Excel IMAGE function - quickly insert picture in cell with formula

Excel's IMAGE Function: A Revolutionary Way to Embed Pictures

For years, inserting images into Excel worksheets was cumbersome. Now, the new IMAGE function simplifies this process dramatically. Using a simple formula, you can embed images directly within cells, seamlessly integrating them into Excel tables. This allows for manipulation—moving, copying, resizing, sorting, and filtering—just like regular cells. No more floating images!

Key Features of the IMAGE Function:

The IMAGE function inserts pictures from a URL, supporting BMP, JPG/JPEG, GIF, TIFF, PNG, ICO, and WEBP formats. It accepts five arguments:

IMAGE(source, [alt_text], [sizing], [height], [width])

• Source (required): The HTTPS URL of the image file (enclosed in quotes or a cell reference). HTTP URLs are not supported.
• Alt_text (optional): Descriptive alternative text for the image.
• Sizing (optional): Controls image dimensions:
  • 0 (default): Fits the image to the cell, maintaining aspect ratio.
  • 1: Fills the cell, ignoring aspect ratio.
  • 2: Maintains the original image size.
  • 3: Sets height and width (using height and width arguments).
• Height (optional): Image height in pixels (used with sizing = 3).
• Width (optional): Image width in pixels (used with sizing = 3).

Availability:

Currently, the IMAGE function is available to Microsoft 365 subscribers on Windows, Mac, Android, and the web version of Excel.

Basic Usage:

The simplest formula only requires the source argument:

=IMAGE("https://cdn.ablebits.com/_img-blog/image-function/items/umbrella.png", "umbrella")

This fits the image within the cell, preserving its aspect ratio. Resizing the cell adjusts the image accordingly. A tooltip appears on hover; its size can be adjusted.

Setting sizing to 1 fills the entire cell with the image, disregarding aspect ratio.

=IMAGE("https://cdn.ablebits.com/_img-blog/image-function/items/water.jpg", "ocean", 1)

Specifying height and width (with sizing = 3) requires a sufficiently large cell to display the entire image. Formulas can be copied to other cells, or referenced like any other cell.

Practical Applications:

The IMAGE function opens up new possibilities:

• Product Catalogs: Easily create product lists with images by linking each item to its image URL. (See example image below)
• Dynamic Image Lookup: Combine IMAGE with XLOOKUP to display an image based on a dropdown selection. (See example image below)
• Image Dropdowns: Create dropdowns directly displaying images. (See example image below)

Limitations:

The IMAGE function is still in beta, so some limitations exist:

• Only HTTPS URLs are supported.
• OneDrive, SharePoint, and local network images are not currently supported.
• Authentication-protected websites may not work.
• Cross-platform inconsistencies (Windows/Mac) might occur.
• GIFs are displayed as static images.

The IMAGE function significantly enhances Excel's capabilities, providing a streamlined and efficient way to integrate images directly into your spreadsheets.

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