Working with Images in LibreOffice Writer

Class 10 Information Technology (402) – Notes

Working with images is an important part of document creation in LibreOffice Writer. Images can be inserted, resized, cropped, rotated, formatted and positioned with text to create attractive and professional documents.

In this guide, we will learn how to work with images and drawing objects in LibreOffice Writer.

1. What is a Digital Image?

A digital image is a graphic or image represented in a digital document. Digital images are represented using pixels and can be stored in different graphics file formats.

Common image file extensions include:

• .GIF
• .JPG
• .JPEG
• .PNG
• .BMP

2. Methods of Inserting an Image in LibreOffice Writer

LibreOffice Writer provides several methods for inserting an image stored on a computer:

1. Insert Image dialog box
2. Drag and Drop
3. Copy and Paste
4. Linking

Inserting an Image Using the Insert Image Option

Follow these steps:

1. Open the document in LibreOffice Writer.
2. Place the cursor where the image is to be inserted.
3. Select Insert → Image from the menu bar.
4. The Insert Image dialog box opens.
5. Select the required picture file.
6. Click Open.

The selected image will be inserted into the document.

Inserting an Image Using Drag and Drop

1. Open the document in LibreOffice Writer.
2. Open a file browser using Win + E.
3. Select the required image file.
4. Drag the image into the document.
5. Drop it at the desired location.

Inserting an Image Using Copy and Paste

1. Select and copy the image from its source.
2. Place the cursor at the desired location in Writer.
3. Paste the image.

Important: When an image is inserted using these methods, a copy of the image is saved in the document. Therefore, the image is embedded in the document.

3. Linking an Image

When multiple copies of the same image are required, it may be beneficial to link the image instead of inserting it.

When an image is linked:

• The actual image is stored separately.
• The document stores only the reference/link to the image.
• The document size is reduced.
• The linked image is displayed when the document is opened.

To link an image, select the Link option in the Insert Image dialog box.

Shortcut: An image can also be linked by dragging and dropping it while holding Ctrl + Shift.

Embedded Image vs Linked Image

4. Image Toolbar

The Image Toolbar provides several tools for working with images.

It can be used to:

• Apply filters
• Change image mode
• Crop images
• Flip images
• Rotate images
• Adjust transparency
• Modify colours
• Adjust brightness and contrast
• Adjust gamma
• Resize images
• Delete images

The Image Toolbar automatically appears when an image is inserted or selected.

To keep it permanently visible, select: View → Toolbars → Image

5. Image Mode

The Image Mode option allows an image to be changed to:

• Black and white
• Gray-scale
• Watermark

6. Cropping an Image

Cropping means cutting off unwanted parts of an image.

Steps to Crop an Image

1. Insert an image into the document.
2. Select the image.
3. Click the Crop tool from the Image Toolbar.
4. The sizing handles change into blue cropping handles.
5. Click and drag an edge towards the centre of the image.
6. Drag the required edge to remove the unwanted portion.
7. Click anywhere on the page or press Esc to leave the Crop tool.

Cropping vs Resizing

• Resizing changes the size of an image.
• Cropping cuts unwanted portions of an image.

7. Resizing an Image

Resizing is the process of reducing or enlarging the size of an image.

Steps to Resize an Image

1. Click on the image.
2. Observe the eight sizing handles around it.
3. Position the pointer over a sizing handle.
4. Click and drag the handle.
5. Release the mouse button when the desired size is obtained.

Corner Handles

Dragging a corner handle changes the width and height simultaneously and helps maintain the original shape of the image.

Edge Handles

Dragging the other four handles changes one dimension at a time and can resize the image non-proportionally.

8. Deleting an Image

An image can be deleted just like text.

1. Select the image.
2. Press the Delete key.

The image will be removed from the document.

9. Image Filters

LibreOffice Writer provides 11 image filters.

Some important filters include:

10. Other Image Toolbar Tools

LibreOffice Writer provides several tools for modifying images:

• Flip Horizontally – Flips the image horizontally.
• Flip Vertically – Flips the image vertically.
• Rotate 90° Left – Rotates the image 90° to the left.
• Rotate 90° Right – Rotates the image 90° to the right.
• Rotate – Allows the image to be rotated by any angle.
• Transparency – Makes an image transparent according to the selected percentage.

11. Colour Adjustment

The Colour option provides six components:

The percentage of these components can be increased or decreased.

12. Rotating an Image

To rotate an image:

1. Open a new Writer document.
2. Select Insert → Image → From File.
3. Insert the required image.
4. Select the image.
5. Click the Rotate tool.
6. Four handles appear at the corners.
7. Move the mouse over a corner.
8. The rotate symbol appears.
9. Click the rotate symbol on the top-right corner.
10. Drag it in the required direction.

13. Drawing Objects

LibreOffice Writer also provides Drawing Tools for creating:

• Flowcharts
• Callout boxes
• Designs
• Diagrams
• Other drawings

Drawing objects can be placed directly in the document and can also be copied or imported into other packages.

Displaying the Drawing Toolbar

Select:

View → Toolbars → Drawing

Creating a Drawing Object

1. Place the cursor where the drawing is to be placed.
2. Select the required tool from the Drawing Toolbar.
3. Move the pointer to the desired location.
4. Click and drag to create the drawing object.
5. Release the mouse button.

Press Esc or click the Select icon to cancel the drawing function.

14. Drawing Object Properties

The Drawing Object Properties Toolbar can be used to:

• Move an object
• Resize an object
• Rotate an object
• Edit an object
• Configure its properties

Properties can be changed before or after creating the drawing object.

Properties changed before creating an object become the default values for the current session.

15. Grouping Drawing Objects

A drawing may consist of several overlapping shapes. Although they may look like one design, they are actually separate objects.

Grouping combines these objects so that they behave as a single entity.

Advantages of Grouping

• Different shapes behave as a single object.
• Their size and position can be handled together.
• A change applied to one member works on all members of the group.

Steps to Group Objects

1. Select the first object.
2. Hold the Shift key.
3. Click all other objects to be included.
4. Select the Group tool.

Alternatively:

Format → Group → Group

Group Options

There are four group options:

1. Group – Combines selected objects.
2. Ungroup – Separates previously grouped objects.
3. Enter Group – Allows working with objects inside a group.
4. Exit Group – Leaves the group after working with individual objects.

16. Positioning Images in Text

After inserting and formatting an image or drawing, it may need to be positioned properly with text and other objects.

Positioning is controlled by four settings:

1. Arrangement
2. Anchoring
3. Alignment
4. Text Wrapping

These settings can be accessed through the Format menu, right-click context menu, or Drawing Object Properties Toolbar.

Arrangement

Arrangement determines the position of an image or drawing with respect to other objects when they overlap.

The arrangement options are:

• Bring to Front
• Forward One
• Back One
• Send to Back
• To Foreground
• To Background

The first four options can be applied to images or drawings, while the last two are available for drawings only.

Anchoring

Anchoring acts as a reference point for an image or drawing.

An object can be anchored:

• To Page
• To Paragraph
• To Character
• As Character

When the page, paragraph, character or frame to which the image is anchored is moved, the anchored image moves with it.

Alignment

Alignment controls the vertical or horizontal placement of an image with respect to its anchor.

There are six alignment styles:

• 3 horizontal
• 3 vertical

Text Wrapping

Text Wrapping controls the placement of an image in relation to text.

The six text wrapping options are:

17. Important Differences

Resizing vs Cropping

Embedded Image vs Linked Image

Corner Handles vs Edge Handles

Key Takeaways

After studying this chapter, you should be able to:

✅ Insert images in LibreOffice Writer using different methods
✅ Understand embedded and linked images
✅ Crop and resize images
✅ Apply image filters and colour adjustments
✅ Rotate and flip images
✅ Create and modify drawing objects
✅ Group and ungroup drawing objects
✅ Understand arrangement, anchoring and alignment
✅ Apply different text-wrapping options
✅ Differentiate between resizing and cropping

Exam Tip 💡

Remember these important concepts:

• Cropping → removes unwanted portions of an image.
• Resizing → changes the size of an image.
• Embedded image → a copy is stored inside the document.
• Linked image → only a reference to the external image is stored.
• Grouping → makes multiple drawing objects behave as one object.
• Anchoring → determines the reference point of an image or drawing.
• Text Wrapping → controls how text is positioned around an image.

By Anjeev Kr Singh – Computer Science Educator
Published on : September 10, 2026 | Updated on : September 10, 2026

About the Author

Anjeev Kr Singh

Computer Science Educator, Author, and HOD. Guiding CBSE students in CS, IP, IT, WA & AI via mycstutorial.in. Creator of Question Bank for Class 10 & 12 students.

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