Finding (and Using) Free Images

Images are powerful. They can pep up a presentation, enhance a website or blog post, and make a newsletter or brochure more interesting. With careful attention to copyright and licensing issues you can find many free images from sources on the Web. We recommend that you start with our Art & Images page which offers several excellent image databases and sites with stock photographs.

Google and Flickr both offer an image search interface that allows you to filter each search. The example below from the Google Image Advanced Search shows how you can select an option that is labeled for reuse. Many images have a Creative Commons License. There are several types. The most unrestricted is the Attribution. This allows you to reuse an image as long as you give the creator full credit.

Some images may not have a license but will have copyright information. Finding an image that you can download does not give you the right to use it. The U.S. copyright laws are complex and fair-use can be tricky. It is easier to find an image that has an attribution license.

Once you find an image, consider the file size that you will need. Many sites will offer more than one. Determine whether you need a small file (thumbnail size for a web page) or a large file (suited to the requirements for printing). If you are working with a printer they will recommend project specifications for images you will use.

This picture of a Holy Week tradition comes from a database "designed for scholars, students, pastors, and religious educators, all of the images may be used for educational and/or religious non-profit purposes."

Citation: Christ Washing Peter's Feet, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=42446 [retrieved April 1, 2010].

Explore how you can enhance your work with images and don't forget to consider your purpose, consider the source, and include a citation.

—J. Bartholomew, e-services librarian

Comments

[ottoman patterns]

Thank you for one of the best explanations on the complexities of downloading images and the copyright implications. Up until now I have paid for my images downloaded from Big Stock Photo.

Regards
Debbie

[student resume help]

I make frequent use of images in material I prepare for my students. The information you have provided will help me to do this much more efficiently and of course, cheaper.

[eli]

http://id-houri.blogspot.com say : thanks for information i like this art...very very elegant

[Hound]

love this image!

If you are searching for jobs online then http://www.Hound.com/ would be the perfect option for you.No matter where you are or what type of qualification you got, there will be always some results for you.Because only this site has the most comprehensive and outstanding job listing ever.
http://www.Hound.com/

[Jenny]

I've been using a lot of downloadable photos for my projects for the past number of years and I really didn't know that even those types of photos will need the owner's permission. Thanks for the information.

[Jenny]

During the past years i've been using downloadable photos for my projects. I didn't know i still need to ask for the owner's permission before i can use them. Thanks for the information.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Canon-Pixma-Photo-Printer

[Jay]

It's only right that you ask permission of the person who holds the copyright. You wouldn't copy something out of someones book and not give them credit.

I use an awful lot of downloaded photos for adverts - photoshop is your best friend.

[replica handbags]

An excellent article.Thank you for your post.
http://www.replicahandbags888.com
http://www.christianlouboutinshoesvip.com
http://www.christianlouboutinsaler.com"
http://www.hair-straighteners-vip.com
http://www.ghd-straighteners-saler.com
http://www.replicabags888.com

[Milwaukee Accounting]

I have used the Google search parameters listed and am always worried that they have it wrong. Does anyone know if we can blame Google if we get in trouble based on their parameters?

[Interior Design Tips]

Thanks for share Dude. Very usefull information

[Voip]

Great share thanks man! Agree with all comments above!

[Free Money]

I think this is nice tutorial.thanks

[Alex]

Do anyone know where to find free photos/images without copyright notes? That would be really appreciated. Anyway, links you've left are also usable.

[Web hosting Hyderabad]

Thanks for sharing the information. I will start working on it.

[Michael Jansma]

I think this is a blog post whose time has come but yet no one hears it's message. Respecting some one else's work is a thing of the past apparently. I have to constantly remind my employees about digital property rights. In fact, it is such a problem that now I include this question in my interview process to help determine whether or not to hire someone. I think it speaks to their integrity as well as their maturity.

[AccessoryGenie]

It's easy to forget in this age of easy access to data and information that there are laws that govern the fair use of images people find on the Internet. There are also a number of web sites available where people can buy images for a relatively low price as well, so there's no real need to be stealing people's creative property.

[Hostnowlinks]

Thanks for the information. Never tried it before, hope it works for me.