Summary – Makifaa offers two image usage categories and three license types to accommodate all project needs:
- Editorial Use – Use of images to illustrate informative content (news, blogs, reportage) with no direct commercial intent.
- Commercial Use – Use of images to promote a product, service, or brand (advertising, marketing campaigns, printed marketing materials).
- Standard License – Basic license for everyday use (websites, social media, internal documents) with moderate distribution limits.
- Plus License – Extended license for advanced commercial uses (advertising campaigns, large-format displays, merchandise), with no cap on distribution or audience size.
- Custom License – Tailor-made license for very large-scale projects (budget > $500,000 or special requirements), negotiated directly with the Makifaa team.
Image Usage Types on Makifaa
Editorial Use
Editorial use refers to using images for informative or illustrative purposes in a non-commercial context. For instance, a photo used in a newspaper article, a blog post, or a news report is considered editorial use. These images support factual content or storytelling in media and are not used to sell or advertise a product (Ask Shutterstock: Editorial vs. Commercial Images). An editorial image can contain logos, trademarks, or recognizable people without releases, because it’s used to inform or educate, not to endorse a product (The Difference Between Commercial and Editorial Use). Important: Images marked “Editorial Use Only” on Makifaa (or any stock platform) cannot be used in commercials or ads – they are strictly for newsworthy or illustrative content in editorial contexts.
Commercial Use
Commercial use means using an image in any context that promotes, markets, or sells something. This covers advertisements (billboards, posters, online ads), visuals for marketing campaigns (social media posts for a brand, banner ads), product packaging, corporate brochures, and so on. Unlike editorial, commercial use requires that the image and all depicted elements (people, logos, property) are cleared for promotional use. In simpler terms, if you are incorporating a Makifaa image to endorse or sell a product/service – for example, in an advertisement, a company website, or a flyer for a business – that’s commercial use. You should ensure the image is appropriate for commercial usage (not restricted to editorial-only) and choose the proper license (Standard or Plus depending on the scale of your campaign). Commercial use of an image typically generates revenue or brand exposure, so it often requires a license with broader rights than purely editorial usage.
Makifaa’s Licensing Options
Makifaa provides three levels of licensing for its visual content: the Standard License, the Plus License, and the Custom License. All three are royalty-free licenses, meaning you pay once and can use the image indefinitely, worldwide, but they differ in the scope of usage rights they grant. Below we explain each license type in detail and what it allows you to do.
Standard License
The Standard License is the default license included with Makifaa image downloads. It covers typical usages for individuals and small organizations. Under a Standard License, you are allowed to use the image in a broad range of common applications: on websites, in social media posts, in blog articles, in internal presentations or documents, and in print materials with limited distribution. For example, you can illustrate a blog post, use the image in a small business website or include it in a flyer or magazine with a relatively low print run. The Standard License generally permits up to around 500,000 copies/impressions of the image in print (General conditions of use – Makifaa | Makifaa). It’s well-suited for personal projects, editorial content, bloggers, and small business marketing. However, there are restrictions: you cannot use Standard-licensed images on items for resale or distribution (e.g. on merchandise like t-shirts or mugs), and you cannot use them in large-scale advertising campaigns or unlimited mass distribution. In summary, if your usage is modest in scope and mainly digital or limited-print, the Standard License will suffice.
Plus License
The Plus License is an upgraded license intended for broader commercial and marketing use. It includes all the rights of the Standard License without the limitations. With a Plus License, you are allowed to do everything a Standard License covers, and more. This means you can run large-scale advertising campaigns with the image, use it in out-of-home advertisements like billboards and transit ads, and print an unlimited number of copies (no 500k cap) (General conditions of use – Makifaa | Makifaa). You can also use the image on products for sale or promotional distribution (such as merchandise, product packaging, or any item where the image is a part of the product) (General conditions of use – Makifaa | Makifaa) – something not permitted under Standard License. There are effectively no audience or print quantity limits with Plus: whether your advertisement is seen by millions on social media or you print a million brochures, a Plus License has you covered. This license is ideal for companies, marketers or agencies planning high-exposure campaigns, extensive print distributions, or product integrations using the image. Because it grants broader rights, the Plus License comes at a higher cost than Standard. In short, choose the Plus License if your project is a significant commercial endeavor (major advertising, high-volume prints, etc.) that goes beyond the Standard License’s scope.
Custom License
The Custom License is a tailored agreement for cases where neither the Standard nor Plus licenses meet your needs. This option is designed for very large-scale or specialized projects. For example, if you are planning a massive international advertising campaign with a budget exceeding $500,000, producing a feature film or TV series that requires specific image rights, or you need exclusive rights to an image, you would seek a Custom License. In such scenarios, you must contact Makifaa’s sales team to discuss your project requirements. They will negotiate a custom licensing contract granting any additional rights you require (for instance, exclusive use, all-rights buyout, usage beyond the normal terms, etc.). The terms (and pricing) of a Custom License are flexible and case-specific, determined by what the project demands. Essentially, a Custom License ensures you have all necessary rights secured for extraordinary use cases, via a direct agreement with Makifaa. If your usage goes beyond the Plus License or falls outside standard conditions, it’s time to talk about a Custom License.
Comparison Table of Makifaa Licenses
The following table summarizes key differences between the Standard, Plus, and Custom licenses to help you choose the right option:
| Criteria | Standard License | Plus License | Custom License |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical Uses | Basic editorial or small-scale commercial use: websites, blogs, social media, internal use, small print runs. | Expanded commercial use: large advertising campaigns, high-volume print materials, billboards, product packaging/merchandise. | Exceptional cases: very large or unique projects (global campaign, film production, exclusive usage). |
| Allowed Mediums | Digital (web, social media, email), print up to a limited quantity (e.g. magazines, flyers up to ~500k copies). | All media including large-format print, broadcast (TV/cinema), and items for resale or distribution (merchandise). | All media without exception, as defined by the negotiated contract. |
| Distribution Limits | Limited – e.g. approximately 500,000 total print copies or impressions max; restricted audience for videos (no broad TV/cinema distribution under Standard) ([General conditions of use – Makifaa | ||
| Included by Default | Comes with standard Makifaa image downloads (included in basic pricing plans). | Must be purchased as an upgrade (or via premium plans); higher fee than Standard. | Requires a specific agreement with Makifaa (contact sales team to arrange). |
| Ideal for / Budget | Ideal for individuals, bloggers, small businesses, or local projects (modest budget, limited reach). | Ideal for businesses, agencies, or national campaigns (significant marketing budget, broad reach). | Recommended for enterprises or productions with very large budgets (>$500k) or special licensing needs. |
Note: Regardless of license type, all Makifaa licenses are non-exclusive (other clients may license the same image) unless otherwise agreed in a custom contract. And all usage must comply with Makifaa’s general terms (no unlawful or defamatory use, etc.). When in doubt about which license to choose, it’s best to contact Makifaa support – it’s safer to clarify and obtain the proper license up front than to risk an improper usage. With this guide, professionals and the general public can confidently determine whether a Makifaa image requires a Standard, Plus, or Custom License, based on whether the use is editorial or commercial and on the scale of their project.