In 2024, No-Cost Images for Your Business Commercial Use Permitted

Charlotte Lv12

2024-05-19 10:32:28 2024-05-19 10:32:28 Created 2024-05-20 10:32:28 2024-05-20 10:32:28 Updated

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No-Cost Images for Your Business: Commercial Use Permitted

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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From Square to Widescreen: A Comprehensive Guide to Facebook Video Aspect Ratios

The Only Guide Facebook Video Aspect Ratios you’ll Ever Need to Know

An easy yet powerful editor

Numerous effects to choose from

Detailed tutorials provided by the official channel

Try It Free Try It Free

Nowadays, Facebook ads are playing an important role in booming the market value of a particular brand. However, the correct video aspect ratio is also equally important. Let’s have a look at them:

Part 1 What You’d like to know about Facebook Ad Sizes that Get Shared Like Crazy

In today’s world where social media platforms are booming like no other marketplaces, you can generate a good lead at online markets and reach to a larger audience. According to an estimate, amongst all the social media platforms, Facebook can help you to do this better. Facebook pays a special attention to the types of ads and their sizes. Ad formats and sizes get a constant change yet here are some most preferred ad types and sizes which get shared like crazy.

01Facebook video ads sizes

When you talk about video ads on Facebook, they are mostly designed for mobile first. This is because most people use Facebook via their mobile phones. However, the video ads are also designed for desktops. Facebook recommends users and advertisers to upload videos of square or vertical aspect ratios. Square aspect ratio is 1:1 and dimension for vertical videos vary from 4:5, 9:16 or 16:9. However the most preferred one is 16:9. Also it is recommended that the videos must be no more than of 15 seconds.

02Facebook image ads size

As a customer, people like to see the product that they are going to purchase. For this, you can add images in your ads. This can be an easy way to draw the attention of the audience. But, sometimes it can be little daunting to design the images in the correct dimensions and sizes so that it can get uploaded on Facebook easily. Moreover, these sizes can vary according to the display sizes. It must be in between 1.91:1 to 1:1.

03Facebook carousel ads size

By using Carousels, you can showcase approx 10 videos and images in a single advertisement. Also there is no need of switching to another page. These carousels may appear on different places when you are uploading on Facebook. These places may include the main feed, instant articles, right column, messenger, etc. However, all the formats support similar specs of videos and images. The file size remains 30 MB and the ratio must be 1:1.

04Facebook collection ads size

Facebook promotes the collection ads as through this the user can easily browse and purchase the particular product within the Facebook feed only. These collections mostly include a cover image and some videos related to the product. You can choose to auto play the videos while the user is scrolling your collection. These ads have a file size of maximum 4 GB to minimum 30 MB. The aspect ratio of these ads must be 1:1.

05More Facebook advertising resources

Apart from the sizes and dimensions of the formats, there are several things that also need to be focused on. These things include audience insights, creation of video in less span of time; boost the posts on Facebook and enhancing the rate of ad conversions, etc.

Part 2 All Facebook Video Aspect Ratios Info in One Place

There are several types of videos that are uploaded on Facebook on a daily basis. All these videos have to withstand some technical requirements. Here mentioned are some Facebook videos and their aspect ratios and other technical requirements:

01360 videos

In these impressive videos, viewer can turn his device to explore the videos. Also he can drag his finger to view its surrounding content. These videos make a significant impact on the audience as the scenes in it seem to be alive. For making a 360 video, it is essential to have a 360 camera.

● The dimensions of these videos must be maximum 120 PX in height and width respectively.

● The length of video must not be more than 241 minutes.

● The file size of these videos should range in between 1 MB to 26 GB.

● The maximum video aspect ratio for these videos is 4:1 and minimum is 1:4.

02Facebook stories ads

As per the popularity of Facebook stories, there is also an immense increase in the results of Facebook stories ads. These ads appear between the stories and last up to approx 15 seconds. Viewer can even dismiss these ads.

● In these videos, sound is mostly optional as well as there is no need of captions.

● The resolution must be the highest possible so that it can meet the requirement of size and aspect ratio.

● The dimension must be minimum 500 PX in width and the file size should not exceed 4 GB.

● The aspect ratio can vary from 1:91 to 9:16 and the maximum length of the video is 2 minutes.

03Facebook News feed video ads

These are the most popular types of video ads that are uploaded on Facebook. These videos show up not only on the feed that a user will scroll but also alongside the posts that they are tagged in or shared with them. Newsfeed video ads can be of any type like carousels, 360 videos, etc. However, each video type has different requirements. Generally, the technical requirements are:

● The length of these videos must not exceed 240 minutes, however, shorter videos are best so minimum length of the ad video should be 15 seconds.

● You can choose any file type but MP4 or MOV can be better option. Also the file size should be under 4 GB.

● In these videos, sound and captions are optional but also recommended to make it more effective.

● Video aspect ratio is about 9:16 to 16:9 which means that video resolution must not be less than 1280*720 PX.

04Instant experience videos

These videos can be viewed on full screen automatically. This is the reasons these videos are meant for mobile devices only. As the videos take up the whole screen, these are more attention grabbing and engaging. If you are interested in driving mobile sales then these videos can be a great idea.

● You can choose amongst the landscape and square video format.

● The recommended video resolution for these videos is 1200*628 PX.

● The file size must not increase 4GB and the maximum length should also remain under 241 minutes.

● Video aspect ratio for landscape format is 9:1 and for square video format it becomes 1:1.

05Slideshow video ads

These ads are best for promoting and advertising restaurants’ menu. You can showcase many different things in just a video. You can target the desired audience by simply creating a decent and neat slideshow video advertisement.

● To create the slideshow ad, you can choose amongst the different supported formats like FLAC, M4A, MP3, OGG, etc.

● The video dimension and resolution should be 1200*720 PX and 1280*720 PX respectively.

● The aspect ratio of the video formats can vary from 16:9 to 9:16.

● The maximum length is 120 minutes with a file size of 4 GB.

06Instant article ads

To allow the publishers to share the fast and instant loading articles that are also mobile-optimized, Facebook supports such ads. The publishers can choose to place your video ad in their articles and your audience can view your ad whenever they will read that instant article.

● You can use any aspect ratio between 9:16 and 16:9 but for Facebook vertical video dimensions, aspect ratio of 4:5 is also accepted.

● Although shorter videos perform better but you can post video ads of approx 240 minutes.

● In this video format, there are no captions available so you will need to add subtitles while creating the video.

● Headlines in these videos must be of 25 characters and description should be of 30 characters.

07Live streaming

Live streaming broadcasts can be little tricky as you have to pay attention on each aspect as the viewer is consuming the video as it is being created. You need to follow all the protocols that are essential for creating live streams.

● These videos must include universal playback and have a small size of file.

● Here is a wide range of resolution that you can choose to meet the size needs and fits best for your purpose.

● The most recommended and preferred aspect ratio is 16:9.

● In such videos, keep in mind that the video aspect ratio must be compatible with the platform from where you are streaming.

08Search Result ads

Just like the Google search result page, Facebook also has the search result page and it is an excellent idea to boost your conversion rates. You can easily satisfy the demands of people who are there with a mindset of some exploration and discovery.

● The minimum length of the video is better to enhance the ad conversion but the maximum length should not exceed 240 minutes.

● In these videos, captions are not supported but the sound is recommended.

● The most suitable video aspect ratio for these videos is 1:1.

● The video resolution that you are choosing must be the highest so that it can meet the limits of ratio and size.

09Facebook marketplace

Facebook marketplace is a good place to discover and explore various items and products so if you want to enhance your conversions then ads can help you a lot here. The biggest advantage of such marketplace is that people already want to purchase the particular thing.

● At Facebook marketplace, all the aspect ratios between 9:16 to 16:9 are easily accepted.

● The file types of these videos are recommended to be MP4 or MOV and its size must be under 4 GB.

● In these videos sound is completely optional and if you want to add captions then you will need to do is while creating the video.

● If you are adding primary text then it must not exclude 125 characters and headline as well as description must have 25 and 30 characters respectively.

10Collection video ads

These ads are specially optimized for the mobiles which showcase various products in a single ad or various aspects in it. You can also boost customer engagement by making your video create in Instant Experience format.

● The video frame of these videos must be 30 fps maximum.

● You can create videos in the aspect ratio of 1:1 to 16:9.

● The recommended resolution size of the video is approx 1200*675.

● The file size of the video must not extend 4 GB and the length should be maximum 120 minutes.

Part 3 Does Filmora Have an Aspect Ratio That Can Be Adapted to Facebook?

Wondershare Filmora Video Editor is a high technology and latest media player that supports to change the video resolution, dimensions and aspect ratio of the desired video. Aspect ratio is nothing more than the ratio of width and height of the video. Filmora do supports to change the aspect ratio and the changed one can easily be adapted by Facebook. In this tool you can get the most popular video aspect ratio that is 1:1 and 9:16. You can also get a list of proper methods to change them.

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For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

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For macOS 10.12 or later

Key Takeaways from This Episode

● Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are excellent sources to advertise your products. Also you can make a good reach to your customers as well as audience.

● It is important to consider about the Facebook Video Aspect Ratios before you are planning to promote or advertise your brand or product.

● Various tools like Filmora help to easily adjust the dimensions and specs of videos and images. By using these, you can make the images and videos more impressive and engaging.

Try It Free Try It Free

Nowadays, Facebook ads are playing an important role in booming the market value of a particular brand. However, the correct video aspect ratio is also equally important. Let’s have a look at them: