Using Images

When we use images in our blogs, we need to be sure that we are allowed to; that is that we have permission to and that we give credit to the creator of the original work; that is to give attribution.

Many people believe that images found through a Google search are free for the taking. This isn’t true. It is true that under Canadian Copyright Law, educators and students have  the ability to use and share items found on line in the classroom. But when begin to construct electronic texts, like our blogs, then the rules change.

What do we do?

We need to remember to satisfy two conditions:

1. Do we have permission to use the media text?
2. If yes, have we attributed it?
This blog by Silvia Tolisano is helpful.
Finding images that we can use in our blogs:
There is an organization called the Creative Commons that has developed a licensing system by which creators of content (you and me) can license our work in a way that enables others to use it without them having to necessarily contact us. You can read more about the Creative Commons here.
Creative Commons  (CC) images are one of the easiest ways to legally use other people’s work. You just have to follow the rules of the license the original creator has placed on the image. Usually, the license that people choose allows us to use the image, remix the image, share the image AS LONG AS  we give credit (attribute the image) to the creator of the item, the original creator of the item (on a remix), and that we license our work using that image in THE SAME WAY.

How to Find CC images?

Here is a beginning list. We can, and should, add to it as we learn more about where to find accessible images:

Creative Commons Search

Compfight

Google  Image Search : Once you have entered your search terms, drop the SEARCH TOOLS menu, and choose USER RIGHTS and then choose how you will filter for images.

Deviant Art

Open Clip Art

Unsplash

The MorgueFile high quality images, large collection. Arranged by subject.

Public Domain Pictures.net Beautiful pictures. Not a huge collection, but nice search feature and includes search by category.

Pics4Learning Nice pictures. Smaller size images (which means lower resolution) than other sites, but plenty big enough for our purposes. Nicely arranged by categories and subcategories.

Image After Many high quality images on many different subjects. Good search feature. The only drawback is they also pull up another search of images that are notfree, which can be confusing as well as annoying.

CopyrightFriendlyImages This page is a list of image collections with brief descriptions.

Wikimedia commons Includes almost everything! Image quality varies. Check individual images for copyright status; many images are public domain, others have some restrictions. You can use them as long as you attribute them as instructed on the image.

But never assume that an image that is returned by any search is licensed for free access. Always double check to see how the image is licensed.

Looking for icons?

The Noun Project has them!

 

 

 

 

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