A map on the page before Chapter 1 does more than decorate a fantasy novel: it tells the reader that this is a world with real distances. An illustration at the start of a chapter, a family tree before a saga, a diagram in a nonfiction book, a photograph in a memoir: each of these needs a page of its own, sized and placed so that it prints cleanly and reads well on a screen. Done badly, an image page shows up blurry, cut off or on the wrong page. This guide explains when an image deserves its own page, how to prepare the image, where to place it, how to write a caption, and how to add an image page in Quillen.
The short answer
Give an image its own page when it is large, detailed or important enough to be seen alone: a map, a frontispiece, a chapter-opening illustration, a family tree, a diagram that needs space. Use a high-resolution image, keep it inside the margins, add a short caption if it helps, and check it in the preview. In Quillen, the Image Page button places an image on a page of its own, centred, wherever your cursor is, with an optional caption.
When an image page is the right choice
An image earns a full page when the reader needs to study it. Common cases:
| Image | Where it goes | Why a page of its own |
|---|---|---|
| Map of the world or a region | Front matter, before Chapter 1, or the back of the book | Readers refer back to it; it needs room for labels |
| City or building plan | Before the chapter set there, or in the front | Detail is lost at small sizes |
| Family tree or timeline | Front matter or an appendix | A wide diagram needs space |
| Frontispiece or chapter illustration | Facing the title page or opening a chapter | A decorative opening needs white space |
| Diagram, chart or photo in nonfiction | Where it is discussed | It needs space, and a caption ties it to the text |
| Small spot illustrations or icons | Inline, not a page of their own | They would waste a page |
Preparing the image
Resolution
For print, aim for about 300 pixels per inch at the size it will print. A map that fills a 6 x 9 inch page should be around 1,800 by 2,700 pixels. For an ebook, 1,200 to 1,600 pixels on the long side is plenty, and bigger files make the book heavier to download. If you have only one version, a high-resolution one will work for both.
Format
PNG suits maps, line art and diagrams, because it keeps edges crisp. JPEG suits photographs and painted illustrations. Avoid very large files, which slow ebook downloads and can hit retailer file-size limits.
Colour and contrast
E-ink Kindles show only greys, and print books are often black and white. Check that a colour map still reads in greyscale: fine pastel lines on a pale background may vanish. Use strong contrast, readable label sizes and simple shapes.
Shape
An image that matches the page's proportions fills the space well. A wide landscape map on a portrait page will leave blank space above and below, or you can rotate it, though rotated pages are harder to read on a phone. Many authors keep maps to a portrait or square shape for this reason.
Captions
A caption is optional but often helpful. Keep it short: a place name for a map ("The Kingdom of Eldoria"), a title for an illustration, a source credit for a photograph. If the image carries text of its own, such as a title in the map, the caption may be unnecessary. In nonfiction, a numbered caption ("Figure 3") ties the image to the text.
Copyright and permission
Use only images you made, commissioned, or have the right to use. A stock image or a map made with a tool has a licence, and some licences forbid use in a published book, or require a credit. If in doubt, read the licence, and credit the artist on the copyright page or in the caption when it is required. Our copyright page guide covers where credits go.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Problem | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Low-resolution image | Blurry in print | 300 pixels per inch at print size |
| Tiny labels | Illegible on a phone | Larger text, simpler map |
| Colour only | Disappears on e-ink and in black and white print | Test in greyscale |
| Wide image on a portrait page | Wasted space, or rotated text | Prefer a portrait shape |
| No caption, no title | The reader does not know what it is | Add a short caption |
| A very large file | Slow download, retailer limits | Compress sensibly |
| Using an image without a licence | Legal risk | Check the licence |
Do it in Quillen
Quillen has an Image Page button in the editor toolbar for fiction. It places an image on a page of its own, centred, with an optional caption.
- Place your cursor in the manuscript where the page should go, for example at the start of a chapter, or between two scenes.
- Click Image Page in the toolbar. The "Add an image page" window opens, explaining that the image goes on a page of its own, centred, wherever your cursor is.
- Choose the image. Under Your maps you can pick a map you have already made or uploaded in Lore: picture maps (city maps, pictures saved from an interactive map, and uploaded maps) or interactive maps. Or, under Or a new image, click Choose an image from your computer and pick a file.
- Add a caption if you want one. It is optional.
- Click Add image page. The image appears on its own page in the manuscript.
- Check the preview. Open Export, then Print, eBook & Kindle, and look at the page in the E-reader, Phone and Book previews.
Maps as front or back matter. For a map the reader sees before Chapter 1, you can instead tick Map in the front matter of the Print, eBook & Kindle export, or Map (back of book) in the back matter, choose one of your Lore maps or a new image, and add a caption. See how to add front and back matter.
Nonfiction books. In a nonfiction book the editor toolbar has an Insert menu with Table and Image options, for figures that sit with the text. Keep full-page treatment for the large maps and diagrams that need it.
Checklist
- Image large enough for print, at about 300 pixels per inch.
- Labels legible at phone size and in greyscale.
- A short caption, if it helps.
- Licence checked and credit given where required.
- Page checked in the E-reader, Phone and Book previews.
Common questions
When should an image have its own page?
When the reader needs to study it: a map, a family tree, a frontispiece, a chapter-opening illustration or a large diagram. Small icons and spot art stay inline.
What resolution should a map be?
About 300 pixels per inch at print size for paperbacks, and 1,200 to 1,600 pixels on the long side is usually plenty for an ebook.
How do I add an image page in Quillen?
Place the cursor where the page should go, click Image Page in the toolbar, choose a map from Lore or a new image, add an optional caption and click Add image page.
Can I put a map before Chapter 1?
Yes. In the Print, eBook & Kindle export, tick Map in the front matter and choose one of your Lore maps or a new image. There is a separate Map option for the back of the book.
Will a colour map work on an e-ink Kindle?
Only if it has enough contrast. E-ink shows greys, so test your map in greyscale and avoid fine pastel lines.