You put months of work into a piece. You post it online. And then nothing. Or so you think.
What you might not know is that your image could be living somewhere else on the internet entirely: on a print-on-demand store, a blog, a social media account, or a website you’ve never heard of. Someone found it, took it, and never asked permission.
This happens to artists every day. And the first step to protecting your work is simply knowing where it is.
That’s where a reverse image search comes in.
What Is a Reverse Image Search?
A reverse image search is exactly what it sounds like: instead of typing keywords into a search engine and getting images back, you upload an image (or paste its URL) and get back results showing where that image appears online.
It’s one of the most powerful tools available to artists and creators, and the good news is that it’s completely free to use.
Why Artists Should Be Doing This Regularly
Before we get into the how, it’s worth understanding why this matters.
Finding unauthorised use. If someone has used your artwork without permission on merchandise, a website, or social media, a reverse image search can surface it. You can’t enforce your rights if you don’t know the infringement is happening.
Catching low-quality reposts. Sometimes people share your work but strip your watermark or signature, removing the connection back to you. A reverse image search helps you find those instances and reclaim credit.
Monitoring your brand. If you’re a professional artist or illustrator, your work is part of your brand. Knowing where it shows up online gives you control over how it’s being represented.
Building a paper trail. If you ever need to pursue a compensation claim or take legal action, having documented evidence of when and where your image appeared is invaluable.
The Best Tools for Reverse Image Searching
There’s no single tool that catches everything, which is why artists who take this seriously use more than one. Here are the most reliable options available right now.
1. Google Images
Google’s reverse image search is the most widely used and often the best starting point.
How to use it:
- Go to images.google.com
- Click the camera icon in the search bar
- Either paste the URL of your image or upload a file directly from your device
- Review the results. Google will show visually similar images and any pages where your image (or a close match) appears
Pro tip: Try searching multiple versions of the same piece. A cropped version, a screenshot of the original post, and the full image file can each return different results.
2. TinEye
TinEye is built specifically for reverse image searching and is often the go-to tool for artists tracking their work. Unlike Google, it focuses exclusively on finding exact and near-exact matches of an image, not just visually similar ones.
How to use it:
- Go to tineye.com
- Upload your image or paste a URL
- TinEye will show you every indexed instance of that image, along with the oldest known version (which can be useful for proving when your work first appeared online)
What makes it worth using: TinEye has indexed over 60 billion images and adds more every day. Its “oldest match” feature is particularly useful if you ever need to establish your work’s originality.
3. Bing Visual Search
Microsoft’s Bing Visual Search is an underrated option that often catches results Google misses.
How to use it:
- Go to bing.com/visualsearch
- Upload an image or paste a URL
- Browse the results for matches and similar images
Bing tends to index different parts of the web than Google, so running both searches gives you a more complete picture.
4. Pinterest Visual Search
If your work exists in a more visual, lifestyle-oriented space (illustration, surface design, wedding art, home decor), Pinterest is worth checking separately. Their visual search tool is built into the platform.
How to use it:
- Go to pinterest.com
- Click the camera icon in the search bar
- Upload an image to find similar content and potential reposts within Pinterest’s ecosystem
How to Reverse Image Search on Mobile
Most artists share work directly from their phones, so knowing how to search from a mobile device is essential.
On iPhone or Android using Google:
- Open the Google app or Chrome browser
- Navigate to images.google.com
- Tap the camera icon and upload a photo from your camera roll, or take a photo directly
Using Google Lens:
Google Lens (available as a standalone app or built into the Google app) lets you point your camera at a physical artwork or screenshot and search instantly. It’s one of the fastest ways to check a piece you just finished.
A Simple Routine for Monitoring Your Work
Doing a one-time search is a good start, but the real protection comes from making this a regular habit. Here’s a simple approach:
When you post new work: Run a reverse image search 2 to 4 weeks after posting. By then, most crawlers will have indexed your image and any early reposts will be findable.
Monthly check-ins: Pick your 5 to 10 most popular pieces and run them through Google and TinEye once a month. These are the most likely targets for unauthorised use.
Before licensing or selling: If you’re about to license a piece or sell an original, do a fresh search to make sure you’re the only one actively offering it.
What to Do If You Find Unauthorised Use
Finding your image somewhere it shouldn’t be can feel overwhelming, but there’s a clear process to follow.
- Document everything first. Take screenshots with timestamps before doing anything else. Note the URL, the date, and exactly what the image is being used for. This record is the foundation of any claim you make later, so be thorough.
- Check if it’s licensed use. Sometimes people do license work and simply forget to credit you, or the credit is buried somewhere on the page. Worth confirming before taking any action.
- Identify how the image is being used. Is it on a commercial website? A product? Social media with monetisation? The context determines the value of the claim. Commercial use is worth significantly more than an uncredited blog post, and knowing this shapes your next step.
- Pursue compensation, not just removal. Getting the image taken down might feel satisfying, but it doesn’t recover what you’re owed. If someone has profited from your work without permission, you may be entitled to retroactive licensing fees or damages. Removing the content can actually weaken your position by eliminating the evidence.
- Consult a professional. We have been helping artists recover earnings from unauthorised use of their work since 2018. With over 600 artists supported and more than 120,000 counterfeits identified, our team knows exactly how to build a case, pursue the right channels, and get you what you’re owed. Get in touch to find out what your claim could be worth.
The Bigger Picture
A reverse image search takes less than five minutes. For most artists, it’s not something they’ve ever been taught to do, so it simply doesn’t happen. But the artists who protect their work most effectively are the ones who make monitoring a regular part of how they operate.
Your art has value. Knowing where it lives online is the first step to making sure that value stays with you. And when you do find unauthorised use, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Our team has been in your corner since 2018, helping artists turn infringement into the compensation they deserve.
Ready to find out if your work is being used without permission? Get in touch with our team and we’ll help you take it from there.