Handling images and image rights

Image files should always be uploaded in the best possible quality. A resolution of 3600 x 2800 pixels is suitable and corresponds approximately to the performance of an 8 megapixel camera. The size is especially relevant for full-screen galleries on large monitors and for PDF printouts.

Images are automatically resized by our system to display them quickly on tablet and smartphone screens. If the dimensions of an image are far below the required standard, it may be displayed in a grey frame.

A suitable file format for images is JPEG with high quality (80-100%). Other possible upload formats are BMP, GIF and PNG.

Landscape images with a typical aspect ration of 16:9 are ideal for the use in our platform. Portrait images, however, often appear cropped outside of full-screen galleries. Very wide images are automatically recognized as panorama.

The general terms and conditions of the Outdooractive GmbH regulate that images uploaded to the platform may be used on platform-related websites, in apps and in print products. For further information see the overview of all output channels. 

There are many different types of rights of use. In order not to lose the overview, images usually carry a license.

All rights reserved

All rights of use are with the author. Third parties are not allowed to use the picture.

Rights Managed

Numerous picture agencies work with the RM license. The customer selects the type of use (e.g. for the title page of a magazine, for poster advertising or for integration into a website) and a period of time; the price then depends on these two criteria.

Images distributed under the RM license are usually of high quality and/or rarely used. If necessary, customers can even use the material exclusively. Accordingly, it is quite expensive. Once the specified period has elapsed, new fees will apply.

Royalty Free (royalty-free)

Contrary to popular assumptions, royalty-free does not mean the same as free-of-rights. Even in the case of royalty-free images, the author lays down certain usage rules. Royalty-free images are usually subject to a fee and available on platforms such as shutterstock.com, fotolia.com or istockphoto.com.

When purchasing a royalty-free image, a flat-rate right of use is acquired. Images may be used for an unlimited period of time and for different projects. In the print area a limitation of the edition is possible. The respective conditions of use of the picture regulate more exactly.

Creative Commons

Creative Commons is a non-profit organization that provides various standard license agreements. Under these, authors of text, images, video and music can publish their works.

A CC license allows the use of such works under certain conditions. Even commercial use is possible in many cases. Images under this license come from free photo databases such as commons.wikimedia.org, pixabay.com or flickr.com.

The decisive factor is the addition - such as CC-BY-SA, CC-NC - which regulates the type of rights associated with the license. A combination of different additions is possible:

• The addition BY means that the author must be named.
• The ND addition means that the image may not be edited.
• The addition SA states that the image must be distributed under the same conditions. In other words, it may be edited, but must be published under the same license again.
• The addition NC states that the image may not be used for commercial purposes.

Public Domain

There are more and more platforms distributing public domain images. Often these are historical photographs whose term of protection has expired. Other images come from community users who make their material available to the public free of charge.

Pictures with a CC0 license may be used, edited and used for all purposes without naming the author. Often this is at the expense of quality.

German art. 23 KunstUrhG stipulates three exceptions to this rule, which apply as long as no legitimate interests of the person depicted are violated:

1. People in contemporary history (e.g. heads of state, politicians, representatives of the economy, scientists, inventors, artists, actors, singers, entertainers and sportsmen)
2. People shown as part of a landscape, a locality or an object (person is clearly recognizable only by chance with on the picture)

3. People attending public events or meetings or those those in large crowds.