Illustration Academy – Kakigori Studio

What are Royalty Free Images? What Is and What Not

Illustrations are always protected by Copyright. Always make sure to obtain permission from the original creator, seeing an image on the internet it doesn’t mean it is free.

Royalty Free Image Definition

A customer pays a one-time fee for an image license that can use the times it agrees with the author. The “free” in Royalty free means that the image has not additional payment for each impression or reproduction, nor every time the photo generates your profit. But that doesn’t mean is free of usage.

Royalty Free images are not exclusive so if you want something special that your competitors don’t have, maybe this is not the kind of image you need. You can use these images on websites, adds, online marketing campaigns, prints with promotional content, in covers of books, in footage or in products to resell (for this option you will need an extended license)

If you do a research for the web you can find many Royalty Free Images Agencies like Adobestock, 123RF, Can Stock Photo or Dreamstime. But you can contact the author to purchase the image from them. Sometimes this stock agencies are the way to discover a great artist and then continue working with them directly.

What is an Illustration

When people ask me about my job, I tell them I’m an illustrator and they don’t seem to know what I am talking about. Nobody realizes that we are surrounded of illustrations everywhere.

We can say men started drawing before writing. The prehistoric people draw their everyday on caves! But since 19th century all changed with the halftone printing process. It made easier to reproduce images.

An illustration is a drawing that represents a concept on a book, newspaper, etc. It sometimes used to decorate or clarify a text. And also an example of the story you are telling. Sometimes it can be a drawing, a diagram or a design.

Imagine you are writing something about Women’s Month (right now on March) you can add to your article this wonderful and empowered Super Woman

Beautiful Super Woman with blank slogan on chest to customize for your needs.

I work with several styles but if you are searching for an illustrator, please be sure to do the research of finding the one that have the style of drawing you like. Hire an illustrator for their work. If not, you will not like the results.

What is a Vector Illustration?

Illustrations can be generated in different ways depending on the software:

Raster graphics
Vector graphics

Vector graphics use a mathematical algorithm to translate an image into different points connected using lines and curves. That makes a vector graphic image to be resized/increased without losing quality. The most famous vector format is eps

Raster graphics are made up of pixels. Once a raster image has been created, resizing it to a bigger size will cause the image to loose quality. Also, it generates really heavy file sizes making it more difficult to manage it on a computer. The most famous raster format nowadays is jpg

Screenshot of a Kakigori Studio illustration being vectorized from a pencil drawing

Finished vector illustration of mother walking with son going back to school

When is better using Raster to Vector Graphics?

Usually we use Raster graphics with photography because it can manage an amazing range of detail. That’s why files are bigger. Because it has more detail.

If you are searching for a nice and detailed watercolor illustration, go for a raster version. You can find good png collections, as this tasty Dessert cake collection:

But if you want a file that you can edit easily. Then vector files will be your perfect election. Like this cute Japanese Sushi collection

Use Kakigori Studio Vector Illustrations on your projects

Editing, changing elements or resizing can be really easy with our vector files. They are really well organized on layers to help you create your projects.

Whether you need some ready made character illustrations or custom drawings like portraits, do not hesitate to contact us on our contact form. Let’s talk about doing interesting things together!