Where can I get copyright free images?
Answer
Thank you for your question about locating copyright free images.
There are two different types of copyright free content-- Public Domain and Creative Commons Licenses.
When searching for copyright free images, look for these markers:
To search for images with Creative Commons Licenses, try these:
- Search Creative Commons
- Pexels
- The Stocks
- Wikimedia Commons
- Flickr
- Pixabay
- National Gallery of Art
- Smithsonian Open Access
Google and Bing also have limiters in their image search to filter the results. In Google it is under "Tools" and in Bing it is under "Filter".
If you have an image you want to use that is not in the Public Domain or does not have a Creative Commons License, you can always ask the creator for permission to use it or apply the principles of Fair Use to see if your use would qualify.
Although these images may not require you to pay for their reuse, you still need to read any terms and conditions associated with their use. Find out if the creator or archivist wants to be cited or if you're allowed to manipulate the image. It's always good to check!
If you have any additional copyright questions, please contact your HFC Librarian.