IEEE Writing and Citation Style

Most of the time, you will want to use your own data in tables and create your own images. However, sometimes you might want to use an image or table created by someone else. It is highly likely that this will require a credit line.

Usually, a credit line is an unmarked footnote under the image or table that you are using in your document.

An exact or adapted copy of a table or image might need language in a credit line due to copyright. Since you did not create it, you need to give the author credit to not plagiarize. This can be in the text or it can be in a credit line.

The IEEE Editorial Style Manual discusses how to handle credit lines if you are publishing in their journals, conference proceedings, etc.

Copyright

For the purpose of an IEEE publication, refer to the manual. If your use of citation is for an assignment, refer to the fair use exemption.

Creative Commons Licensing

An example to go in the credit line is:

The image by author is licensed under CC-BY 4.0

where image is the title of the image and author is the author of the image

Public Domain

The image or table isn't covered by copyright. The copyright could have expired or copyright could have been waived by the copyright holder. Regardless of why, it still needs cited if you didn't create it.

Citation

The easiest way to cite an image or table is to have an entry in the reference list; thereby, requiring an in-text citation only in the credit line. If you are using an image or table only from a source, go to the Chicago Manual of Style (4.102: Credit lines). For a table, be sure to use the phrase "data from."