On-The-Picture-In-The-Picture | Commonly Confused Words

On the picture

/ɒn ðə ˈpɪktʃər/

Refers to something being positioned or located on the image or illustration.

This word has no antonyms

/ɪn ðə ˈpɪktʃər/

A phrase indicating something is visible in an image or photograph.

On the picture suggests that something is physically residing on top of the picture.
In the picture is used to describe something depicted within the picture's frame.
Remember that on is about the surface, while in goes deeper into the contents.
Think of on for location (like a book on a table) and in for presence (like a person in a room).
If referring to what is visible within the framed image, always use in the picture.