The Google "View Image" Button is Gone

Report · Feb 24, 2018

Why isn’t there a “View Image” button on Google, anymore?

At first, we thought something wasn’t working, this week. The View Image was a cool Google feature, which would often provide a reasonably sized image. That had been a great research tool for us. It was faster than going to the Googled web page and looking all over the place for what appeared in a Google search. (Sometimes the Google image doesn’t appear at all).

But, not everyone thinks like we do. For some people, that feature was means of making it a little easier to steal images.

Getty Images, the huge stock imagery library (which has tens of thousands of photos we created), complained to the European Union’s antitrust commission. It has been reported that Google settled with Getty over their complaint. And, hence, the “View Image” feature is gone.

We will miss that feature, but strongly support justice for the intellectual property of creative professionals.

Report · Feb 26, 2018

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Brian+Stoppee wrote
https://forums.adobe.com/people/Brian+Stoppee wrote
Here's a helpful link from The Verge about an alliance Getty and Google has announced this month:
Google will make copyright disclaimers more prominent in image search - The Verge
Technology leaders have something to teach politicians.

Meh....learnin's overrated.

~Gutterfish

Report · Feb 27, 2018

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Brian+Stoppee wrote
Here's a helpful link from The Verge about an alliance Getty and Google has announced this month:
Google will make copyright disclaimers more prominent in image search - The Verge

We are also seeing some media outlets mentioning that Google has opened discussions with photographers about some of these copyright issues.

We do not see any specifics on this but would hope that means they are talking to organizations like PPA, ASMP, etc. Since it's not all photographic oriented, we would also hope that Google is involving organizations which represent graphic designers, illustrators, film producers, and recording artists, too.

Report · Feb 27, 2018

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Brian+Stoppee wrote
We do not see any specifics on this but would hope that means they are talking to organizations like PPA, ASMP, etc. Since it's not all photographic oriented, we would also hope that Google is involving organizations which represent graphic designers, illustrators, film producers, and recording artists, too.

BTW: If you are involved in one of these organizations, and know its involved in talks with Google, please post that information here.

Report · Feb 25, 2018

<So you are in favor of removing tools which encourage your average, everyday Internet user to steal images (sometimes when they don't even understand that they're doing something wrong)?>

No because it's futile. Anybody can grab a screen capture.

Screen Capture Shortcuts For Windows and MacOSX – Complete Guide - Hongkiat

And of course there are various browser add-ons for grabbing screen captures.

Incidentally, Goggle is not preventing people from getting images. Hit the SAVE button and then View Saved. See screenshot.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User, Community Expert & Moderator

Report · Feb 25, 2018

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Nancy+OShea wrote
No because it's futile. Anybody can grab a screen capture.

Sure. But a screen grab is a different deal than some of those 3… 4… 10 MB images which sit out on servers and the Google feature accessed.

Report · Feb 25, 2018

But a screen grab is a different deal than some of those 3… 4… 10 MB images...

Well sure. But a right-click in browser is all it takes to find the full size image.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User, Community Expert & Moderator

Report · Feb 25, 2018

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Nancy+OShea wrote
Well sure. But a right-click in browser is all it takes to find the full size image.

That would be true if you found the monster image. The Google View Image button allowed you to select an image and then it would go into deeper searches for variations of that image noting the image sizes as you went.

You can still find them. It just takes longer.

I just tried a search for Lindsey Vonn (I figured that would be a plentiful Google search, right now… it was). Maybe there aren't any big images of her?

If you're the stealing type, there's plenty there to steal, and many ways to steal it.

If you're doing research (as we do) getting to the big images is tougher, but we understand. Google had to do it.

Report · Mar 01, 2018

Here is a plugin to add the functionality back

Mozzila: Google Search "View Image" Button – Add-ons for Firefox

Chrome: View Image - Chrome Web Store

Report · Mar 01, 2018

In chrome you can right click and choose "open image in new tab" which will give you the full size image in a new tab.

Also the right clickoption for "search Google for image" , which brings you to a refined search, is still there.

That function was never a function of the "view image" button as someone else stated above.

Primates teaching each other how to use tools....ain't it grand?

~Gutterfish

Report · Mar 01, 2018

WILDCAT54 wrote
Here is a plugin to add the functionality back
Mozzila: Google Search "View Image" Button – Add-ons for Firefox
Chrome: View Image - Chrome Web Store

One of the cool functions of the original View Image button was the search components which it triggered.

Does anyone know if these are browser buttons which bring up the selected image or do they also trigger that previous search feature set?

Report · Mar 01, 2018

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Brian+Stoopee wrote
One of the cool functions of the original View Image button was the search components which it triggered.
Does anyone know if these are browser buttons which bring up the selected image or do they also trigger that previous search feature set?

right click & choose "search google for image".

That's how it always was in Chrome. The view image button never triggered any advanced search options. At least not for me,

~Gutterfish

Report · Mar 01, 2018

Gutterfish wrote
The view image button never triggered any advanced search options. At least not for me,

It did images size searches for Janet & I and some of our researchers.We didn't toy with it too much, without the button but we cannot figure out the image size thing. We can still get there—it just takes longer.

Report · Mar 01, 2018

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Brian+Stoppee wrote
It did images size searches for Janet & I and some of our researchers.We didn't toy with it too much, without the button but we cannot figure out the image size thing. We can still get there—it just takes longer.

You mean this? I always had to right click and choose "search google for image" in chrome/windows

~Gutterfish

Report · Mar 01, 2018

Gutterfish wrote
You mean this? I always had to right click and choose "search google for image" in chrome/windows

Yep. Always worked in Safari but would that matter?

Report · Mar 01, 2018

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Brian+Stoppee wrote
Gutterfish wrote
You mean this? I always had to right click and choose "search google for image" in chrome/windows
Yep. Always worked in Safari but would that matter?

Not to me, no. Well hopefully you'll figure it out. Good luck

~Gutterfish