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We've compiled a list of 31 public domain image websites that are great for graphic designers looking for unique and free stock photos.

public domain image is defined as a photo, clip art or vector whose copyright has expired or never existed in the first place. These images can be used by almost anyone for personal and commercial purposes. There are three ways that public domain images occur:

• The image is assigned to the public domain through a Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license or similar release
• The image is not copyrightable
• The copyright for the image has expired

Museums, libraries and photographers sick of “traditional” stock photos have released thousands of public domain images online, making them more easily available to the public and (yep!) that means designers, too. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of websites curating free public domain images and high quality stock photography that can be freely used by anyone worldwide.

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