Question 1

What are religious images called?

Accepted Answer

Religious images have carried different names throughout history, depending on the religion. They’re often called “votive images,” and they can include anything from “icons” of saints to creative depictions of important moments in the development of the religion to even portraits of religious figures themselves. The art world and the world of religion have been intertwined for centuries, so many of the terms we use in art and design also apply to religious images — both those in antiquity and those we work with in our projects today.

Question 2

Why are stock images a good choice to find religious visuals?

Accepted Answer

Stock images make good religious visuals because they come from artists of different faiths from all over the world. This means that you can choose from many different artistic styles and media when selecting the image you want to use. Since stock images are royalty-free, you don’t need to worry about licensing a religion image prior to using it, but you’ll still be able to find original artwork rather than relying on famous images that everyone has seen before. Authenticity is important when working with religion images (you don’t want your image to look artificial), and stock images allow you to find that authentic angle.

Question 3

What are the most popular religion-related images?

Accepted Answer

The most popular religion-related royalty free images involve holidays, like Christmas, Chinese New Year, Ramadan, and Diwali. The importance and popularity of these holidays affect millions of lives around the world, so it’s common to create designs or feature images that highlight the importance of these holidays to people of faith. Because these holidays occur every year, artists and photographers will be creating new images to document these holidays and explore their individual nuances.

Question 4

How to choose religious image backgrounds?

Accepted Answer

Religious images are common as backgrounds not only on projects that are directly communicating the religion or its ideals but also on personal projects or on projects associated with religiously affiliated organizations. The best backgrounds clearly indicate the religion you want to feature without overwhelming the viewer. If you intend to add text or other information to the image, make sure that there is enough space to do so without covering the most important elements of the image. If you intend the image to stand alone, then pick something dramatic that makes a bold statement about your religion and the ideals you want to communicate with the image.

Question 5

How to search for religious imagery on Shutterstock?

Accepted Answer

Searching for religious imagery on Shutterstock is easy. If you have an idea what you would like to see, type the keyword, along with the name of the religion, into the search box on the Shutterstock homepage. From there, you can use the filters on the left side of the page to refine your search and see more results that line up with what you want. Alternatively, if you have an image in mind as inspiration, you can click on “search by image” just to the right of the search bar. From there, you can upload an image from your computer, and Shutterstock will return similar images that you can license and use however you’d like.

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