# Stock photos, AI images and background removal

> Add pictures to a design from your computer, free stock photos or an AI image generator, and cut a picture out from its background.

Source: https://plexiidesk.com/help/design-stock-photos-and-image-tools
Section: Office > PlexiiDesign
Plans: All plans
Updated: 2026-10-15

PlexiiDesign gives you four ways to get the right picture into a design: your own files, a search of free stock photos, a picture generated by AI from a description, and a tool that cuts a picture out from its background. Stock search, AI pictures and background removal each use a service of your own, connected with an API key.

## Before you start

- These tools are on every plan.
- Some need a key of your own, added in Settings > **AI**, under **AI · API keys**:

| Tool | Key it needs |
| --- | --- |
| **Stock** photo search | A free Pexels API key. |
| Generating a picture | An OpenAI API key. |
| **Remove background** | A remove.bg API key. |

See [Add your own API keys](https://plexiidesk.com/help/api-keys). Each service runs on your own account with it.

## Add a picture from your computer

1. Click **Image** in the toolbar, or choose **Insert** > **Image**.
2. Choose a .png, .jpg, .jpeg, .gif, .webp or .svg file.

The picture goes on the page and is saved inside the design, so it stays even if you move or delete the file. Drag it into place and drag its handles to resize it.

## Search free stock photos

1. Click **Stock** in the toolbar. The **Stock photos** panel opens.
2. Type what you are looking for, such as mountains or coffee, and click **Search**, or press `Enter`.
3. Rest the pointer on a photo to see its description or photographer.
4. Click a photo to add it to the page.

The photo is copied into the design, so it stays with it. If nothing matches, the panel says **No photos found for that search.** Try a broader word.

## Generate a picture with AI

1. Click **AI design** in the toolbar. The **Generate with AI** panel opens.
2. In the second box, describe the picture, such as "a minimal abstract gradient background".
3. Click **Image**, or press `Enter`.

A line above the page says **Generating image…** while it works. The picture is made in the shape closest to your page, square, landscape or portrait, and placed on the page, ready to move and resize.

> **Tip:**
> Generated pictures work well as backgrounds and textures. Send one to the back with the send back button in the inspector, and put it on a locked layer so it stays put while you work on top of it. See [Pages, master pages, guides and layers](https://plexiidesk.com/help/design-pages-masters-and-layers).

## Remove a picture's background

1. Click the picture on the page.
2. Click **Remove background** in the inspector, or choose **Tools** > **Remove image background**.

A line above the page says **Removing background…**. The picture is then replaced with a cut-out of its subject on a transparent background. If you want the original back, click Undo.

Remove background works on a picture in the design: one from your computer, a stock photo, an AI picture or your logo.

## Describe your pictures

Select a picture and type a short description in **Alt text** in the inspector, so people who use a screen reader know what it shows. **Export** > **Check accessibility** tells you if any picture on the page has none. See [Export and print a design](https://plexiidesk.com/help/design-export-and-print).

## Common questions

**The panel says to add a Pexels, OpenAI or remove.bg key.** That tool needs your own key. Add it in Settings > **AI**, under **AI · API keys**. See [Add your own API keys](https://plexiidesk.com/help/api-keys).

**It says my key was rejected.** Check the key in Settings. For remove.bg, the message also shows when your remove.bg account has run out of credits.

**Can I crop a picture in a design?** Resize the picture's frame to show the part you want. A picture fills its frame, so the edges are trimmed as the frame changes shape.

**Do these tools use PlexiDesk credits?** No. They use your own accounts with those services, through your keys.

## Related tasks

- [PlexiiDesign overview](https://plexiidesk.com/help/design-overview)
- [Generate designs and copy with AI](https://plexiidesk.com/help/design-ai-design)
- [Add your own API keys](https://plexiidesk.com/help/api-keys)
- [Brand kit, Brandify and your logo](https://plexiidesk.com/help/design-brand-kit)
- [Export and print a design](https://plexiidesk.com/help/design-export-and-print)