If you're looking for free 3D models, a great starting point is the Smithsonian X 3D portal that the famous Smithsonian Institution has maintained since 2013. But if photography interests you more, we have excellent news. Through its new platform Smithsonian Open Access, the Institution has released more than 2.8 million high-definition images into the public domain, so anyone can download and use that content as they wish, free of charge.
Finding truly rights-free images without legal conflicts would be much more complicated if not for the work of various online banks that compile such content. From food dishes to ancient works, animals and panoramic photos, you'll likely find what you're looking for, but efforts to release more photos to the public don't stop.
In fact, high-profile spaces like the Art Institute of Chicago, the Met Museum and the National Gallery of Art have already shared a large number of images with permissive licenses. Today, it's the turn of the Smithsonian Institution.
A Massive Release in the Public Domain
Through its Smithsonian Open Access platform, the Institute announced the release of more than 2.8 million images. According to the official publication, the mega-package includes elements in two and three dimensions, combining 19 museums, nine research centers, archives, libraries, and the National Zoo. All you have to do is enter a keyword in the search box. Alternatively, go to the advanced section to filter by category, gallery, and much more.
Navigating the Platform
Once you've located content, Open Access presents a tab with technical details on the right, and another with related material. At the bottom appears the license type (the most common is the CC0 logo), and an icon that reveals the available download types. The most demanding users might prefer the .tif version, but a high-resolution JPEG should be sufficient for most applications.
What's Next?
These 2.8 million images represent an unprecedented scale of release, but the Institute confirmed that in the coming months it will publish 200,000 additional photos, without abandoning its massive digitization project. Art? History? Photography in general? You can't miss this.
Official site: Click here
