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Finding & Using Images Online

This research guide will help you to find various types of images on the open web.

Google Image Search

Google Images is a great way to find a variety of images from across the web. However, not all the images that you find through this search are in the public domain or available for reuse. Go to Google Images and type in what you are looking for, then click on the magnifying glass to search.

Google Images

Click on Tools, then on Usage Rights. Select Creative Commons licenses from the drop-down menu.

Google Images Creative Commons Search

Click on the photograph you are interested in. On the right-hand side of the page, click on Visit to see the original image.

Google Images Visit

When you view the image at its original site, you can see if there are any licensing requirements, get a correct URL, and find out more information.

Google Images License Info

Doing a reverse image search allows you to find artist/photographer/creator information when you have nothing but an image itself to go by. Why would you want to do this kind of search?

Well, have you ever found a piece of art and wondered who made it but were unable to find the artist/photographer/creator's name? Have you ever found a visually stunning picture and wanted to find more like it? These are all very good reasons to do a reverse image search. 

In Google Chrome, right click on the image, then click on Search image with Google (in Microsoft Edge, click on Search the web for image). Your search results will include images similar to or exactly the same as the original image.

TinEye Reverse Image Search is another great tool for tracking down the original source of an image. TinEye also lets you upload or copy/paste images from your computer.


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APA: Northern Essex Community College Library. (Date updated). Title of page. Title of LibGuide. URL

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