3 Great Image Based Searched Engines- search images by word

While Microsoft’s Bing introduced a new way to view image results from word searches, it did not modify the way that we actually do the image search. When using a traditional search engine to locate specific images based on keywords, this search can often be frustrating and time-consuming.

Fortunately, there has been a rise of image based search engines. Here is a list of the 3 must-try image based search engines: GazoPa, TinEye and BYO Image Search Lab.

1. GazoPa

GazoPa is a similar image search service on the web in open beta by Hitachi. Users can search images from the web based on user’s own photos, drawings, images found on the web and/or keywords. GazoPa enables users to search for a similar image from characteristics such as a color or a shape extracted from an image itself.
Since GazoPa uses image features to search other similar images, a vast range of images can be retrieved from the web. GazoPa allows you 7 different ways to search for images, being the most interesting: uploading an image from your PC, drawing a picture, and pasting image URL into the search field.

2. TinEye

TinEye is a reverse image search engine. It finds out where an image came from, how it is being used, if modified versions of the image exist, or if there is a higher resolution version. TinEye is different from Gazopa because it searches for image results that exactly match the photo you upload.

Here is a link to watch a video explanation of TinEye.

As of 11/16/10, TinEye has indexed 1,755,901,479 images from the web to help you find what you’re looking for.

3. BYO Search Image Lab

The BYO Image Search Lab allows users to upload personal images or use an image that is already online. It is similar to Gazopa but primarily matches images based on color rather than overall composition. Their super cutting-edge algorithms will analyze your image and carefully determine its dominant properties. Once it learns about its shapes, colors, and textures, it will instantly summon all the pictures that your image resembles.

Uses for Image Based Search Engines

There are 3 main uses for image based search engines:

1. Design research: Image based search engines allow you to explore different takes on a composition.
2. Keep an eye on copyright violations: Artists can filter through thousands of images to focus on the ones that look a bit too similar to their work.
3. Find out who is using/editing your images: Public relations and marketing specialists can zoom straight to the websites that are using (or abusing) the images of their clients.