Use Images You Have Permission to Use!

Don't Be a Picture Pirate!

Source: Image from Pixabay

First, it's important for Steemit bloggers to understand that all images and other creative work on the internet are not free to use. Most Steemians know this, but they may still accidentally use images without permission because they don't understand the rights that the original creator gave them. One topic that causes misunderstandings is the difference between royalty-free and copyright-free imagines.

Royalty-Free Vs. Copyright-Free Pictures

Royalty-free imagines may still need to be paid for at least once. This simply means that you don't need to pay a fee every time you use them. On the other hand, copyright-free usually means that you can use the images without paying.

This definition is very simple, and you should also know that there are different kinds of copyrights. For instance, some creators may have a copyright that allows you to use the imagines in any you want without giving anything back, others may ask for credit for the original image, and so on. It's important to understand the rights that the original creator gives you before using them.

Where to Find Free Images

Of course, what you really want to know is where you can find some free images that you can freely use in your posts. There are many places to find great graphics for free, but again, please read and understand the copyright that you are entitled to.

Pixabay.com : Lots of Steemians already know about Pixabay. According to the site, you can use these images without paying or asking for permission. You can start searching for Pixabay Free Images here.

Wikipedia: Most people assume that they can also use Wikipedia images for free, but you should check the copyright to be sure. In general, many images are public domain or have rights granted, but that may not always be true.

The New York Public Library: The generous New York Public Library has opened up a website that allows you find over 180,000 images that you are welcome to use or reuse at will. Start searching for images from the NYPL here:

https://www.nypl.org/research/collections/digital-collections/public-domain?gclid=Cj0KCQiAyZLSBRDpARIsAH66VQLzzSbLmxHjdM5q2H72LABt5lmlPCVNMMnTiMvqsP6Qp9bCP-68C38aAmq3EALw_wcB

The U.S. Government: You'll be happy to know that some of your taxes are paying for something you can use. One way to find public domain images from the government is to search on USA.gov. If you want science images, try this: http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/selected-internet/imagesources.html

See, this is a cool image of the sun, courtesy of the U.S. Government:

Take Your Own Pictures: Of course, photos and other artist-created graphics are always popular here on Steemit. If you made them, you can use them. You might be wise to include a note in your post about how other people can use them. It should be obvious that bloggers should get permission to use photos or art, but it's better to make this clear.

What's Your Favorite Source of Pictures for Steemit Blogs?

Please help us out here with your own tips for getting images to use on blogs. I almost always upvote and reply to constructive comments. Thanks for stopping by!