Public Health : Find "free to use" images

You may want to use images in PowerPoint slides, posters or other types of products you make. Not all images are free to use. It is important to find a statement for permission. Whenever the information is available, give the creator credit.

This page provides some sites where you can find a variety of images. It is not comprehensive as there are always new and changes resources. The thing to know is, if it doesn't say anything about how you can use it, then you are better off not using it.

Each image may need to be reviewed for attribution requirements. However, images in licensed programs such as Microsoft PowerPoint are  included in the agreement.

Finding images that are free of copyright is not as challenging as it might seem. Understanding the options is key.

Creative Commons licenses give everyone from individual creators to large institutions a standardized way to grant the public permission to use their creative work under copyright law. From the re-user’s perspective, the presence of a Creative Commons license on a copyrighted work answers the question, What can I do with this work?

Look for the label with the image and follow the guidance by license type.

Attribution

Whether you are using a Creative Commons licensed image or one from the several sites with creative works, it is good practice to give the creator acknowledgment if there information is included. Some of the licenses require this.

General collections

Note: on some sites sponsored content will show at the top of the page. This leads to a different site, often iStock, which may not have free to use images. Always confirm the usage rights with the individual image.

Health Related

Example

This image is in the public domain and thus free of copyright restrictions.

Searching on the web

There are many sites to search for images, photos, icons and other creative works to use in your presentations. Look for the explanation of how the image can be used. Absence of one does not mean it is free to use.

Some images will have a paid option. These usually provide higher quality than the free version.

Several of our databases include the ability to use the images contained within them,

Images may come from sites that are all images or you may cite an image from a larger source, like an article. These are typically labeled as Figures and should follow that rule.