Help

In this section you can find useful tips and hints on how to search for images, purchase and download images, and use the rest of this site.

How to Use this Site

Searching

We have endeavored to create an easy to search database for our growing collection of images. As you can see there are numerous categories to browse. You can also enter keywords in the search box to narrow your choices. We have embedded keywords into all the image collections to respond to more selected searches. The scope of your search results will be determined by your selection of keywords.

Quick Search - By default the system searches in Product Descriptions. You can turn this function off to search the entire site content.

If you input "beautiful sunset" (without the quotes) into the quick search field, then the search function will return results for any media that contain either "beautiful" OR "sunset" in its properties.

The system supports the "AND" and NOT" operands in the quick search function by the use of the plus sign (+) and minus sign (-) respectively in front of the keywords.

If you input "beautiful +sunset" (without the quotes) into the search field, the system will only return results for any media that contain both keywords "beautiful" AND "sunset" in its properties.

If you input "beautiful "sunset" (without the quotes) into the search field, the system will return results for any media that contain the keyword "beautiful", but this media can't contain the keyword "sunset" in its properties.

Note: There must not any spaces between the second keyword and the input operands (+), (-) keywords.

Advanced Search - The advanced search function allows you to narrow down your search. You can search by:

• Product Categories
• Price Range
• Date Added

The Gallery

You can view selected galleries of images displayed in a lightbox or flash format. If you use the lightbox format, you can navigate through the files by clicking either the left side ("prev") or right side ("next") on the image. If you choose the flash format, you have the option of using the arrow buttons at the bottom, or you can sit back and enjoy the slidehow. You can drag the text box to any location you like.

How to Purchase Images

Royalty-Free Pricing

Royalty-Free means you purchase the image once and are allowed to use it as often as you want - provided you don't sell it for a profit or redistribute it to other people.

Prices for Royalty-Free Images start at $1 and mainly depend on the quality of the shot, availability, and file size. There are 3 main file sizes available for download.

1. Small (Web)

   Small Size Images are usually 600x400 or 600x450 pixels at 72 dpi. File Sizes range from 100 KB to 500 KB. Small Images are perfect for Web Sites and Emails.

2. Medium

   Medium Size Images are usually 1536 x 1024 or 1632 x 1224 pixels at 72 or 180 dpi. File Sizes range from 700 KB to 2 MB. Medium Images are good if you want to design small web banners and graphics as well as print out 6 x 4 Prints on Paper.

3. Large

   Large Size Images are usually 3072 x 2048 or 3264 x 2448 pixels at 72 or 180 dpi. File Sizes range from 3 MB to 6 MB. Large Images are ideal for Large Posters, Graphic Designs, or if you just want a crystal clear Print you can frame.

4. Custom

   Custom Size Images vary in size and format. These include Panoramas, Cropped Images, and other Unusual Canvas Sizes. They are also available in 3 different sizes for Download.

Rights-Managed Pricing

Rights-Managed means you "rent" the image from us for a particular purpose (Magazine article, Slideshow etc.) and for a specific time period. There are certain limitations and restrictions for rights-managed images and their price highly depends on certain variables (below), which is why we recommend you to contact us for a FREE Quote.

To provide an accurate quote for any usage, we need to know the following:

• Specific Use: in what media will the picture(s) be used? I.e. book, magazine, brochure, website, video, etc.
• Industry: in what industry will it be used? For example, publishing, paper, advertising...
• Distribution area: local, regional, national, international
• Size: the image size related to the final page size, if printed, I.e. 1/2 page, full page, etc., or screen size if on website.
• Total circulation: how many copies will be produced.
• Duration: amount of time you plan to use the image(s)
• Start date/End date

Rights

You are granted a licence for a ONE TIME NON-EXCLUSIVE USE - This means that you can use the image for one type of publication or web domain only. If you use the image in a brochure, you do not have the right to create a new product such as a magazine ad which uses the same image.

Please contact us at (415) 385-7053 if exclusive usage is required.

Shopping Cart

The shopping cart displays your order details, if you wish to delete an image from your order before proceeding to checkout, simply hit the remove link ("X") on the right side.

Checkout

You will need to login to checkout your order. If you are new to the site please complete the registration form to create a username and password. This information is stored, so that you can return to the site to make future purchases and so that we can review your orders.

We utilize PayPal for purchases made on this site. This ensures highly secure transactions and secure personal data storage on Paypal's protected servers. We do NOT store any credit card information of our customers!

If you do not want to use our online ordering system, we also accept Checks or Money Orders are available to take Phone Orders from 9AM to 5PM Pacific Standard time every day. To order by phone please call: (415) 385-7053.

My Account

This page shows your order history and also allows you to download any instant download orders.

Delivery

Image files can be downloaded directly from our server (preferred), delivered via email, or shipped on CD/DVD.

Return Policy

If for any reason you are not satisfied with a print order, we will refund 100% of your order upon its return to us in the condition that it was received. Return shipping charges are your responsibility. You must contact us prior to any return and we will give you specific return instructions. If your order is delivered damaged, it is your responsibility to contact the shipper. IMPORTANT: Save all packing materials. Failure to do so can cause the shipper to deny your claim.