In 2024, Free Images for Business Tips and Tricks for Commercial Use

Emma Lv12

2024-05-19 05:47:44 2024-05-19 05:47:44 Created 2024-05-20 05:47:44 2024-05-20 05:47:44 Updated

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Free Images for Business: Tips and Tricks for Commercial Use

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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Best Cartoon Animation Software for Beginners

10 Best PC and Online Cartoon Video Makers Easily [Easy to Use]

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Animated videos offer solutions to some of the issues that are common during the video production process. You won’t have to scout for locations, rent the pricey equipment or go through a seemingly endless casting process.

On the other hand, there are certain limitations you’ll need to take into account before you decide to use online, Windows, Mac and PC-based cartoon video makers to promote the products or services your company offers.

Using animation templates can impact the structure of a video’s plot, and more complex templates may cost more.

Despite the restrictions, cartoon video makers still offer a sea of possibilities to their users. So in this article, we will share with you about the top 10 best cartoon video makers online and PC that you can use before diving into the magical world of animated video.

Part 1: Best Cartoon Video Makers Online
Part 2: Best Cartoon Video Makers for PC
Part 3: FAQ about Best Cartoon Video Makers

Part 1: Best Cartoon Video Makers Online

Using most of the online animation platforms featured in this article doesn’t require you to have a lot of previous experience, but the animation software products for Mac and PC computers can be overwhelming for young and inexperienced animators. Let’s check out the top ten cartoon video makers in 2020.

1. Animaker

Price: Free version available, subscription plans start at $12 per month billed annually.

Compatibility: Online-based platform

The amount of options Animaker offers is staggering, as you can choose from hundreds of animated characters, backgrounds or maps. There are six video styles available such as Infographic, Typography or 2D that can be used for different types of projects. The Whiteboard feature lets you select the board style that best fits the cartoon you’re working on, while features such a Multimove, Curve or Enter/Exit Effects enable you to animate your videos at a professional level. More than fifty background music tracks, nearly two hundred sound effects, and Direct Voice Recording option make this cartoon video maker one of the best online animation apps.

Pros:

Superb animation tools
A rich selection of templates
Excellent audio editing options

Cons:

Creating an account is mandatory, even if you opt to use the free version of the platform
Pricy monthly fee
Animated videos created with the free version of the app contain a watermark.

2. Moovly

Price: Free 30-day trial, $24.92 per month billed annually.

Compatibility: Online-based platform

Before you can start working on your new cartoon, you must first log in to the Moovly platform. There’s no need to create a new account as you can use your Google or LinkedIn account to sign in quickly. Moovly lets you create your own content libraries or use Clip, Clean or Motion Graphics libraries in your projects. The properties of the ‘Stage’ or the work area can be controlled by adjusting the Size, Project Mode or Background-color options. All the visual objects you add to your project are going to be displayed the timeline and you can edit them from the Properties menu, located on the right side of the screen.

Pros:

Lets you import content from online sources like Shutterstock or Storyblock
Voiceovers or music of your own choosing can be easily added to animations
User-friendly interface

Cons:

All videos created during the free trial are watermarked
Exporting videos in HD 1080p quality requires you to purchase one of the available plans

3. Powtoon

Price: Subscription plans start at $16 per month, billed annually

Compatibility: Online based-platform

Producing infographic, business or explainer videos with Powtoon is easy because you just have to select a template you like and customize it. Both visual and textual elements of templates can be adjusted in accordance with the demands of the project you’re currently working on. In addition, Powtoon’s users can freely select props, characters or music they add to their cartoons. However, changing a template’s duration isn’t an option, this online cartoon video maker offers. The rich selection of powerful animation tools makes Powtoon a great choice for businesses in need of a reliable way of producing captivating visual content.

Pros

Fully customizable templates
Free image and music sources
Great file sharing capabilities

Cons:

No voiceover recording feature
The maximum duration of a cartoon depends on the pricing plan
Storage space is limited to 100MB on the Free version of the platform

4. Renderforest

Price: Free version available. Subscription plans start at $16 per month, billed annually

Compatibility: Online based-platform

This popular online cartoon video maker can be used for a wide array of purposes. Logo animations, 3D explainer videos or professional presentations are among numerous options the Renderforest platform offers to its users. Each template you select is customizable, which enables you to control the process of creating a cartoon entirely. You can add text overlays, change the colors of the backgrounds or use some of the royalty free music provided by the platform. Renderforest lets you create fun, but professional cartoons and animations of all sorts and its beautifully designed interface doesn’t take too long to get used to.

Pros

A large library of templates is available
The maximum duration of a video is 120 minutes
Offers up to 250GB of online storage space

Cons:

Modest export options
A relatively limited amount of commercial music tracks

5. Biteable

Price: Free, $23 per month, billed annually.

Compatibility: Online-based platform

The seemingly endless list of template categories Biteable provides will cater for all your online media marketing needs. Besides offering entertaining cartoon templates, the platform also lets you create Facebook covers, motion graphics or content for your social media channels. The best part is that the Biteable is completely free, although the number of watermarked videos you can produce in a month is limited to just five. Opting for one of the available monthly subscription plans will remove the watermarks from your cartoons, enable you to upload your media files, and enjoy the unlimited storage space.

Pros

Create entertaining cartoons quickly
Easily customizable templates
A perfect option for social media managers

Cons

Registration is mandatory.
The Download option is disabled on the free version of the platform
No audio editing options
File sharing capabilities are limited to Facebook and YouTube

6. Explee

Price: Subscription plans start at $7 per month

Compatibility: Online-based platform

All of your ideas can be turned into professional-looking animations with the tools supplied by the Explee app. The platform utilizes the Bringlife technology to animate all images, which means that you can easily upload your pictures and bring them to life. There are over 6000 thousand images in the Explee’s image library that are organized by categories and keywords to simplify the search. All the sounds you use in your whiteboard animations can be edited in any way you want using the platform’s Softcut audio editor. Newcomers to the world of animation may need some time to learn how to use this powerful cartoon video maker, as some of its features are aimed at skilled animators.

Pros

High-end text to speech system
Excellent audio editing options
Lots of cloud storage space

Cons

Limited file sharing options
No Free subscription plan
Doesn’t offer a lot of animation effects

7. Vyond

Price: Subscription plans start from $39 per month, billed annually

Compatibility: Online-based platform

This is probably one of the oldest online cartoon video makers on the World Wide Web, as the platform was launched in 2007 under the name Go!Animate. A decade later it is still one of the most popular online destinations for anyone who wants to create an animated video quickly. The impressive list of assets is constantly being updated and new features are added frequently to improve the user experience. There are thousands of templates and animated assets available, while features like Shape Opacity Control enable you to be in charge of every step of the cartoon video production process.

Pros

Automatic character lip syncing
Fully customizable templates
High-end character and object animation features

Cons

The amount of available options depends on the subscription model
Expensive
Not the best option for inexperienced animators

Part 2: Best Cartoon Video Makers for PC

8. Animiz

Price: Free version available, subscription plans start from $29 per month

Compatibility: Windows XP/Vista/Win7/Win8/Win10

Diversity is the word that best describes this platform, because its users can create cartoons in a wide range of styles, in only a couple of minutes. More than 300 scene templates, as well as assets such as shapes, roles, or audios, enable you to unleash your creativity and produce breathtaking animations.

This cartoon video maker is also equipped with animation effects that can ensure smooth transitions between scenes or make your animations even more compelling. The maximum number of scenes and cameras you can use in a video, as well as the size of the videos you export, depends on your current subscription plan.

Pros:

An impressive library of templates and royalty-free vector images
Powerful Voiceover and Subtitling features
Zooming, Panning and Rotating Camera effects

Cons

Expensive
Videos can be exported in only six different file formats
The quality of cartoon videos depends on the subscription plan

9. Adobe Animate CC

Price: $26 per month if purchased as a single app or $66 per month if purchased as a part of All Apps subscription plan.

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

Adobe Animate has been one of the most powerful animation software products on the market for decades. You can use it to animate images you want to use for games, film or online and produce HTML 5, WebGL or Flash content. The Bone tool that makes the character movement fluid or Sound Synchronization feature that syncs the music with images are only a few among numerous options that enable Adobe Animate’s users to create perfect animated videos. If you are not familiar with this software, or animation learning how to create cartoons with it, will take a lot of dedication and effort.

Pros

Excellent choice for complex animations
Puppeting features
Freehand drawing capability

Cons

It takes years to master the software
You may require other Adobe’s software while working on a project
Ill-suited for non-professional users

10. Toonboom Harmony

Price: Subscription plans start at $19 per month, billed annually

Compatibility: Mac, Windows

This software lets you create 2D animations for video games, TV and Film in a wide range of styles. It also enables you to integrate other software in the production pipeline, so you can use PSD, PDF, bitmaps or audio files in all your projects. The Premium version of this cartoon video maker offers the option to animate 3D models that can be later integrated with 2D characters. Universal Studios, Ubisoft, Lucas Film or Fox are just a few entertainment industry giants that use this software to create movies, TV shows or video games.

Pros

Excellent choice for the creation of the Cut-Out or Paperless animations
A wide range of drawing tools
Extensive library of special effects

Cons

Not the quickest option to create a cartoon video
Inexperienced animators may have to overcome a steep learning curve

Part 3: FAQ about Best Cartoon Video Makers

1. What is the best animated video maker?

The best-animated video maker is the one that offers you all the features for creating the kind of videos you always wanted to make. Some animated video maker software are specially made for cartoon video maker.

Moovly, PowToon, and Animaker are a few of the popular animated cartoon video maker software. You can download them on your PC and start to design your world with fantastic tools and your designs.

Apart from that, a top animated video maker software will come with pre-made templates to help you in creating cartoons quickly. If the software will ask you to buy a license, then first check if the trial is available or not.

2. Where can I animate for free?

The online world is full of such platforms where you can animate anything without paying for it.

Blender is one such tool that allows you to do 3D designing. It comes with plenty of features and using them. You can animate whatever you want.

Opentoonz and K-3D are sufficiently compact tools for the animation artists and cartoon video maker.

Whatever you are imagining can be put into visual design and animation with these kinds of freeware.

If you still have doubts, then try one of them, and you will recognize which tool fits your need. Once you find out what tools you require, creating animated videos will become effortless.

3. How can I make my own cartoon video?

This is something we appreciate because many people enjoy watching cartoons only and never try to make one on their own.

Creating a cartoon is not everyone’s cup of tea. Many have failed in this journey, but with some patience and persistence, you can succeed in making a funny or emotional cartoon as well.

The most talented cartoon video maker has the idea of handy tools and tricks to design animations in a short period.

Please create your cartoon by installing cartoon maker software and share it with the world. Your effort will be valued.

Conclusion

Animated videos have become widely popular in the last couple of years and a growing number of companies use them for promotional purposes. The online cartoon video makers offer a quick and easy way to produce explainer, infographic or tutorial videos, that may help you lead a more successful online marketing strategy. If you want to make cartoon video easily, why don’t try Filmora ? It is a video editor that you will can make cartoon like a pro. Do you use cartoon video makers? Share your experiences with us in the comments.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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