If you are new to purchasing professional imagery, you might not be familiar with the term "comping image", but it's something you need to know.

Comping Images are medium- to low-resolution images that you can use to "try out" in your layouts to see how they will look-- but they cannot be used for any finished project. That's true with comping images you get from any agency, including Comstock Images. Agencies like Comstock try to make it as easy as possible for you to "try out" images in your layouts, with the idea that when you are ready to move ahead with the final version, you must then purchase the image in the larger file size. And, registered users of our site can get unwatermarked versions for comping purposes.

For those who are curious...
...As to where the term "comping image" comes from, it is a shortening of the term "Comprehensive Rendering". When ad agencies or design studios are pitching ideas to clients, the final layout they mock-up to show the client (and really do it to the nines) is said to be a "comprehensive rendering" (or "comp") of the idea. Therefore, "comping images" may be used for those renderings, but may not be used (unless purchased) if the project moved forward to final production.

Be Careful...
Don't make mistakes in this area. If you should mistakenly (or, heaven forbid, on purpose) use a "comping image" from an agency in the final project without purchasing it first, you will be in violation of the copyright laws and subject to severe penalties. Learn more