Please read this policy agreement carefully. Using the Illinois Image Database means you agree to adhere to the following terms and conditions.
General conditions of the Illinois Image Database
All of the images in the Illinois Image Database are free of charge for use in your work to promote the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, its units and programs. However, model release forms signed by image subjects do not authorize the use of the images outside of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. These images are not to be used by anyone outside the university without written permission from the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing.
Use of images from the Illinois Image Database in publications, websites, social media posts, exhibits, displays and presentations
You may use as many of these images as you like, as often as you like, as long as they are used in University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign publications (including posters, brochures, etc.), websites, social media posts, presentations and exhibits, and solely for the purpose of promoting the Urbana-Champaign campus and its colleges and units.
Use of images from the Illinois Image Database in merchandise
Images from the Illinois Image Database may not be used on merchandise. This includes mugs, posters-for-sale, pens, pads, magnets, articles of clothing or any other objects intended to be sold for any dollar amount. Such use would constitute a violation of the copyright held by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.
Permission to download the photographs
Illinois faculty and staff may download and use the images in the Illinois Image Database in accordance with this policy agreement.
Students may be granted access for promotional work sponsored by a campus unit and may be granted access for research purposes with sponsorship by their faculty/staff supervisor. Students will be given access for the academic year during which they are added, and for the full academic year that follows. It is the responsibility of the faculty/staff sponsor to ensure that the student has read and agreed to this policy.
External vendors who are commissioned to produce promotional materials for campus or its departments must be sponsored by a faculty/staff member. Access is provided to vendors exclusively for projects commissioned by a sponsoring campus unit. Vendor access will be rescinded at the end of the current academic year. All users must agree not to reuse, retain or redistribute the images from the database for any other purpose without written permission from the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing. You may contact the office by emailing stratcom@illinois.edu.
Requests for hard copies
StratCom does not have the staff or equipment to provide transparencies or hard copies of any images in the database. Local vendors may be able to help you if you need photographs from any of the digital images in the database.
Best practices: Using images authentically
We always strive to represent the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign authentically and suggest the following guidelines for all users of the Illinois Image Database:
- Altering images
Neither campus faculty members and staff nor their agents may alter the appearance of any individual beyond editing minor cosmetic flaws. Temporary blemishes, reflections, stray hair and non-university logos on clothing may be edited, but clothes, hair, people and/or objects may not be removed or added to subjects or photographs without express written permission from StratCom. - Artificial intelligence image manipulation
Do not use photorealistic artificial intelligence-generated images of people that could deceive our audience about our actual people or places. Real photographs altered significantly by generative AI in a way that could be viewed as deceptive should also be avoided.
AI-generated imagery should never be used to generate photorealistic content on sensitive subjects. Keep in mind that the bias that is inherent in generative AI engines can lead to content that reinforces cultural bias.
Disclose the use of AI imagery. If an AI image is illustrative in nature or AI is used to create portions of an image, best practice is to disclose the use of AI imagery. Label the work and embed the information digitally.
Do not upload brand assets like Image Database photographs, Illinois logos or other graphic elements to AI platforms. Even though these elements are copyrighted, current U.S. law allows AI engines to sample the style of uploaded assets to create new AI art for outside users.
Do not use AI engines to generate brand assets. Current U.S. law does not allow anyone to copyright content created by generative AI. Assets created by an AI engine could be used by any outside party without infringement. - Don’t assume ethnicity/gender
Never make an assumption about the race, ethnicity or gender of a photo subject. The metadata and keywords used for photos in the Illinois Image Database do not identify individuals by their ethnicity. For example, a search for “Asian American” will return results tagged “Asian American Studies” and “Asian American Cultural Center” — but you must not assume people in those images are (or identify themselves as) Asian American. The same goes for Native American, African American, etc. - Consult the branding guidelines on photography for tips on selecting images that best represent the university and its brand for your application.