Post by CAWN on Nov 3, 2016 7:22:35 GMT
▶ images & permissions
Finding the right pictures for your character that are free and safe to use can always be a bit of a struggle. Sometimes, seeing a picture just anywhere on the internet, it can be all too easy to just take a copy and use that. However, to be fair to the photographer and give them the credit they deserve and respect their wishes, on TPO we like to make sure that the images that are being used for characters are used with permission.
What this means, is that we are looking for images that are listed as Creative Commons, Stock Images, Public Domain, or images that have been used with explicit permission from the photographer. I know, it can be a little bit of a bummer sometimes. However, it's okay! There are plenty, and I mean plenty of places to find images you can use.
So, let's start with Stock Images and Public Domain Images. Stock images come in two types, those that you can explicitly purchase, and those that are provided free. Public Domain images however are images that are free to use, and technically don't require credits to use. Some good sites to look at for free images that are also in the public domain are pixabay, pexels, stocksnap or public domain archive. On free stock sites you may need to search for the broad 'cat' term, but there can be some great collections of pictures. Just link us to the page the image is on in your biography if you go from one of these sources so we know for sure. However, please keep in mind if you do go down the purchasing route for your pictures, or give us a link to stock site where you do need to buy the image to use it, we will need a screenshot of some evidence that you did buy the images (with all personal details whited out, of course). Your best option is going free, and using the great libraries we do have available!
Now, there's Creative Commons. These are images that the photographer has given some degree of permission to be used. In some cases this will just mean they don't mind people sharing the image with their friends. However, usually this will let you modify, remix, share, and use the image, either in a commercial or non-commercial sense. But, the key is understand the differences of the licenses of these types. What we are primarily looking for here is images that can be remixed and shared in a non-commercial sense. This means, you can crop the image and post it here, all with credit to the original photographer. What we're not looking for is where images have a "Non-Derivative" clause, which means the image can't be changed at all, meaning no cropping, or changing anything about the original image.
Don't fret, however! Most sites offering Creative Commons images will let you know what's up. The two key ones are Flickr and DeviantArt. For flickr, you can make sure you're getting the right sorts of images by selecting "Modification Allowed" when searching, like this image:
You can also select commercial use, or no known restrictions, which will give you images with even broader allowances. Just keep an eye on the image you've opened, and make sure below the image it doesn't have this:
On DeviantArt, you'll want to look in the stock images section of the site. You can find the details about the CC license on the right hand bar, down under the image details. It will look like this:
Just make sure you abide by the photographer's wishes, and if they say not to use it off-site, unfortunately that's a no-no there too.
You are obviously welcome to search other places, just make sure that whatever credit link you give us, it either explicitly states that it is a Public Domain image, or under a Creative Commons license you can use.
Now, the third option, however not the one we really recommend is explicit use with permission. If there's an image set you're dying to use on flickr, but it's copyrighted, or an image set... anywhere. Do the right thing and contact the photographer. In some cases, they'll be more than happy for you to use their images if you ask and tell them what you want to use it for. If you've got the okay, just take a screenshot of the permission, including whatever their handle is on the site they're from, and give us that in the biography with the photographs link.
I hope that makes things clear! If you ever need any help checking if an image is the right one, or or finding an image in the first place, staff, and no doubt most members are more than happy to help at any time! Just let us know. <3
What this means, is that we are looking for images that are listed as Creative Commons, Stock Images, Public Domain, or images that have been used with explicit permission from the photographer. I know, it can be a little bit of a bummer sometimes. However, it's okay! There are plenty, and I mean plenty of places to find images you can use.
So, let's start with Stock Images and Public Domain Images. Stock images come in two types, those that you can explicitly purchase, and those that are provided free. Public Domain images however are images that are free to use, and technically don't require credits to use. Some good sites to look at for free images that are also in the public domain are pixabay, pexels, stocksnap or public domain archive. On free stock sites you may need to search for the broad 'cat' term, but there can be some great collections of pictures. Just link us to the page the image is on in your biography if you go from one of these sources so we know for sure. However, please keep in mind if you do go down the purchasing route for your pictures, or give us a link to stock site where you do need to buy the image to use it, we will need a screenshot of some evidence that you did buy the images (with all personal details whited out, of course). Your best option is going free, and using the great libraries we do have available!
Now, there's Creative Commons. These are images that the photographer has given some degree of permission to be used. In some cases this will just mean they don't mind people sharing the image with their friends. However, usually this will let you modify, remix, share, and use the image, either in a commercial or non-commercial sense. But, the key is understand the differences of the licenses of these types. What we are primarily looking for here is images that can be remixed and shared in a non-commercial sense. This means, you can crop the image and post it here, all with credit to the original photographer. What we're not looking for is where images have a "Non-Derivative" clause, which means the image can't be changed at all, meaning no cropping, or changing anything about the original image.
Don't fret, however! Most sites offering Creative Commons images will let you know what's up. The two key ones are Flickr and DeviantArt. For flickr, you can make sure you're getting the right sorts of images by selecting "Modification Allowed" when searching, like this image:
You can also select commercial use, or no known restrictions, which will give you images with even broader allowances. Just keep an eye on the image you've opened, and make sure below the image it doesn't have this:
On DeviantArt, you'll want to look in the stock images section of the site. You can find the details about the CC license on the right hand bar, down under the image details. It will look like this:
Just make sure you abide by the photographer's wishes, and if they say not to use it off-site, unfortunately that's a no-no there too.
You are obviously welcome to search other places, just make sure that whatever credit link you give us, it either explicitly states that it is a Public Domain image, or under a Creative Commons license you can use.
Now, the third option, however not the one we really recommend is explicit use with permission. If there's an image set you're dying to use on flickr, but it's copyrighted, or an image set... anywhere. Do the right thing and contact the photographer. In some cases, they'll be more than happy for you to use their images if you ask and tell them what you want to use it for. If you've got the okay, just take a screenshot of the permission, including whatever their handle is on the site they're from, and give us that in the biography with the photographs link.
I hope that makes things clear! If you ever need any help checking if an image is the right one, or or finding an image in the first place, staff, and no doubt most members are more than happy to help at any time! Just let us know. <3
