I need a database of exercise images that are NOT copyright protected.

December 30, 2010 7:31 PM

I need a database of exercise images that are NOT copyright protected because I'd like to create my own exercise hand-outs and can't draw.

So, I'd like to be able to create my own exercise handouts. With pictures. And I can't draw. Even my stick figures have issues. So far I've tried:

1) Google Images Advanced Search - searching for a specific exercise using the "reuse image" option
2) The websites listed under Medical Image Databases @ www.dartmouth.edu/~biomed/new.htmld/lgr_medimages.shtml

All I need is a photo or line drawing of the exercise (line drawing preferred.) I know there are commercial exercise-creation software programs out there (I've used them) but I'd like to be able to create my own hand-outs.

Any ideas?

posted by ticketmaster10 to Media & Arts (11 answers total)

Have a friend take pictures of you?
posted by ian1977 at 7:39 PM on December 30, 2010

Response by poster: Thanks, ian1977 but I'm thinking of something OTHER than that! Though I do know a PT who did that... Well, he used his staff as models!
posted by ticketmaster10 at 7:42 PM on December 30, 2010

Have you checked creative commons? Depending on what you're doing with them, my guess is you'll be safe. Just advanced search flickr with creative commons checked and search by the exercise and position.
posted by history is a weapon at 7:55 PM on December 30, 2010

I'd look at government resources.

For example, the canadian 5bx system or dig around fitness.gov
posted by empath at 7:56 PM on December 30, 2010

This may be a strange idea, but how about making your own with Poser? That's what it was originally for -- "posing" (hence the name).

The renderer has a number of modes, so the result doesn't have to be raytraced and photo-realistic. (For instance, it does do outline drawings.)

It would have the advantage of permitting you to create any pose you need, and of course the images you created would be your property and could be used as you desired.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 8:18 PM on December 30, 2010 [1 favorite]

Try searching Wikimedia Commons. They have a massive database of public domain/creative commons images.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 8:41 PM on December 30, 2010 [1 favorite]

http://sxc.hu/ (check the individual licenses, but most are ok to use as you describe)
also http://www.morguefile.com/
posted by pyro979 at 9:21 PM on December 30, 2010

U.S. Department of Defense media archive:

http://www.defenseimagery.mil

Most of the stuff should be public domain as material created by the federal government. I tried searches like "jogging" and "lifting weights" and got a bunch of results for each.
posted by XMLicious at 3:16 AM on December 31, 2010

I would imagine that if your handouts are for private use and not for commercial gain you should have no problem reproducing anything you find on the internets.
posted by aqsakal at 4:21 AM on December 31, 2010

Seconding the friend taking pictures. You'll have exactly the images you want, the way you want and you won't spend who knows how long hunting the internet for them. Plus, having your own image on the handouts helps people relate.
posted by dougrayrankin at 5:30 AM on December 31, 2010

Response by poster: Thanks, everyone! One of the above answers (creative commons?) led me to Everkinetic - a site containing 277 line drawings of exercises. So, while it didn't contain every single exact picky exercise I wanted it's big help. http://everkinetic.com
posted by ticketmaster10 at 9:23 PM on January 2, 2011 [1 favorite]