When creating a website, imagery can be vital, not only for aesthetic purposes but also for the communication of ideas or products. Yet, images are not always public and often artists and photographers have protected their artworks so that they are not exploited by others. Thankfully, tools like Creative Commons allow for artists to share their work with creators who may be in need of content. Creative Commons’ licenses come in many different variations. An attribution license allows for creators to use an owner’s content, expand-upon, distribute, and remix it, as long as they give the original artist content. The Attribution-ShareAlike license allows for creators to expand on, remix, and use works commercially if they credit the original artist. These pieces will carry the same license with them and can then be used for commercial purposes. The Attribution-NoDerivs license allows for work to be used for any purpose, however it cannot be adapted, and the user must share proof with the original creator of their clear communication of credit. An Attribution-NonCommercial license says that creators can edit and build upon the original works as long as their attribute credit to the original artist, however they can not use them commercially and they do not have to use the same license on their creation. The Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license allows for others to edit and add to original work as long as credit is given and it is licensed under the same clause. Lastly, the Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs license says that the works can be shared if the artist is given credit, however they cannot be edited or used commercially. You can find more information about Creative Commons on their website, https://search.creativecommons.org/. Today, there are many resources where you can find public images and works.
One source for high-quality images is Pexels, https://www.pexels.com/public-domain-images/. On this website you can find beautiful photos, licensed by Pexels, free to use for your stories, websites, or businesses. Pexels also offers free licensed videos, open for public use. Another valuable site for exploring usable free imagery is Unsplash. Similar to Pexels, Unsplash lets visitors explore their extensive library of free imagery. The Unsplash license allows for users to take complete creative and commercial control over images, including illustrations, and other forms of handmade art. You can explore Unslpash here at this link: https://unsplash.com/license. Other things such as music are also offered for free online. For example, the website TuneFruit, https://www.tunefruit.com/, offers free sounds and songs for commercial and creative use. Personally, I have used these sources to find images for design projects, or blog posts.
Overall, the web is full of resources and places for creators to explore and share legally. It is vital to understand the importance of licensing and to take advantage of these amazing opportunities offered to us.
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