PLOS - Images

Free PLOS Image Citation Generator

Generate accurate PLOS citations for photographs, infographics, illustrations, figures, and other visual media.

Search papers or paste DOI

How to cite a image in PLOS

Search for the image

Paste a DOI, URL, ISBN, title, or author name to find the exact source record.

Check the PLOS formatting fields

Verify author, year, title, container, and publication details before copying the final citation.

Copy the formatted result

Get the complete PLOS citation plus the matching in-text citation or footnote format.

PLOS Image Citation Format

Online Image:

Creator. Title of image [image on the Internet]. Website/Collection; Year [cited Year Mon Day]. Available from: URL.

PLOS Image Citation Examples

Museum or Archive Image

National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Pillars of creation [image on the Internet]. NASA; 2024 [cited 2026 Mar 31]. Available from: https://www.nasa.gov/example

In-text: [1]

Infographic or Figure

World Health Organization. Diabetes burden by region [infographic on the Internet]. World Health Organization; 2025 [cited 2026 Mar 31]. Available from: https://www.who.int/example

In-text: [2]

Examples formatted in PLOS style

Handling Special Cases

No Listed Creator

Start the citation with the organization, website, or title if no individual creator is credited.

World Bank. Urban transport access map [image on the Internet]. 2025 [cited 2026 Mar 31]. Available from: https://www.worldbank.org/example

Describe the Medium Clearly

Use a bracketed description such as [Photograph], [Infographic], [Illustration], [Map], or [Figure] when your style expects it so the reader understands what kind of visual source you cited.

[Photograph], [Infographic], [Illustration], [Map]

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite an image in PLOS?

Include the creator, title, year, the image type when relevant, the site or collection name, and the URL. CiteMe formats the citation automatically in PLOS.

Can I use this PLOS image citation generator for photographs, infographics, and illustrations?

Yes. It works for photographs, charts, infographics, diagrams, illustrations, museum images, and figures published online, as long as you can identify the source page or original URL.

Do I cite the image itself or the page where the image appears in PLOS?

Cite the original source page or collection that publishes the image, not the search engine or social feed where you discovered it. If the image belongs to a larger article or report, make sure the citation points to that original publication context.