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The image library lets you search free photos, GIFs and stickers from third-party libraries without leaving the editor. Images from these libraries belong to their authors and keep their own licence, and some licences require you to credit the author.

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Image library at a glance

Each tab searches one library. Your own files are in Upload and My Images; see Upload image guidelines for formats and size limits. The Wikimedia tab shows only images that can be reused with a simple credit line, under these licences: Commons files under non-commercial or no-derivatives licences are left out, as are files Commons marks as trademarked, showing an identifiable person or carrying an insignia. GIF, SVG and TIFF files are not offered in this tab.

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Insert an image from a library

1

Open the image library

Click an image area in the editor, such as Add image in the Content panel, or open an image option on a slide.
2

Choose a library tab

Select Stock Photos, GIFs & Stickers or Wikimedia.
3

Search

Type a keyword in the search box. Scroll down, or use Load more… on the Wikimedia tab, for more results.
4

Pick an image

Click the image. A crop tool opens so you can frame it before saving.
On the Wikimedia tab, a CC badge on a thumbnail means the image needs a credit. Hover over it, or focus it with the keyboard, to see Credit required or No credit needed, the author and the licence, with a link to the source page.
Images for the presentation theme and the logo can’t be taken from the Wikimedia tab, because those images belong to no single slide and have no slide notes to hold a credit.

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Credits in your slide notes

When you insert a Wikimedia Commons image that needs a credit, AhaSlides adds a credit line to the notes of that slide and shows Image credit added to the slide notes. Each credit line has the author, Wikimedia Commons with a link to the image’s source page, and the licence with a link to it. Images that need no credit add nothing. Credits follow the images. If you replace or delete the image, or cancel before it lands on the slide, its credit is removed again. The same image on several slides is credited on each slide it appears on. Only the person editing the presentation gets credits written; people viewing a shared copy don’t. Slide notes are private: they show only on your own screen in Backstage, never to your audience. See Adding notes to your presentation.

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Your responsibilities when you use an image

The automatic credit is a convenience. You remain responsible for following each image’s licence, including:
  1. Keep the credit. Keep it when you edit, export, share or reuse the presentation.
  2. Show it to your audience. Because notes aren’t visible to the audience, add the credit where people can see it, for example on the slide itself or on a credits slide.
  3. Mark changes. If you crop or edit an image and the licence requires it, say that the image was modified.
  4. Credit another way if you remove it. If you delete or change an automatic credit, credit the author yourself.
AhaSlides shows the licence and credit details as the source library provides them and doesn’t verify them. For commercial or published use, check the original source page linked in the credit. Don’t use an image in a way that breaks its licence or the library’s terms, implies endorsement by its author or anyone shown, or infringes trademark, privacy or publicity rights. AhaSlides may remove or stop offering an image or library at any time.

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Frequently asked questions

No. Searching and inserting from the libraries doesn’t cost anything. The image’s own licence still applies.
In the notes of the slide that uses it, under an image credits heading. Open the slide in the editor and look at the notes box below the slide preview.
No. AhaSlides adds credit lines to the slide notes for Wikimedia Commons images only. Unsplash shows the photographer’s name when you hover over a photo in Stock Photos; check each library’s own terms for how to credit.
Images the AI Panel adds come from third-party libraries as well, so their licences apply. They are suggestions: review them before you present, and replace any you don’t want. See Does the AI Panel add images to slides?.
Only images under reusable licences are shown. Files with non-commercial or no-derivatives licences, trademarked items, identifiable people and insignia are left out, and GIF, SVG and TIFF files aren’t offered.
Have a question? Contact our support team — if you’re logged in, use the chat bubble in the bottom-right of your dashboard; otherwise contact us here or email hi@ahaslides.com. Want to connect with other users? Join the AhaSlides community to share tips, request features, and see how others engage their audiences.