Images in novel

I would check their EULA on how you can use the images. Granted, they let you use them for the brochures, flyers, postcards, etc., you create using it but if you're talking about a larger work such as a novel, I'd check.

Possibly, if you save them as a common image file format, some of which Publisher apparently does export to (I'm assuming that you've a. either created the image yourself or dealt with all copyright concerns and b. asked your publisher, if any, whether they'll let you put images in at all). Print book or ebook, and if the latter, what format?

Ask Microsoft. They're probably the only place where you can get a definitive answer.

Finchlark said:

Thanks, after trolling through pages of FAQ's I think I'll give it a try freehand. :-0

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Sometimes a good, old-fashioned phone call is still the best way.

If you mean an image supplied by Publisher, check the EULA. But images imported into Pub depends on the ownership of the image, not Microsoft.

To go beyond the original question, there are billions of images on the web.

Images on many U.S. government web sites are public domain, though you need to double-check that on the particular site and image. Those you can massage and crop and otherwise use in any way you want.

Wikimedia.org also has many such images. It also has images which are usable as long as you fulfill the Creative Commons License for that image. This may (or may not) including giving credit for the image, and giving credit in a certain way. I only use those which may be credited in a Credits frontispiece.

Finchlark said:

Thanks, after trolling through pages of FAQ's I think I'll give it a try freehand. :-0

Click to expand...

Use an experienced, professional, children's book illustrator. Really.

Simply referencing Microsoft Publisher indicates you do not have the skill, knowledge or abilities to do the work on your own.

Jeff

The short answer is always, "If you don't know, don't use the image."

If you're using images that you didn't create yourself, then you'll definitely need to make sure that you have the right to use them in a commercial work.

Another thing to keep in mind: if you're planning to distribute the book in ebook form at all, be aware that images may not show up the same, or as well, in all different formats/on different devices. For example, color images might look striking on a tablet or a Kindle Fire, but are going to be black and white and possibly muted on a regular Kindle with an e-paper display.