Survey Design
Question Types
image

The image question type in XLSForms and rtSurvey enables respondents to capture and submit photos as part of their survey responses. This feature is particularly useful for collecting visual data, documenting observations, or providing evidence in field surveys.

IMAGE question type — default, front_camera, back_camera, inline variants

Basic XLSForm Specification

typenamelabel
imagephotoTake a photo of the location

For more details on the basic image question type, see the XLSForm specification (opens in a new tab).

Uses

Image questions are commonly used for:

  1. Documenting field conditions or observations
  2. Capturing visual evidence in research studies
  3. Collecting before-and-after photos in impact assessments
  4. Verifying the completion of tasks or presence at locations
  5. Gathering visual data for remote analysis

Best Practices

  1. Provide clear instructions on what should be photographed.
  2. Consider privacy implications and inform respondents about how their photos will be used.
  3. Be mindful of file sizes and storage limitations, especially for surveys in areas with limited internet connectivity.
  4. Ensure the device has sufficient storage space and camera permissions are granted.

Example Usage

Here's an example of how you might use an image question in a survey:

typenamelabelhint
imagestorefrontTake a photo of the store's entranceEnsure the store name is clearly visible

rtSurvey Extensions

Inline button layout

Add inline to the appearance column to render the camera as a circular icon button next to the label instead of a full-width capture area. Tapping it opens a modal.

| type  | name  | label        | appearance                          |
|-------|-------|--------------|-------------------------------------|
| image | photo | Take a photo | inline display{right}               |
| image | photo | Take a photo | inline display{center, large}       |

Button position — display{}:

ValueLayout
right (default)Icon right of label
leftIcon left of label
topIcon above label, centered
center / bottomIcon below label, centered

Button size:

ValueSize
small (default)Small circle
mediumMedium circle
largeLarge circle

Button color — add a hex color inside display{} to override the primary color:

inline display{right, large, #FF5500}
inline display{center, medium, #0099FF}

Post-capture control — results{}:

AppearanceEffect
results{hide(capture)}Hides the camera button after a photo is taken
results{hide(camera)}Same as hide(capture) — alias for image type
results{hide(review)}Hides the thumbnail preview after capture
results{hide(filename)}Hides the filename shown after upload
results{left}Moves icon to the left after capture

Example — large centered button, hide camera after capture:

inline display{center, large} results{hide(capture)}

invisible auto-show — auto-open camera

Hides the question widget from the layout but automatically opens the camera when the page loads. Useful for embedding a silent capture step in a form flow.

invisible auto-show
inline invisible auto-show

Signature and drawing

AppearanceDescription
signatureFull-screen signature pad modal
signature display{quick}Inline quick-draw signature pad — no modal
drawFreehand drawing canvas

Watermark

Add a text or image watermark to captured photos:

watermark(text, "Survey ID: ${id}", bottom-right, 0.5)
watermark(file, logo.png, top-left, 1.0, 20%)

Suppress the label

inline text-nolabel display{center, large}

Data Handling

Images collected through this question type are typically:

  1. Saved in a common image format (e.g., JPG, PNG)
  2. Stored alongside other survey data, often in a separate media folder
  3. Accessible for viewing and analysis through the survey management platform

Considerations for Analysis

When using image questions, consider:

  1. How the images will be analyzed (e.g., manual review, automated image analysis)
  2. The additional storage space required for image files
  3. Privacy and data protection measures for storing and handling photos
  4. Potential need for image editing or organization tools in the analysis phase

Limitations

  • Image files can be large, which may impact data transfer and storage.
  • Not all devices may have high-quality cameras or sufficient storage space.
  • Analyzing large numbers of images can be time-consuming.
  • There may be privacy concerns when capturing images, especially in public spaces.
date / time / datetimeaudio