For most web surfers, searching for information is incredibly easy using search engines such as Google. Since the early/mid 90s,when the web started to become a popular place for posting and searching for information, the main type of info was text based. Most search engines would immediately return a list of web sites that had topics regarding your query – even if you were searching only for pictures.
Since then the web has exploded and digital images have become commonplace – the Internet is now full of millions of digital images easily accessible to search engines. Google, being the leader in search technology, has created a resource to specifically search for images only called Google Advanced Image Search. Google Advanced Image Search is both powerful and easy to use. Following are some simple instructions on how to use Google Advanced Image Search.
Step 1. Visit Google Advanced Image Search at the following link: http://www.google.com/advanced_image_search. If you plan to use Google Advanced Image Search in the future, it is a good idea to bookmark the site now.
Step 2. Familiarize yourself with the interface. Google Advanced Image Search is extremely intuitive and looks like Google’s advanced search for text information. There are ten easy ways to maximize your image search results – some empty fields in which you can easily enter text, others drop down menus, and others radio buttons. Here is a listing of each of the fields and how to maximize your results with them:
- Find results related to all the words- in this field you can easily enter keywords that relate to the image you are looking for. At any time you can go ahead and click on Google Search to begin your search for images.
- Find results related to the exact phrase- in this field you can narrow down your search by including phrasal keywords that relate to your search.
- Find results to any of the words- for a broader search in which there may not be lots of images available, you can easily add non-specific keywords.
- Find results not related to the words- this field can help you to remove ambiguity when a search term may have several meanings.
- Content Types: return images that contain- this search field is a radio button that gives the user three different options which are all self explanatory (1. any content, 2. news content, 3. faces)
- Size: return images that are- this field is a drop down menu giving the user five different size choices to choose from. The choices are any size, small, medium, large, and extra large. There is no way to input the exact size of an image you are searching for.
- File types: return only image files formatted as- this field is a drop down menu where the user can choose the type of files that he or she is looking for. There are five different choices that can be selected: any file type, JPG files, GIF files, PNG files, and BMP files.
- Coloration: return only images in- this field is a drop down menu where the user can choose from the following choices: any colors, black & white, grayscale, and full color.
- Domain: return images from the site or domain- this is a field that can be inputted with a domain of your choosing. For instance, if you would like to search for an image on Wikipedia, you can easily include the full domain in the box.
- Safe Search: Safe search allows a user to ask Google to filter your search. For instance, if you are at work or searching for an image at home with your children, you can use the radio buttons to choose the level of filtering to reduce the chances that unsavoury material will appear. There are three choices for Safe Search: no filtering, moderate filtering, and strict filtering.
Step 3. Once you have filled in the criteria that you think best supports your image search, simply click on the Google Search button on the upper right hand corner of the page. If you find that your search has resulted in either not enough or too many listings, you may want to change you criteria and try again.
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