| Adding powerful visual images to your blog or | | | | searching images. They have detailed search options, |
| website can have a strong impact on your overall | | | | supply all types of graphics (from photographs to |
| communication and connect with your audience on a | | | | artwork), and they have both royalty-free and |
| deeper level. Graphics and photos can make your | | | | copyright images. |
| website more memorable and the reading experience | | | | When using images from the Internet, it's important |
| more exciting. Images can also be informative | | | | to be aware of your copyright responsibilities. If you |
| teaching tools by using visual graphs, diagrams, or | | | | are using someone else's photo or art, you must |
| charts. As with all communication, it is important to | | | | have their granted permission to use it. Royalty free |
| be clear about what you are trying to say. The | | | | on the other hand means that the purchaser is free |
| graphics should be supportive and help to keep the | | | | to use it in perpetuity without paying additional |
| readers attention. | | | | royalty charges. There are royalty free graphic |
| What are visual images? Visual images can include | | | | resources available like iClipArt that allow you to |
| photographs, illustrations, clip art, line drawings, | | | | download images for only pennies with no other |
| diagrams, video clips, or any other form of artwork. | | | | obligation. |
| When searching for descriptive imagery, think about | | | | Where should I post visual images? Once you've |
| analogies, metaphors, or specific language that you | | | | collected supportive imagery, you will need to upload |
| used in your message. Start by pinpointing what | | | | the graphics and place them within your text. Be sure |
| areas of your article you would like to emphasize | | | | to check the images size first. Graphics too large will |
| with an image. Brainstorm a list of associated ideas, | | | | not only take over what you're trying to say, but |
| and then seek out relative graphics. | | | | larger images also use more memory and take more |
| For example, if your article is about a big boom in | | | | time to load. Using an image hosting website like |
| business, you may want to consider using an image | | | | Photo Bucket can be incredibly useful. Not only do |
| of an explosion. Or, if you're talking about sleep | | | | they host your images for free, but they also have |
| deprivation, instead of showing someone in bed, | | | | tools that enable you to resize your graphics, add |
| what about an image of a tired marathon runner? | | | | text, and a multitude of other enhancements. |
| There are powerful ways to get your point across | | | | Insert your images where they will be most |
| by being creative with visual images. | | | | effective within your article. If you find the images |
| Where can I find visual images? You can find endless | | | | need to be placed a distance away from relative |
| images on the Internet, but knowing how to | | | | text, consider labeling each image so the reader is |
| fine-tune your search will help you gather dynamic | | | | reminded of what they pertain to within the article. |
| images that speak to your reader, as well as cut | | | | Once you've enhanced your article with images, stop |
| down your search time. There are many websites | | | | to step into the reader's shoes and view it through |
| that can do this for you by adding an extensive list | | | | their eyes. Be sure you are clear about what you are |
| of search options. Corbis is an excellent resource for | | | | trying to say and choose graphics that support it. |