If you need a highly specific image (or group of images) that is 100% unique to your brand, a professional photoshoot is the answer. But if you’re willing to make a few consolations, you can save considerably by using a stock photography agency. These comprehensive image libraries contain millions of affordable photos that are submitted by photographers and classified into two categories: Royalty-free and rights-managed.

Royalty-free images are typically the least expensive, most flexible option. Once you pay a flat-fee, you can use the image multiple times and for multiple purposes. Fees are based solely on image size and resolution—some images are actually free. The downside is that anyone who pays the flat fee can use the image. So the image is not uniquely your own. However, a clever designer can adjust the image or use it in a non-conventional way, making it nearly as effective as a custom photo.

The fees for rights-managed images, on the other hand, are based on usage, distribution, size, and duration of the campaign. Though generally more expensive, the license for these quality images limits how many times and in what way the image can be used, so there’s less of a chance that the image will be overused in the marketplace. In fact, sometimes it’s possible to gain exclusive usage rights for a rights-managed image.

If you have questions about the type of stock photography to choose for your next project, we’re here to help. Just send an email to connect@bhvdesignlab.com.

Like ripples on a pond from a thrown pebble, a rough paper surface can blur an image. The smoother the finish of a paper’s surface, the more balanced the reflection of light will be, resulting in a sharper, more vibrant print. If a paper is rough or uncoated, light scatters, creating a dull or washed-out surface. A solid black on an uncoated paper, for example, will look grey rather than a rich dark black. In addition, an uncoated paper will absorb more of the ink, like a paper towel cleaning up a spill. The image becomes dull and lines become fuzzy.

Please don’t think that uncoated papers are all that bad. If a design’s intention is to be soft or tactile, an uncoated sheet might be the way to go. For example, an uncoated stock can be warm and inviting, while a coated paper can sometimes feel impersonal or cold. The good news is that there are plenty of surfaces to choose from, each with a varying degree of smoothness.