Free vector images, no attribution are a staple in graphic design. They are the best graphical tools for illustrations that have precise measurements. Moreover, unlike bitmap images, their information can be edited freely and scaled to any size.
If you need a quick vector illustration but are not willing or able to pay a graphic designer for one, your best bet is to look up a free vector image with no attribution online. Thanks to generous designers, illustrators, and photographers, you can incorporate stock vector images into your personal and commercial designs.
That said, although online vector marketplaces are abundant, it is difficult to find places that offer high-quality images for free. Getting the high-quality illustration you want requires that you know a thing or two about vectors.
In this post, we dive deep into the world of free vector images, no attribution. We unravel the meaning of vector images, when to use them, how to find the right ones, and how to edit them to your liking. We also shed some light on the best sources of free vectors images with no attribution on the Internet.
What is a vector image?
When working digitally, you can use two kinds of image files: raster and vector. Raster files build an image using thousands of pixels, each with a color. These pixels come together like a jigsaw puzzle to create the full image. If you go through your phone’s photo gallery, most of the photos you will see there will be raster images.
Once you create a raster image, you cannot resize it without affecting its quality. As you resize, each pixel warps out of shape, making the picture unclear.
A vector file, on the other hand, is a computer graphic that renders its image using mathematical formulas instead of pixel data. It begins with a point. Two points form a path and then connect with more points to create longer paths or closed shapes. Every path or shape has a formula that maintains its sharpness, regardless of its size.
Because vector files can adjust infinitely without losing their resolution, they are a lot more versatile than raster files. Regardless of the size of your vector, it will always be as sharp as the original. Another advantage of vectors is that their file sizes are much smaller than raster files, since they use paths instead of pixels.
The only significant downside of vector images is that they only open in a vector-based design program like Adobe Illustrator. A more mainstream image editor like Photoshop will rasterize a vector file, denying you the ability to edit your graphics quickly.
When should you use free vector images, no attribution?
The critical difference between raster and vector images is in their utility. Because raster files are composed of pixels, they will appear visibly grainy and pixelated if they are printed at a larger dimension than their native resolution can accommodate. The reason for this behavior is that the dots that compose the image are forced to stretch more as the printing medium grows.
So, if you have been considering printing an Instagram image at poster size, think again. It will not look nearly as sharp as it does onscreen.
Since vectors are constructed by formulas, a vector file can scale to virtually unlimited sizes while maintaining the same sharpness. So, if you need to display graphics at various sizes, vector images are the right choice.
Think of a company logo that appears on smartphone screens, business cards, flyers, brochures, T-shirts, and even billboards. The logo must be a vector image to be displayed across all these media at the same crispness.
Besides logos, vector files can include icons, patterns, typography and lettering designs, and full-scale digital illustrations.
Vector files may sound a bit complicated, especially when you throw in words like “mathematics” and “formulas”. The good news is that you do not have to make them yourself or incur the cost of buying a design. You can find tons of free vector files, no attribution online, including fonts, icons, patterns, and illustrations that you can download and customize.
How to Find Exceptional Free Vector Images
Because of the numerous sources on the web, finding a free vector is reasonably straightforward. The challenging task, however, is finding a free vector image that can stand out from the crowd. Amazing vector images have the best combination of aesthetics and design. To find them, you will need to know the elements that make them outstanding.
Below is a list of qualities that exceptional free vectors share, and the parts each play to enhance the overall illustration.
1. Proximity
Proximity implies how elements that relate to each other have been arranged to make a visually appealing illustration. When a vector has features that are in close proximity, it implies a relationship. Take a look at the vector below, where the different symbols of hands, the phone, and the shopping cart have been placed in proximity to make a larger image. Each item in the illustration works together to create a visual story.
2. Visual Hierarchy
When a vector is made by elements that have been arranged in a way that the first or most important concept is seen first, followed by the rest of the elements in order of importance, it has achieved visual hierarchy. The image below is a good example. It places the most important element at the top and implies a relationship with the other features based on their position.
3. Symmetry / Asymmetry
Symmetry and asymmetry give related vector elements some much-needed unity, balance, and stability. The image below shows how symmetry can be used to bring balance and stability to an illustration. The shapes all come together to create points of symmetry within the primary focal point.
4. Repetition
A vector is said to incorporate repetition when it uses repetitive elements to emphasize its meaning and cultivate visual interest. The illustration below would not be quite as interesting without the birds. By using birds as a repetitive element, the hills take on a new form. The illustration invites any viewer to ponder its meaning.
5. Unity
Unity in a free vector image entails bringing elements together to create visual harmony. At first glance, the vector below might seem haphazard. If you inspect it closer, you will notice that it is not as messy as you assumed. The unified elements within the design create balance in a visually pleasing manner.
6. Contrast
A vector can use contrasting elements like large and small and light and dark to highlight a specific part of itself. The example below achieves contrast by clearly distinguishing the fonts of the words “STAY SAFE”, implying that they convey the most important message.
An exceptional vector image can use dynamics to suggest movement, flow, and direction. Dynamics can also be deployed to create emotions like happiness, anger, and restfulness. The vector below focuses strongly on dynamics. It uses line and light to invoke a free-spirited feel to the image of the elephant. The dynamics of the vector makes it easy to imagine the elephant springing to life and galloping across the page.
8. Emphasis
Emphasis in a vector entails the use of a dominant focal point in a composition. The illustration below uses shapes and colors to create an exciting design with an emphasized meaning that is simple to understand.
How to Edit Free Vector Images
Free vector images, no attribution can be downloaded and edited freely. As with all vectors, however, working with them requires compatible vector editing software.
The most common type of vector image is the Adobe Illustrator (.ai) format. This file can store a massive amount of information, and it is editable in Adobe Illustrator. Graphic designers consider Illustrator the industry standard for vector editing, thanks to its wide selection of tools for importing, exporting, and editing vector files.
Besides Illustrator, you can edit vector images with Inkscape or Gravit. Inscape is arguably the most comprehensive free vector file editing software you can find, while Gravit is available both as a standalone desktop app and a browser-based application.
Editing vector images in Adobe Illustrator
1. Open the free vector image file you have downloaded from the web with Adobe Illustrator. You can get Illustrator from the Adobe store as a monthly subscription.
2. Use Illustrator’s tools to modify the image as you see fit. Some of the many possibilities include:
i. Adding lines and shapes
ii. Modifying colors
iii. Altering paths to change the design
iv. Adding new vector images
You will probably need to check the Layer window and unlock all the locked layers before you can edit the image. If any elements are grouped, you can press Ctrl and right-click on the grouped objects to ungroup them.
3. You can convert Illustrator files to .pdf easily when you are done customizing. Adobe Acrobat is the best solution for adding final elements to your .pdf vector file before saving or printing it.
Where can you find free vector images, no attribution required?
Websites that offer royalty-free vector images are always enticing for designers. However, many of these sites have limitations when it comes to using these vector images for free. Some of them require attribution or a show of proper credit to the vector’s creator.
If you do not wish to credit the owner of the vector, you need to pay for a license. So, at the end of the day, these so-called free vectors are not truly free.
On the other hand, there are those websites that allow you to use their content for all sorts of personal and commercial projects, no strings attached. The sites below offer vector images that are genuinely free, no attribution required.
1. Pixabay
As one of the most popular websites for free vector images with no attribution, Pixabay contains a wide assortment of vectors and illustrations, as well as photos and videos. You can download the images in any one of the available sizes, or choose the vector SVG format for more editing flexibility. It also shows you the number of views and downloads for each file. You can quickly know the popularity of a design and decide whether to go with a fan-favorite or a less popular, unique option.
Pixabay allows users to register for free accounts and access their library of free vector images with no attribution. With an account, you can keep your list of favorite images for viewing and downloading as many times as you want. You can also comment on every image posted on the platform.
Few websites can rival the number of free vectors that PublicDomainVectors has on its library. This massive marketplace has over 45,000 vectors with the public domain license. Everything is organized in categories that you can easily sort through and filter using tags and the search tool.
In addition to free vectors, PublicDomainVectors offers an SVG generator to generate pattern-based SVG files and a web-based SVG editor.
3. Clker
Clker is another excellent source of free vectors and illustrations. Its layout is simple and intuitive, and all the content is categorized for easy navigation. You can search through the library using tags and keywords, and download the vector file you choose either as SVG or in various PNG sizes.
Clker features a simple and intuitive SVG editor that allows you to customize your vector before you download it. It is not nearly as feature-packed as Adobe Illustrator, but it is reasonably adequate for basic touching and tweaking.
4. Spark Resort
If you are hunting for high-quality free vector images with no attribution, Spark Resort is your prime destination. The web app allows you to search through a myriad of designs and download them for free. Even more remarkable is that you can request the inhouse designers to provide you a unique design for any occasion or business.
Spart Resort implements a groundbreaking voting system that engages site users to send in design requests. At the end of the day, the community votes for the best requests, and the ideas with the most votes are created and published by the designers for free!
Spark Resort’s library is not as extensive as that of older websites. Nevertheless, it is expanding rapidly, thanks to this user-driven model.
5. i2Clipart
I2Clipart is one of the oldest free vector marketplaces around, but it still boasts some great vectors and illustrations. If you are particularly looking for emoticons, you will be thoroughly pleased with the website’s collection. You can search by keyword, tag, and even color, since every vector shows the dominant color used.
The website also allows you to preview your vector in different sizes. Moreover, you can touch-up the vectors you choose using the browser-based SVG editor provided.
6. OpenClipart
Like i2Clipart, OpenClipart has been around for a while. It is remarkable that it has managed to maintain a consistently large inflow of new designs over the years. Today, it is one of the largest libraries for commercial free vector images with no attribution, listing over 130,000 files.
The site may not be as pretty as newer marketplaces like Spark Resort, but it is easy to use. It also allows downloads in SVG, PNG, WMF, and PDF formats. Additionally, you can create an account and upload your own vectors.
7. Freepik
Freepik offers a generous collection of vectors, stock photos, icons, and PSD files. The platform boasts over 80,000 new and exclusive free resources every month, all of which are designed by Freepik’s inhouse designers and its vast community of contributors.
Although you will need a paid monthly subscription to access content, the large number of high-quality, unique vectors makes the platform entirely worth it. Keep in mind, however, that a good number of the free vectors on offer require attribution.
GoodFreePhotos is a massive archive of free vector images, photos, and illustrations. Admittedly, the website’s design is rather bland, and a good number of vectors are not high-quality. Nonetheless, it is possible to find some excellent vectors for personal and commercial use, some of which you cannot find anywhere else.
9. unDraw
If you have been looking for a collection of creative, high-quality vector illustrations, unDraw has you covered. The website’s library features some incredibly unique vectors that will go perfectly with your creative projects. You can download the images in SVG format, and also use an onsite color image generator to change colors without affecting the vector’s quality.
10. VectorPortal
Vector Portal is another popular source of free vector images, no attribution. It offers a decent collection of free vector files from creative contributors. You can find all sorts of stock vector illustrations, including icons, backgrounds, patterns, and graphics and download them freely in SVG or PNG format for use with both personal and commercial projects.
Wrapping Up
Designing with free vector images, no attribution needed, is an excellent way to achieve top-level graphical illustrations without spending any money. We hope the information we have shared today will guide you towards getting a truly free vector image that is well in line with your vision.
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