About
Maybe an image is worth a thousand words, as the adage has it. Whether or not this is true, images can add a lot to a paper or presentation, making your ideas stand out. This guide will introduce you to sources for locating images for your projects, some considerations regarding image resolution, and some guidelines for asking for permissions from and giving credit to the creators and/or copyright holders of the images you use in your work.
File types and resolutions
Adapted from David Shipley and Will Schwalbe, eds. Send: The Essential Guide to Email for Office and Home (New York: Knopf, 2007) p. 89-91, and from the JISC Digital Media Guide "Choosing a File Format for Digital Still Images":
File Types:
- .pdf -- Best for text documents -- abbreviates white in the computer's memory to save space
- .jpg -- Best for compressing high-resolution images -- reduces file size by stripping some information
- .gif -- Mainly used for photographs -- only supports 256 colors -- Most useful for figures and diagrams with only a few colors, but losing popularity as a format
- .png -- Useful for medium-grade resolution -- .gif-like compression, but no limit to the colors it can support
- .tiff -- Does not discard information from the file -- useful for high-resolution images
TIFF is the preferred file format for saving captured images at the highest quality level. You can choose a less robust file format to save memory when needed, but if you originally save a file in a low-resolution format, you will not be able to take it to a higher resolution later.
Preferred File Formats for Particular Uses:
Commercial printing: TIFF (RGB), TIFF (CMYK), EPS, PDF
Desktop printing: TIFF (RGB), PSD, JPEG (at high quality setting)
Web use: JPEG, GIF, PNG
Resolutions:
72 pixels per inch (ppi): Ideal resolution for an image to be displayed on a computer
300 ppi: Ideal resolution for an image to be printed (professional quality)
To determine how large an image can be in a digital or print format:
1. Determine the pixel size of an image
2. Divide that by the ppi appropriate for your purpose
3. The result is the ideal measurement in inches for the display of your image.
Web Sources
Another option in addition to those below is to purchase stock photos. Sites like iStock, Fotolia, Shutterstock, Corbis, and Getty Images sell these for various costs and purposes. Many museums will also allow you to take your own photographs if they are for personal use.
See the "Specific Image Resources" page for links to denominational image resources.
- Creative Commons SearchAn easy way to find images with permissions, particularly by searching Flickr. The bottom left corner of the image lists the applicable Creative Commons license terms. Clicking on one will provide the full terms.
- Google Advanced Image Search This is NOT the first-choice tool for selecting images for a presentation, because you will still need to determine permissions for anything found here, but it is a good option if you're interested in visual inspiration or looking for a particular image.
- ActualResizerA tool for examining an online image of artwork at its original size.
- Stock XchngImages made freely available by their creators for others to use.
- Web Gallery of ArtThis source collects many great artworks, but use is limited to educational and personal use. Do not distribute any of these images.
- Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion -- Religion Image SourcesResources collected from around the Internet that provide religious images. Most sources come from museums and libraries, so check distribution allowances for these images.
Library and Museum Sources
In addition to the resources listed below, a number of other databases include images. See Databases@Emory for more options--particularly good for historical collections is the Archives & Primary Sources collection of databases.
- ARTStorA licensed database of images that can be used for educational purposes.
- British Library ImagesOnlineImages culled from the collections of the British Library. Individuals may use web versions of images for personal and educational use with the following restrictions:
The credit line should read (c)The British Library Board. Followed by the shelfmarks.
High-resolution images (300 dpi) are available for purchase. - Cooperative Digital Resources Initiative (CDRI)A collection of resources from institutional members of the American Theological Library Association. This is a great resource for images related to theology and religious studies.
- Digital Image ArchivePitts Theology Library's very own digital image archive, with many woodcuts and engravings scanned from our special collections.
- IMLS Digital Collections and ContentSearch by subject, place, and type of object. In each case, you will need to look for the permissions and copyright that apply.
- Index of Christian ArtContains approximately 80,000 records and 90,000 publicly viewable images of Christian art in the east and west dating primarily from the 1st century C.E. to the 16th century C.E. Works are indexed by 25 areas, including location, medium, and theme. Click on the hyperlinked number next to a brief record to find the full record; links to images are at the bottom of the full record. When possible, bibliographic information is provided to locate a printed image when an electronic one is not avail
- Art History Research Guide from Emory LibrariesSee the "Images" tab for suggested image sources.
- WorldImagesThis resource provides images from the California State University IMAGE project. Images are organized by location of origin and theme.
Image resources around the web
- Digital ScriptoriumAn image database of medieval and renaissance manuscripts. Browse by location, artist, author, title, scribe, language, or shelfmark. See the "Copyright" page for user guidelines and citation format.
- American Memory from the Library of CongressA collection of images and resources from American history. Use the "Browse Collections Containing" box in the middle right to select images and photographs.
- Vanderbilt Divinity Library LectionaryClick on the icon at the far left to find art matched to each week's lectionary texts.
- The Text This Week's Art ConcordanceClick on the lectionary week to find suggested images. Check copyright permissions before using these images in worship.
- Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Resources for Visual ArtsThis site includes art for seasons of the liturgical year, readings for worship committees, slide shows of the uses of visual elements in worship at churches, and a portfolio of artists' creations that can be used in worship.
- United Methodist Communications Graphics LibraryUnited Methodist Communications offers an array of images that can be used on your Web site. Themes include ministry, organizational graphics, and special Sundays. Look for the "Graphics Library" link on this Support Center page.
- American Baptist Church Graphics and DownloadsThese images are provided for the exclusive use of institutions affiliated with the American Baptist Church and cannot be modified.
Subject Guide |
 Tracy Powell Iwaskow Contact Info Head of Public Services and Periodicals Librarian Periodicals Room, Pitts Theology Library ph. 404.727.1221 Send Email |
Marking images for later
Use VisualizeUs to save images for future use, in the same way you might use Del.icio.us to save a web page for later perusal.
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