Which Images Can I Use For Free?

Whether you need to make your brochure stand out in a sales presentation or bring life to your blog post, strong imagery is essential. But finding the right images can be tricky.

Not all photos are royalty-free, and some are even copyrighted. You need to filter by usage rights in Google Image Search or search for CC photos to find the ones that are free to use.

Public Domain

If you’re in the market for a top-quality image, but don’t want to pay for a stock photo or risk violating copyright, consider using a public domain image. These images are free for any use, including commercial purposes, and can be found online in a variety of formats. However, be careful with these photos, as some can contain elements that violate copyright law.

If a work is in the Public Domain, it means that its copyright has expired and the original creator has relinquished all rights to it. This means you can use it for free and without fear of legal action, though you must credit the source. These works include photographs, drawings and other graphics, as well as creative ideas such as systems and methods of taking pictures. They can also include fictional characters and places.

To find public domain images, you can visit websites that specialize in them. These sites offer a large number of free images and allow you to search them by color, multiple orientations and minimum size. Some even have collections curated by subject matter. For example, New Old Stock offers vintage stock photos that have no known copyright restrictions. You can also access many images from the Library of Congress and other institutions.

Another site that specializes in public domain images is Picdrome, which offers more than two million free photos. Its collection includes images of landscapes, animals and architecture. It also has a variety of textures and backgrounds. In addition, the website allows you to download images in a variety of sizes and formats.

In addition to these websites, there are other sources of public domain images. You can find free images on sites such as Unsplash and Gratisography, but be sure to check the terms of each site. Some sites require attribution while others have a premium download fee for larger sizes.

If you’re looking for public domain images, you can also try searching for them on Google. The search engine has a feature that allows you to restrict your searches to images that are free for commercial use and other types of licenses.

Creative Commons

Since 2002, Creative Commons has provided creators with a way to share their copyrighted work with the public under certain conditions. This system allows people to use and reuse images without having to relinquish their copyright or pay licensing fees. The organization also provides users with a clear explanation of how their work can be used.

One of the most popular CC licenses is CC BY (Creative Commons Attribution). This license permits the image to be shared and modified as long as it is attributed to its creator. It also requires that any new works created using the original media are distributed under the same CC BY license. It is important to understand these types of terms before you start using free images.

There are many places to find CC images online. Some are stock image sites such as Pixabay and Pexels. Others are from personal websites and social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Many of these sites have search options that let you filter by CC licenses. You can also search for CC images using Google Image Search. However, Google does not guarantee that all results will be CC-licensed.

The best way to find CC-licensed images is to head to the site of the nonprofit organization that devised the CC licenses. This site has an open-source search engine that filters results by CC licenses. It is recommended that you use this tool as it will save you time and effort.

Other image repositories that offer CC-licensed images include Flickr and Europeana, which contains images from various European libraries, museums, and archives. You can also download images from the National Gallery of Art, which has a large collection of artwork in the public domain.

The best way to avoid getting into trouble for using an image that has been protected by a CC license is to read the terms of the license carefully. If you are not sure of the terms, it is a good idea to contact the author directly to ask for clarification. It is also a good idea to keep records of when and where you sourced the images, in case the terms change in the future.

Pexels

Pexels is an excellent free photo website that offers a wide variety of high-quality images. Its extensive collection includes photos of animals, nature, technology, food, travel, architecture, fashion, and more. The site is also organized into different categories and has a clear structure, making it easy to find the exact image you need. Additionally, it features a variety of videos and is fast-loading.

The Pexels library is a great resource for users who are looking for images and videos to use in their projects. Its images are not only technically proficient but also have an artistic appeal that can elevate the overall quality of any project. The site also curates images that have a natural, authentic feel that can engage and inspire users.

In addition to its vast collection of high-quality visual content, Pexels has an array of other tools that make it easy for users to create and edit their work. For example, users can download photos in various sizes and add custom text or captions to them. They can also use the images as a background on their websites or social media pages.

Furthermore, the Pexels library is continually updated with new images and videos. The site has contributed by photographers from all over the world, ensuring that its collection of visual content is diverse and represents a variety of cultural perspectives. This diversity can help users to more effectively communicate their message and engage their audience.

Pexels is a free stock photo website that allows users to download and use photos and videos for personal or commercial use. However, there are some exceptions and restrictions that you should be aware of before using the photos and videos on your website or blog. For instance, you should not use any depicted trademarks or logos unless you have the permission of the depicted person. You should also not imply that the depicted person or entity endorses your products or services.

There are many benefits of using high-quality images on your website or social media page. These images will increase the visibility of your website or social media page and improve your brand’s credibility. Furthermore, they will enhance the user experience and may even boost your conversion rate.

Unsplash

Unsplash is a popular free photo site where photographers can share their high-quality images with the public. The website has a wide variety of different images, including landscapes, food, and fashion. The website is a great resource for bloggers and companies looking to visually tell a story about themselves.

The photos on the website are licensed under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license, which allows people to use the images for personal and commercial purposes without any permission or attribution. You can download the photos and use them for any purpose, including on websites and in social media posts. However, it is important to note that the CC0 license does not cover trademark and copyright issues. You can still run into trouble if you use photos with people’s faces or brand logos.

To use an Unsplash image, type a keyword into the search box and scroll through the results. You can also refine your search using suggestions at the top of the page. This makes it easy to find an image that fits your needs. However, it is important to remember that you cannot resell an Unsplash image for commercial purposes unless it has been significantly modified or incorporates new creative elements.

Unsplash was started by Mikael Cho, a tech entrepreneur who was in the process of starting his main company, Crew. He was unable to find good quality and relevant stock photography for his company, so he decided to capture his own. He then posted the leftover images on Tumblr, allowing people to use them for free. Since then, Unsplash has grown into one of the largest photography suppliers on the internet.

The images on Unsplash are high-quality and professional, which makes them a great choice for bloggers and marketers. The photos are available in many sizes, and most of them can be used for commercial and non-commercial purposes. They can also be edited and altered, but you should avoid putting the photo on a product like a coffee mug or T-shirt because that violates trademark laws.

Unlike other free photo sites, Unsplash doesn’t have any banner ads or overlay ads on their website. This is probably because they want to keep their users happy and make sure they can continue providing these beautiful images for free. However, they do earn money by partnering with Squarespace and MailChimp to place discreet call-to-action ads on their homepage.