Buying Royalty-Free Images

When you see an image for sale. You are buying the image with the right to use the image without having to pay any additional royalty fees in the future. This means you can use it for your website, for your brochure, for your business cards and so on. You cannot give the image for another person to use. You cannot re-sell the image. You cannot place it in a template and re-sell it.

The risks in using royalty-free images illegally can put your business in jeopardy. There are many large royalty-free microstock websites that have entire departments of legal teams that spend there day looking to file lawsuits against individuals and businesses who use royalty-free images illegally.

I think educating the online community is the best way to minimize the confusion created by the term "royalty-FREE" and explain to people that images are not for FREE but are free from additional royalty costs to the buyer.

Microstock Companies for Photography and Illustrations

There are many websites that can sell your images. The current top sites are Shutterstock with a huge base of subscribers and a high royalty earner for many artists. The next is Dreamstime which offers increased royalty earnings on specific images the more they download. Fotolia is the next highest earning site with a fast approval rate for vectors and a great interface for submitting images.

The most important thing to learn is how to use meta tags to embed keywords in your files. This makes submitting your work to many sites much simpler than keywording the same images over and over again. Each microstock site will read your meta tags automatically and you just select a category and submit.

Good luck in your microstock adventure!

Tree Set

Tree Set
Tags: cartoon; tree; trees; set; orange; green; brown; white; isolated; wilting; leaf; leaves; grow; grown; large; big; fall; autumn; growing; bending; icon; set; tall; vector; illustration; design; element; graphic; clipart

What is the Difference Between Vector and Bitmap Images: A Vector Stays Sharp

A vector (eps file) stays sharp no matter how much you enlarge it. Look at the example of this litterbug cartoon character. The bitmap (jpeg file) gets blurry when you enlarge it. That's why more people want a vector graphic than any other kind of image. It's more useful and always stays smooth.

Gold Medal

Gold Medal
Tags:  olympic; torch; medal; metal; gold; black; blue; isolated; white; ribbon; star; shape; round; circle; coin; textured; necklace; award; prize; trophy; blank; vector; illustration; design; element; graphic; clipart

Superhero Dog

Super Dog Tags:

canine; hero; animal; cape; cartoon; cloud; dog; flying; graphic; illustration; sun; super; superhero; vector

Traffic Jam

Cartoon of people driving on the highway.

Tags:  cartoon; people; driving; highway; freeway; travel; transportation; truck; car; happy; smiling; road; vector; illustration; design; element; graphic; clipart

Goal Meter

Futuristic Goal Meter

Tags:  achieve; art; barometer; clipart; decoration; design; device; dimensional; element; fund; fundraiser; futuristic; goal; goals; graphic; growth; illustration; levels; measure; measurement; measuring; metal; metallic; meter; neon; plan; planning; profit; raising; reach; revenue; team; thermometer; three; tracker; tracking; vector; 3d

Lowest Prices Button

Low Price Icon

Tags: Discount; Button; lowest; low; sale; text; arrow; blank; transparency; eps10; glow; decrease; sign; price; drop; tag; red; shadow; box; button; icon; set; blue; design; element; illustration; graphic; clip; art; vector

Medical Healthcare Wheel Icon

Medical Network Diagram

Tags:  health; care; chart; chat; communication; diagram; doctor; globe; graphic; healthcare; icon; illustration; internet; isometric; laptop; medical; network; nurse; set; social; sphere; surgeon; wireless; illustration; design; element; graphic; clip; art

Blank Certificate

Green Certificate isolated on a white background.

Tags:  art; award; blank; certificate; clipart; copy; decoration; design; element; graphic; icon; illustration; paper; pattern; recognition; repeat; repeating; space; vector; wall; wallpaper; web; website; green

Blank Photo Prints

Blank Photo Print
Tags:blank; photo; photos; print; prints; frame; frames; tape; eps10; drop; shadow; curled; panoramic; black; white; gray; photography; set; undeveloped; template; vector

Video: Website Update Preview

Video: Making a Vector Silhouette

This is a video of a photograph I took and converted into a vector silhouette of a businessman sitting in a chair.

New Search Feature

Added a new feature to my website so now you can search for royalty-free vector illustration images by keywords on the main page. Give it a try!

Buy Art from the Artist

With so many microstock companies profiting from the creative efforts of artists it makes perfect sense for an artist to sell directly to the public. My royalty-free vector illustration artwork is posted on CTE Consulting Services for purchase within seconds after I finish drawing them. Hot off the press! The biggest difference is in the savings. You save up to 50% when you buy direct, get the newest images, and have access to all my creative digital files on one site.

Video About CTE Website

Microstock Vector Illustrations at CTE Consulting Services

A brief two minute overview of John Takai's vector illustration website where he sells high resolution graphics in jpeg and eps formats.

Buy Buttons

Sunshine Buy Button Set

Tags: Sunshine; Buy; Button; Set; sale; web; icon; set; transparency; eps10; square; shape; curve; vertical; arrow; label; sticker; shadow; colorful; yellow; blue; white; black; purple; green; vibrant; glowing; shiny; illustration; graphic; price; tag; clip; art; vector

People Silhouette

Kneeling Thinker

Tags: kneeling; Pondering; silhouette; Young; Man; thin; skinny; teenager; thinking; hand; chin; scratching; black; white; blue; wave; element; graphic; illustration; background; shadow; knee; watching; vector

Price Chart

Pricing Chart

Tags: Pricing; Chart; blank; table; column; list; dollar; amount; add; cart; checkout; button; shiny; glowing; eps10; red; blue; green; purple; orange; black; isolated; white; checklist; icon; row; transparency; business; illustration; graphic; clip; art; vector

Thinking Man

Thinking Man

Tags: Thinking; Man; silhouette; black; white; blue; wave; design; element; background; scratching; head; figure; standing; confused; young; thin; white; shadow; vector; illustration; graphic; clip; art

How to Make a Web Button Video

Partial tutorial on how to create a button similar to what I sell professionally.

Graduation Day Background

Graduation Day.

Tags: Graduation; Day; background; hat; throwing; flying; sky; celebration; cap; black; blue; vector; illustration; graphic; clip; art

Video: Monster Face

This is a time lapse video of a drawing I created in a few minutes using pen and paper.

New Vector Illustrations

Added 50 more vector illustrations to my Royalty-Free stock art library. This image called Discount Button is one of the more popular images using transparency effects and blend effects.

Travel Icons

Set of 12 transportation web buttons - black and white.

Tags: airline; art; auto; bicycle; bike; black; blimp; boat; bus; button; buttons; clipart; commuter; commuters; commuting; decoration; design; element; graphic; helicopter; icon; icons; illustration; internet; motorcycle; plane; round; sailboat; sailing; ship; subway; transport; transportation; travel; traveling; trolley; tugboat; types; vector; vehicle; walk; walking; web; website; white; yacht

Bus Driver

Bus driver takes the bus out for a drive.

Tags: art; bus; cartoon; clipart; decoration; design; drive; driver; driving; element; graphic; happy; illustration; man; public; ride; riding; route; school; sun; sunshine; transport; transportation; transporting; vector; yellow

Anchor Set

Set of anchors with rope, chains, and barbed wire.

Tags: anchor; anchors; barb; barbed; black; boat; chain; chains; clipart; decoration; design; element; fishing; graphic; icon; icons; illustration; link; linked; links; metal; metallic; nautical; object; ocean; pair; rope; sail; sailboat; sailor; sea; set; sharp; ship; vector; wire; yacht

Process Chart

3d financial development diagram representing growth business cycle.

Tags: arrow; arrows; art; business; chart; chevron; clipart; cycle; decoration; design; diagram; dimensional; element; finance; financial; flow; graph; graphic; growth; icon; icons; illustration; process; three; vector; work; 3d

Media Network

3D Global network icon for movie film industry.

Tags: art; audio; bubble; camera; clipart; communicate; communicating; communication; computer; decoration; design; device; diagram; dimensional; earth; electronic; element; entertainment; film; globe; graphic; hollywood; illustration; industry; internet; media; mesh; movie; multimedia; music; network; networking; speech; sphere; symbol; technology; television; three; vector; video; wire; wireless; 3d

Community Globe

People holding hands around a green 3D Globe.

Tags: around; art; charity; children; circling; clipart; come; coming; cross; crossing; decoration; design; dimensional; diverse; diversity; element; globe; graphic; green; hands; hold; holding; illustration; join; kids; people; planet; save; three; together; vector; warming; world; 3d

Green Certificate

Green Certificate isolated on a white background.

Tags: art; award; blank; certificate; clipart; copy; decoration; design; element; graphic; icon; illustration; paper; pattern; recognition; repeat; repeating; space; vector; wall; wallpaper; web; website; green

Bus Riders

People riding a bus.

Tags: bus, cartoon, drawing, driver, family, flower, friend, friendship, graphic, happy, illustration, man, people, rider, road, school, sky, smiling, sun, sunshine, tour, tourist, waving, woman, vector, riding

New Royalty-Free Vector Illustrations

Zodiac wheel, Water heater and arrows.

Angel Wings

Angel wing set isolated on a white background.

Tags: abstract, angel, animal, art, beautiful, bird, brown, decoration, design, drawing, feather, flight, graphic, icon, illustration, life, nature, set, sky, vector, vintage, white, wing

Daylight Savings Time Clock

Clocks moving forward isolated on a white background.

Tags: forward; clock; time; arrow; curving; moving; change; midnight; new; years; eve; watch; red; blue; green; purple; isolated; white; icon; set; moving; vector; illustration; design; element; graphic; clipart; daylight; savings; time

Vector Illustrator

I've been creating vector illustrations for over 15 years. You can see my work on any of the major micro-stock royalty-free websites like shutterstock, istockphoto, fotolia, dreamstime, bigstock, 123rf, crestock, canstockphoto, graphic leftovers and veer. Any of my images can be purchased directly from me through my website or by email.

Buy Vector Illustrations Directly From Artist / Illustrator

You can now buy any of our vector illustrations directly from us through our website or by email. Take a look at our most popular images.

50 Assorted Blank Vector Web Buttons

Variety pack of assorted fifty blank vector web buttons. Perfect for web design.

Tags: web, button, icon, set, vector, fire, water, shield, star, gold, brush, stroke, effect, orange, process, diagram, wheel, chrome, green, star, thought, bubble, balloon, halftone, square, blank, arrow, sticker, triangle, slash, checkmark, recycling, wave, traffic, sign, stop, drop, speech, gold, medal, variety, package, mega, pack, assorted

Most Popular Vector Illustrations

Just added some of my most popular vector illustrations to my website like this cartoon food pyramid.

Computer Virus Protection

Downloading a virus can be a dangerous thing. Monsterous creatures fall from the sky as a man's virus program provides protection to a man and his computer.

Tags: ad; afraid; art; assault; bacteria; cartoon; clipart; computer; corrupt; crash; creature; creatures; danger; dangerous; decoration; design; download; downloading; element; email; file; files; graphic; guard; illustration; internet; laptop; mail; monster; monsters; panic; protect; protection; shield; spy; vector; virus; viruses; ware

Team Star

Star image of people representing teamwork.

Tags: art; button; clipart; colorful; communicate; communication; community; cooperate; cooperation; design; diversity; element; figure; gold; graphic; icon; illustration; interracial; isometric; people; set; shape; star; stick; team; teamwork; together; united; unity; vector; work

Tape Measure

Colorful measuring tape set in inches and centimeters.

Tags: art; centimeters; clipart; colorful; curving; design; element; graphic; icon; illustration; inches; measure; measuring; object; ruler; set; symbol; tape; vector; vibrant; vinyl; wavy

Sunshine Bus

Happy kids riding the bus on a sunny day.

Tags: art; bus; cartoon; child; children; clipart; community; decoration; design; driver; education; element; family; field; graphic; guide; happy; illustration; journey; people; ride; riding; road; scenic; school; sightseeing; sightseer; summer; sun; tourist; tourists; travel; trip; vacation; vector

Starburst Stickers

Set of star shaped stickers.

Tags: art; assorted; burst; button; clipart; collection; colorful; decoration; design; element; graphic; icon; illustration; internet; label; mix; mixture; seal; set; site; star; sticker; stickers; vector; web; website

Money Tree

Large tree with money leaves.

Tags: background; bag; clipart; design; dollar; element; financial; glowing; graphic; growing; growth; icon; illustration; leaf; leaves; money; root; sign; sun; sunshine; symbol; tree; vector

Multimedia Buttons

Set of media buttons in glossy vibrant colors.

Tags: art; audio; button; buttons; clipart; control; controls; decoration; design; dvd; eject; element; fast; forward; gloss; glossy; graphic; icon; illustration; internet; media; mute; pause; play; player; radio; rewind; round; shiny; stop; vector

3D Video Graphics Flat Screen

3D business charts coming out of a flat screen television.

Tags: art; bar; business; chart; charts; clipart; decoration; definition; design; diagram; dimensional; element; flat; graph; graphic; high; illustration; monitor; pie; piece; pieces; screen; television; three; vector; 3d

Chevron Set

Set of segmented circular diagrams.

Tags: arrow; blue; chart; chevron; clipart; curving; cycle; design; diagram; directional; element; flow; graphic; green; icon; illustration; menu; orange; process; recycle; recycling; segmented; set; symbol; vector

Blue Caduceus

Caduceus medical symbol isolated on a white background.

Tags: abstract; blue; caduceus; care; clipart; cross; graphic; healthcare; healthy; hospital; icon; illustration; isolated; medical; pharmaceutical; pharmacy; science; sign; snake; staff; symbol; vector; wellness; wing; white; health; design; element

Directional Arrow Icons

Colorful mix of 3D arrows going in many directions.

Tags: arrow; arrows; art; blue; business; clipart; colorful; curve; curving; decoration; design; dimensional; direction; directional; down; element; flow; flowing; glossy; graphic; green; icon; illustration; left; moving; orange; point; power; powerpoint; purple; red; right; set; shiny; symbol; three; turning; vector; work; yellow

Air Conditioner Icons

Set of six air conditioner related themed icons.

Tags: air; appliance; art; button; buttons; central; clipart; cold; conditioner; conditioning; conserve; decoration; design; drop; element; fan; fire; flake; flame; graphic; green; heat; heater; hot; icon; icons; illustration; panel; plumbing; rise; rising; save; saving; set; snow; solar; sun; temperature; thermometer; turn; unit; vector; water; web; website

Wireless Signal Set

Wireless signal isolated on a white background.

Tags: wireless; signal; radio; wave; symbol; communication; angle; perspective; drop; shadow; red; blue; green; isolated; white; yellow; pink; icon; set; frequency; vector; illustration; design; element; graphic; clipart

Cartoon Sandwich Set

Sandwich set isolated on a white background.

Tags: cartoon; sandwich; set; isolated; white; subway; hoagie; lettuce; cheese; tomato; chicken; grilled; black; line; art; bread; lunch; icon; drawing; vector; illustration; design; element; graphic; clipart