
• LTS Training offers training sessions and consultations.

Recommended Dimensions

These sizes are recommendations only. Canvas adjusts images responsively.

• Dashboard course cards: 262 × 146 pixels
• Full-screen images (option 1): 1200 × 200 pixels
• Full-screen images (option 2): 1200 × 100 pixels

Canvas Image File Types

Canvas supports several common image formats.

• JPEG - Joint Photographic Experts Group
• GIF - Graphics Interchange Format
• BMP - Windows Bitmap
• TIFF - Adobe Systems
• PNG - Portable Network Graphics

TIFF files upload correctly, but will not display in the document preview window.