<p>Consider this <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/59657/which-variables-have-too-much-variation">question</a>, where one answer from @EngrStudent brings a link to a nice picture of a bubble chart.</p>

<p>Although link usage usually makes questions / answers smaller, I thought in that case it would be very nice to have the picture appearing directly in the answer.</p>

<p>I have the impression that pictures and formulas encourage users'  participation: upvotes, comments, and even downvotes.</p>

<p>So, I know it also depends on the question and the picture to be posted, but:</p>

<ol>
<li>Are there guidelines/patterns to follow when choosing between posting a picture or providing its link?  </li>
<li>What would be the best option: embedded picture on a link, or the picture / chart themselves?  </li>
</ol>

<hr>

<p>Edit: I forgot to look on SO's meta, and they DO have this <a href="https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/48636/should-pictures-be-linked-to-or-embedded">question</a> too. The most upvoted answer guides to post the picture directly, even though CV content is more theoretical than SO's. </p>

<p>Here is another <a href="https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/9397/official-position-on-the-use-of-images-in-questions-and-answers">question</a> on SO, with accepted answers towards pictures being posted directly in threads.</p>
