For many web designers, graphic designers and many more … there creativity can always be extended…
With this article, we would like to make the notice of some nice online tools that can do that for you … Stock images …
Wat are stock images?
WIKIPEDIA
Stock photography consists of existing photographs that can be licensed for specific uses. Publishers, advertising agencies, graphic artists, and others use stock photography to fulfill the needs of their creative assignments.
A customer who uses stock photography instead of hiring a photographer can save time and money, but can also sacrifice creative control. Stock images can be presented in searchable online databases, purchased online, and delivered via download or email.
A collection of stock photography may also be called a photo archive, picture library, image bank or photo bank. As modern stock photography distributors often carry stills, video, and illustrations, none of the existing terminology provides a perfect match.
The usage of these online stock image websites, improve my creativity, production rate and save me alot of money, trouble and make my designs alot more interesting!
Rights
Before starting to use these images, there are some categories:
Royalty Free
Once the image is bought, you can re-use this specific image in any of your work pieces. On some websites, you can find these images free. But be aware of the specific rights that belong to the image. Usually these rights are creative-commons, and are to be read with carefull knowlegde.
Rights-Managed
This form of rights, are measured in the deployment of the image. The price is mostly put toghethor in the type of work, the number of prints, the size, the duration … and other elements that the stock image distrubutor holds you to. These rules are also different from each image.
Interesting Stock Image websites?
this list contains the most known websites that offer stock images.
The pricings depend on the different services, but many of these websites offer a subscription package that let you download a specific nuber of images with a monthly price.
Pay for stock image
Free stock images
http://www.sxc.hu/ (tip)
http://www.dreamstime.com/free-photos
With any design I create, I always use stock images I don’t directly buy!
If my client makes the decision to use that particular design, I will buy the stock image and replace the watermark based – free sample image from the stock image service.
Anybody has some nice links to share with us? Please leave a comment!
Daan is a Creative-Geek with passion for Adobe Flash , Flex and Air. He loves learning and sharing new techniques! Follow him on