Non-profit organisation, Creative Commons have launched a new search engine, CC Search. The search engine, which is currently in beta version, is designed to help users easily find free images that are legal to use, and provide credit to their copyright holder.
Creative Commons is a well-established resource for finding free-to-use images, however, there has been no “front door” as such to access these easily. The idea of the new search engine is to make the commons more accessible and usable.
The beta version of CC Search gives users access to around 10 million images, with photographs from 500px and Flickr, and cultural works from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New York Public Library and Rijksmuseum.
The modern interface is simple and easy to use and navigate, with options to search by:
A one-click copy and paste feature allows users to easily provide credit where it is due for images found in CC Search. It is also possible to save searches and create lists of favourite images to access at a later date.
CC Search currently only includes the ability to find images. However, moving forwards they hope to open it up to all Creative Commons content, which also includes audio and video.
As CC Search is in a beta version, further development will take place based upon the feedback of its initial users. This provides you a good opportunity to share your opinions and help shape the way CC Search develops.
Unsplash is an online database featuring hundreds of quality free stock images that you are free to use however you wish. Why not get creative and combine two images together to make a striking new graphic.
Similar to Unsplash, Pexels allows you to search and download from a wide range of stock images for a range of categories.
Gratisography offer a range of free eye catching images with a bit of added humour. These images are probably best suited for advertising and attention grabbing campaigns.
Stokpic offer a range of lifestyle images which are free to use on your projects, with new images being added to the site on a regular basis.
Freepik doesn’t just have a range of stock images but also allows you to search and download illustrator vector files and layered photoshop files. There are some files that require an attribution towards the originator but if it gives you what you want this isn’t too much of an ask.
The files available on Creative Market are not all free but there is a section on the site labelled ‘Get Free Goods’ which is updated on a weekly basis and offers items such as logo templates, vector files and images which you can use freely. If you register yourself on the site you will also receive a weekly email informing you of the free resources which are available each week.
Graphic Designer
Dave has been with us since 2012 and brings years of experience as a talented graphic designer as well as an innate understanding of usability and web layout. Having a strong understanding of what clients wish to achieve in both marketing performance and usability for websites, Dave is great at both communication and application alike.
ISO 27001
ISO 9001
ISO 13485
ISO 14001