Image vs. Picture — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 12, 2023
"Image" refers to a representation or likeness of something, often broader in scope and medium. "Picture" typically means a visual representation, especially a painting, photograph, or drawing. While all pictures are images, not all images are pictures.
Difference Between Image and Picture
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Key Differences
The term "Image" often connotes a broader spectrum of representation. It can be anything from a mental conception to a digital file. On the other hand, a "Picture" specifically pertains to a visual representation. It's an umbrella term for items like photographs, drawings, or paintings.
With technological advancements, "Image" has also come to signify digital visual files used in electronic displays. "Picture", however, remains rooted in tangible, often artistic representations, though it can also refer to digital photos.
It's noteworthy to mention that "Image" can also represent the idea or reputation of something, like the 'public image' of a celebrity. "Picture", in its core definition, doesn't carry this abstract connotation.
The etymology further underscores the difference. "Image" is derived from Latin "imago", meaning a representation or likeness. "Picture" comes from Latin "pictura", referring to painting or drawing.
Lastly, while "Image" can be both tangible and intangible, the term "Picture" often evokes a sense of physicality, even if it's a digital photograph.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A representation or likeness of something.
A visual representation like a photograph, drawing, or painting.
Scope
Broader; can be both tangible and intangible.
Primarily tangible, visual.
Abstract Connotations
Can refer to reputation or idea (e.g., "public image").
Largely visual; less abstract.
Technological Usage
Commonly used to refer to digital visual files.
More rooted in traditional visual representations.
Origin
Derived from Latin "imago".
Comes from Latin "pictura".
Compare with Definitions
Image
An idea, conception, or impression formed in the mind.
He had a negative image of the city before visiting.
Picture
A cinema film.
The new picture is premiering this weekend.
Image
A person's public persona or reputation.
She has always maintained a positive public image.
Picture
A detailed or vivid portrayal in words or writing.
Her book painted a vivid picture of the 18th century.
Image
An image (from Latin: imago) is an artifact that depicts visual perception, such as a photograph or other two-dimensional picture, that resembles a subject—usually a physical object—and thus provides a depiction of it. In the context of signal processing, an image is a distributed amplitude of color(s).
Picture
An image captured by a camera, either digital or film.
Can you take a picture of us?
Image
A representation of the external form of a person or thing in art
Her work juxtaposed images from serious and popular art
Picture
A visual representation or image painted, drawn, photographed, or otherwise rendered on a flat surface.
Image
The general impression that a person, organization, or product presents to the public
She strives to project an image of youth
Picture
A visible image, especially one on a flat surface or screen
The picture reflected in the lake.
Focused the picture on the movie screen.
Image
A simile or metaphor
He uses the image of a hole to describe emotional emptiness
Picture
A vivid or realistic verbal description
A Shakespearean picture of guilt.
Image
Make a representation of the external form of
Artworks which imaged women's bodies
Picture
A vivid mental image.
Image
A representation of the form of a person or object, such as a painting or photograph.
Picture
A person or object bearing a marked resemblance to another
She's the picture of her mother.
Image
A sculptured likeness.
Picture
A person, object, or scene that typifies or embodies an emotion, state of mind, or mood
Your face was the very picture of horror.
Image
(Physics) An optically formed duplicate, counterpart, or other representative reproduction of an object, especially an optical reproduction formed by a lens or mirror.
Picture
The chief circumstances of an event or time; the situation
How does the new boyfriend figure in the picture?.
Image
One that closely or exactly resembles another
He is the image of his uncle.
Picture
A movie.
Image
Likeness; semblance
Genesis says that man was made in the image of God.
Picture
A tableau vivant.
Image
The opinion or concept of something that is held by the public
The public's image of business leaders as greedy.
Picture
To make a visible representation of
In this photo, the mayor is pictured with several aides.
Image
The concept or character projected to the public, as by a person or institution, especially as interpreted by the mass media
An actor who tried to convey an image of refined beauty.
Picture
To form a mental image of; visualize
I pictured my grandfather as a young man coming to America.
Image
A typical example or embodiment
That child is the image of good health.
Picture
To describe vividly in words; make a verbal picture of
Pictured their heroism in glowing language.
Image
A mental picture of something not real or present
Our image of the cottage did not conform with reality.
Picture
A representation of anything (as a person, a landscape, a building) upon canvas, paper, or other surface, by drawing, painting, printing, photography, etc.
Image
A vivid description or representation in words, especially a metaphor or simile
The poem uses the image of a barren tree to convey feelings of desolation.
Picture
An image; a representation as in the imagination.
Image
(Mathematics) A set of values of a function corresponding to a particular subset of a domain.
Picture
A painting.
There was a picture hanging above the fireplace.
Image
(Computers) An exact replica of the contents of a storage device, such as a hard disk, stored on a second storage device, such as a network server.
Picture
A photograph.
I took a picture of the church.
Image
(Obsolete) An apparition.
Picture
A motion picture.
Casablanca is my all-time favorite picture.
Image
To make or produce a likeness of
Imaged the poet in bronze.
Picture
Cinema as a form of entertainment.
Let's go to the pictures.
Image
To mirror or reflect
A statue imaged in the water.
Picture
A paragon, a perfect example or specimen (of a category).
She's the very picture of health.
Image
To make a visual representation of (an object) using remote scanning or technology such as magnetic resonance imaging
Imaged the diseased kidneys.
Imaged the surface of Mars.
Picture
An attractive sight.
The garden is a real picture at this time of year.
Image
To symbolize or typify
A kneeling woman imaging the nation's grief.
Picture
The art of painting; representation by painting.
Image
To picture mentally; imagine or visualize
Imaged each dive before doing it.
Picture
A figure; a model.
Image
To describe, especially so vividly as to evoke a mental picture
The passage images what it's like to grow up poor.
Picture
Situation.
The employment picture for the older middle class is not so good.
You can't just look at the election, you've got to look at the big picture.
Image
To print (a file) using a laser printer, imagesetter, direct-to-plate press, or similar device.
Picture
(MLE) A sample of an illegal drug.
If you want me to buy your weed I’ll need a picture.
Image
To transmit (an exact replica of the contents of a storage device) to another storage device
Imaged the hard drive to the server.
Picture
(programming) A format string in the COBOL programming language.
Image
An optical or other representation of a real object; a graphic; a picture.
The Bible forbids the worship of graven images.
Picture
(transitive) To represent in or with a picture.
Image
A mental picture of something not real or not present.
Picture
(transitive) To imagine or envision.
Image
A statue or idol.
Picture
(transitive) To depict or describe vividly.
Image
(computing) A file that contains all information needed to produce a live working copy. (See disk image and image copy.)
Most game console emulators do not come with any ROM images for copyright reasons.
Picture
The art of painting; representation by painting.
Any well-expressed image . . . either in picture or sculpture.
Image
A characteristic of a person, group or company etc., style, manner of dress, how one is or wishes to be perceived by others.
Picture
A representation of anything (as a person, a landscape, a building) upon canvas, paper, or other surface, produced by means of painting, drawing, engraving, photography, etc.; a representation in colors. By extension, a figure; a model.
Pictures and shapes are but secondary objects.
The young king's picture . . . in virgin wax.
Image
(mathematics) What a function maps to.
The number 6 is the image of 3 under f that is defined as f(x) = 2x.
Picture
An image or resemblance; a representation, either to the eye or to the mind; that which, by its likeness, brings vividly to mind some other thing; as, a child is the picture of his father; the man is the picture of grief.
My eyes make pictures when they are shut.
Image
(mathematics) The subset of a codomain comprising those elements that are images of something.
The image of this step function is the set of integers.
Picture
To draw or paint a resemblance of; to delineate; to represent; to form or present an ideal likeness of; to bring before the mind.
I have not seen him so pictured.
Image
(radio) A form of interference: a weaker "copy" of a strong signal that occurs at a different frequency.
Picture
A visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface;
They showed us the pictures of their wedding
A movie is a series of images projected so rapidly that the eye integrates them
Image
(obsolete) Show; appearance; cast.
Picture
Graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface;
A small painting by Picasso
He bought the painting as an investment
His pictures hang in the Louvre
Image
(transitive) To represent by an image or symbol; to portray.
Picture
A clear and telling mental image;
He described his mental picture of his assailant
He had no clear picture of himself or his world
The events left a permanent impression in his mind
Image
(transitive) To reflect, mirror.
Picture
A situation treated as an observable object;
The political picture is favorable
The religious scene in England has changed in the last century
Image
(transitive) To create an image of.
Picture
Illustrations used to decorate or explain a text;
The dictionary had many pictures
Image
To create a complete backup copy of a file system or other entity.
Picture
A form of entertainment that enacts a story by a sequence of images giving the illusion of continuous movement;
They went to a movie every Saturday night
The film was shot on location
Image
An imitation, representation, or similitude of any person, thing, or act, sculptured, drawn, painted, or otherwise made perceptible to the sight; a visible presentation; a copy; a likeness; an effigy; a picture; a semblance.
Even like a stony image, cold and numb.
Whose is this image and superscription?
This play is the image of a murder done in Vienna.
And God created man in his own image.
Picture
The visible part of a television transmission;
They could still receive the sound but the picture was gone
Image
Hence: The likeness of anything to which worship is paid; an idol.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, . . . thou shalt not bow down thyself to them.
Picture
A graphic or vivid verbal description;
Too often the narrative was interrupted by long word pictures
The author gives a depressing picture of life in Poland
The pamphlet contained brief characterizations of famous Vermonters
Image
Show; appearance; cast.
The face of things a frightful image bears.
Picture
A typical example of some state or quality;
The very picture of a modern general
She was the picture of despair
Image
A representation of anything to the mind; a picture drawn by the fancy; a conception; an idea.
Can we conceiveImage of aught delightful, soft, or great?
Picture
Imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind;
I can't see him on horseback!
I can see what will happen
I can see a risk in this strategy
Image
A picture, example, or illustration, often taken from sensible objects, and used to illustrate a subject; usually, an extended metaphor.
Picture
Show in, or as in, a picture;
This scene depicts country life
The face of the child is rendered with much tenderness in this painting
Image
The figure or picture of any object formed at the focus of a lens or mirror, by rays of light from the several points of the object symmetrically refracted or reflected to corresponding points in such focus; this may be received on a screen, a photographic plate, or the retina of the eye, and viewed directly by the eye, or with an eyeglass, as in the telescope and microscope; the likeness of an object formed by reflection; as, to see one's image in a mirror.
Picture
A visual representation, particularly a painting or photograph.
The picture on the wall was painted by her grandfather.
Image
To represent or form an image of; as, the still lake imaged the shore; the mirror imaged her figure.
Picture
A mental image or idea.
I have a clear picture of how the event should go.
Image
To represent to the mental vision; to form a likeness of by the fancy or recollection; to imagine.
Condemn'd whole years in absence to deplore,And image charms he must behold no more.
Image
An iconic mental representation;
Her imagination forced images upon her too awful to contemplate
Image
A visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface;
They showed us the pictures of their wedding
A movie is a series of images projected so rapidly that the eye integrates them
Image
(Jungian psychology) a personal facade that one presents to the world;
A public image is as fragile as Humpty Dumpty
Image
A standard or typical example;
He is the prototype of good breeding
He provided America with an image of the good father
Image
Language used in a figurative or nonliteral sense
Image
Someone who closely resembles a famous person (especially an actor);
He could be Gingrich's double
She's the very image of her mother
Image
A representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture);
The coin bears an effigy of Lincoln
The emperor's tomb had his image carved in stone
Image
Imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind;
I can't see him on horseback!
I can see what will happen
I can see a risk in this strategy
Image
A representation or likeness of someone or something.
The sculpture was an accurate image of the hero.
Image
A visual depiction captured through mediums like photography.
She uploaded the image to her social media.
Image
A digital graphic or visual file used in electronic displays.
I need to resize this image for the website.
Common Curiosities
In computer terms, are image files and picture files the same?
Generally, yes. However, "image" might be used more broadly, encompassing more file types.
Can "Image" refer to a person's reputation?
Yes, "Image" can denote a person's public perception or reputation.
Does "Picture" only refer to photographs?
No, "Picture" can refer to any visual representation, including paintings and drawings.
Can "Image" be abstract?
Yes, "Image" can be intangible, like a mental image or reputation.
How do digital cameras use the terms?
Digital cameras often use "image" for captured visuals, but user language might prefer "picture".
Is an "image" in mirrors real?
A mirror reflects an image, a likeness of the object in front of it, but it isn't tangible.
Is a movie sometimes called a "Picture"?
Yes, especially in classic contexts, movies are referred to as "motion pictures".
Can "Picture" mean a detailed description in writing?
Yes, a vivid written portrayal can be referred to as "painting a picture".
In branding, how is "Image" used?
"Image" in branding relates to the perception or identity of a brand in the public's mind.
Are all pictures images?
Yes, all pictures are images, but not all images are pictures.
Do artists see a difference between the two?
Typically, yes. An artist might create an "image" in one's mind but paint a "picture".
Can "Image" have religious connotations?
Yes, in some religions, "image" might refer to icons or depictions of deities.
Are emojis considered images or pictures?
Emojis are considered images, as they're digital symbols, but they can also be seen as tiny pictures representing emotions or objects.
How is "Picture" used in journalism?
"Picture" often refers to photographs accompanying articles or stories.
Are the terms interchangeable in daily language?
Often, but context matters. "Image" is broader; "Picture" is primarily visual.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
