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I'm trying to design a landing page for my API product, and it seriously is lacking any images. Where are the best places to get those Photoshop-ready backdrops that all of the paid themes seem to have? Deviant Art? Looking for ones that are optimized for this sorta thing, and will easily accept some large font writing on them while still being readable.

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A compact, practical add‑on to this thread for (and to connect the suggestions from , and ): paid stock libraries are one route, but picking the right photo and preparing it for large, readable type is what makes a hero image work. Below are alternative sources not listed above, a short selection workflow, accessibility notes, and a small CSS snippet to apply an overlay quickly.

Free and low‑cost places to browse (check each site’s license before commercial use): Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay, Burst (Shopify) and StockSnap. (help.unsplash.com)

Selection + prep workflow designers use

  • Start with composition: prefer images with generous negative space or a simple area where copy can sit (landscape/orientation matters). (webflow.com)
  • Crop for your hero aspect ratio and set the focal point so responsive cropping won’t cut the headline. (smashingmagazine.com)
  • Add a subtle dark/colored overlay, desaturate or blur the image to reduce local contrast noise under the text (this is the most reliable trick for big type). (smashingmagazine.com)
  • Use large, high‑weight type, tighter line‑height for headlines, and reserve the strongest contrast for the CTA.
  • Test at mobile breakpoints and with a contrast checker; meet WCAG contrast rules (4.5:1 normal text, 3:1 for large text). (w3.org)

Quick CSS pattern (adjust overlay alpha and blur to taste)

.hero {
  background: url('hero.jpg') center/cover no-repeat;
  position: relative;
  min-height: 60vh;
}
.hero::after {
  content: "";
  position: absolute; inset: 0;
  background: rgba(0,0,0,0.45); /* tweak 0.3-0.6 */
  backdrop-filter: blur(4px);    /* optional */
}
.hero h1 {
  position: relative;
  color: #fff;
  font-size: clamp(1.6rem, 4vw, 3.6rem);
  text-shadow: 0 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.35);
}

Licensing note: free sites differ in terms and model/property release coverage; paid services (for example Adobe Stock) provide clearer release handling for commercial uses — verify releases when people/brands are identifiable. ()

If more detail is needed on any step (responsive srcset usage, exact overlay values vs. contrast targets, or preparing layered Photoshop backdrops), those are straightforward follow‑ups.

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Member Avatar for rproffitt

Just a FYI for Dani. I was out and about and bumped into someone that should be contacting you shortly. It's a professor and they have students and more. I can't write it all here, but they may omit I sent them your way. They said something about being on Longuyland.

Member Avatar for AssertNull

Looking for ones that are optimized for this sorta thing, and will easily accept some large font writing on them while still being readable.

What exactly is "this sorta thing"? I ask this in all seriousness as I'm generally out of the loop when it comes to design issue. I always thought you just found something you thought looked cool and stuck it on there. My point is that I'm not sure there is an industry standard or preferred way of doing things other than the "while still being readable" part (most important part IMO). If you can find a picture that's cool AND relevant to the site AND readable AND free, you've got a winner. My guess is that if you asked 200 people what to stick up there, you'd get 200 different answers. Me personally, I'd try to go with something relevant and non-controversial. Puppies and kittens for a pet store, stuffed teddy bears and blocks and tricycles for a pre-school, flowers for a nursery, etc. For a Computer Programming forum, go with... drum roll please... computers and cool people like Neo hacking into computers. Or the Linux penguin.

Longuyland

Now that I've gotten the relevant part of my post out of the way, I'll go for the hijack. I'll be headed out to Long Island University in Brooklyn later this month probably. I need to know how to say this word. Is it "Longuyland" or is it "Long Island" with a New York accent and sounds like "Longuyland", but non-New Yorkers shouldn't try to speak like the locals (I wouldn't say "New Yawk")? And is Brooklyn even considered Long Island (it must be: Long Island University, Brooklyn)? I understand dem's fightin' words to proud Brooklynites. Lord knows I wouldn't want to offend anyone. :)

Member Avatar for Member #120589

If you want quality then be prepared to put your hand in your pocket. I usually use shutterstock and 123f.

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