Stock Images to Boost Your Project
Stock images are used very widely these days. They are used
by companies or individuals who develop websites, bloggers, graphic designers,
advertising agencies, and news agencies, etc. They can be procured from image
sites. There are a number of stock image websites available. Some of them
provide images for free whereas some are paid sites. A stock image website is
also known as a stock agency. It has photos captured by professional
photographers of common places, landmarks, nature, events or people, etc. Stock
images can be procured from agencies for free or by paying for the legal rights
for their usage. The different ways in which stock images can be procured by
the user are:
Public Domain: When an image is available in public domain,
it implies that it can be used free of cost. The user does not need a Stock
Images to Boost Your Project License for using them. These images can be used
for commercial and personal purposes. Rights Managed: A rights managed image is
one in which the way to use it is specified by the stock agency. For instance,
the image size and resolution, geographical area of usage, the length of time
of usage, may be specified. It can be used by a single user or multiple users.
Royalty Free: There is a greater flexibility offered when Royalty Free images
are used. Royalty-free implies paying a one-time fee for non-exclusive lifelong
use of the image. You can decide how to use the image, how many times to use
it, how long to use it, the number of projects you can use it for, etc. You
only need to conform to the license agreement. However, there are certain
restrictions on their usage. • The images cannot be resold or transferred to
another owner.
• Images should not be used in an offensive manner.
• There could be a limit on the number of copies used.
• These images can be used by multiple users. Extended License:
Extended license enhances the facilities offered by Royalty-free license.
Some examples of facilities offered are: • It may provide
the user the flexibility to use unlimited copies of a printed image
• You will be able to sell the image to other owners with
this license.
• You can dictate to the owner of the image to withdraw it
from being offered to other users.
• An extended license is the most expensive option.
Therefore, when you need an image for your next project, it is better to
undertake a cost-benefit analysis. This will help you in deciding on if you
want to spend on an image or how much you want to spend on the image and
whether the expense is worthwhile!