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Google Image Search Gets More Specific

Written by Rick Turoczy / December 19, 2008 11:15 PM / 9 Comments

Google Image SearchGoogle Image Search remains one of the most comprehensive imagery resources available. But the sheer amount of imagery that the site indexes creates a problem. More of than not, Google Image Search gets you close to what you're seeking, but it doesn't really help you find exactly what you're looking for.

Now, Google is working to fix that with new filtering options.

For some time, the only filtering available was for "faces." Then, they added a filter for "photos." Now, Google has introduced new filters that enable you to cull the herd of photos even more. Using the new feature, you can constrain your search to "clip art" and "line drawings."

imgGoogleImageSearchClipArt.jpg

Still, I have to admit that I'm with Tam Vo over at VentureBeat. Even with these new options, the filter that would provide the most value is still conspicuously absent. I remain hopeful that Google Image Search takes a page from Flickr's book and adds the ability to search by Creative Commons licensing.

Until filtering by license information becomes available, Image Search remains a valuable tool for finding images - and with the new filters you have a much better chance of finding what you're seeking - but they're not images you're likely able to use, legally.


Comments

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  1. The best tool out there, and it hurts to sa so, is the Microsoft's one. The UI is really well designed.

    Posted by: Youssef Rahoui | December 20, 2008 2:13 AM



  2. They should add Creative Commons Filtering also, so we can just use them safely for blogs and sites. Flickr has a good one, http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/by-2.0/

    Posted by: Chris | December 20, 2008 3:09 AM



  3. Hey Rick,
    I think the only reason you wrote this article is you didn't see Microsoft image search http://www.live.com/?scope=images&mkt=en-US .
    However the default that they don't do software right but this time they got it.

    Thanks

    Posted by: Michael | December 20, 2008 4:30 AM



  4. "...I'm with Tam Vo over at VentureBeat. Even with these new options, the filter that would provide the most value is still conspicuously absent."

    That doesn't make any sense - How can Google provide a filter for semantic data that isn't visible? Until the vast majority of people outside of Flickr add the markup to let machines know their photos are CC, there is nothing to filter. Machines only know what their told!

    WTF?!?!?

    Posted by: Todd | December 20, 2008 4:44 AM



  5. This will be really useful for me -- I am almost always looking for a certain type of graphic; either photo or clip art. Licensing info is helpful, too, but the search will still really help.

    Posted by: Kathleen McDade | December 20, 2008 12:49 PM



  6. Where's the porn only option?

    Posted by: Anrkist | December 20, 2008 1:29 PM



  7. Image search in Google made little easier now with choosing content wise.

    Posted by: venkat | December 20, 2008 8:31 PM



  8. Even without the CC filter, this is still a really helpful improvement. Thanks for the scoop, Rick.

    Posted by: Amy Ziari | December 21, 2008 12:33 PM



  9. Dear Thank you very much

    Posted by: programs | December 22, 2008 12:39 AM



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