Finding and Using Images

Images in Adobe Express designs

You can incorporate Adobe Stock content available through your Abertay Adobe Express access into your designs.

Check the licence for the image you choose. Some Stock content is licensed for use within an Express design rather than as a separate image file. You can export the finished design where the licence permits, but do not assume that you can extract its Stock images for use separately in Word, PowerPoint or another application.

See Adobe Stock licence information for the conditions, and the Adobe Creative Campus guide for Abertay access and support.

Creative Commons and open access images

These sites provide different kinds of images and reuse terms. Check the original image page and the applicable licence before using or adapting an image.

• Openverse

• Wikimedia Commons

• Pixabay

• Unsplash

• Pexels

Pixabay, Unsplash and Pexels use their own reuse terms. Do not assume that their images have Creative Commons licences.

Keep a record of the creator, source link, licence or rights statement, and any required credit.

Images from museums, archives, and cultural collections

For historical, scientific, or artistic images, try:

• British Library – Flickr Collection – Public domain historical images.
• Wellcome Collection – Excellent for scientific, medical, and social history images. Most are under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence.
• Europeana – Cultural heritage images from across Europe. Licence details vary by item.
• Art UK – Artwork from UK public collections. Some are free to use for coursework, but check for restrictions on reuse beyond that.
• Flickr Commons – photographs from participating cultural institutions. Check the institution’s rights statement for the image. “No known copyright restrictions” is not a guarantee that every use is permitted.

Google Images – use with care

Google Images is a search tool. An image appearing in its results does not establish permission to reuse it.

On a computer:

1. Search in Google Images.

2. Select Tools, then Usage rights, and choose Creative Commons licences.

3. Open the original image page and check the licence and reuse conditions.

The filter uses information supplied by image providers and websites. Confirm that the licence applies to the image and permits your intended use.

If you cannot establish whether your use is permitted, choose an image with clearer reuse information or ask Library Services.

Is it informative or illustrative? Use images to support a point, explain something, or help the reader understand your message (for example, a diagram, map, or process image).

Is it decorative? Be cautious with purely decorative images. They can take up valuable space — especially on posters — and may distract from your main content. If you do include decorative images, make sure they are high quality and legally safe to use.

Use clear, high-quality images that won’t become blurry or pixelated when resized.

Check whether the image is appropriate for the tone of your work — avoid anything unprofessional or unclear.

Tip: For help with how to size, position, and format images in presentations or posters, see:

• Slide Design for Academic Presentations
• Building an Academic Poster in PowerPoint

Check whether your intended use is permitted by the image’s licence, the rights holder’s permission or an applicable copyright exception. Giving credit does not by itself authorise reuse.

Before cropping, editing or adapting an image, check whether this is permitted and whether you must identify your changes.

Using an image in an assessment submitted to Abertay is different from publishing it in a public portfolio, website or social media post. Check the reuse position again before sharing your work publicly.

See the Copyright Guide for Students for guidance on coursework, reuse and public sharing.

AI-generated images:
Before creating or using an AI-generated image for assessed work, check your assessment brief and module guidance. Ask your tutor if the position is unclear.

Follow any requirements for declaring and acknowledging AI use, and check the tool’s terms. Creating an image with AI does not automatically establish permission for every use.

Licence credit and academic referencing serve different purposes.

Follow the image’s licence requirements for credit. For Creative Commons images, this normally includes the creator, source and licence, with the title where provided. Identify any changes you have made. See Creative Commons attribution guidance for examples.

Check your module or assessment guidance and use the referencing style it requires. A licence allowing use without attribution does not determine your academic referencing requirements.

Use Cite Them Right Online for guidance on captions, citations and references. Select your required referencing style and find the example matching the type of image you used, such as a photograph, stock image or adapted image.

For wider guidance on referencing principles, when to cite and where to get help, see Referencing.

Q: What do you mean by 'image'?
Any visual content — photos, diagrams, charts, screenshots, icons, AI-generated images, illustrations, or artwork.

Q: Can I adapt an image?
Check the licence:
• CC0 – Yes, freely.
• CC BY – Yes, with attribution.
• CC BY-NC or ND – Check carefully for restrictions.
Images from Adobe Stock can generally be edited freely for coursework.

Q: What’s the difference between attribution and referencing?
Attribution is a caption placed near the image showing the source (for illustrative or decorative images).
Reference is a full entry in your reference list when the image forms part of your academic discussion (for example, analysing a figure from an article).

Q: Do I need to reference images from Adobe Stock?
No, but it is good practice to add a caption such as:
"Template image from Adobe Stock via Adobe Express."