Monday, December 23, 2013

Envato Notes

Envato Notes

4 Ways To Find Free and Unique Photos for Your Next Website Theme

Posted: 22 Dec 2013 05:19 PM PST

GRATISOGRAPHY_9H

In a competitive website theme market, a unique and compelling image or photographic background can help showcase a theme to its full potential. Finding an original visual without breaking the budget can be a huge headache not just for authors, but web editors and bloggers everywhere.

From getting experimental with royalty free stock, to inspiring Creative Commons Zero (CC0), here’s four beautiful photo sources that offer flexibility when it comes to adding a truly memorable imagery to your next web project.

1. Unsplash

Unsplash is a great image resource and an inspiring Tumblr site to follow. It offers 10 new photos every 10 days. The photos are free and hi-resolution.

tumblr_gratisography_sample

Stunning autumn leaves by PetraDr on Unsplash

2. Gratisography

A collection by Ryan McGuire of Bells Design, Gratisography offers users high-resolution pictures for personal and commercial projects, free of copyright restrictions.

unsplash_sample

A black and white Beetle from Ryan McGuire‘s Gratisography.

3. PhotoDune

If you have some loose change sitting on your Envato Account, there are now over 4.2 million royalty free photos to buy on PhotoDune. For a different approach, why not search for natural textures and macros? Floors and walls can be viewed in a completely different light if they are seen as a background or used to inject character into your overall theme design. To get you thinking, here’s 14 brilliant uses of texture in website design.

photodune-4052832

Pavement by javarman

4. DIY with Tuts+

Good quality digital SLRs are getting cheaper and easier to use all the time. Not to mention,  durable!  For a truly handcrafted theme, why not invest some time on Tuts+ and add your own photography to your next web project?

photodune-295289

Important tips for authors: It’s always a good idea to include details and a link to the relevant image licence (such as CC0) in your download file. Also, even though CC0 allows you to freely use an image, don’t forget to consider the subject of the photo and what it contains. We have our own guidelines that we encourage all authors to read… take a look at our recommendations around using assets, along with our recently published tips: Dos and Don’ts About Using Products and Trademarks in your Items.   

Where else on the web do you go for unique and Creative Commons Zero free photography? We’d love to hear more suggestions in the comment below. Or fee free to share your own photo blog.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment