a:pic (Picture)

Represents a picture or image element in DrawingML with positioning, sizing, and visual effects.

Description

a:pic is the DrawingML picture element that represents an image or picture object. It is defined in ECMA-376 Part 1 §20.1.2.6.3.

Pictures embed images within Office documents through:

  • A blip fill reference pointing to image data (PNG, JPEG, etc.)
  • Shape properties defining the picture frame (position, size, effects)
  • Non-visual properties for naming and metadata
  • Support for visual effects (shadows, reflections, rotations)

Pictures are used for:

  • Embedded images in presentations and documents
  • Photo galleries and image collections
  • Branded graphics and logos
  • Illustrations and diagrams
  • Background images for shapes

Attributes

Attribute Type Possible Values Description
(none) - - All properties defined through child elements.

Examples

Simple Picture with Sizing

<p:pic xmlns:p="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/presentationml/2006/main" xmlns:a="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/drawingml/2006/main" xmlns:r="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/officeDocument/2006/relationships">
  <p:nvPicPr>
    <p:cNvPr id="1" name="Picture 1"/>
    <p:cNvPicPr/>
    <p:nvPr/>
  </p:nvPicPr>
  <p:blipFill>
    <a:blip r:embed="rId2" cstate="print"/>
    <a:stretch>
      <a:fillRect/>
    </a:stretch>
  </p:blipFill>
  <p:spPr>
    <a:xfrm>
      <a:off x="1000000" y="1000000"/>
      <a:ext cx="3000000" cy="2250000"/>
    </a:xfrm>
    <a:prstGeom prst="rect">
      <a:avLst/>
    </a:prstGeom>
  </p:spPr>
</p:pic>

Picture with Effects (Shadow + Border)

<p:pic xmlns:p="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/presentationml/2006/main" xmlns:a="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/drawingml/2006/main" xmlns:r="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/officeDocument/2006/relationships">
  <p:nvPicPr>
    <p:cNvPr id="2" name="Picture 2"/>
    <p:cNvPicPr/>
    <p:nvPr/>
  </p:nvPicPr>
  <p:blipFill>
    <a:blip r:embed="rId3"/>
    <a:stretch>
      <a:fillRect/>
    </a:stretch>
  </p:blipFill>
  <p:spPr>
    <a:xfrm>
      <a:off x="2000000" y="1500000"/>
      <a:ext cx="2500000" cy="2000000"/>
    </a:xfrm>
    <a:prstGeom prst="rect">
      <a:avLst/>
    </a:prstGeom>
    <a:ln w="25400">
      <a:solidFill>
        <a:srgbClr val="000000"/>
      </a:solidFill>
    </a:ln>
    <a:effectLst>
      <a:outerShdw blurRad="76200" dist="50800" dir="2700000">
        <a:srgbClr val="000000">
          <a:alpha val="50000"/>
        </a:srgbClr>
      </a:outerShdw>
    </a:effectLst>
  </p:spPr>
</p:pic>

Notes

  • Picture element references image data via r:embed relationship ID
  • Blip fill stretch maintains aspect ratio by default
  • Picture frame properties control border, shadow, and visual effects
  • Common image formats: PNG, JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF
  • Compression state: print (print-optimized) or screen (screen-optimized)
  • Pictures can be rotated, flipped, and cropped via transform properties
  • Effects (shadows, glows) apply to the picture frame, not the image itself
  • Width and height in EMUs (914400 = 1 inch)