Advanced Computer Technology

Searching for Images Online

Sometimes, you need to find a specific image online. You might be tempted to just type in what you're looking for on a Google search. The only problems: the picture's resolution is too small, or it's copyrighted, or you can't find exactly what you're looking for. Here are a few tips and tricks so that you can find exactly what images you're looking for on the web.

Basically, what Google will do for you is that it will put filters on your search, so that only things that you want appear in the results. Knowing what filters are out there will help you make your searches even better and more efficient.

Start by going to http://images.google.com/. Instead of just putting your search into the search box, click the advanced button, on the right.



A big search window will pop up. Watch this screen-cast about the advanced search options that Google provides:


Google launched a way to search for copyright friendly images. See the screenshot below, but all you have to do is select the licensing option that you want from the drop-down:



Flickr is a site where people from all over the world upload their images. Flickr provides similiar advanced search options like Google. However, one of Flickr's options is even better: being able to search for creative-commons licensed images.

Creative Commons is a non-profit organization that offers more flexible licenses than that of traditional copyrighted material. In a nutshell: creative common licenses allow you to use and sometimes modify content, while giving proper credit to who owns the content.

Go to http://www.flickr.com/ and click on the search button without typing anything in.

Now, watch this screen-cast that explains about the advanced search options that Flickr offers.