Images
Using images in your presentations, reports, and projects can really liven up your work and make it more visually appealing and easier to understand. Here's the problem; many students use images they didn't create without citing them. This is plagiarism. Yes, the same plagiarism that could potentially earn you an "F" on a paper. By not giving credit to the creator of the image, you imply to your audience that it's something you created. This is against the law.
This page is full of helpful tips and websites that will allow you to get around the image plagiarizing problem. For example, did you know that the image on the left does not need to be cited because it was created before 1924 and is in the public domain? Read below to find out more about what you need to know.
Citing Images
All images that you did not create but choose to use for your work in school must be cited. Just like using ideas, quotes, or concepts from other authors' writing, an image is a work created by a person and owned by that creator. You must give credit to the creator by citing the image. Click here to learn more about using MLA and APA formats to cite images in your works cited page.
Finding Open Images
Unsplash - Beautiful, free photos. Gifted by the world’s most generous community of photographers.
Photos for Class - Search through thousands of photos, all licensed for school use through Creative Commons. Downloads are automatically cited with the author.
Pixabay - Over 1.9 million free Public Domain images and videos for any use.
Creative Commons - Search images here, but pay close attention to the licenses of each photo or picture. Make sure they are marked for reuse and/or modification.
Flickr: Creative Commons - Many Flickr users have chosen to offer their work under a Creative Commons license, and you can browse or search through content under each type of license.
OpenClipart - Free clipart with open licenses - feel free to use without citation!
Pics4Learning - Copyright-free images for education.
PublicDomainPictures.net - Come here for free photos in the public domain.
United States Government Photos and Images: Just like with the Creative Commons, all these photos have different licenses. Make sure you pay attention to what's marked for reuse and/or modification.
Wikimedia Commons - A database of over 25 million freely usable media files to which anyone can contribute.
Photos for Class - Search through thousands of photos, all licensed for school use through Creative Commons. Downloads are automatically cited with the author.
Pixabay - Over 1.9 million free Public Domain images and videos for any use.
Creative Commons - Search images here, but pay close attention to the licenses of each photo or picture. Make sure they are marked for reuse and/or modification.
Flickr: Creative Commons - Many Flickr users have chosen to offer their work under a Creative Commons license, and you can browse or search through content under each type of license.
OpenClipart - Free clipart with open licenses - feel free to use without citation!
Pics4Learning - Copyright-free images for education.
PublicDomainPictures.net - Come here for free photos in the public domain.
United States Government Photos and Images: Just like with the Creative Commons, all these photos have different licenses. Make sure you pay attention to what's marked for reuse and/or modification.
Wikimedia Commons - A database of over 25 million freely usable media files to which anyone can contribute.