How do I cite an AI-generated image in Chicago?

To cite an AI-generated image in Chicago (18th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

How to Cite an AI-Generated Image in Chicago (18th edition)

Learn how to cite images made with DALL·E, Midjourney, Gemini, and other AI tools in Chicago format (18th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

Chicago Bibliography Format

Here is the standard Chicago format for citing an AI-generated image in your bibliography:

Cite in a note, not the bibliography: “Text of your prompt,” image generated by Company’s Tool and model, Month Day, Year, share URL.

Chicago Example for an AI-Generated Image

Chicago does not give an AI-generated image an entry in the bibliography — it is cited in a note only. Here is that note, written by hand and checked against the official Chicago guidance:

1. “Create an expressionist-style image of two people standing on a beach looking at the ocean,” image generated by OpenAI’s DALL-E 3, September 23, 2024, https://chatgpt.com/share/66f1c3a3-3f90-8000-9750-82c57c4a6592.

Chicago In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

Footnote: 1. “Create an expressionist-style image of two people standing on a beach looking at the ocean,” image generated by OpenAI’s DALL-E 3, September 23, 2024, https://chatgpt.com/share/66f1c3a3-3f90-8000-9750-82c57c4a6592.

Narrative

Shortened note: 2. “Create an expressionist-style image,” DALL-E 3.

Key Chicago Formatting Rules

Credit the image in its caption the way the Chicago Q&A does: the prompt in quotation marks, image generated by the company’s tool, and the date.
Use a note as well when your text discusses the image, and add the share link only if it is public.
When the company and the tool share a name, write image generated by Midjourney rather than repeating the name.
If you altered the image, say adapted from in the credit line (CMOS 18 §3.38); like other AI output, the image does not usually go in the bibliography (§14.112).

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your AI-generated image.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Chicago (18th edition) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Chicago requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples on this page are written by hand from the style's own published guidance and checked against it, because the general CSL styles do not encode this source's rules. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

Metadata to collect

the image tool and model, such as DALL-E 3, Midjourney V7, Gemini, or Adobe Firefly
the company that makes the tool
the exact prompt, including any later refinements
the date you generated the image
a public share or gallery link to the image, if one exists
the figure number you give the image in your paper

Common metadata traps

An image needs its credit next to it, in a figure note or caption, not only in a reference list at the end.
If you edited or combined the generated image with other material, say so in the caption (CMOS 18 §3.38 uses “adapted from”), because the figure is no longer the tool’s raw output.
Image tools are often inside other products (DALL-E in ChatGPT, Imagen in Gemini, Firefly in Photoshop), so name the model that actually made the image, and remember APA’s Part 2 post needs no reference for images made with AI built into everyday software such as Canva.

Editorial sources

Chicago Manual of Style — citation quick guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite an AI-generated image in Chicago?: To cite an AI-generated image in Chicago (18th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Chicago format for an AI-generated image citation?: The Chicago format for an AI-generated image is: Cite in a note, not the bibliography: “Text of your prompt,” image generated by Company’s Tool and model, Month Day, Year, share URL.
What does the in-text citation look like for an AI-generated image in Chicago?: In Chicago, the in-text citation for the example above is Footnote: 1. “Create an expressionist-style image of two people standing on a beach looking at the ocean,” image generated by OpenAI’s DALL-E 3, September 23, 2024, https://chatgpt.com/share/66f1c3a3-3f90-8000-9750-82c57c4a6592.