YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN ARTIST to add visual interest to your Web site. Have you been thinking about creating a Web page but putting it off, unwilling to contribute yet another text-heavy eyesore to the World Wide Web? Wait no longer! There are lots of easy ways to add images to your site -- without drawing a line or painting a pixel.

Believe it or not, there are virtually thousands of free Web graphics available -- if you know where to look. Many artists maintain online galleries, jam-packed with icons, buttons, backgrounds, and other images, available for use without restriction. Links to a few good sites are included in the More Info section at the end of this article. To locate other galleries, check out a Web directory like Yahoo. Clip art galleries will usually be listed under Computer:Art/Graphics. You might also use an online search engine. Try "free Web graphics" as the key phrase for your search.

Be sure to read any copyright notice that appears at the gallery site. Many galleries will include a notice stating that the images may be freely downloaded for personal use. 

To download an image file, click the image and hold the mouse button down until the pop-up menu appears. (On the PC, click the image with the right mouse button.) Select, "Save this Image as..." and choose a location to save the file.




Many free graphics sites will request a "link back" from pages that display their images. You should provide this as a courtesy. For instance, the images at the right were downloaded from Barry's Clip Art Server.

Designers interested in adding realism to their Web sites might want to use photographs. There are several ways to obtain photographs for use on personal Web pages. Check out the photo gallery links in More Info, or try an online search engine with a key phrase like "free Web photo."



Download photographs as described above for clip art, and remember to provide a link back to the source page, if requested. The images at the left were downloaded from Steve's Nature Photography.



One drawback of using images from free photo galleries is that many of the photos are only available as low-resolution "thumbnails." Therefore, you will not be able to display them at a larger size without compromising the quality of the image. Another option is to purchase images from a stock photo company. (See More Info for links to some popular stock photo sites.)

If you can't find a free photo gallery with the images you want and you don't want to invest in stock photos, don't ignore the most obvious photo resource available to you -- your own camera! With a little imagination and access to a scanner, you can create your own photographic works of art.

Displaying graphics interspersed with text is the most obvious way to add imagery to your Web pages, but it isn't the only way. Consider scanning fabric, rough papers, and everyday objects to create textured sidebars and backgrounds.

Use your imagination, and create textures that contribute to the theme of your page. For instance, scan satin, lace, or other soft fabrics to create backgrounds that invoke a sense of romance.

Are you still skeptical about your ability to find graphics that fit your theme? The interactive presentation below demonstrates how you can find and create images for use in a wide variety of contexts. First, choose a context and read the design scenario. Then, click Show Images to see clip art, photographs, and do-it-yourself scans that fit the theme.

According to copyright law, images are owned by their creator and cannot be copied, altered, or distributed without permission from the copyright holder. There are a few exceptions, most notably the principle of "Educational Fair Use" which outlines conditions under which copyrighted material may be used for educational purposes. If you're interested in learning more about copyright law, check out the Copyright links in More Info.

Clip Art Galleries
Barry's Clip Art Server
The Mangus Clip Art Server
Noetic Art

Photo Galleries
Steve's Nature Photography

Stock Photo Houses
PhotoDisc, Inc.
DigitalVision

Copyright
U.S. Copyright Office
University of Georgia Regents Guide
TAG Multimedia Developers Handbook

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Mona C. Meyer
Instructional Designer
Graduate Student: Educational Technology, SDSU