Unlock the Benefits of Reverse Image Search for Designers & Stock Photo Buyers
A reverse image search is an invaluable tool for designers and stock photo buyers. It helps them quickly locate the perfect image they are looking for without browsing through hundreds of images on a stock photo site. Reverse image search tools are available on Stockphotos.com, Shutterstock, iStock, and Adobe Stock – all leading sites for buying quality photos.
Today we will discuss what reverse image search is and how you can use it within these three platforms, as well as explore the benefits of using reverse image searches when purchasing or designing with photographs.
So if you’re ready to learn how reverse image search works and how it benefits you, then keep reading!
What is Reverse Image Search?
Reverse image search is a technology that allows users to search similar images online through content based image retrieval that uses an image as a search parameter instead of keywords that regular image search engines use. This is an online tool for visual search rather than a text-based search.
Reverse search engines use an existing image to find visually similar images. Depending on the search tool, it might look for matches all over the web or on a determined image library. This can be incredibly useful for designers who need to find stock photos with specific elements or characteristics —for marketing campaigns, for example— since it delivers accurate results faster and easier.
Reverse photo search uses AI algorithms and the most advanced computer vision technology to check images and determine how closely they match each other. For example, if you have a photo of a snowy park scene that you like for your winter campaign design, but want in a different style, reverse image search can help you locate photos with similar relevant details in other photographic types.
Since the introduction of AI visual technology, reverse image search has produced way more accurate results than ever before and can match images even if they're cropped, resized, or lightly edited. It can also be a valuable resource when you need to find images to fit a specific size or dimension. (Here, you can see all standard photo sizes for marketing materials!)
The process is simple: upload a photo into the reverse image search engine, then wait for results to appear onscreen after searching through the image catalog. You’ll be presented with options that feature similar visuals, including photographs taken by professional photographers or artwork created by digital artists! You can browse through all the options until you find what best suits your needs—without manually sifting through hundreds of pages worth of content yourself!
Reverse Image Search for Finding Stock Photos
Reverse image search works great to save time finding stock photos and does so in two different ways.
If you use a tool to search images all over the web, such as Google Images picture search tool, it can help you find photos with licenses attached –here you can learn how to use Google image search for this purpose!–; this means less hassle locating pictures for commercial use versus those implied only for personal projects or those that are not available to use (because they're copyright protected – to learn more about this, check our post about the dangers of using images from Google in your designs).
But, if you use the reverse picture search feature on a stock photo site like Stockphotos.com, Shutterstock, iStock, or Adobe Stock, it helps you to quickly find licensable images that look exactly like you want without having to think of exact keywords to find them or scroll through thousands of results that are not quite what you had in mind.
Plus, in both cases, you may end up seeing images that are similar but not quite exact to your original picture, yet you like them much better.
Overall, the reverse photo search provides designers and buyers with a convenient tool that streamlines their workflow while simultaneously aiding them in discovering new sources of creative inspiration.
Multiple search engines have this technology available to search similar image in seconds!
In Short: Reverse image search is a powerful tool that makes it easy to find similar images online. It works by taking an existing photo and using algorithms to compare other images to the existing one, allowing users to quickly locate the best matched images with the same specific elements or characteristics. And it's very helpful to save time when finding stock photos at stock agencies.
How to Do a Reverse Image Search on Stockphotos.com
Finding stock photos using an image as a reference has never been easier than it is now at Stockphotos.com. To launch a reverse image search on this online agency, all you have to do is:
–Go to the Stockphotos.com website and localize the search bar on the homepage (you can't miss it)
-Press the camera icon button on the right side of the search bar. A window to browse and select files from your device will automatically open.
-Select the image you want to use and click “open” – Allow a few seconds for the site to upload your image.
-The results will come in, and you can narrow them down based on category tags and other parameters.
-Once you've found the ideal picture, add it to your cart and checkout like any other e-commerce platform.
Make sure to check out Stockphotos.com's awesome Club offers; they have some of the lowest prices in the market!
How to Do a Reverse Image Search on Shutterstock
With this guide, you'll learn how to quickly use Shutterstock‘s reverse image search feature to find the perfect photo for your project.
This feature lets you quickly find similar images on Shutterstock, saving time and money. Here’s how to do a reverse image search on Shutterstock:
1. Go to Shutterstock’s website and go to the search bar right in the center of the homepage
2. Click on the camera icon on the right of the search bar to open the reverse image search function
3. Upload an image from your computer or paste a URL into the designated field
4. In a matter of seconds, you will see all the results of similar images the search engine finds within the Shutterstock photo library. Use filters such as orientation, color palette, category, etc., to narrow down your results and find the perfect Shutterstock image for your project.
Once you have found the pictures you need, add them to your cart and complete the checkout process as usual. Or even better, use our Shutterstock coupon code for an excellent discount on your purchase!
Note: Shutterstock's reverse image search feature is also available on their mobile app.
How to Do a Reverse Image Search on iStock
Doing a reverse image search on iStock is very easy. It helps you find the perfect stock photo for your project by locating images similar to the one you already have, or it can be used as a starting point for finding new ideas.
To do a reverse image search on iStock, start by visiting the website and going to the search bar right on top and center of the screen. Then, click the “Search by Image or Video” button on the right side of the bar. This will open up a window where you can upload image from your computer or enter image URL from other websites (quick note: iStock's reverse image search now also works with videos).
Once you’ve uploaded your image, click the “Start Searching” button to look for matches in iStock's library. It will take seconds before the results come in.
You can also refine your results using filters such as orientation, size, color palette, number of people, and more. Additionally, if certain elements within the photo need to match exactly – like facial features or clothing items – you can use keywords to narrow it down even further.
Finally, once you've found a good match for your needs, you can add the pictures to your cart and proceed to checkout. Make sure to read its licensing information to know how it may be used legally and commercially without any copyright issues arising later. And also, use our special iStock promo code to unlock a discount on your purchase.
How to Do a Reverse Image Search on Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock offers an easy-to-use reverse photo search feature that allows you to quickly find similar images, even if you don’t know the exact keywords or phrases associated with them.
To use Adobe Stock's reverse image search, do this:
- Start by opening up the website in your web browser and locate the search bar right on top and center of the homepage
- Then click the file and magnifying glass icon on the right side of the bar to open the reverse picture lookup window.
- You will then be prompted to upload an image (or audio file) from your computer or paste a URL link into the text box provided. Once that’s done, the system will search through Adobe Stock's library to find similar photos to your uploaded image. It'll take just seconds to bring up thousands of results.
- Adobe Stock's search engine also includes several filters that allow you to refine your results based on criteria such as color, orientation, composition, file type, and more, to leave only the most relevant images. To access these filters, click on “Filters & Settings,” located at the top right corner of any page within Adobe Stock's reverse photo lookup feature. This will open up a side panel where you can adjust each filter according to what best suits your needs before clicking “Apply Filters” at the bottom of this panel when you have finished changing settings accordingly.
- Once you find what you're looking for, make the purchase as you would in any other online shop, and the image(s) will become available to download and use within the licensing terms.
BONUS: How to Use TinEye Reverse Image Search
Benefits of Using Reverse Image Search for Designers & Stock Photo Buyers
Creatively speaking, reverse image lookup helps you improve and speed up your workflow. You can save time and hassle finding the right images for your purposes without having to bother with keywords, filters, and millions upon millions of results.
But it also lets you discover new related images for your project topic that you might not have seen before and that might fit your needs better.
Another significant benefit of using reverse image search is that it helps you avoid copyright infringement issues when selecting photos for your designs. By searching and finding similar, licensable images to one that you loved on a stock photo site, you can be sure that the picture chosen is licensed and purchased legally and that as long as you use it within the license terms, it won’t result in any legal action against them down the line.
Additionally, this type of search can help identify if better quality versions of the same photo are available at a different image source than where you initially found it. For example, you may find an ideal image on a free photo site like Unsplash or Pixabay, but you prefer a royalty-free and high-res picture from a premium site; by entering that photo into the reverse image search feature at sites like Shutterstock, iStock, or Adobe Stock, you will likely find almost identical images but in higher quality and authorized for commercial use or even the same image but in bigger file size. Vice versa, you can use a web reverse picture search tool to find public domain or otherwise free-to-use images similar to a stock photo you loved but can't afford and get the closest visual similarity possible at no cost.
This is a cool alternative to avoid having to change the resolution of an image or resize it manually.
Overall, utilizing reverse image searches has numerous benefits, so take full advantage the next time you work on a design project requiring stock photography.
In Short: A reverse image search tool helps designers and stock photo buyers save time, avoid copyright issues, find better quality images from different sources, and discover new photos related to the project topic.
FAQs about Reverse Image Search
Here we address the most common questions about image reverse search utility.
How do I reverse Google Image Search?
Google Reverse Image Search is a tool that allows you to do an online search on the web for a similar picture, using an existing image as the query. To use this feature, go to Google Images and click on the camera icon in the search bar. Then upload your desired image or paste its URL into the field provided. After submitting, you will be presented with a list of visually similar images from around the web and their associated websites.
Can you reverse image search on iPhone or another mobile device?
Yes, you can reverse image search on iPhone or other mobile devices. Using the Google Chrome app or Safari browser to upload an image and then search for it is possible.
Can I do a reverse image search for free?
Yes, most sites that include reverse image search enable free use of this feature. Google Images, for example, but also dedicated stock photo agency sites like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock, which may be more accurate than other services. On stock photo sites, you can search for free, but you have to pay to license and download images.
Reverse Image Search is a Great Addition to Creative Workflows
The reverse image search tools available in Stockphotos.com, Shutterstock, iStock, and Adobe Stock, let you find the perfect stock photos for your designs in no time. And other reverse image search tools online make it easier than ever to find the ideal picture and verify that you have all the permissions to use it and are not infringing any copyright laws.
Using these tools, you can save time and money and avoid legal headaches, all in a few clicks of your mouse and at no added cost! Designers and stock photo buyers should utilize this feature in their workflows. What do you think?
