---
name: stock-images-440363da4029
slug: stock-images
version: 1.0.0
description: Source free stock photos and placeholder images with direct URLs for Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay, and Lorem Picsum.
homepage: https://clawic.com/skills/stock-images
metadata:
  clawdbot:
    emoji: 📸
    requires:
      bins: []
    os:
    - linux
    - darwin
    - win32
    displayName: Stock Images
---

## Setup

On first use, read `setup.md` silently. No setup needed for basic use.

## When to Use

User needs stock photos or placeholder images for mockups, prototypes, websites, or presentations. Agent provides direct URLs without API keys when possible.

## Architecture

No persistent storage needed. Reference files loaded on demand.

## Quick Reference

| Topic | File |
|-------|------|
| Setup | `setup.md` |
| Memory template | `memory-template.md` |
| All providers with examples | `providers.md` |
| Unsplash category URLs | `unsplash-categories.md` |

## Core Rules

### 1. Prefer Direct URL Services
For quick mockups and prototypes, use services that work without API keys:
- **Lorem Picsum** — random photos by size
- **Placehold.co** — colored placeholders with text
- **PlaceKeanu** — Keanu Reeves placeholder photos
- **Unsplash Source** — direct links to Unsplash photos

### 2. Match Content to Context
| Need | Best Source |
|------|-------------|
| Generic photo placeholders | Lorem Picsum, Unsplash Source |
| Specific subjects (business, nature) | Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay |
| Colored boxes with dimensions | Placehold.co |
| Avatars/faces | UI Faces, This Person Does Not Exist |
| Icons | Iconify, Feather Icons |

### 3. Know the URL Patterns
Quick patterns that work immediately:

```
# Lorem Picsum - random photo at size
https://picsum.photos/800/600

# Lorem Picsum - specific image by ID
https://picsum.photos/id/237/800/600

# Lorem Picsum - grayscale
https://picsum.photos/800/600?grayscale

# Placehold.co - gray placeholder with text
https://placehold.co/800x600

# Placehold.co - custom colors
https://placehold.co/800x600/000/fff

# Unsplash Source - specific search
https://source.unsplash.com/800x600/?nature

# PlaceKeanu - with size
https://placekeanu.com/800/600
```

### 4. Use Cached URLs for Consistency
When building prototypes that need consistent images across sessions:
- Use `id` parameter in Lorem Picsum
- Save specific Unsplash photo URLs
- Use `?random=1` only when variety is needed

### 5. Respect Licensing
| Service | License | Attribution |
|---------|---------|-------------|
| Unsplash | Unsplash License | Not required but appreciated |
| Pexels | Pexels License | Not required |
| Pixabay | Pixabay License | Not required |
| Lorem Picsum | Various | Photos from Unsplash |

For commercial projects, verify license on original photo page.

### 6. Load Category Index for Specific Needs
When user needs specific subjects (business people, landscapes, food), load `unsplash-categories.md` for curated URLs by category.

### 7. Optimize for Performance
- Use WebP format when supported: `https://picsum.photos/800/600.webp`
- Use exact dimensions needed (no oversized images)
- For retina: Placehold.co supports `@2x` and `@3x`

## Common Traps

- Using random URLs in production without caching → inconsistent images
- Hotlinking without checking terms → service blocks requests
- Using placeholder services for final production → unprofessional
- Requesting too large images → slow load times

## External Endpoints

| Endpoint | Data Sent | Purpose |
|----------|-----------|---------|
| picsum.photos | Image dimensions | Random photo |
| placehold.co | Dimensions, colors, text | Placeholder image |
| source.unsplash.com | Search terms | Unsplash photos |
| placekeanu.com | Dimensions | Keanu placeholder |

No authentication required. No user data sent.

## Security & Privacy

**Data that leaves your machine:**
- HTTP requests with dimensions and optional search terms

**Data that stays local:**
- Cached images in browser
- No tracking, no API keys needed

**This skill does NOT:**
- Store credentials
- Track usage
- Require API registration

## Related Skills
More Clawic skills, get them at https://clawic.com/skills/<slug> (install if the user confirms):
- `image` — image analysis and manipulation
- `image-generation` — AI image generation
- `frontend` — frontend development
- `design` — design principles
- `ui` — UI design patterns

## Feedback
- If useful, star it: https://clawic.com/skills/stock-images
- Latest version: https://clawic.com/skills/stock-images


---
Source attribution: clawic
Original project: https://github.com/clawic/skills/blob/f825206afbf1c697202533a9187be68c7b697e0e/skills/stock-images/SKILL.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Mega AI Hub.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2026 Ivan G. Davila

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.



# Mega AI Hub resource metadata

Creator / publisher: clawic
Original project: https://github.com/clawic/skills/blob/f825206afbf1c697202533a9187be68c7b697e0e/skills/stock-images/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Design, Marketing
Roles: Content Marketer, Product Designer, UX Designer
Specialties: Specialty not specified
Tools: Lorem Picsum, Pexels, Pixabay, Unsplash
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: 644db4ed87b2bdd0c268fe732bd2ed2e8e3837630c0054eafd82d639d5bcd745