The essentials for finding and using images online

Images add a lot to the appeal of a blog, but bloggers, particularly when huge organizations are involved, have to be careful about using images they find online.

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The Web is a trove of terrific images, but not all of them are free. The challenge lies in finding the right images at the right price; generally they are classified as premium, “freemium,” or free images.

Before we dig into the best resources for free images, here are the classifications you should know about from Google:

Labeled for reuse

Your results will include only images labeled with a license that allows you to copy and/or modify the image in ways specified in the license.

Labeled for commercial reuse

Your results will include only images labeled with a license that allows you to copy the image for commercial purposes, in ways specified in the license.

Labeled for reuse with modification

Your results will include only images labeled with a license that allows you to copy and modify the image in ways specified in the license.

Labeled for commercial reuse with modification

Your results will include only images labeled with a license that allows you to copy the image for commercial purposes and modify it in ways specified in the license.

Here is another great resource on copyright guidelines.

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