Use CC0 Pictures for Your Posts or You Could Have Big Legal Problems - Here is How to Find Them

When you post to Steemit, you need to be very careful about the pictures you use in your posts. Most pictures on the web are copyright protected and the people who own the pictures do not give you permission to use their photos unless they are contacted and paid.

To be sure you can use a photo you like, you need to make sure it has a Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license or similar worded release for it. There are many sites that offer free photos but making sure you can use one is tricky. So I have listed here the three most popular sites where you can find photos with CC0 photos and I also tell you how to get them.

Google Advanced Image Search
Beautiful girl.jpg

Google provides a way for us to locate CC0 photos that are free to use on places like Steemit. Searching is simple and fast and depending on the subject of the photo you want to use, you thousands. There is some work required at this site but it is worth it because you get the biggest selection. If you want a simpler way to search please jump to the second and third option I present below.

Here is the link and how to use Google Advanced Image Search

https://www.google.com/advanced_image_search
Google Image Search.png

When you click this link you will see something similar to the diagram above. Usage Rights is where you want to focus. You will see this drop down menu located near the bottom left side of the page and is usually the last field on the list. You need to make sure to select:

Free to use share or modify even commercially

Select this option to limit your search to photos that have a CC0 license. You can use any of them for your posts without worrying about paying any royalties or any infringement issues. You can even modify the photo you choose by adding text, emojis or you can photoshop them without getting permission from the owner of the photo. However be careful if you use a celebrity or public figure. Do not edit the picture so it puts them in a negative light or you could have a problem.

I personally also like to use high resolution photos so I normally go to Image Size drop down (towards the top of the page) and pick an image size on the drop down menu of larger than 1024 x 768. This will generally give you great looking pictures. Steemit recommends you use pictures with1680 x 1292 pixels, or smaller images with the same 1.3:1 ratio

You must then put a word in the Search Terms section at the top (put in the picture subject you want for instance beautiful woman) and the press Image Search and when you do, you will see the familiar Google picture thumbnails but filtered with CC0 pictures that you can use for your Steemit posts without worrying.

Pexels

https://www.pexels.com/
Stair case.jpeg photograph by Cosmin Paduraru

Pexels is another site that has CC0 pictures you can use for your posts. You simply put your search term in the search bar at the top and the site will find pictures for you. Here is language from their site about their photos so you are clear on their terms of use.

From Pexels Picture License Terms section
It's hard to understand complex licenses that is why all photos on Pexels are licensed under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license. This means the pictures are completely free to be used for any legal purpose.

The pictures are free for personal and even for commercial use. You can modify, copy and distribute the photos. All without asking for permission or setting a link to the source. So, attribution is not required.

The only restriction is that identifiable people may not appear in a bad light or in a way that they may find offensive, unless they give their consent. You should also make sure the depicted content (people, logos, private property, etc.) is suitable for your application and doesn't infringe any rights.

Pexels has great high quality photos and I use this site a lot too. However I use google Advanced first because it will often call up the photos on Pexels so I only need to go to one place.

Pixabay

https://pixabay.com/
Beautiful woman.jpg

Here again at Pixabay, you simply put your search term in the search bay at the top and the site will find CC0 pictures for you.

Pixabay has more than 1.3 million free to use photos. Here is language from their licensing terms.

From Pixabay Picture License Terms section
All images and videos on Pixabay are released under the Creative Commons CC0. Thus, they may be used freely for almost any purpose - even commercially and in printed format. Attribution in appreciated, but not required.

Exceptions

Identifiable people may not appear in a bad light or in a way that they may find offensive, unless they give their consent.

Do not suggest endorsement of products, services, etc. by depicted people or organizations. For example: do not use an image of NASA and place it adjacent to your own product in a way that suggests NASA would recommend the product.

In addition to these common sense regulations, there is more to know:

Model- and Property Release

Imagine, would you like to see your face in a TV spot without being asked for permission? No? Therefore, identifiable people must give their consent for public usage of their images. This is meant by the term "Model Release".

Additional Things to Understand about using CC0 pictures
All sites ask you to give credit to any photographers that are noted and to the site from which you got the pictures. You don't have to but his is always good and costs you nothing. It might help to ensure you can continue to have access to great pictures for free.

Also, you must download any of these photos to your device or desktop before you upload it to Steemit.

There are other photo sharing sites and some have great photos, but I only feel comfortable recommending sites I have used personally. I have never had any problems with any of these three and I use hundreds of pictures every month. Also there are millions of beautiful pictures from which you can choose.

If you have a favorite site for CC0 photos, please put it in the comments below and let everyone know.

Thanks for reading and please upvote, comment and resteem so everyone can have this important information.

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