You picked an image, dropped it on the page, and now you are hovering over Publish wondering: am I supposed to put a credit somewhere first? It is a fair question, and the honest answer is shorter than you might expect. Whether you have to credit a free image depends entirely on the license attached to that specific image. There is no single rule that covers every "free" image on the web.
This post is general information to help you publish with less doubt, not legal advice. For anything specific to your project, check the source's actual terms and, if real money or risk is on the line, ask a qualified professional. For Picdrome images in particular, the Picdrome Image License are the place to confirm what is required.
The honest answer: it depends on the license
"Free" describes the price, not the rules. Two images can both cost nothing and still carry completely different conditions. One source might require a visible credit with a working link. Another might ask for nothing at all. A third might require credit only in certain uses. The word "free" on the download button tells you none of this.
So the myth worth killing is the idea that there is a universal attribution rule for free images. There isn't. The requirement lives in the license for that one image from that one source, and it can differ source to source, sometimes even image to image within the same site. The only reliable move is to read the terms where you got the image, before you publish.
If you are fuzzy on what the labels themselves mean, the differences between free, royalty-free, public domain, and CC0 explain why "free" and "no credit needed" are not the same thing.
How to find out whether a specific image needs credit
You do not need a lawyer to answer the basic question. You need to read the right page. For any image you are about to use, look for the source's license or terms and find the answer to one question: does this require attribution, and if so, in what wording and where?
- Find the license page, usually linked as "License," "Terms," "Usage," or near the download button.
- Search the text for the words attribution, credit, required, and commercial. These are where the answer hides.
- Check whether commercial use changes the rule. Some terms ask for credit only when you are not using the image commercially, or only the reverse.
- Note the exact required wording and link, if any. When a credit is required, the license usually tells you precisely what to write.
- Save a copy of the terms (a screenshot or saved page) so you can show what the rule was on the day you used the image.
Running through these quickly is part of a short image-rights check before you publish. It takes a minute and removes the guesswork.
What proper attribution looks like when it's required
When a license does require a credit, doing it loosely can be the same as not doing it. Most attribution requirements expect a few concrete things, so match whatever the source's terms specify rather than improvising.
A complete credit usually includes:
- The creator or source name, spelled the way the license asks for it.
- A link to the source page or site, if the terms call for one, and a link that actually works.
- The title of the work, when the license names it.
- A note on changes, if you cropped, recolored, or combined the image and the terms ask you to say so.
Wording matters less than completeness, but keep it readable. "Image by [Creator] via [Source]" with the name and source linked is a clear, common pattern. Always defer to the exact format the license specifies, since some require a particular phrase or a specific link target.
Where to put a credit on a website
If a credit is required, the next practical question is where it goes on a real site. You have three common spots, and they are not interchangeable. Some licenses care about visibility; metadata alone may not satisfy a license that asks for a visible credit.
| Placement | Best for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Image caption | Editorial images, blog posts, galleries | Sits right under or beside the image, so the credit is unmistakably tied to that picture. The clearest option when a license wants a visible, specific credit. |
| Site footer credits line | Background, hero, and decorative images with no natural caption | One line such as "Images via [Source]" covers images that have nowhere obvious to put a caption. Make sure it is visible on the pages where those images appear. |
| Alt text / metadata | Accessibility and a secondary record | Useful and good practice, but not visible on the page to a typical reader, so it usually does not satisfy a license that requires a visible credit on its own. |
For most small business sites, captions handle in-content images and a footer line covers everything else. Use alt text for accessibility regardless, and keep your saved copy of the terms as your record.
Picdrome's own attribution stance
For Picdrome images, here is the straight answer rather than a guess. Picdrome images are free to use for personal and commercial website projects, subject to the Picdrome Image License. They are AI-generated, and they are not public domain, not CC0, and not "royalty-free" in the paid-license sense, so they stay covered by those terms rather than being released with no conditions.
For Picdrome images, the Picdrome Image License is the only authoritative place to determine whether attribution is required and, if so, the required wording and placement. Do not infer a permission or attribution rule from this article. If the current license does not state a clear rule for your intended use, do not publish until the rights holder confirms it in writing.
Common Questions
Do I have to credit every free image I use?
No, and you also cannot assume you never have to. The requirement depends on the specific image's license. Some require a credit, some do not, and "free" does not settle it either way. Read the source's terms for each image.
Is alt text enough to count as a credit?
Usually not on its own. Alt text supports accessibility and is good practice, but it is not visible to a typical reader on the page, so a license that requires a visible credit generally is not satisfied by metadata alone. Use a caption or footer line for the visible credit.
Where do I credit a background or hero image with no caption?
A single footer credits line is the common solution. Something like "Images via [Source]" placed where those images appear handles pictures that have no natural spot for a caption.
In Plain English
There is no universal rule for crediting free images. Whether you must credit one depends on the license attached to that specific image, so read the source's terms before you publish and record any required wording and link. If a credit is required, put it where readers can see it: a caption under in-content images or a footer credits line for background and hero images, with alt text serving accessibility rather than replacing a visible credit. For Picdrome images, rely only on the current Picdrome Image License; if it does not clearly authorize your intended use, get written confirmation before publishing. When in doubt on a high-stakes use, check the source terms and ask a professional. For the wider picture, this post is part of the guide on using free and AI-generated images safely.