To create impressive backgrounds in Photoshop, it is important to find the right materials. Various platforms offer you a wealth of stock photos that can serve as a foundation for your creative projects. In this guide, you will learn how to specifically search for high-quality images that are both appealing and legally unobtrusive.
Key insights
- Stock photos are useful resources for creative projects.
- Platforms like Fotolia and DeviantArt offer a variety of images.
- Pay attention to the licensing terms, especially for free offers.
- Organize your images in a lightbox for better overview.
Step-by-step guide
1. Searching for stock photos
One of the first places to look for stock images is Fotolia, a platform known for its high image quality. You should register and search for your desired motif using the search bar.
2. Selecting the right category
When on Fotolia, you can choose between photos, vectors, illustrations, and videos. Since you are looking for images, it is advisable to select “Photos” to get the best results for your background design.
3. Refining the search
After the initial search for a term like “Skyline,” you will see many results. To refine your search results, you can use the advanced search. There, you have the option to set filters, such as displaying images without people.
4. Filtering by image category
In addition to filtering by people, you can also select the orientation of the images. Do you want to use portrait or landscape format? Depending on what you need, you can adjust your options accordingly.
5. Using the lightbox
If you like an image, click the star to add it to your lightbox. This helps you organize the desired images and find them later. You can save multiple images and sort them into different galleries to keep track.
6. Downloading images
After placing several images in your lightbox, you can preview download them to test how they look in your project. These downloaded preview images are of lower quality, but are great for checking if the image fits your concept.
7. Purchasing the images
If you have decided on an image, you can purchase it in various resolutions. Prices vary depending on quality and license type. Make sure to choose the right plan to obtain all necessary usage rights.
8. Using free platforms
If you have no budget for stock photos, DeviantArt is an excellent free resource. Here you can find many artworks and photos, but you must pay attention to the usage terms of each artist. Often, backlinks are required, or the use for commercial purposes is restricted.
9. Understanding licensing terms
Before you use an image, you should carefully read the licensing terms. Ensure that you have permission to use the image as desired. If uncertain, you can translate unclear texts in Google to ensure that you do not run into legal problems.
10. Practice use vs. commercial use
Use images from search engines only for practice purposes and be cautious about publication. It is safer to use official stock photo providers if you want to use or publish the images in your projects.
Summary - The Art of Background Design in Photoshop: Finding Materials - Part 2
In this tutorial, you learned how to find high-quality stock photos and effectively use them for your Photoshop projects. You should pay attention to the licensing terms and establish a systematic image management system. Whether you use paid platforms like Fotolia or free alternatives like DeviantArt, with the right images, you make your works even more appealing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are stock photos?Stock photos are images or photographs provided by artists that can be downloaded for use in one's own projects.
Where can I find free stock photos?You can find free stock photos on platforms like DeviantArt or through a Google image search, but you must pay attention to the licensing terms.
What should I consider when using images?Pay attention to the licensing terms from providers and ensure that you have permission for the use.
How can I organize my images?Use features like the lightbox on Fotolia to save images and sort them into galleries.
What is the difference between different image license types?The license types indicate how you are allowed to use the images, from personal use to commercial rights.
