How to Get Images for Commercial Use [Free Ways]

Did you know that some of the world’s most iconic advertisements use stock images for commercial use? For example, AlamapBBDO, a Brazilian ad agency, used stock photos from Getty Images to create their Endless Possibilities campaign in 2016. The advertising campaign combined photos of random people’s faces to recreate portraits of famous people such as the Dalai Lama and Pope Francis.

Most creative agencies prefer altering stock images in most of their work. This is because it allows them to create campaigns for different companies much faster at affordable costs. Keep reading to find out how to get free images for commercial use in your next project.

Part 1: Download images in loyalty-free sites

Several sites offer free images for commercial use as part of their services. In addition, you do not need to register an account to download the images. The sites typically rely on user contributions and content teams to ensure their databases are fresh and maintain consistent quality. Furthermore, all creative assets they offer fall under the creative commons zero license or a variation of it. Here are some of the sites that offer you images for commercial use for free.

1. Pexels

Pexels.com is a free-to-use provider of high-resolution photos and videos for aspiring creators. The German-based website was started in 2014 by two brothers and has been under the Canva umbrella since 2018.

Currently, the website hosts over 3.2 million images and videos from over 250,000 active contributors. In addition, all the material you find in its library is under the Pexels license, which slightly varies from the creative commons zero license model. Some of the restrictions it enforces include:

You can only use pexels images for commercial use after making alterations to the original image. For example, you can use part of an image to create a collage for your commercial branding.
Furthermore, you cannot use any of the website’s content to promote political ideologies and explicit content, especially if the images contain identifiable subjects.

Pexels is available through the following channels:

Your web browser by typing the URL pexels.com.
The Android and iOS app.
A plugin for other content creation software such as Google Slides and MS Office.
An extension on your Chrome browser.
You can also access the database using the official Canva app.

2. Unsplash

Another website that offers free images for commercial use is Unsplash, a subsidiary of Getty Images since 2021. The website is a favorite among creators boasting over 16 billion photo impressions monthly. In addition, the database consists of over 3.48 million photos from more than 265,000 unique contributors, all under the Unsplash license.

The Unsplash license restricts the sale of its creative assets without incorporating new creative elements, including using them in print media and physical goods such as mugs and caps.

You can access Unsplash from your web browser or request API integration for your application from the site’s owners. In addition, the site also hosts photo walks across different cities, where Unsplash guides show you the best photo locations around the city and the best camera techniques for your work. Some cities to host the event include Boston, Montreal, Tokyo, and Toronto.

3. Freerange

Freerange Stock is an online resource for photos, illustrations, and textures you can download and use for commercial and non-commercial purposes. Since 2007, the site has continued to provide high-quality images to its community of over 800,000 registered users.

Unlike the previous examples, all content on Freerange falls under the website’s Equalicense. It grants you broad commercial rights of its stock images while allowing the contributors to retain control of their copyright, image resale, and distribution. As such, you cannot use the images for bulk distribution or print-on-demand works.

Freerange Stock maintains its steady supply of images for commercial use via the following methods:

It has an in-house team of professional photographers who upload images across the different categories on the website.
Freerange Stock also purchases image rights or directly commissions photos from independent creators.
You can also contribute to the website’s library by voluntarily submitting your work to the platform. Kindly note that you will need a verified account to enable this function.
The website also works directly with photographers through a licensing and distribution model, providing them extra exposure on the site.
Finally, Freerange stock aggregates public domain images from other sources, including similar sites and government institutions. It does so by acknowledging the image owner and sometimes lists the image source when the owner is unknown.

Freerange Stock is accessible through your web browser or as an API integration on your app.

4. Vecteezy

Vecteezy is an extensive online library of free stock images for commercial use. Some of the site’s highlight features include the following:

A best-in-class search engine that incorporates multiple filters to ensure your results are extremely accurate. For example, you can sort images by color, style, number of people, and age of the subjects, something other free stock websites do not provide.
All images, videos, and vector illustrations are free for personal and commercial uses. It does so through a property sign and release model with its extensive network of contributors, which protects users from any legal liabilities.
Finally, it employs a content team that manually reviews each photo submission to ensure consistent quality standards for its offerings.

In addition, you can also purchase design resource bundles by subscribing to its Vecteezy pro for as little as $9 monthly. Some of the resources available include the Ultimate Text Effects Layer Styles Bundle for Photoshop, which costs $39 stand-alone or $4.50 when you subscribe to pro.

Part 2: Buy from stock providers

Another way to get images for commercial use is by buying them from stock providers. Some of the benefits of buying images from stock providers include:

You get a wide selection of unique photos from top-tier photographers. Stock providers always seek collaborations with the industry’s finest to edge out the competition.
You receive exemplary customer service with your purchase. Selecting the right image can be confusing for amateur creators. As such, stock image providers have customer support channels to help you throughout your creative process.
Stock images reduce your delivery times significantly. Buying images from a stock provider eliminates the need to invest in photography equipment and the time you need for post-production. As such, you can deliver projects in a fast and cost-effective way.

Despite the above positive, here are some challenges that buying stock images may present:

Not all stock image providers will have the creative assets you need.
Image overuse is likely since every creator will rush for the most popular contributor.

Below are some of the stock image providers you should consider.

1. iStock

iStockphoto.com is an online database of creative resources, including royalty-free photos, videos, audio, illustrations, and clip art you can use in your creations. The website is a Getty Images subsidiary based in Calgary, Canada. In addition, contributors earn royalties depending on how often users download their content.

2. Alamy.com

Alamy.com is a British-owned stock image provider with contributions from photographers and agencies in 173 countries. It compensates its contributors by offering higher than average payouts every time users download their creations. Some popular brands to use Alamy’s services include M&C Saatchi, Microsoft, and The Economist.

Part 3: Shot a Photo by yourself or create one with editing tools

Alternatively, you can get images for commercial use by shooting them yourself or creating them with editing tools such as Figma and Wondershare’s Filmstock. Here are some benefits of using this method:

You get exactly what you want, provided you have the required skills and equipment. Sometimes, getting the right image for your commercial purpose can be challenging. As such, shooting an original photo may be the only option.
You have full ownership of the image.

Unlike obtaining images from stock photography websites, you are free to use the image in whatever capacity you please without any restrictions. For example, sites such as Unsplash do not allow you to use their images in political statements, a restriction you can bypass when using your own creations.

However, you should also consider the following factors when using this method.

It requires a substantial investment

Getting high-quality images for commercial purposes requires specialist equipment. For example, the Panasonic LUMIX GH6 camera, which has 4K resolution capability, costs $2,197 on Amazon. This makes it extremely expensive for amateur creators.

There is a steep learning curve

Becoming a professional photographer takes time and effort. Unless you are creating as a hobby, it will be a while before you can start generating income from your creations.

Part 4: FAQs

1. Do you need a contributor account to get images for commercial use?

Not necessarily. Stock image sites like pexels.com allow you to download images from their website without creating an account. You will only need one if you want to showcase your work on the platform.

2. Can you use your smartphone to get images for commercial use?

Yes. Most stock image providers have device-specific apps that allow you to access their databases from your mobile device. For example, UnsplashPhotoPicker allows you access to the Unsplash library from your Android device.

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The Ultimate List: 10 Best Animated Text Generators for Stunning Results

10 Best Animated Text Generator to Use (100% Useful)

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

There was a time when creating animation was a tedious task and used to cost a bomb. People could only depend on the skilled animators to create a 30-second explainer or demo video. Thankfully, the evolution of technology for better has made the complex processes, smoother, easier, and enjoyable experience.

Not, just simple video making tool, now you can even find several animated text generators to give your videos an enhanced and professional look.

But, do you know how to create the animated text? You may try the several animated writing text generator or the 3D animated text generator available in order to create the wonderfully animated texts. In this article, we will let you know the 10 best animated text generators.

Part 1: Best 3d Animated Text Generator
Part 2: Animated Writing Text Generator

Part 1: Best 3d Animated Text Generator

1. 3D Text Maker

The 3D text maker is a free tool to create text animation. You may choose from the several available fonts, color, set dimension and other variables and finally enter the text that you wish to animate in the given box to make 3D text. This animated writing text generator has several features like

Use it for both personal and commercial pages
Choose from more than 10 to 12 effects
Set font size, speed, depth, loop as per your choice
The size is not constrained to a particular dimension; you can select the banner size
Choose from Sans-serif, serif, outline, handwritten, crazy, and decorative fonts

2. Sculpteo

If you don’t wish to get stuck at every stage with confusion, you can opt for Sculpteo, the 3d animated text generator. Sculpteo analyses every element of your 3D file to point out the mistakes that can be a barrier to 3D printing. It corrects any errors semi-automatically and automatically. The features of Sculpteo are-

Manage 3D files easily
Select the creation mode and easily modify the parameters like colors, alignment, etc
Optimize text file for 3D printing or hollow the object on the online interface
20 different file formats

3. Engfto

An amazing website to animate your text images, Engfto 3D animated text generator helps in creating all sorts of inventive effects to make your text flash and pop. The features of this 3d animated text generator are –

Select from 43 general styles
Flexibility to modify each and every style
Free site with several images with HTML5 effects and animated GIF
Modify your text to dance, pop, jump, and anyway you want
Select and change size, area, font, color, effect parameters, background color, etc

4. Flaming Text

Are you looking for a great 3d animated text generator? No need to look further as the Flaming Text tool offers free access to the graphics tools within the browser. You can easily edit and modify texts as well as give a professional look to it making stickers, logos, and drawings by using powerful SVG-based graphics editor called Imagebot. The features of Flaming Tex are-

No need to download or install
Access to the largest selection of high quality, easily-customizable logos on the web
Write the Logo text and animate it
Choose font, font size and in advance level choose text padding, alignment, various filters and more
You may add shadow, blur background
Select and set the background from the gradient, sunbursts, color, pattern or transparent

5. Picture to People

Now, turning your text logos into 3D styles has become easy and simple with the 3d animated text generator tool Picture to People. Get full control over the 3D text colors, banners, styles, and customize your cool 3D logo with a transparent background. The features of Picture to People are-

450 cool artistic font faces for producing professional 3D logos with letters and texts
Free 3D text effect software can design in 4 different techniques that are simplified wireframe, solid wireframe, illuminated faces, and smooth illumination
Get access to various 3D models and 3D layouts
Free 3d animated text generator

Part 2: Animated Writing Text Generator

6. TEXTANIM

Animate text with numerous textures when you use the animated writing text generator Textanim. It is a flash based animation tool for stunning text animation. The features of TextAnim are-

A clean interface showing the different options, controls, and panels to customize your text effect
Splits the text into chars, words or lines
Interval between the chars, words or lines animation
The text animation may contain HTML

7. Loading.io

Loading.io is an animated writing text generator that enables you to make your own text animation into images with GIF / SVG / APNG formats. At times, you may need the moving texts for your logo or name and don’t have time to approach a professional for the work. In such situations, Loading.io comes to your rescue and easily helps to create text animations. The features of Loading.io are-

Highly customizable editor
100+ animations, 800+ fonts, 300+ colors combined with a growing set of promising text effects
100+ prebuilt animation such as “bouncing”, “spinning”, “trembling” effects to choose from
Allows both vector / raster based formats to fit your need
Text effect library including 3D text, comic effect, different filters and additional elements over text

8. Animaker

If you wish to explore your creativity, turn to Animaker animated writing text generator. It is a fast, easy, and simple tool to animate your texts. Creating text animation doesn’t need any expert assistance or professional help. With Animaker, you can make your text jump, pop, turn, and move in just a few minutes. The features of Animaker are-

Select from a range of text options
Edit from a number of fonts
Customize background
Add effects to your text and sprinkle music
170+ sound effects
5 unique board styles

9. Cool Text

Animating words and letters has become easy with CoolText animated text generator. From controlling speed to creating animation sequence and staggering, Cool Text allows you to enter your text and choose from 300s of ready-to-use animations. The features of CoolText are-

Enter text and customize color, fonts, placements and more
Select elements, delay, and direction
Up to 300 customizable animations
Edit and choose from a range of themes

10. Icons8

Icons8 animated writing text generator tool allows you to easily customize and animate text with its range of features that people often miss out. Every single week, a range of features are added and improvements are made to bring out the best in Icons8 3d animated text generator tool. Some of the features of Icons8 are-

Allows seeing the same icon in a range of styles
Add text, spacing, circles, stroke, overlays, and more
Generate fonts, recolor, upload SVG icons

Read More to Get : Best GIF Text Makers to Generate Your Text Simple >>

Conclusion

The animated text generator helps to give a new angle to your boring fonts and texts. Make it move, dance, jump, and animate it in whichever way you like with the above 3D animated text generator tools easily.

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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