Do you use pictures you find online for your websites?

Hi everyone, I am just getting into web/graphic design and I was wondering if it is legal to download/copy a "royalty-free" image to use on websites. I heard it is ok only if you alter the photo. I appreciate any advice.

Please let me know of any great sites you have gotten images from as well

 

Check out:

http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html

James

 

For blog posts I will grab any image I find with a simple google image search, save it to my computer, rename it, and upload it to my blog. Hey, at least I ain't stealing bandwidth.

For serious websites that I hope to make into authority sites I just buy $1 images from istockphoto.

 

I'm with @budfox here.

For little things -- say a vanity site for my daughter or something not business-oriented, then sure.

But for business sites, no way. Either create your own graphics or use royalty free sites such as iStockPhoto (I've got quite a list of such sites if you are interested).

 

well if possible I use my one ones or ones friends of mine did bc of legal issues but if I need a special on I got for sxc.hu and use their free ones

 

Using an image without the legal right to do so is copyright violation.

Uploading it to your own server doesn't give you the right to use it.

Copyright law still applies if you are using someone else's image for a "vanity site" or "not business-oriented" site. If you are using a copyrighted image without first obtaining the right to do so, it is a copyright violation (theft).


There are many sites where you can download 'royalty-free' images - for as little as $1, or even free - which you can legally alter as you wish. Each has its own set of rules for use. Some require credit (attribution); many do not.

But altering someone else's copyrighted image does not make it yours.

Sensei.Design & Sean@WMS are right - istockphoto.com & sxc.hu are good places to find images that you can use on your website (altered or not).

My list of some great places to find cheap or free high-quality images that you can use on your website can be found on another thread:
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showpost.php?p=9817083&postcount=9

cheers ~
Denise

 

What are some good sites for paranormal topics, thanks.

 

I use flicker creative common license images or everystockphoto.com images
they are free to use and real y nice stuff you can find there.
and for my clients i always prefer to buy images from shutterstock.com

 

if you are going to steal an image... alter it beyond recognition before you re-upload it!