Wanna know how to find and edit unique images for crafting and decor?
Well, I’m here to help you!
As I have written about in my other image transfer method posts, I have nailed and failed many different image transfer techniques. One thing all these fun transfer techniques require is FUN and UNIQUE images!
And so I am sharing how I find and edit unique images, I use them for the technique I created for my faux vintage book dressers. I needed images to create the look of book spines on the drawers. So I went hunting for some I could use for free.
Step One: Finding Unique Images in the Public Domain
I ask you, what fun are transferring techniques without great images? Crap and stale used up images mean blah projects. Why do that when you can get really unique projects using images that aren’t plastered everywhere on Pinterest. (Oh Pinterest I do love you, but there are some images I can’t stand to even look at any more…(I’m talking to you french signs…. boutique, cafe, cocoa, patisserie, jardin) because, yes, even I’ve used them all too much!
So don’t despair, there are a lot of ways to find unique images that you can use for your custom project.
How to find an image that is in the public domain and copyright free.
There are loads of images in the public domain that you can freely use. With just a little research you can find loads of images online. Here are some links to get you started:
Public Domain Pictures
Wikimedia Commons
Pexels
Public Domain Review
New York Public Library
Old Book Illustrations
Library of Congress
Pixaby
Unsplash
The Graphics Fairy
“The term “public domain” refers to creative materials that are not protected by intellectual property laws such as copyright, trademark, or patent laws. The public owns these works, not an individual author or artist. Anyone can use a public domain work without obtaining permission, but no one can ever own it.”
Ok, get ready because I am sharing my favorite secret with you…vintage patents. Yup, vintage patents, they make amazing crafty projects!
Google patent search engine is amazing – it is a database of millions of patents. However, you do need to be aware of the public domain issues since this database includes more than just vintage ones.
Just look at how cool these are!
Did you know you can also start your own collection of unique images with vintage books or ephemera?
I know because have my own collection that is a little bit out of control – I pick up vintage books, magazines, postcards, ads, letters, music sheets, and more whenever I can.
Because I seriously can’t get enough of them. Their covers and images and typography are so beautiful! From my vantage point right now I can count 6 vintage books in my office, including an original Webster’s Dictionary from the 1890’s.
I mean, look at these beauties!
Oh, and don’t forget, even from your own found collection you should always check to see if there are copyright issues with it, use sources online like these to learn more:
Now I’m ready to show you how to edit and use an image!
Ok, so for today I am going to use one of my favorites, a book spine of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Because the book is so old, it is in the public domain, yay!
I found this image in the wikicommons. You can see below I just typed “Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice Cover” and up it popped. I selected it and downloaded the full image and saved it to my files.
Search for vintage images in the public domain.
Step Two: Edit Your Image in a Few Easy Steps
To edit my images I use Adobe Photoshop CC. I am no expert, but after you learn a few tricks it is really easy to make it work for you! Using Photoshop let’s me save my images as high resolution which is great for printing. I am sure there are free versions of software that will do this too, maybe I’ll even investigate some for you.
Remove the background from your image.
For this image transfer method I want something that will print just the writing and details cleanly on my transfer paper. So I have to get rid of all the background in the image. So here are the steps I use.
(Umm…Photoshop experts, shhh, hush now, this is just how I do it, OK?!)
Open Your Image in Photoshop
Adjust the Color to Black & White
Image < Adjustments < Black & White
Invert the colors, so white is now black
Image < Adjustments < Invert
Adjust the Color Levels
Image < Adjustments < Levels
Slide the lever and adjust until the black is blacker and the white is whiter!
Erase the background
I go in and erase all the noise – I am sure there is some fancy fast way to do it but this is my way and it works just fine, thank you!
Continue to clean up the image using the eraser tools.
Crop the image – I just wanted the spine for this project.
Save the image as a PNG, PDF, or JPG.
This is what the final image looks like. Pretty and cleaned up!
Summary of how to Find and Edit Unique Images:
- Find and download an image
- Open it in Photoshop
- Adjust it to black and white
- Invert the colors
- Erase the background
- Clean up the image
- Save it!
For printing you will want to reverse the image. Simply choose the “Flip Horizontal” option.
Here is how to do it in Paint & in Word:
If you want to learn how to print and transfer the images pop over to this post for some more details.
And here’s a quick view of what you can do with this image!
Finding and editing images for crafts and decor is easy peasy, see, you just did it!
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An Easy Image Transfer Method That Really Works
[…] And what fun are transfer techniques without great images? So many possibilities from vintage images to quotes, and more. This tutorial is a simple, print and go. But you can read about where to find great unique images and how I edited the book spine image in detail over in this post. […]