There are a number of ways to find images for use in your projects on the internet. Google’s image search is one of the most powerful and easiest to use especially if you remember the tricks we learned in our talk on search.
Download a pdf version of this page here.
Note: Google recently got rid of its handy “View image” button. You can get this back with a chrome extension available here:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/view-image/jpcmhcelnjdmblfmjabdeclccemkghjk?hl=en
Basic image search
- When searching for images make sure you are in Google’s image search tab and not the general or “all” tab.
- Remember not to take the thumbnail of the images that show up after you search. Instead click on the thumb nail and then click the `View Image` button in the little window that appears.
- If you click on the `Tools` link you will get a few more helpful options.
Using image search tools
- For our assignments the most useful tool will be the size tool. Make sure this is set to Large or an option in Larger than…
- Color will let you choose the dominate color as well as black and white etc.
- If you are looking for portraits the portrait option under Type is helpful.
- The rights option is great for finding images created by artists who don’t mind you using their work as long as you follow some restrictions set up by them.
Other sites
- The library’s site at http://library.pnca.edu/images/databases is full of image databases that might have more images than what you’ll find on Google.
- Flickr is still a great repository of images with built in filters for creative commons.
- Remember you can use the `site:SITE_NAME_HERE` modifier on google’s image search function if you want to search a certain site in Google images for instance: `site:flickr.com Angry+Raccoon` will only show images that have both the word angry and raccoon in the title on flickr.
Using reverse image search to find larger versions of images
Sometimes you will find an image you really want to use but, it will be to small. You can use Google’s reverse image search to find larger versions of the image on the internet, here’s how.
- Copy over the small image to the desktop or other easy to access place.
- Making sure your on the Google Images site drag the image from the desktop towards the search bar. An area should appear with the message: “Drop Image Here”.
- A list of new images should show up if you’re lucky you can click on the option that says “show all large images” and find a higher resolution image.