Research Guides (LibGuides): The Savvy Creative: Images, Design, and Ethics for the Web: Finding & Using Images

Attributing Images

FOR CREATIVE COMMONS IMAGES:

Your attribution should follow this format, which adheres to Creative Commons best practices.

Title of image/video [linked to original image] by Author [linked to profile page] under License [linked to license deed].

FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN IMAGES:

Your attribution should follow this format:

Title of work [linked to original image] by Author, Date (if known, or n.d. if not known). Public Domain.

Reverse Image Search

Stated Licenses (Creative Commons & Public Domain Images)

Google Images
Click on the Search Tools button to see helpful limiters, including image size, color, type, time, etc.

Google Images search with arrow pointing to Search Tools button

Not filtered by license - Results will include images that are protected under copyright (All Rights Reserved). They may be usable under Fair Use with proper attribution, but we recommend that you select another option.
Reuse - Results will be Creative Commons or public domain images that allow you to reuse them. Look for the individual license to know what specifically you need to do to reuse the image. Alt. term: free to use or share.
Modification - You can change these images however you would like. Include adding borders, making collages, etc
Noncommercial use - You cannot use these images for commercial purposes.

Flickr
This link brings you to the Advanced Search page. Place your search term in the box, then scroll down and check the box to search "only within Creative-Commons licensed content." If you wish to make any changes to the image, you'll also want to check the "find content to modify, adapt, or build upon" box

Flickr Advanced search Creative Commons options

WHEN SEARCHING, TWO THINGS TO NOTE:

If you re-enter a search in the top box of Flickr, it sometimes loses your Creative Commons limiter. You can reset it by selecting Creative Commons from the License drop-down list.
Results are ranked by relevance. You can change this to see "Interesting" photos that have been viewed, tagged, commented on, and favorited most.

Flickr results page limiters

FINDING A FLICKR IMAGE LICENSE:

Key information underneath the photo tells you who its creator is, how many times the photo has been viewed, and any provided details about the type of photograph or camera used. On the far right, you will see three icons. The second icon (arrow pointing right) allows you to share the photo and gives a direct url back to the image. The third icon (arrow pointing down) allows you to select a size and download the photo.

Under these icons, you'll see the date the photo was taken. Directly underneath is the photo's license. You can click on the hyperlink to see the actual Creative Commons license and specific details about requirements for reuse.

Options beneath a Flickr image show number of views, date taken, license, and download information

Wikimedia Commons
Large collection of public domain and Creative Commons images, sounds, maps, and other media.

FINDING A WIKIMEDIA IMAGE:

Browse through categories or use the search feature at the top of the page. Images are nested in categories and folders; if you don't appreciate their search interface, remember that Google Image searches will return items within Wikimedia Commons.

FINDING A LICENSE FOR A WIKIMEDIA IMAGE:

If you can get to the Image File page, you'll be set. You may have to click on "More Details about this File" to get to this page.

There are helpful options to the right of the image on this page. You can download the file and get information about how to reuse the file in various ways. License information, image url, and author information is provided.

Wikimedia Commons image file page

License information is provided in an easier way if you continue to scroll down on this page. There will be a section labeled "License" that gives an explanation of the image license and links to additional information too.

Wikimedia commons image license

Creative Commons Search
Portal for searching various sites for Creative Commons images, audio, video, and other media. Select a site to begin your search; your currently selected site will be highlighted in light blue.
Photos for Class
Photos for Class is an excellent tool to locate and cite Creative Commons images with just one search! This resource pulls from several different CC websites to compile a rich collection of openly licensed images.
Pixabay
Huge variety of public domain images. Warning: the first row of images in any search are sponsored results from Shutterstock and are not in the public domain.
Unsplash
High resolution, gorgeous photos that are open for use.
FreePhotos.cc
A free resource with stock creative commons photos
Photogrammar
A web-based project that organizes, searches, and visualizes photographs produced by the US Farm Security Administration and the Office of War Information from 1935-1946. Over 170,000 photographs in the public domain that are fully searchable and plotted geographically.
Scrabble Tiles
Scrabble Tiles is a gallery filled with numerous words that are spelled out with wooden tiles.
The British Library on Flickr
The British Library on Flickr offers over 1 million public domain photos and images.
Openclipart
Openclipart is a collection of clipart that has been released to the public domain by the creators.
Pexels
Pexels is a collection of free stock photos that are within the public domain.
The Public Domain Review: Images
The Public Domain Review: Images gives users access to photos and illustrations whose copyrights have expired.
U.S. Government Photos and Images
U.S. Government Photos and Images allows users to search for public domain images related to government, historical, art, health and nutrition, the environment, energy, agriculture, science and technology, money, defense and international relations, and public safety and law.

The Savvy Creative: Images, Design, and Ethics for the Web

Attributing Images

Reverse Image Search

Stated Licenses (Creative Commons & Public Domain Images)

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