It is suggested that the location of verbally reported feelings in a three-dimensional affective space is determined by the results of appraisal processes that elicit the respective states. One group of participants rated their evaluation of the content of 59 systematically selected pictures from the International Affect Picture System on a profile of nine appraisal criteria. Another group of participants rated their affective reactions or feelings produced by the same picture set on the classic dimensions of affective meaning (valence, arousal, and potency). The ratings on the affect dimensions correlate differentially with specific appraisal ratings. These results can be plausibly interpreted as showing that the reactions to the IAPS pictures are predictably produced through appraisal of picture content. The relevance of the findings for emotion induction paradigms and for emotion theory in general is discussed.