Using Images from the Internet
We've all done it, it's just so easy. You see the perfect image on some website you visit, you right-click, save it and reuse it. I'm not here to judge I'm here to show you a better way.
How you'll likely get caught
With the increase use of machine learning, companies are offering artists an inexpensive way to find copyright infringements and empowering artists to take action.
For example one company called Pixsy, says on their website:
Our revolutionary reverse image search technology and advanced AI continually monitors your work so you don’t have to.
So what can you do?
We all realize the power of having images that speak to our audience on our flyers and websites. It can be done legally and freely. Instead of going to google go to these other resources--bookmark them and then you don't even need to type them in your web-browser.
Unsplash https://unsplash.com
I like Unsplash, they have high resolution images so these won't look pixelated on your website and their License is very clear.
License
- All photos published on Unsplash can be used for free. You can use them for commercial and noncommercial purposes. You do not need to ask permission from or provide credit to the photographer or Unsplash, although it is appreciated when possible.
- More precisely, Unsplash grants you an irrevocable, nonexclusive, worldwide copyright license to download, copy, modify, distribute, perform, and use photos from Unsplash for free, including for commercial purposes, without permission from or attributing the photographer or Unsplash. This license does not include the right to compile photos from Unsplash to replicate a similar or competing service.
Pixabay https://pixabay.com
Simplified Pixabay License
Our license empowers creators and protects our community. We want to keep it as simple as possible. Here is an overview of what Pixabay content can and can't be used for.
What is allowed?
- ✓ All content on Pixabay can be used for free for commercial and noncommercial use across print and digital, except in the cases mentioned in "What is not allowed".
- ✓ Attribution is not required. Giving credit to the contributor or Pixabay is not necessary but is always appreciated by our community.
- ✓ You can make modifications to content from Pixabay.
What is not allowed?
This section only applies to image users and not to the appropriate image authors.
- ✕ Don't redistribute or sell someone else's Pixabay images or videos on other stock or wallpaper platforms.
- ✕ Don't sell unaltered copies of an image. e.g. sell an exact copy of a stock photo as a poster, print or on a physical product.
- ✕ Don't portray identifiable people in a bad light or in a way that is offensive.
- ✕ Don't use images with identifiable brands to create a misleading association with a product or service.
The Good News about Art works
Say photographs aren't your thing... There are many other options. Many museums are providing open access to large portions of their collections.
Open Access at The Met https://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/policies-and-documents/open-access
On February 7, 2017, The Met made all images of public-domain works in its collection available under Creative Commons Zero (CC0).
Whether you're an artist or a designer, an educator or a student, a professional or a hobbyist, you now have more than 406,000 images of artworks from The Met collection to use, share, and remix—without restriction. This policy change to Open Access is an important statement about The Met's commitment to increasing access to the collection in a digital age.
Finally if you just can't quit google
Follow these instructions to use google's advanced image search https://www.google.com/advanced_image_search
Credits:
Created with images by Yoann Siloine - "untitled image" • skeeze - "andromeda galaxy milky way collision" • Richard Lee - "untitled image" • Soorelis - "snail shell mollusk" • Daniel Cheung - "untitled image" • Christian Bowen - "untitled image" • stem.T4L - "untitled image"