Free image resources
A list of free stock photo libraries and AI image generators you can use to enhance your Joy content.
High-quality images are essential for making your content engaging and effective. If you need visuals for your FlexDocs, branding, or other assets and aren't sure where to look, numerous free resources are available. Below are some helpful resources we've found for sourcing stock photos and generating custom images with AI.
Ready-made stock photos
Stock photos are ready-made, high-quality images that give your content a professional look without needing a designer or photographer.
When downloading stock images for use in your Joy content, make sure the license covers commercial use:
- Free for commercial use: You can use the image for business purposes, such as in training materials, marketing documents, or FlexDocs in Joy.
- Free for personal use: You can use the image for private, non-business purposes, such as a personal blog or hobby newsletter.
Always look for images marked as "Free to use" or "CC0" (Creative Commons Zero) to ensure you have the necessary commercial rights to use them.
When you find a stock photo that you like, download it from the site. Then, upload it to Joy in a FlexDoc, as a file, as part of your branding, or anywhere else you can add images.
Stock image resources
To begin sourcing high-quality visuals, explore the popular platforms listed below. While all these resources are free, some may require you to create an account to download high-resolution images.
- Unsplash: A curated library of stunning, high-resolution artistic photography.
- Pexels: A large, easily searchable collection of both free photos and short videos.
- Pixabay: A diverse library of free photos, illustrations, and vector graphics.
Tips for success
When looking for professional-looking stock images, follow these best practices:
- To find the most relevant images, search using descriptive keywords that match your industry or topic (e.g., "office collaboration," "abstract technology," "leadership").
- If the site offers filters, use them to narrow your search by color, orientation (landscape or portrait), or type (photo, illustration).
- Consider maintaining a consistent style in each FlexDoc. Sticking to a single visual style (e.g., using only illustrations or only black-and-white photos) makes your content appear more professional and cohesive.
- Always download the highest resolution available so images stay sharp, even when displayed at full size.
Generate custom AI images
When you need a unique image that perfectly matches the subject or style of your content, consider using an AI image generator. These tools let you create custom visuals by simply typing in a description of what you want. For example, you could type, "a simple illustration of two hands shaking over a globe, bright colors," or "a photo of a person working happily at a standing desk next to a window, bright natural light."
Even when using a free AI-powered tool, always check the site's usage policy to ensure the images you generate are approved for commercial use within your organization.
When you create an image you like, download it from the generator tool. Then, upload it to Joy in a FlexDoc, as a file, as part of your branding, or anywhere else you can add images.
AI image generation tools
To begin generating unique visuals, explore the free tools listed below. While the following tools are free to use, most require you to create an account to access and use the image generation features.
- Bing Image Creator: A free tool that uses a simple text prompt to generate custom images quickly.
- Adobe Firefly (Free Plan): Offers high-quality, professional results with an intuitive interface focused on creative and design work.
- Canva Text to Image (Free Plan): An image generator built into Canva's design platform that lets you create and export visuals alongside your other design work.
Tips for success
When creating AI-generated images, follow these best practices:
- Write specific, detailed prompts. The more detail you include, the better the result. For example, "robot in an office" will give you a generic result, but "a cheerful blue robot teaching a class in a modern office, illustrated art" gives the tool much more to work with.
- If your first result isn't perfect, try refining your prompt by adding or removing details or adjusting the style, then generate the image again.
- Keep in mind that while AI image generation tools are powerful, they sometimes produce images with subtle flaws (e.g., distorted hands or unnatural textures). Always review a generated image before uploading it to Joy.