As a graphic designer, one of your most important tasks is finding the perfect image to communicate your client’s message, and with so many online options, knowing where to start looking can be challenging. Fortunately, several excellent resources can help you find the right image for your project. Here are some of the best ways to search for images on the web:
- Use a search engine specifically designed for images. Google Images is a great option, as it allows you to filter your results by type (e.g., JPEG, PNG), size, and even color.
- Check out stock photo websites like iStockphoto, Shutterstock, and Getty Images. These websites offer millions of high-quality images you can use for your projects.
- Use social media sites like Flickr and Pinterest. These sites are full of user-generated photos that can be used for free under a Creative Commons license.
- Finally, don’t forget government websites like the U.S. National Archives and the Library of Congress. These sites offer a wealth of public domain images you can use without restriction.
Following these tips, you can find the perfect image for your next project!
Image search on different platforms
Google Image Search
Although Google Image Search is an intelligent way to search for images online, many people are unaware of the available Advanced Search options. These options can be accessed by clicking the “Tools” button on the google.com/images page. By selecting various filter options such as color, size, type, etc., you can narrow your results and find the perfect image more easily. In addition, the google advance image search options also allow you to specify where the image should be located (e.g., on a website), which can be very helpful if you’re looking for a specific type of image. So next time you need to find an image, check out the Advanced Search options on Google Image Search.
Bing Image Search
Bing Image Search is another great option for finding images on the web. The interface is similar to Google’s, so you should feel at home if you’re used to using Google Image Search. One neat feature of Bing Image Search is the “Trending Searches” section, which can give you some ideas about what people are searching for at any given moment.
Getty Images
Getty Images is one of the largest stock photo agencies in the world. If you need to find a high-quality image for your project, chances are you’ll be able to find it here. The downside of Getty Images is that most photos are not free to use – you will need to purchase a license before using them commercially.
Shutterstock
Shutterstock is another popular stock photo agency with a vast selection of royalty-free images. You can pay per photo or subscribe to their monthly plan to download unlimited photos.
Unsplash
Unsplash is a fantastic resource if you’re looking for free high-resolution photos. Every ten days, they release ten new photos that you can use for any purpose – commercial or personal – without attribution required. Scroll through their feed and download the ones you like!
Conclusion
There are many great places to search for images on the web – it just depends on what kind of image you’re looking for and how much money you’re willing (or able) to spend on it. Do some exploring and see what works best for you!
