Adding a link to an image in Adobe InDesign allows viewers of your exported interactive PDF or digital publication to click the image and be directed to a specific webpage or resource.
You can easily add a hyperlink to any graphic frame (which holds your image) using the Hyperlinks panel or the Type menu.
Steps to Hyperlink an Image
Based on the standard InDesign workflow, here's how to add a web link (URL) to an image:
- Select the Image Frame: Click on the graphic frame containing the image you want to link.
- Create a New Hyperlink: Navigate to the menu
Type > Hyperlinks & Cross-Referencesand selectNew Hyperlink.... - Configure the Link:
- In the New Hyperlink dialog box that appears, locate the Link To: dropdown menu.
- Select URL from the options.
- In the Destination: field, type or paste the full web address (e.g.,
https://www.example.com).
- Confirm: Click OK to create the hyperlink.
Your image is now linked. When the document is exported as an interactive PDF or in other digital formats that support hyperlinks, clicking the image will open the specified URL in the user's web browser.
Using the Hyperlinks Panel
Alternatively, you can open the Hyperlinks panel first (Window > Interactive > Hyperlinks). With the image frame selected, click the "Create New Hyperlink" button (it looks like a small plus sign) at the bottom of the panel. This opens the same New Hyperlink dialog box mentioned above, where you can configure the link type and destination.
Key Settings
When creating a hyperlink, especially for an image, the primary settings you'll interact with are:
- Link To: Determines the type of link (URL, File, Page, Text Anchor, Shared Destination, Email). For linking to a website, choose URL.
- Destination: The specific URL, file path, page number, etc., that the link points to.
By following these simple steps, you can make your InDesign layouts more interactive and guide your readers to relevant online content directly from your images.
