Insert high-quality stock photos from Unsplash directly into your designs. Search millions of free professional images contributed by talented photographers worldwide.
Opening Unsplash
Open the Actions panel
Click the Actions button (sparkle icon) in the floating toolbar.
Go to Plugins
Select the Plugins & widgets tab.
Launch Unsplash
Click Unsplash Photos to open the photo browser.
Searching for Photos
Keyword Search
Use the search bar to find photos by keyword. Unsplash's search is intelligent and understands concepts, moods, and compositions:
- "mountain sunset" - Landscape photography
- "workspace minimal" - Clean office/desk setups
- "happy team" - Group photos with positive energy
- "abstract geometric" - Artistic patterns and shapes
- "food flat lay" - Top-down food photography
Browse Curated Collections
Explore curated collections organized by theme:
- Architecture - Buildings, interiors, urban scenes
- Nature - Landscapes, wildlife, plants
- Business - Office environments, teams, productivity
- Technology - Devices, coding, digital life
- Travel - Destinations, adventure, culture
Inserting Photos
Select a photo
Click on any photo in the search results to preview it.
Insert image
Click Insert to add the photo to your canvas.
Position and resize
The photo is inserted as an image element. Drag to reposition and resize using the handles.
Photos are automatically added to your Recent Photos for quick access later.
Working with Photos
Image Fit Options
Control how images fill their frames:
- Fill - Cover the entire frame, may crop
- Fit - Fit entire image, may show empty space
- Crop - Fill frame and center, crops edges
Applying Filters & Effects
Enhance photos using the Properties Panel:
- Shadows - Add drop shadows for depth
- Blur - Create background blur effects
- Opacity - Reduce opacity for overlay effects
- Blend Modes - Experiment with different blend modes
Masking Photos
Create shaped photos using masks:
- Create a shape (rectangle, circle, custom path)
- Place the photo on top of the shape
- Select both layers
- Right-click → Use as Mask
Recent Photos
Viewing Recent Photos
The Recent tab shows photos you've previously used. This makes it easy to maintain consistency across multiple artboards or reuse images.
Clearing Recent Photos
To clear your photo history:
- Open the Unsplash plugin
- Go to the Recent tab
- Click Clear Recent to remove all cached photos
Best Practices
Image Selection
- Choose high-resolution images (at least 1920px wide for web, 3000px+ for print)
- Consider the subject matter and ensure it aligns with your brand/message
- Look for images with good composition and lighting
- Avoid overused stock photo clichés
Editing for Consistency
- Apply consistent filters/effects across all images in a project
- Consider creating color overlay effects for brand consistency
- Crop images to similar aspect ratios for visual harmony
Performance Tips
- Large images can slow down your project—resize appropriately
- Use lower resolution images for mockups, high-res for final exports
- Consider using placeholder boxes during early design phases
Unsplash photos are free to use under the Unsplash License. While attribution is not required, it's appreciated. Check individual photo pages for photographer details.
Common Use Cases
Hero Images
Large, impactful images for landing pages:
- Search for "hero" or "landscape wide"
- Look for images with negative space for text overlay
- Choose images with strong focal points
Background Textures
Subtle textures and patterns:
- Search for "minimal texture", "white marble", "concrete wall"
- Reduce opacity (20-40%) for subtle effects
- Use blend modes like "Overlay" or "Soft Light"
Team & People Photos
Authentic human photography:
- Search for "team working", "candid office", "diverse people"
- Choose natural, non-posed shots for authenticity
- Ensure diversity and representation in your selections
Troubleshooting
Photo Won't Load
If a photo fails to load:
- Check your internet connection
- Try searching for a different image
- Close and reopen the plugin
Low Quality After Resizing
If an image appears pixelated:
- Check the original resolution—you may have exceeded the source image size
- Search for higher resolution versions of similar images
- Avoid scaling images beyond 150% of their original size