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Images Are Everything: 4 Resources You Need to Know About
Every day, graphic designers struggle to find the image assets they need to complete the projects they’re working on. As a leading printing company in Ohio, at cdsPRINT, we understand just how important the right assets are to the timely completion of your project. Looking for great stock photos for your next design project? Redesigning your company collateral? Check out our top picks for great stock photos.Pexels
One of the very best resources online for free stock photos and footage is called Pexels. This website was created to help alleviate the concerns of bloggers and writers everywhere, who didn’t want to (or perhaps couldn’t afford to) pay for the rights to use an image in a blog post, article, social post, etc. Pexels is a fantastic site for gaining insight into potential spec, and boasts a library of free to use images that’s in the millions. It’s important to note that while the base licenses are entirely free, if you intend to use any images for commercial purposes, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid license. This service also offers premium stock images and footage, which are curated from around the web. Typically, the prices are cheaper than other premium sites, and many times you can find the same exact images as you would elsewhere for cheaper. That being said, the library isn’t nearly as extensive as some of the other sites on our list, making it less appealing for graphic designers.Adobe Stock Photo
Perhaps the most robust of all the stock photo sites in this list, Adobe Stock Photo has the system down pat. Unlike Pexels, however, it’s a premium site that requires either a monthly subscription or credits-based purchases. It’s also in the upper echelon of pricing, too, namely because of the high quality of the images on this site and the exposure designers gain from listing them in Adobe. Originally, this service was intended to be integrated directly into Adobe’s design suite of products, such as Lightroom, Photoshop and Illustrator. But it became such a popular resource, that Adobe later released it the public as an open service. Here, you will find all sorts of images, graphics, font types, footage and so much more. All for the right price, of course. Each option is offered in multiple size and resolution formats. You can even request custom assets from the pool of graphic designers, photographers, illustrators and video production experts.Big Stock Photos
One of our favorite picks for a middle of the road service, Big Stock Photos is big, has tons of stock photos and footage, and won’t take you to the bank on pricing. Certainly, it has a more limited library than Adobe does, but you really can’t beat the rock bottom pricing they offer on assets. Big Stock Photos offers assets in all shapes and sizes, resolutions and formats. Your purchased products are downloadable forever, available simply by logging back into your account. They work on a credit-based system, too, or you can subscribe to a monthly plan that includes so many images per month as part of your ongoing membership.Pond 5
A relatively unheard-of name in the stock photo business, don’t overlook this interesting collective. Pond 5 is more than stock photos, it’s basically creative assets for everything. For example, you can find sound bytes, sound effects, stock music, stock footage, stock animations and stock video here. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more replete and unique collection of creative assets anywhere else online. But, be prepared to pay a pretty penny to get your hands on some of the 4k footage and images that they have to offer. Like the other sites we’ve mentioned, they work on a credits-based system, or you can subscribe to a monthly membership. They also offer varying premium memberships with unlimited downloads.Hopefully these creative asset sources help you streamline your next design project. Don’t forget, at cdsPRINT (Corporate Document Solutions), we’re here for all your printing needs. We also can help you with any designs that you need, too. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions by phoning us at: 888.601.3086.
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