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January 17, 2011

Image Spark – Images that Inspire

Whether you work in an artistic field or simply enjoy looking at pretty things, Image Spark is an application that makes it easy to save and share all the online images that bring inspiration into your daily life. For fashion designers, graphic artists, and anyone who’s planning on undertaking a home renovation project in the future, using Image Spark is a way to prevent important design ideas and reference images from getting lost in the shuffle.

When you register for an account with Image Spark, you get 1 GB of image storing space and two moodboards to work with. The web-app offers a number of uploading tools – such as a Firebox plug-in, Mac application, and a basic browser uploader – that make it super simple to save images in your account. When you come across something that you’d like to save, right-click the image – assuming you’re using the Firefox plug-in – and select “Add to Image Spark.” The photo will be automatically saved in your Image Spark account, and you can revisit it by clicking on the “My Stuff” tab the next time you log into the site. If you save too many images, finding the ones you need can become a problem. That’s where Image Spark’s intuitive tagging features come into play. Using tags, you can keep images organized based on the project they’re meant to inspire, making it easy to find what you’re looking for in a flash.

For interior designers and amateur decorators alike, Image Spark’s moodboards are yet another useful tool for keeping track of furniture ideas and color inspirations. Converge multiple images onto a single moodboard and save the product to reflect back on later, or place all the furniture pieces you’ve selected for a given room on a moodboard to make sure the color palates and textures mesh well together. For designers, artists, and anyone else who’s ever lost track of an image file amidst the all the clutter on their desktop computer, Image Spark is a great way to save and store digital images and photos online.

Practical Uses:

  • Create a moodboard to keep your bedroom redecorating project on track
  • Keep digital photos and images organized by topic or project
  • Discover new photos to inspire your next graphic design project
  • Share your favorite images with clients and colleagues

Insider Tips:

  • Use the Firebox plug-in to save photos with one click
  • Accounts are currently free, however pricing for future upgrades hasn’t been determined
  • Image Spark will remove posted images that are protected by copyright
  • Users can browse through the photos other users have saved on Image Spark

What we liked:

  • It’s easier to find saved photos on Image Spark than in a desktop folder
  • Peeking through other users’ image libraries is fun and inspiring
  • Moodboards are an excellent way to layer images and plan out interior designs
  • Users have the option of keeping their saved images private

What we didn’t like:

  • Currently, users only have access to two moodboards at a time
  • Image Spark does not currently offer the ability to upgrade to a paid account with more storage space

Alternatives:

Company Info:

  • Launched: February 2009
  • Privately Held
  • Headquarters: Toronto, Canada
  • Founded by: Teehan+Lax
  • Web site: http://www.imgspark.com

Costs:

  • Free

Comments

  1. If it allows me to easily locate and tag photos, why not. The only problem is that for now, 1GB might not be enough for a designer who saves a tonne of photos for reference or for inspiration. The lack of moodboards and option to upgrade means we are stuck with the limited functions for the time being.

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