Tech Note: Royalty-free Photographs

Each category of photographs on SCX (stock.xchng or Stock Exchange) begins with for-sale items but then is followed by dozens, sometimes hundreds, of royalty-free photographs. The entries are shared by photographers, most offering the "Standard restrictions" clause, which permits wide use of the images.

Typical allowances are use in digital form (web, multimedia, film, video, cell phone), use in print (promotional material, magazines, newspapers, books, brochures, flyers, cover art for CD and DVD sleeves, business cards, letterhead), and even use in decorations (including public places).

The site provides a search box and a user-friendly interface for previewing and downloading images. Among the royalty-free image sources on the web, this may be the most professional and helpful. Recently purchased by Getty Images, SXC is reporting that it will continue to operate as it has in the past: as a community of photographers and users with emphasis on royalty-free images. The current stats: 350,000 images by 30,000 photographers.

Disclosure statement: I have no relationship with SXC and I have not received any compensation or free product for mentioning this service. (This blog's only monetary reward comes through google.adsense links, which are selected by Google, not by me.)

© 2010 Mary Bold, PhD, CFLE. Email contact: bold[AT]marybold.com. The content of this blog or related web sites created by Mary Bold (http://www.marybold.com/, http://www.boldproductions.com/, College Intern Blog) is not under any circumstances to be regarded as legal or professional advice. Bold is the co-author of Reflections: Preparing for your Practicum or Internship, geared to college interns in the child, education, and family fields. She is a consultant and speaker on assessment, distance learning, and technology.