TWENTY STOCK VISUAL WEB SITES TO SEE
Despite
the dotcom debacle, the internet remains a vital research and e-commerce tool.
Its role continues to penetrate deeply into many aspects of the graphic design
and production process as a source for ideas and inspiration, the purchase of
hardware and software, print and prepress workflow, and more. We are moving, haltingly,
toward a seamless all-digital workflow.
It is fair to say that no area has
felt the impact of this technology as powerfully as stock visuals. In last summer's
reader survey reported in the August monthly issue, a stunning 80% of Graphic
Design:usa readers said they turn to the internet for stock search, license and/or
delivery as part of their mix. A mere three years ago, the percentage of designers
responding affirmatively about the internet was under 50%. The internet has convincingly
established itself as a mainstay — perhaps the mainstay — of the industry's
multichannel approach to presenting stock to the creative community.
The
reasons are many: stock agencies have been pioneers in the technology; stock imagery
lends itself to search and delivery in digital format and into digital workflow;
stock available 24/7 is a tremendous convenience that helps alleviate the time
compression that creatives now work under; and stock selection online gets bigger
and better all the time. That is not to say that all the bugs are out. Designers
are still seeking more refined searches, greater speed and resolution, more stable
e-commerce capabilities, exclusivity guarantees, and the need for a greater sense
of security and privacy.
Here is a no-frills roundup of top stock sites
to see, with updates and improvements noted whenever relevant.
— The
Editors
