Using the Image Tool in DesignPLUS

How to use the Image tool to insert and style images to your course. You will also learn how to use the alt text input field to update an image's alt text.


Add an Image to Any Page

You can add an image or replace an existing image with the Image tool. The image tool also has many other options including adding style and alt text.  

1

Navigate to Pages

Arrow pointing at Pages link.

 
2

Click + Page

Arrow pointing at + Page button.

 
3

Give the page a title

Preview of Page Title and Page Description fields in a Canvas page.

 
4

Launch DesignPLUS by clicking on the Rocket Ship icon in the top-right corner

Users should have updated the Legacy Design Tools sidebar to the new DesignPLUS sidebar

Arrow pointing at blue rocket ship icon in top right corner of the screen that reads "Launch DesignPLUS sidebar"

 
5

Place your cursor in the editor where you want the image to go

Try to keep the larger text on a single line, but if you need to explain more, put it in the text below.

Arrow pointing in the Canvas content editor.

 
6

Click the Add New Elements tab if not already selected

Arrow pointing at + icon in tab bar at the top of the DesignPLUS sidebar.

 
7

Select Image from the Basic Content panel

This will insert an image placeholder at your cursor position. Note: You can also search for “image” or, if used recently, it may also appear in Recently Used Tools.

Arrow pointing at Image option in the basic bar.

 
8

Select the image source where your image is located in the Edit Current Element tab

You may have to click the up arrow next to Change Image to expand the image options. You can choose from:

  1. User Images: Select the image to upload and embed the image in your Canvas page. If you are choosing an image file from a course other than the current course, you will be prompted to import the file into the current course. Select the destination and click "Copy to Course". This will import the file and update the image source path in the Rich Content Editor, so it is viewable by anyone in the course.  
  2. Course Images: Use the search field or Folders/Filters dropdown to locate the file. Once you find your image from the course files, select it and the image placeholder will update with the image path to the original image.    
  3. Primary images: Select "All Folders" to display course files and images.

DesignPLUS sidebar expanded 3 arrows pointing at (1) single user icon (2) user with whiteboard icon (3) museum icon.

 
9

Provide Alt Text or select image as Decorative

Alternative text provides information for an image if a user for some reason cannot view it (because of slow connection, an error in the src attribute, or if the user uses a screen reader).

Arrow pointing at Alt Text section in the DesignPLUS sidebar.

 
10

(Optional) Click on Add Link to add a link to the image

Doing so will load the Link tool so that you can update the URL.  

Arrow pointing at Add Link button in the DesignPLUS sidebar.

 
11

Use the Style panel to add borders, shadow, or round the edges

In the style panel you can adjust the dimensions of an image, float an image around text, and specify the maximum width settings.

  • Image Alignment floats the image left or right, centers the image, or resets the image to the default alignment.  
  • Fill Container Width fills the entire width of the container with the image. Max Width Fill will display an image at a set width. The image will be responsive and will reduce in size as your students’ browser size decreases, but it will never expand beyond the size set. This is helpful for images that are not high resolution and may become pixelated as your students’ browser size increases. 
  • Border Options applies the selected border to the image.  

Arrow pointing at Style panel section in the DesignPLUS sidebar.

 
12

Click Save to keep your changes

Arrow pointing at Save button on the Canvas page.


Add Alt Text to Any Image (Using the Image Alt Checker)

The DesignTools Sidebar also provides a panel where you can update alt text (alternative text) for all images embedded on a page. Alt text is an alternative (non-visual) way to describe the meaning of an image. Alt text should be specific and not overly descriptive. Good descriptions are concise, but describe what's in your images accurately enough to understand their context.

1

Navigate to Pages

Arrow pointing at Pages link.

 
2

Select the page you want to review for Alt Text

Arrow pointing at first option in a list on the Pages tab in Canvas.

 
3

Click Edit

Edit button highlighted in the top-right corner.

 
4

Launch DesignPLUS by clicking on the Rocket Ship icon in the top-right corner

Users should have updated the Legacy Design Tools sidebar to the new DesignPLUS sidebar

Arrow pointing at blue rocket ship icon in top right corner of the screen that reads "Launch DesignPLUS sidebar"

 
5

Click on the Accessibility/Usability tab

Arrow pointing at tab with accessibility icon in the DesignPLUS sidebar.

 
6

Select Image Alt Checker from the Accessibility panel

The Image Alt Checker interface renders a list of all images found in the page contents.  A red border is used to flag any image alt text that should be reviewed.

Arrow pointing at Image Alt Checker option under the Accessibility section in the DesignPLUS sidebar.

 
7

Scroll through your images to set alt text or mark as decorative

When image alt text is updated, the red borders and warnings will be removed.

Arrows pointing at the images that appear in the Image Alt Checker tool in the DesignPLUS sidebar.

 
8

Click Save to keep your changes

Arrow pointing at Save button on the Canvas course page.


Add a Caption to Any Image

You can use the DesignTools Sidebar to add an image with captions. Captions allow to you add additional information to an image or better describe what is happening in the photo. An image caption is different from alt text in that it displays on the screen. Alt text is read aloud to someone using assistive technology but is hidden from a sighted user. 

1

Navigate to Pages

Arrow pointing at Pages link.

 
2

Click + Pages

Arrow pointing at + Page button.

 
3

Give the page a title

Preview of the Page Title and Page Description fields in a Canvas page.

 
4

Launch DesignPLUS by clicking on the Rocket Ship icon in the top-right corner

Users should have updated the Legacy Design Tools sidebar to the new DesignPLUS sidebar

Arrow pointing at blue rocket ship icon in top right corner of the screen that reads "Launch DesignPLUS sidebar"

 
5

Place your cursor in the editor where you want the image to go

Arrow pointing in the Canvas content editor.

 
6

Click the Add New Elements tab if not already selected

Arrow pointing at + icon in tab bar at the top of the DesignPLUS sidebar.

 
7

Select Image & Caption from the Basic Content panel

This will insert a placeholder for an image and caption at your cursor position.

Arrow pointing at Image and Caption option under the Basic Content section in the DesignPLUS sidebar.

 
8

Select an image from the Edit Current Element tab

When image alt text is updated, the red borders and warnings will be removed.

Arrow pointing at library of images to select from in the DesignPLUS sidebar.

 
9

Enter your caption text from the Content Panel

When image alt text is updated, the red borders and warnings will be removed.

Arrow pointing at enabled Caption checkbox with text inside the Caption field in the DesignPLUS sidebar.

 
10

(Optional) Adjust the caption appearance and settings in the Style panel

Once your image is added, you can use the Style panel to set your Caption Style and Border Options.

Arrow pointing at Style panel in the DesignPLUS sidebar.

 
11

Click Save to keep your changes

When image alt text is updated, the red borders and warnings will be removed.

Arrow pointing at Save button on the Canvas course page.