At The Writers’ Block, one of the things we do when we welcome new members is check their Steemit blog for any possible plagiarism or copyright infringement. The most common thing we’ve come across is the misuse of images.
Most people are not aware that using an image they don’t own is strictly prohibited, unless they obtain a license. The use of images is governed not just by international copyright law, but by the Steemit Terms of Service as well.
@RhondaK wrote an article called If You Publish An Image, You'd Better Own The License For It. Her post explains in detail why it’s important to make sure the images you include in your post either are licensed to you or fall under the Creative Commons license. I suggest you take a moment to go read her post. Once you’re done, come back here to learn about what websites offer the types of images you can use.
Sources for images used are Pexels, Unsplash, and two from Canva: first and second.
How Do I Find Images I Can Use?
In the weeks that I’ve helped to welcome new members to The Writers’ Block, I’ve noticed that many people don’t know where to go to find images that fall under the Creative Commons license. I decided to compile a list of any sites I find that are either completely free (and legal) to use or have more affordable options for obtaining commercial licenses. Below I’ve listed some of the most popular sites, as well as a link to a spreadsheet that lists many more. Over time, as I become aware of more CC image websites, the spreadsheet will be updated.
- Pixabay: FREE
- Pexels: FREE
- Pexels Videos: FREE
- Unsplash: FREE
- Canva: Most images are either free or just $1 (to use and download within 24 hours of purchase). They also have a very affordable premium plan. Check their website or the spreadsheet for more details.
- Pngtree: Under the free account you are limited to two downloads per day. Not all images can be used commercially, so be aware of that as you browse. If you pay for premium, anything you download can be used for any purpose.
- CC Image Resource Spreadsheet
Do I Need To Source CC Images?
Most of the websites that provide images under the Creative Commons license don’t require you to source back to them. It’s a good idea to offer a link back anyway. This makes your post more attractive to curation services and shows respect to the original artist.
Think about it this way: If you created something (photograph, drawing, story, etc), and someone tried to make money off of it without asking your permission or attributing it to you, how would that make you feel?
In Summary
We all love having images to enhance our blog posts, but they need to be used responsibly. The website I provided should give you many ways to find the images you need without stealing someone else’s intellectual property. Just make sure to source them properly and you should be fine.
In the coming weeks be on the lookout for a series of reviews I’ll be writing on the different image websites. I’ll cover in more depth what each websites’ requirements are in regards to licensing, attribution, the type of media they offer, and much more.
