Inserting an image (or Illustration or PDF) in an InDesign file is a super easy task. There are a couple of different ways you can get an image onto the InDesign page, and we’ll review them in this quick tutorial.

Do you prefer to learn by watching a video? Then you can watch this from the Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel to learn how to place an image in InDesign:

What You’ll Learn in this Quick InDesign Insert Image Tutorial

• How to place an image on a page
• How to insert an image into an existing frame
• How to drag and drop an image to place it

What You’ll Need

I used the following assets from Envato Elements to create this tutorial:

• Business Agency Brochure
• Disabled Businesswoman in Office
• Business People Collaborate in Office
• Modern Architecture in Austria
• Technician Installing Camera

1. How to Place an Image on a Page

Step 1

Let’s see how to insert an image in InDesign. First, choose File > Place, and then navigate to the directory containing your image.

Step 2

Select the desired image and click Open.

Step 3

Your cursor will switch to a “loaded” cursor (indicated by a mini-preview of your image). Place the image using one of the following methods:

Method 1: Click on the page to place the image at that location and at 100% of the original size.

Method 2: Click, hold the mouse button, and drag with the cursor to the desired size. This will also maintain the image’s proportions and orientation. Release the button when the image is the size you want.

Method 3: Click and drag as above while holding Shift to place in a frame with different proportions than your image. For instance, you can place a wide image into a tall frame. You may need to adjust the Fitting Options from the Object menu afterwards.

2. ‬How to Insert an Image Into an Existing Frame

Next up, let’s see how to place an image in InDesign into an existing frame. Notice that items live in a frame—or container—in InDesign. When placing using the methods above, the frame is created for you. However, if you already have a frame and you want to put an image in it, use one of the methods below.

Step 1 (Method 1)

To add a picture in InDesign, select the frame you want to insert the image into.

Step 2

Choose File > Place.

Step 3

Check Replace Selected Item at the bottom of the Place dialog box.

Step 4

Navigate to the image and click Open. The image is placed directly into the chosen frame.

-OR-

Step 1 (Method 2)

With no frame selected, choose File > Place.

Step 2

Navigate to the desired image and click Open.

Step 3

Roll over an empty frame to place the image inside that frame.

3. How to Drag and Drop an Image to Place It

Step 1

Now, let’s learn how to insert a photo in InDesign with the third method. Make sure you can see the desktop window that contains the image you want to place and your InDesign page.

Step 2

Drag the image from the desktop across into your InDesign document. This has the same results as using the Place command, and you can place the image using one of the methods above.

Now You Know How to Add a Picture in InDesign!

We’ve reviewed how to insert a photo in InDesign using three quick methods. Getting images into an INDD document is easy, and there are several ways to get that done. But no matter what methods you use, you’re now ready to step up your designs by adding images into the mix!

Here are even more great InDesign tutorials, full of great tips, tricks, and ideas. And don’t forget to visit Envato Elements’ huge library of InDesign graphic templates for your next project!

• 

  Quick Tip: Using the Eyedropper Tool in Adobe InDesign

  Learn how to use the Eyedropper Tool in InDesign in this quick tutorial. We’ll cover the basics of the Eyedropper Tool InDesign function and more cool tips.
• 

  Easy Graphics Using the InDesign Glyphs Panel

  Learn how to use the InDesign glyphs panel in this tutorial. We’ll also share some of the best premium glyph fonts for your creative projects.
• 

  How to Create a Millennial Pink Stationery Set in Adobe InDesign

  ‘Millennial Pink’ describes the pretty, sugary hue that designers are embracing. Pay tribute to the trend with this millennial pink stationery set.
• 

  How to Create Type on a Path in InDesign

  In this tutorial, we’ll be learning how to create type on a path in InDesign. You can use the type on a path tool to create curved text, wavy text, or just…
• 

  The Beginner’s Quick-Start Guide to InDesign (Tutorials, Tips & Resources)

  If you’re a beginner to Adobe InDesign, it can be intimidating knowing how to get started and what tasks the software is suitable for. Here, you’ll find a…
• 

  Quick Tip: Creating a Custom Text Box Using Type and InDesign

  There’s more to text in InDesign than squares and rectangles. Learn how to create custom text box designs in InDesign with the short steps in this tutorial.
• 

  How to Create a Calendar Template in InDesign

  In this tutorial, we’ll walk through the basics of creating a calendar template in Adobe InDesign. We’ll experiment with tables, cells, and ways that we can…
• 

  Quick Tip: Troubleshooting Font Problems in Adobe InDesign

  Getting creative with fonts is one of the most fun and rewarding aspects of using InDesign, but every once in a while you encounter font-related problems…