HOW TO: EMBED A SINGLE IMAGE INTO GOOGLE EARTH

If you’re not interested in downloading the free topo map from the link on the post, this is your other option. The process is simple

and the only setback I have encountered is getting the map and the image to line up perfectly, but it can be done.

Step 1: Select the Image You Wish to Embed.

- If you already have an image saved to your desktop, you can skip to Step 4.

- To use an image off the web, you will need to “snip” the image you want to embed with the “Snipping Tool” included with

Microsoft Windows (See image Below).

To find the Snipping Tool on your computer, Click the Windows Button in the Lower Left Corner of your screen. A box will appear at

the bottom of the menu, fill in “Snipping Tool” and press Enter. If you have the tool, it will appear at the top of the menu. Right Click on

the Snipping Tool and select that option to “Pin to Start Menu” (which makes it easier than doing this every time you capture an image

from your screen.

The Snipping Tool will remain in your task until you unpin it (Right Click “Unpin this program from taskbar”)

* If you don’t have the Snipping Tool on your computer, you can use the “Print Screen” feature on your keyboard:

1. Have the image you want to embed pulled up on your screen, then press [Function + print screen]

2. Next, open Microsoft Word and press [ctrl + v] or [Right click on Word Document paste]

*To avoid losing image resolution, change page layout to “Landscape” and adjust margins to 0.3 on all sides before pasting image

3. Your overlay image will appear on your Word Document Right click image “Save As Picture” Skip to Step 4.

Step 2: Snip the Image.

- This can be done to an image you have previously saved, or from the screen itself.

- Click on the Snipping Tool “New” Left click and Trace the Borders of the Area of Interest You overlay will appear

- Before you save, you have the option to Highlight and/or Draw on the image with the tools at the top of your new snip.

Step 3: Save Image.

- File Save As Save to a New Folder, or Desktop

Step 4: Embed New Image into Google Earth.

1. Click on the “Add Image Overlay” button (circled in Red)

2. A Green Target Box will appear on the screen, which outlines the shape and size the embedded image will be

3. You can adjust the size/shape of Target Box now, or wait until the image is embedded

4. Click: Browse Select Image Open

Step 5: Align Overlay w/ Base Map

5. Nice work, you have imported your overlay. *It can take some effort getting the overlay image to line up precisely with the Google

Earth base map. The issue is the 3D terrain, which will bend the images slightly over certain landscapes.

6. The easiest way I have found to get the images aligned is with the Transparency Adjustment feature. I toggle between Opaque

and Clear to see what aspect of the overlay needs adjustment. A quick tip for aligning images: cropping unnecessary terrain

features from the corners of your images can make alignment a much easier process (see images Below).

7. If you are still having trouble with alignment, try to zoom in/out on the map itself and even minor adjustments to the zoom

settings can make a big difference. In general, the closer you are zoomed into the program, the easier it is to align the images.

Step 7: Save & Customize

- With the images is aligned, it’s time to save your work (OK File Save Save My Places).

- Your overlay is now saved to Your Places in the Sidebar Menu.

- You can hide the overlay by unchecking the box next to its name, or by highlighting (click its name once) and adjusting the

opacity on the slide near the bottom of the Sidebar Menu.

- Any markers you add to the overlay are dynamically displayed when you zoom in, or explore a property in 3D. Both the image

and your markers marker mold to the terrain as it changes on the screen.

*If you figure out a better way to do this, or if you can add to this tutorial please share it in the comments, or email me at

Kris@EarnYourBuck.com