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How to Insert and Add Images in Obsidian Notes App

Obsidian is a powerful note-taking app that uses plain text Markdown files for notes. While it handles text very well, adding images requires some extra steps. Here are the best practices for inserting and managing images in Obsidian.

Inserting Images

There are a few methods to insert images into notes in Obsidian:

Drag and Drop

The easiest way is to drag and drop an image file directly into a note. Obsidian will automatically copy the image into your vault’s attachments folder and insert the Markdown embed code.

Paste Image

You can also copy an image and paste it directly into a note. This also handles copying the image to your attachments folder and inserting the embed code.

Markdown Embed

To manually embed an image that’s already in your vault, use the Markdown syntax:

![alt text](image.jpg)

Replace alt text with a description and image.jpg with the filename. Make sure the image file is in your vault’s attachments folder.

HTML Image Tag

You can also add images using the HTML <img> tag if needed:

<img src="image.jpg">

Image File Location

By default, Obsidian stores embedded image files in the Attachments folder located inside your vault. You can configure a custom location in Obsidian’s settings if desired.

Storing images inside your vault keeps everything together in one place for easy portability.

Resizing Images

To resize an image, you need to use HTML:

<img src="image.jpg" width="200">

Replace width with the desired width in pixels. You can also set the height:

<img src="image.jpg" width="200" height="400">

Resizing images is useful for controlling layouts and fitting multiple images side by side.

Image Management

Managing lots of images in notes can quickly become unwieldy. Here are some tips:

  • Use a consistent naming scheme for easy visual recognition
  • Store different categories of images in separate subfolders
  • Use Markdown reference links instead of embeds to avoid clutter
  • Add tags for searchability
  • Create an image index note with thumbnails

Reference Links

For a cleaner look, you can use Markdown reference links instead of embeds:

![alt text][image]

[image]: image.jpg

This keeps images separate from the text for better readability while still linking them.

Image Plugins

Here are some popular Obsidian plugins that enhance working with images:

  • Image Resizer: Bulk resize images
  • Paste Image: Advanced pasting of images
  • Excalidraw: Insert drawings and diagrams
  • Media Extended: Additional media utilities
  • Embed Images: Tools for embedded images

The community has created plugins to fill Obsidian’s gaps with images. Browse the plugin library to find one that fits your needs.

Publishing Images

When publishing notes through Obsidian Publish, your embedded attachment images will carry over seamlessly. The publishing process automatically converts the Markdown syntax and copies images to the hosted location.

However, publishing does not support every Obsidian plugin for images, so test them thoroughly before relying on them for published notes.

Conclusion

While adding images in Obsidian requires a few more steps compared to other apps, the methods are straightforward once you get the hang of it. Sticking to the core syntax with drag and drop or copy/paste gets you pretty far. For more complex use cases, enabling plugins helps bridge the gaps in Obsidian’s native image handling.

With a structured system in place and utilization of available plugins, Obsidian can handle even heavy image usage in notes. The effort invested pays dividends for long-term maintainability thanks to using open plain text Markdown files. So take the time to organize your visual assets, and your future self will thank you!

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