Empower Your Creativity: 10 Awesome Image Libraries for eLearning Designers

I’ve lost track of the hours spent hunting down the right image to match a specific narration or topic. Here are some tips and my go-to image libraries if you’re starting out. And hey, if you find these gems handy, don’t forget to peek at my earlier post, where I shared my favorite resources for Articulate.

4 Tips to Know Before You Select Images For Your e-Learning

1. Irrelevant Images. If you are creating a course on Time Management, select a photo that shows an individual using a calendar or making a to-do list. Don’t select an image of a kitten playing with a ball of yarn. Yes, I’ve seen that in a course!
2. Stereotypes. If you are designing a course that explores career paths, don’t select an image that depicts a man dressed in a suit working at a desk in a corporate office with a woman receptionist in the background. A better image choice would be a diverse range of people engaged in various careers (e.g., doctor, scientist, firefighter, chef, artist).
3. Low-Quality: Imagine creating a course on healthy eating habits with a drag-and-drop interaction. A plate is on one side of the slide; examples of good and bad food items are on the left. You ask the learner to drag the healthy items to the plate, but the images are so pixelated and blurry that they can’t identify what some of the items are.
4. Licensing Terms & Restrictions: Before using any image, you must be aware of its licensing terms and usage restrictions.

Licensing Terms and Restrictions

If you’re aiming for commercial use or have particular needs, you might have to give credit or buy a license for added flexibility. Stay in the loop on each website’s latest terms and conditions to keep things smooth. Here are some of the license restrictions you may encounter:

• Attribution: Some licenses require you to provide proper credit to the image creator or source. This could involve including the photographer’s name or a link to the original source when you use the image.
• Non-Commercial Use: Certain images may only be used for non-commercial purposes. This means you cannot use the image in any way that generates revenue or is related to business activities.
• Commercial Use: If you intend to use an image for commercial purposes, such as in advertising, marketing, or product packaging, you might need to obtain a special license or permission from the image owner and possibly pay a fee.
• Derivative Works: Some licenses restrict the creation of derivative works or modifications of the original image. This could include cropping, editing, or altering the image in any way.
• Exclusive Use: Exclusive licenses grant you the sole right to use an image, preventing others from using the same image for a specified period.
• Editorial Use: Images labeled for editorial use only are typically restricted to use in news articles, educational materials, or other non-commercial contexts where the image is used to illustrate or support content.
• Resale and Distribution: Using images in products intended for resale or distribution, such as templates, prints, or merchandise, may have additional restrictions.
• Expiration and Renewal: Pay attention to any time limitations on the usage of the image. Some licenses may require renewal or additional fees after a certain period.

Congratulations! If you made it this far, it’s time to check out the Go-To list of my favorite image libraries! Enjoy!

My Top 10 Go-To List (In No Specific Order)

1. Unsplash: Offers a wide variety of high-quality, free-to-use photos.
   Website: https://unsplash.com/
2. Pixabay: Provides a large collection of free images, videos, and music.
   Website: https://pixabay.com/
3. Pexels: Offers a diverse collection of free photos and videos.
   Website: https://www.pexels.com/
4. Freepik: Provides a range of free vector graphics, photos, and PSD files.
   Website: https://www.freepik.com/
5. StockSnap: Offers high-quality, free stock photos with a user-friendly search feature.
   Website: https://stocksnap.io/
6. Burst by Shopify: Features free high-resolution photos for e-commerce and business use. Website: https://burst.shopify.com/
7. Reshot: Offers a unique collection of handpicked, free-to-use images.
   Website: https://www.reshot.com/
8. Flickr’s Creative Commons: A treasure trove of images curated by talented photographers. Search by license type.
   Website: https://www.reshot.com/
9. ISO Republic: Offers a collection of free stock photos and videos.
   Website: https://isorepublic.com/
10. Morguefile: A well-established platform with various free photos for different purposes. Website: https://morguefile.com/

Conclusion

It’s time to embark on your own image quest using the treasure trove of resources I provided. I hope you found the information useful. Do you have a favorite image library or a unique tip to share? If so, I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!