Create Image Attribution Statements
Why do we need to create image attribution statements?
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It’s a requirement (Creative Commons licensing)
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Give appropriate credit to image creators/adapters in a standardized format
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Future adapters can use to track back to original content
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Allows us to indicate where images have been added to original OER content
Video Demonstration
Watch Image Attribution Statements on Screencast-o-matic (8 mins)
Video source: “Image Attribution Statements” by Jen Booth licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0, except where otherwise noted.
Process to Create Image Attribution Statements
| Step |
Description | Time stamp |
Editor | Code snippet/Sample text |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Load the original image/website in your browser | 0:42 | Browser | |
| 2 | Review page and note: creator/photographer and link to their profile (if available), link to the image, link to actual photo, Creative Commons or other license & link to license details. Be sure to maintain/note specific versioning of licenses if applicable. | 0:52 & 6:29 |
Browser | |
| 3 | Create a basic attribution statement, copying in the information needed from source | 1:50 & 6:12 |
Visual | See sample Image attribution statements below |
| 4 | Add relevant links to source page, source book, and CC license | 2:20 & 6:45 | Visual | “#Unusual Gravity” by ElleFlorio is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. |
| 5 | Add to the caption of the image | 4:34 & 7:16 |
Visual | “<a href=”https://www.flickr.com/photos/91423413@N02/30338523391″>#Unusual Gravity</a>” by <a href=”https://www.flickr.com/photos/91423413@N02″>ElleFlorio</a> is licensed under <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/>CC BY-SA 2.0</a>. |
| 6 | Save & Preview | not shown | Visual |
Guidelines for creating Image Attribution statements
Ideal image attribution statements clearly identify:
- the image and it’s source (URL)
- the creator and their profile link
- the license that the image is shared under
Creative Commons License versions
When creating your attribution statements, note the version of the license listed on the original source you’re working with and make sure to reuse that.
- Older images and content may be licensed CC BY 3.0, CC BY 2.0, etc
- Maintain the version of the original source, as there are slight differences in the licenses.
- Reuse the license link from that original source. If it’s missing, you can use the link above or do a quick web search to locate it, just include the license version, for example: CC BY 2.0
- Media Library won’t let you change the version of the license, so make sure to at least indicate clearly in the image Caption
Missing information?
Find missing image metadata or or verify license offers suggestions on how you can attempt to locate information about the image. If, after spending a little time searching, you still cannot locate specific information:
- Mark the image on the page or on your errors/problems tracker for further review
- Add what information you can add, and leave blanks as needed (eg: no link to author’s profile? leave the author/creator name unlinked)
- Use a generic name for the image (image, photo, etc) but still provide the link to the original
The most important part of the attribution statement is to be able to see the license clearly and link back to the actual image.
Sample Image attribution statements
Creative Commons licensed images
If an author’s profile page is not available, just use the author name.
- “Connect with your Instructor“ by Rawia Inaim is licensed under CC BY-SA.
- “Chemistry Lab” by euthman is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
CC0 or Public Domain images
Even though CC0 / Public domain images do not specifically require attribution, it’s important to provide one. This will give credit to the author/creator, and also save any confusion with readers or future adapters of the content.
- “130305-023 Chemistry” by US Coast Guard Academy is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.
Pixabay, Unsplash, Pexels or similar collections
These collections do not usually have a specific name/title for the image, so you can use a generic “photo” or “image” instead of the name of the image.
- Photo by Nick Morrison, used under Unsplash license
- Photo by annekarakash, used under Pixabay license
- Photo by Julia M. Cameron, used under Pexels license
The Finished Product
Resources
- Find missing image metadata or or verify license
- Adding image metadata to the Media Library
- OpenVerse – use image search to find CC or Public Domain images, then use the tool to generate an attribution statement for you
- List of links to Creative Commons 4.0 licenses/links
Attribution & References
Except where otherwise noted, “Create Image Attributions” by Jen Booth is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
Media Attributions
- 7537736312_9b8d5a9d1b_b © Special Collections & University Archives (ISU) is licensed under a Public Domain license
