An image overlay allows you to place an image, scanned map, site plan, historical map, aerial photograph, or other graphic directly over the Google Earth imagery. This makes it possible to compare the image with roads, rivers, buildings, terrain and other geographic features.
Google Earth Pro provides an Image Overlay tool that lets you load an image, adjust its transparency, and position it over a specific area of the globe.
This can be especially useful for GIS and engineering work when you want to visually compare an existing map or plan with current satellite imagery.
What Is an Image Overlay?
An image overlay is a picture placed on top of the Google Earth map.
For example, you could overlay:
- A scanned topographic map
- A site development plan
- A historical map
- A drainage or watershed map
- A land-use map
- A project layout
- An aerial image
The image remains visible above the underlying Google Earth imagery, allowing you to compare the two.
If you also need to add GeoTIFF data, see our guide on How to Import a Map or GeoTIFF into Google Earth Pro, where we explain how to do it step by step.
Step 1: Prepare Your Image
First, prepare the image you want to overlay.
Common formats include JPG and PNG. Google Earth Pro can also work with certain GIS imagery formats, including GeoTIFF and other supported raster formats.
For a scanned map or plan, choose an image with identifiable features that can also be found in Google Earth. Useful reference points include:
- Road intersections
- River intersections
- Bridges
- Lakes
- Large buildings
- Other clearly identifiable landmarks
The more clearly you can identify corresponding features, the easier it will be to position the overlay accurately.
Step 2: Open Google Earth Pro
Open Google Earth Pro and navigate to the location where you want to place the image.
Try to position the 3D viewer so that the viewing area roughly corresponds to the coverage of your image. Google's official instructions recommend choosing an appropriate viewing altitude before creating the overlay.
Step 3: Add the Image Overlay
From the top menu, select:
Add → Image Overlay
A new Image Overlay window will appear.
Give your overlay a meaningful name, such as Project Site Plan or Historical Map.
Next, click Browse and select the image from your computer. Google Earth Pro will display the image over the map with positioning controls.
Step 4: Reduce the Transparency
The newly added image may initially be too opaque to see the satellite imagery underneath.
Use the transparency slider in the Image Overlay window to make the image partly transparent.
This is one of the most important steps because it allows you to see both:
Overlay image + Google Earth imagery
at the same time.
Google specifically recommends adjusting transparency while positioning an overlay so that the underlying Earth imagery remains visible.
Step 5: Position the Image
Google Earth Pro provides several controls for positioning the overlay.
The centre marker allows you to move the entire image.
The corner markers allow you to stretch or adjust the image.
The diamond-shaped rotation marker allows you to rotate the image. Google also documents side and corner controls for stretching and scaling the overlay.
A practical approach is to identify at least three recognisable features in your image and try to match them with the same features visible in Google Earth.
For example, if your scanned map contains a road intersection, river crossing and lake, match those three features as closely as possible.
Step 6: Match the Overlay With Satellite Imagery
Continue adjusting the image until its features align with the corresponding Google Earth features.
You may need to:
- Move the image.
- Rotate it.
- Increase or decrease its size.
- Adjust its transparency.
- Repeat the process until the alignment improves.
This is a visual alignment technique, not a substitute for formal georeferencing. If precise spatial accuracy is required, use GIS software and properly georeferenced raster data.
Step 7: Save the Image Overlay
When the overlay is correctly positioned, click OK to finish.
The overlay will appear in the Places panel. If you want to keep it available in future Google Earth Pro sessions, place it in My Places rather than leaving it only in Temporary Places.
Google also documents saving imported imagery and overlays as KMZ, which can be useful when you need to preserve and share the geographic content.
Once you have completed this process, you may also want to learn How to Create a Layout Map Using Google Earth Pro, if you need to create the map and print in different paper size.
Common Problems and Solutions
The image is too dark or hides the satellite imagery:
Reduce the overlay's transparency.
The image is in the wrong location:
Check identifiable landmarks and reposition the overlay.
The image is rotated incorrectly:
Use the rotation control to align roads, rivers or other reference features.
The image is too large or too small:
Use the corner and side controls to resize it.
The overlay disappears later:
Make sure it is saved in My Places or saved as an appropriate geographic file.
Important Limitation
A manually positioned image overlay should not automatically be considered accurately georeferenced. Small errors in rotation, scaling or positioning can affect the result.
For engineering surveys, cadastral mapping or other applications requiring precise coordinates, use properly georeferenced imagery and dedicated GIS software.
For additional information and the latest guidance, see the official Google Earth Help documentation on Use images as Google Earth overlays.
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