- How to choose a suitable image
- How to combine colours and images
- Where to get the right images?
- Licenses Types for using images
- Useful resources for finding images
How to choose a suitable image
The image is selected for a specific task. It would be wrong to find just a beautiful image and then think how to use it in the design.
Example:
We want to create an advertising booklet for a new service food delivery service for a Japanese restaurant. We need to emphasize that the food delivery is being delivered in cardboard boxes, rather than plastic containers. Therefore, we don't just need beautiful images of food, but above all — photos of Japanese dishes. In addition, the second critera for the selection of images can be specific dishes, which our restaurant specializes in, and that bring us the greatest profit margin. The third selection criteria will be the search for these dishes, packed in cardboard boxes. As you can see, with each new criteria, the search for the images on the Internet is becoming harder and harder.
Therefore, if you want a unique design for a specific task, the best solution is to create your own images. We draw your attention to the fact that each image you use should be of the highest quality. If you are creating a document for printing, select images with a resolution of at least 1920 px or higher.
How to combine colours and images
Ideally, the image should match the colour scheme of the whole design. There are two ways to resolve this task:
First, you already have a preliminary design or an understanding of what it should be, with a selected colour palette. It could be your corporate colours or other colours which suit your style. So, you need to find or create an image that matches your colour palette.
Second, if you have not yet decided on the colour scheme, but have found a good thematic image, then you can borrow the colours from it. As a rule, any image should have a dominant primary colour with some bright colours or a tint of the primary colour. Use them in your design in the same way — the main colour — as the background for the entire document or for the font color of the main text. Then using a bright colour or a tint to accentuate the headlines.
Where to get the right images?
Buying images
On the internet, there are a large number of paid photostocks, where you can buy a suitable image. Typically, purchased images do not require a reference to the author. However, it should be noted that the purchased images may also have a different license, for example, for personal use only, or for commercial use. Learn more about these license types below.
Free image download
In addition to commercial, there are many free resources where you can download great images in good quality. (These resources are listed at the end of this article.) There are also two types of licenses - for use without reference to the author of the image and with a reference.
Licenses Types for using images
It should be remembered that any image is an intellectual property, which is protected by copyright law. In order to use any image you need to get acquainted with the license (permission) for its use, which was established by its author. Types of licenses for use of images:
Public Domain
Images with a copyright expired or that have been provided for free by the authors. Such images can be used free of charge, no indication of authorship is required.
Creative Commons
Licenses for use of images with obligatory indication of copyright. In total, there are 6 types of licenses, characterized by the possibility of use for commercial purposes and editing material. We'll talk about the two most suitable ones where you have the ability to edit the author's images and use for commercial activities.
CC Attribution (abbreviated CC-BY)
The principle of this license is the "do what you want to my work, but please specify my authorship". The most "free" of all licenses. This license allows others to distribute, process, correct and develop the work, even for commercial purposes, whilst referencing the author of the work.
CC Attribution — Share Alike (CC-BY-SA)
Differs from the previous one in that it extends to derivatives of the product. That is, if you modify or edit an image, you are also required to specify its author after publication.
Royalty-Free
The license for paid content. Means that after you buy the image, you can use it as you wish any number of times.
Rights-Managed
The license for paid content. Unlike the Royalty-free license, this license only allows you to use the image a strictly specified number of times. If you need more, you'll have to pay.
To sum up, for free downloads and use of material there are 2 suitable types of licenses: Public Domain – for use without attribution and Creative Commons licenses – for author attribution. If you purchase the materials, Royalty-free license allows you to use them without restrictions, whilst Rights-Managed licenses allow you to use them a limited number of times.
Useful resources for finding images
Image storage sites are called photostocks. In their network there are two categories of photostocks: free and paid. Here are the best of them.
Free photostocks
www.pixabay.com One of the best free photostocks with high quality images. The Public Domain License.
www.unsplash.com here are many beautiful pictures in good quality. The license is completely free.
www.images.google.com After the search results appear, the tools button appears, where you can select the “use Rights” tab, then select "with a license to use" or " with a license to use and modify".
www.flickr.com - - one of the world's most popular photography websites. Type in your search for the desired query and in the drop-down menu choose the appropriate licence:
We fit:
All creative commons (all creative commons licenses);
Commercial use allowed (commercial use Allowed);
Commercial use modes allowed (Allowed for commercial use and editing);
No known copyright restrictions (no copyright restrictions).
Following this, go to the page with the image you like and take a look at the details in the bottom right of the page, which gives an indication of the authorship (Some rights reserved): When you click on this link, you will see that when you publish this photo you must specify the author and give a link to the license, as well as stating if any changes were made to the image. If you follow these terms and conditions, you are given a complete freedom to use this image, including the use for commercial purposes.
Paid photostocks
www.shutterstock.com One of the largest paid photo banks in the world. A large number of high-quality photos, video materials. There is a significant drawback, which is the high price of the content.
www.depositphotos.com Quite a large photo bank with a decent collection of images.
www.fotolia.com Stock images from Adobe with a good selection and very reasonably priced content.
Icons
Appropriate and beautiful icons are a necessary part of a successful design. Below are the most popular icons stocks.
www.flaticon.com In our opinion, the most convenient bank of icons due to the simple search and the ability to choose the color for icons downloaded in SVG format. Completely free when you specify a link to the resource.
www.icons8.com One of the best icons stocks with easy search by categories. To use the icon for free, you need to specify a link to the site or buy a license.
www.ionicons.com All icons are downloaded in one archive (download button at the top of the page).
www.webalys.comIcons are downloaded in one archive. There is some free and some paid stuff.