This Is How to Do A Reverse Image Search on Google Image

Google Image is a powerful search engine that is just as important as Google search engine. Yet, many teachers and educators overlook this service. If you have never tried Google Image before you definitely are missing out.

One of the really useful features I like the most in Google Image search is the reverse image search which allows you to search for similar images. This can be a very helpful tool in your teaching. For instance, use reverse image to search for sources of images students use in their assignments to make sure they are copyright free and are appropriately credited.

Students can use reverse image search to search for similar images on the web or to learn more about complex phenomena, or discover new concepts. For instance, let's say you took your students on a field trip somewhere and while they were exploring the area they came across rare plants or insects that they hadn't seen before. They can simply take a picture of the element in question, upload it to reverse image search and they will be able to learn more about it.

With mobile Google app this is even much simpler and easier. Students point the camera of their phone at an object and Google will automatically provide relevant search results for it.

Google Reverse Image search is only one feature among several other interesting features provided by Google Image. Below I share with you some of my favourite Google Image tips. I hope you will find them useful.

I- Search for images with reverse image search

You can use a given image to search for related images on the web. There are three ways to conduct a reverse image search:

✅ - Upload an image

Open Google Images and click on ‘Search by image’
Click Upload an image.
Click Choose file.
Select the image from your computer.

✅- Drag & drop an image into the search box (Chrome or Firefox 4+):

‘Visit images.google.com.
On your computer, click the image you want to search for.
While holding down the mouse, drag the image into the search box.’

✅ - Search using an image URL

'On any website, right-click an image and select Copy image URL.
On images.google.com or any Images results page, click Search by image Search by image.
Click Paste image URL.
Paste the URL you copied into the box.
Click Search by image.’

✅ - Right-click an image on a site (Chrome & Firefox)

☑ Chrome

‘Right-click any image you see on a website or in search results.
Click Search Google for this image.
A new tab will open with your results.’

☑ Firefox

‘Download the Search by Image extension.
Right-click any image you see on a website or in search results.
Click Search Google with this image.
A new tab will open with your results.’

II- Advanced Image Search

Image size: Find images in any size you need.
Aspect ratio: Specify the shape of images.
Colours in the image: Find images in your preferred colours.
Type of image: Limit the kind of images that you find.
Region: Find images published in a particular region.
Site or domain: Search one site (like sfmoma.org ) or limit your results to a domain like .edu, .org or .gov
SafeSearch: Tell SafeSearch whether to filter sexually explicit content.
File type:Find images in the format that you prefer.
Usage rights: Find images that you are free to use.