The basic method: import, position, and export

To add a picture into a video, you import both files into a video editor, place the image on a layer above your video track, position and resize it, then export the result. The exact steps depend on which editor you use, but the principle is the same across all of them: your video sits on one track, your image sits on another track above it, and the editor combines them when you save.

Most editors let you drag and drop files directly into the timeline. You can then click the image layer to select it, grab the corners to resize it, and drag it to move it around the frame. You set how long the image stays visible by dragging the edges of the image clip on the timeline — make it shorter and it disappears sooner, make it longer and it stays on screen longer.

The image will cover whatever video is underneath it. If you want the video to show through parts of the image, you need to lower the image's opacity (make it see-through) or use a background that is already transparent, like a PNG file with no background.

Key Takeaways

  • Import your video and image file into the same project, then drag the image onto a layer above the video track in the timeline.
  • Resize the image by dragging its corners, and move it by dragging the image itself — most editors show you a preview as you work.
  • Control how long the image appears by dragging the left and right edges of the image clip on the timeline.
  • If you want the video to show through the image, lower the opacity slider or use a PNG file with a transparent background instead of a solid background.
  • The exact button names and menu locations vary by editor, but the workflow is the same: import, layer, position, resize, set duration, export.

Where to find the import button in common editors

DaVinci Resolve (free version available) has a Media Pool on the left side. Click the folder icon or right-click in the Media Pool and choose "Import Media" to bring in your video and image files. Drag them both into the timeline below.

CapCut (free, desktop and mobile) shows a plus sign or "Import" button in the bottom left. Tap or click it, select your files, and they appear in the library. Drag the video to the timeline first, then drag the image above it on a new track.

Adobe Premiere Pro (paid subscription) has a File menu at the top. Go to File > Import and select your files. They land in the Project panel on the left. Drag the video to the timeline, then drag the image to a track above it.

OpenShot (free, open-source) has an Import button at the top left. Click it, choose your files, and they appear in the Project Files list. Drag them into the timeline in the order you want them.

Resizing and positioning the image on screen

Once your image is on the timeline above your video, click it to select it. You will see handles (small squares) at the corners and edges of the image in the preview window. Drag a corner handle to resize the image while keeping its proportions — drag an edge handle if you want to stretch it in one direction only.

To move the image around the frame, click in the center of the image and drag it to a new position. Most editors show you a live preview as you drag, so you can see exactly where it will end up. If you want the image to stay in one spot while the video plays underneath, you are done — the image will sit there for as long as the clip extends on the timeline.

If you want the image to move across the screen (like sliding in from the left or zooming in), you need to use keyframes. Set the image's position and size at one point in time, move forward in the timeline, change the position or size again, and the editor will animate the change between those two points. Most editors have a stopwatch icon next to the position and scale settings that turns keyframing on.

Controlling how long the image stays visible

The image clip on the timeline has a left edge and a right edge. Drag the right edge to the left to make the image disappear sooner. Drag it to the right to make the image stay on screen longer. The image will be visible for whatever duration the clip covers on the timeline.

If you want the image to fade in or fade out instead of appearing and disappearing when ready, look for an opacity keyframe or fade option. In DaVinci Resolve, right-click the image clip and look for "Opacity" or "Fade." In CapCut, swipe up on the image clip and find the opacity slider. In Premiere Pro, expand the clip in the timeline and look for the opacity line — click it to add keyframes that control the fade.

You can also add a transition between the video and the image. Most editors have a Transitions panel where you can drag a fade, dissolve, or wipe effect onto the edge where the image appears or disappears. This softens the cut and makes the image feel more intentional.

Making the image transparent or semi-transparent

If you want the video to show through the image, lower the image's opacity. Find the opacity slider in the inspector panel (usually on the right side of the editor) or in the clip properties. Drag it down from 100% to whatever transparency you want — 50% makes the image half see-through, 25% makes it very faint.

If the image has a solid background color (like white or black) and you want only the subject of the image to show, you have two options. The easier one is to use a PNG file with a transparent background instead — many online tools can remove a background from a JPG and save it as a PNG. The harder one is to use a chroma key or color key tool in your editor to make one color transparent, but this requires the background to be a single solid color.

Some editors call this "color key" or "chroma key" and it is usually found in the Effects panel. Select the image, add the effect, and click the color you want to remove. The editor will make that color transparent across the whole image.

Exporting your video with the image included

Once you have positioned the image and set its duration, go to File > Export or File > Render to save the final video. Choose a format like MP4 or MOV, pick a location on your computer, and click Export. The editor will combine all your layers (the video, the image, any effects) into a single video file.

The export process can take a few minutes depending on how long your video is and how powerful your computer is. Do not close the editor or unplug your computer while it is exporting — wait for the progress bar to finish and the confirmation message to appear.

If the exported video looks wrong — the image is cut off, the colors are wrong, or it is blurry — go back to the timeline, check your image size and position, and export again. Most editors let you export multiple times without losing your work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add multiple pictures to the same video?

Yes. Import all your images and drag each one onto a separate track above the video, or stack them on the same track one after another. Set the duration of each image clip so they appear and disappear when you want. You can position them all in the same spot or scatter them across the frame.

What file format should my image be?

JPG works for most images. PNG works if you need a transparent background. Avoid BMP or TIFF unless your editor specifically asks for them — they take up much more space and do not offer any advantage for video. Make sure your image is at least as wide and tall as your video resolution (1920 by 1080 for HD, 3840 by 2160 for 4K) or it will look blurry when enlarged.

Why does my image look pixelated or blurry in the video?

The image is probably smaller than your video resolution and the editor is stretching it to fit. Use a larger image file, or resize the image smaller in the editor instead of larger. If you must enlarge a small image, accept that it will be slightly soft — there is no way around this without a larger source file.

Can I make the image move or animate?

Yes, using keyframes. Click the stopwatch icon next to Position or Scale in the inspector, set the image's starting position and size, move forward in the timeline, change the position or size again, and the editor will animate the change. This works for any property — position, size, rotation, opacity.

What if I want the image to appear only in part of the video?

Drag the left and right edges of the image clip on the timeline to the exact frames where you want it to start and stop. You can also add fade-in and fade-out effects to make the appearance and disappearance smoother instead of when ready.