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How to Find Free Clip Art

If you have a graphics project and you're trying to come in under budget, you might search for free clip art online. It's possible to find various art and images that are available for download without charge.

What is Clip Art?

Clip art includes images and pictures that you can import into various programs or into documents. Clip art images will be either vector graphics or raster graphics. Artists might create clip art by hand or digitally using software. Although clip art has been around for decades, the creation process has become very simplified compared to how artists made clip art several decades ago.

Clip art in vector graphics format isn't limited by a predetermined number of pixels. This means that you can resize the image to make it larger, and it won't lose its crisp lines. The main file extensions for vector graphics are .svg and .eps, and you'll need to work with the vector image using special editing software such as Adobe Illustrator.

Clip art in raster graphics format will have the .jpg file extension. These images aren't resizable without losing resolution quality. So, to make a raster graphics image larger without making it fuzzy, it will need to have a high resolution.

Royalty-Free Clip Art

Royalty-free clip art includes images you can download and use without restrictions. This means you can use the images privately for your own use, such as in scrapbook layouts or personal art projects that you won't be distributing anywhere. You can also use these images on websites and even on business cards or other items you print. The only limitation placed on royalty-free clip art is that you can't resell the images to other people, such as if you decided to start your own clip art business to list and sell the images.

Searching for Free Vector Graphics

When you want to find vector graphics for a project, search for public domain images. These vector graphics will usually be housed on websites that categorize them according to different subjects, such as animals, foods, holidays, people, plants, recreation and more. Peruse the different categories to find graphics you want to download. Depending on the website, when you find a piece of clip art you want to use, you may need to register to download it, or you might just right-click it to save it to your computer. After right-clicking, choose "save image as," and then choose the location where you want to download the image.

Searching for Free Raster Graphics

When you want royalty-free raster graphics, you can search for this format using an Internet search engine. Some websites will require that you register for an account before downloading. When you're looking for clip art for personal use, it's reasonably easy to find free downloads. Some websites will charge you for clip art used commercially, especially if you want an extended license.

Cautions About Public Domain

Public domain works are available to use without restrictions. But, researching an image can be challenging because often several jurisdictions are involved with an image's public domain status. So, when you find a clip art file that is presented as in the public domain, it's wise to research its public domain status and any possible copyrights that may be in place before proceeding with commercial use to make sure that you're not violating a copyright in place.

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