Is Image The Same As Photo?
What's the difference between an image, photo, and a picture?
Updated: 06/30/2020 by Computer Hope
Today, most people consider an image, picture, and photograph (photo) as synonyms (the same word) when talking about a visual representation of an object on a computer. However, for the sake of ambiguity, we define each of these as follows.
Digital images, photographs, and pictures
Image - Any visual object that's modified or altered by a computer or an imaginary object created using a computer.Photo or photograph - Anything taken by a camera, digital camera, or photocopier.Picture - A drawing, painting, or artwork created on a computer. A picture is also used to describe anything created using a camera or scanner.The image above is a visual example of the differences between these three words. First, the "image" is a photo of a computer keyboard that was altered by a computer. It shows where the bumps on a keyboard are positioned by circling the bumps on the F and J keys. Next, the "photo" is a photograph of a man setting up photographs at a local market taken by a digital camera. Finally, the "picture" is of a man holding up a Computer Hope logo that was all created using a computer.
@Punderfullll I notice this is not the same as this other one of the image ¿Did you do it yourself? (PD I won't enter in this giveaway, I have more than enough with my Cirno photo. Thx for letting me win ✨✨✨✨) https://t.co/AImWEDr5vX
— El_churro (@SteamPoweredDM) Mar 09, 2022
If you're following a style guide that prefers one of these words over another, we suggest following your style guidelines. If you have no style guide, follow our usage of these words or always use the same word in all your writing.
According to Google Trends, the word "photo" is used more than any of these words on the Internet, followed by image, photograph, and then picture.
There are other visual objects created on a computer that may fall into its own category, such as clip art, graphic, illustration, render, and a screenshot. When talking about any of these, we suggest using the proper terms instead of image, photo, or picture. In other words, if you're working with clip art, call it clip art instead of a picture.