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Adding Images with the AI Design Assistant

The AI Design Assistant can help you create customized images for your course banner and content modules, either by accessing stock photos through the Unsplash integration or generating wholly original images based on text prompts.

Add a Course Image/Banner with Unsplash

Navigate to the right panel on your Course Content page. Click on Course Image or the link below it (see image below).

This image shows the Course Content page with an orange arrow pointing toward the Course Image link on the right panel.

On the Display Settings click on the image icon (see left image). Keep in mind that there is a function at Course Banner to turn the course banner image on or off (see second arrow in left image).

This image shows the Display Settings dialog box with an orange arrow pointing toward the image icon. Another orange arrow points toward the off button under the Course Banner section.

This image shows the Insert Image pop up box. An orange arrow points toward the drop down triangle revealing the two options which are Upload from Device and Stock images from Unsplash. The Stock images from Unsplash is highlighted in an orange outline box.

Once you click on Stock Images from Unsplash, the Image Source dialog box will pop up. On this box you are able to modify the Search keywords from the default one and select Search to see a series of pictures (see left image below). Once you click on an picture, another box will pop up showing the picture (see right image below). You can move the lighter horizontal gridded strip up and and down the picture to select the portion you need. You can also slide the purple circle to zoom the picture in and out. Once done, select Save.

This image shows the Image Source pop up box. The Search section is highlighted in an orange outlined box. The search button is alongside the Search box. Below are a gridded series of images. Below the images an orange arrow points toward the Next button.

This image shows a single selected image. On the image an orange horizontal box outlined the proportion of the image that would be used for the banner. Below this image is a slider with a solid purple circle. An orange arrow points at the purple circle. Below this, another orange arrow points at the Save button.

Once you select Save, the Display Settings will show a series of steps to take:

Accessibility: to make your image accessible to students who use assistive technologies such as screen readers you can include an Alternative text within the grey box.

Alternately you can can select and mark the image as decorative (see image on the right). Doing this indicates that the image provides no instructional value and is strictly for decorative purposes. This action will make the image invisible to people who use assistive technologies.

Course Banner: switch ON (see image on the right) to reveal the image banner at the top of your Course Content page (see image below). You can turn this OFF when needed.

This image shows a picture banner at the top of the Course Content page. An orange arrow from the left points toward the banner image.

Course Card Image: is set ON by default, this cannot be changed. This allows the image to be attached to your course card to readily identify it on the Courses page in grid view.

This image shows an example of a course card. The image from the course banner is located at the top of the card. The course name and the instructor name are located at the bottom of the image. Also the Open notification is visible. This suggests the course is opened to enrolled students.

This image shows the Display Settings pop up dialog box with a list of items. These items are addressed in details in the text. The Save button is located at the far right bottom part of the dialog box.

Important Information

Please note that Unsplash images are owned by contributors. Images on Blackboard can be used for both course banner and course card purposes.

All AI-generated information is opened to inaccuracy and bias. Your role as the expert and instructor of the course is to check and examine all content generated by the Design Assistant to ensure that information provided for learners is clear, accurate, and without bias.

To add your own image to your course banner please visit:

Course Banner