It’s possible that you belong to a church that has a media minister of some kind who designs the graphics and images for church ministry use—PowerPoint presentations, promotional materials, etc. Some of you might even have your own sweet skills in graphic design. However, it’s likely that most of us search online for quality images and graphics and then tweak them for use in our churches. I am by no means a graphic designer, but here are some sites I frequent to find just the right graphic or image. (NOTE: Some sites may contain inappropriate images; use caution and a web filter!)
- Stock.xchng—Has tons of great photos and it is all free.
- iStockphoto—Has a much wider selection of photos and graphics, but it is not free. I use it only when I can’t find something for free.
- CreativeMYK—Free Christian graphics for download shared by artists around the world. Many of these graphics can be easily customized using a software program such as Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. (HT: Jason Blunk, assistant pastor at Ankeny Baptist Church, Ankeny, Iowa)
- Google Images—Use the advanced search feature to narrow your search. I often filter out low-resolution images.
- PowerPointSermons.com—Membership is required and it’s not cheap, but members have unlimited downloads. (HT: Jason Blunk)
What other sites do you use?
http://www.heartlight.org/
PPT backgrounds and templates, searchable by topic or Scripture reference. Can be a little fluffy and/or ecumenical, but mostly good.
Lancaster Baptist Church in California just launched a site with these kinds of materials. It is top-notch: http://ministry127.com
Two more free photo sites:
http://www.morguefile.com/
http://www.public-domain-image.com/
Always use caution when looking for images on any website like Greg Long mentions.