5 reasons to explore Open Clipart

Discover this hidden gem for free and flexible vector graphics.

I am not a talented artist, but I enjoy using graphics for greeting cards, posters, and occasionally hoodies or t-shirts. When I need an image of a creature such as a cow, horse, or eagle, I turn to Open Clipart. This unique platform is dedicated to providing a vast collection of free-to-use vector graphics. Launched in 2004, the site has grown into one of the largest repositories of clip art, featuring thousands of contributions from artists worldwide.

Why choose Open Clipart?

1. Completely free and open

One of the standout features of Open Clipart is its commitment to open access. All images on the platform are released into the public domain, which means you can use them for any purpose—personal, educational, or commercial—without any concerns about copyright restrictions. This liberating approach empowers users to incorporate visual elements confidently into their projects.

2. Extensive and diverse collection

The diversity of clip art available on Open Clipart is truly impressive. There’s something for everyone, from simple icons and logos to intricate illustrations and themed collections. Whether you’re designing a website, creating educational materials, or crafting a presentation, you’ll find an abundance of resources to enhance your work.

3. User-friendly interface

Navigating Open Clipart is a breeze, thanks to its intuitive and user-friendly interface. The site offers robust search functionality, allowing you to quickly find the perfect image. Categories and tags further streamline the process, making it easy to explore and discover new artwork.

4. Community-driven

Open Clipart thrives on community contributions. Artists from all walks of life share their creations, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. This sense of community not only enriches the platform, but also encourages creativity and learning among users.

5. Customization and versatility

The vector format of the clip art ensures that the images are easily scalable and editable. Whether you need to tweak colors, resize elements, or combine multiple graphics, Open Clipart’s resources provide the flexibility to tailor images to your specific needs.

Example: Dairy farm cow

Recently I have been looking for a way to give a special birthday present to a friend. My friend lives on a dairy farm. I wanted to incorporate a cow into my design that could be used on a hoodie. I found and downloaded a vector graphic image of a cow from Open Clipart. Then, I used Inkscape to add text around the cow image. I saved the complete design as a vector graphic, which is an SVG filetype.

If you’re curious about how to get started with Inskcape, see my tutorial: How to put text on a path using Inkscape.

I love using vector graphics in my designs because they can be easily resized and incorporated into other projects, without the danger of pixelation or distortion.

Conclusion

Open Clipart is more than just a repository of clip art; It’s a community of clip art and artists willing to share their work so that others may enjoy it too. Next time you’re in need of visual inspiration or an image for one of your own creations, I suggest you head over to Openclipart.org to find the perfect image to elevate your project.

More from We Love Open Source

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• How to start with design in your open source project
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• Getting started with Streamlit

This article is adapted from “Exploring Openclipart.org: A treasure trove of free vector images” by Don Watkins, and is republished with permission from the author.