Adding Images to Your PowerPoint: Public Domain, Royalty-Free, and Rights Managed PhotographyWriten by Gary Lewis
The Internet makes it incredibly simple to beef up a
presentation with images on just about any subject. There
are many stock photo websites offering images,
illustrations and vector-based art for a price. Other sites
display free photos for anyone to use, with or without
restrictions. Here are three types of copyright restriction
every presenter should know.
Public Domain:
Artwork placed in the Public Domain simply means the
person who created that image has decided not to enforce
any copyright protection. It could be an individual who just
wants to share the work with others, or it could be artwork
created by a government body with public funding. An
example of the latter would be the images of Earth taken by
NASA astronauts. Because the funding for space
exploration came from the Federal Government, NASA
releases their images for public use.
An exception to Public Domain freedom is that an image
featuring people or products still have limitations attached. A
photo of a Coca-Cola bottle may find itself into a Public
Domain collection, but the shape of that bottle remains a
trademark of the Coca-Cola Company. Likewise, unless a
model release is on file with the photographer, images with
identifiable people (clear or close-up faces) should be used
with care. Imagine how you would feel if your own image
appeared in a presentation about foot fungus or bad breath!
There is a big difference between something being public,
and Public Domain. It is not legal to use a photograph from
any website just because it is viewable by he public. Even
a picture of Granny's 80th birthday has the same copyright
as the works of Ansel Adams or Dorothea Lange. If you find
an image from an individual's homepage using a search
engine, it may be as simple as asking permission to use
the file in your show. You might be surprised how many
people would be flattered they had taken a useful shot and
give you the go ahead. Especially for a low profile
presentation in a classroom or a small business meeting.
Royalty-Free:
RF images are generally released for use in any project
presentations, printed works, and multimedia and for
extended periods of time. They are often priced by the size of
the image, with larger images costing more than smaller
ones. Restrictions may still apply, especially when it comes
to how the images will be distributed to third parties.
Many websites offering Royalty-Free images combine the
portfolios of numerous artists to create a larger database of
photographs. These artists agree to the Royalty-Free terms
in exchange for compensation, making the website a sort of
middleman to the PowerPoint user. The copyright for an
image is retained by the photographer, and is loaned to
the end user for their presentation.
Rights-Managed or Rights-Restricted:
Managed artwork pricing is based on a variety of factors;
length of use; the delivery method; how many people will
see it (impressions); who will see it (public or private), etc.
A photo shown in PowerPoint during a small town church
sermon would cost significantly less than a photo used in a
presentation during the press conference of a new
automobile.
As with Royalty-Free images, the copyright is still held by the
photographer in most cases. A photographer shooting a
specific assignment for a client, or on the payroll of a stock
company may turn over those rights based on
predetermined agreements with the end-user or agency
involved.
Large and notable websites like Corbis and Getty Images
built up their businesses on Rights Managed photography.
Both now offer Royalty-Free options as well. Many of the
smaller Royalty-Free websites, known as micro-stocks,
thrive on low prices and high volume.
When using any image in a PowerPoint presentation, it is
important to understand the restrictions involved. When in
doubt, talk it out. Contact the person or agency offering the
photos and know your rights!
Gary Lewis is a graphic designer with over twenty years of
experience in television production, post production and
presentation design.
For creative, Royalty-Free backgrounds and stock photos
(and plenty of free samples!) visit Pro Background
Art today!