Clip art

Clip art is a collection of pre-made images or graphics that can be inserted into documents, presentations, and other design projects.

Clip art refers to ready-made graphics added to projects for visual effect or explanation. It saves time by providing icons, illustrations, and decorations that anyone can use without creating original artwork.

What it is

Clip art is a collection of pre-made images such as icons, symbols, illustrations, borders, frames, stickers, and badges. These graphics are designed to be inserted quickly into documents, presentations, and other design projects to add visual interest or explain ideas. Clip art is distinct from stock photos, which are photographs rather than drawings or vector art.

Where to find it

Clip art is widely available from free image libraries and commercial stock sites. Popular free sources include Pixabay, ClipArt ETC, and open clip art repositories. Some educational collections offer source information for citation and classroom-friendly licensing. Paid libraries provide higher-quality or specialized graphics with commercial licenses.

Licensing and reuse

Whether clip art can be reused commercially depends on the license attached to the specific image or collection. Some libraries explicitly allow limited non-commercial school use, while others offer royalty-free downloads or paid commercial licenses. Canadian teachers, students, and designers should check each image's terms before reuse in presentations, classroom materials, or small business design work.