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Photo and image search, stock photography, art prints & multimedia

Stock photography sites and other sources of photos, graphics, illustrations, art, and multimedia have exploded online. Royalty-free or rights-managed. Print or web use. Traditional stock photography sites offer quality digital photos on CD, by subscription, or on a pay per download basis. Cost per image can be in the hundreds of dollars, especially for unique use. A new competitive model is shaking up this marketplace: micropayment stock photography sites allow clients to download images for a small payment (typically $1 to $5), with profit made on volume. Image search technology has improved, enabling easy access to high-quality pictures, multimedia resources, video, and audio. Image organizers allow you to arrange, edit, and output your photos to CD-ROMs or the Web. Photo sharing sites provide a free place to host your pictures and buy and sell art. The list below provides a sampling of the tools available.

Another class of site that has emerged in recent years is the print on demand site. These sites let artists and photographers sell their artwork and images in a variety of formats, ranging from framed prints and canvas prints to greeting cards, posters, and other merchandise like mugs, mousepads, and iPhone cases. You simply upload your artwork, and they handle the printing, framing, shipping, and billing. At top left below are a few of the many such sites.