Whether it’s to show a client the latest revision or to showcase a new template to the world, a reliable image host is one of the essential tools for a professional web designer. There are certainly plenty of options out there, but do any of them cater exclusively to designers? A brief Google search revealed no such service and so I will highlight 3 core functions that would make for a great designer image host.

Portfolio Management

First and foremost, a designer needs the ability to manage images that have been uploaded. Some images will need to be secure and viewable by only a single client, some will be viewed by all. This would not be a unique feature however in the age of social media, the more exposure a designer can get online, the more likely they are to secure new projects.

Web Design Previews

An image is great, but how will a design look in the browser? So far I only know of one site offering this service: Coded Preview is a brilliant service which allows designers to upload a main image plus a background image from a design, tweak some settings and before you know it, a browser preview is ready. This is a really useful tool, that if integrated with other services would be a real winner. I have used it time and time again. Check out an example here.

Watermarking

Creative copyright is something that is important to every designer but yet no image hosts offer an automated watermarking service. It is common practice in the design arena to watermark your own images before uploading but a simple piece of code like this would make the process a whole lot easier. Just invite the designer to upload a black and white logo, or type their chosen watermarking phrase and voila, you have one beautifully protected design.

Having covered the 3 bullets, let’s look at monetization.

Monetization

With a service such as this, it goes without saying that a great monetization method would be subscriptions. More prominent portfolio placement and some premium tools would likely be enough to bring in a few subscribers, and generate a consistent monthly income. Another great way would be to integrate a design marketplace where users can sell their uploaded designs. It’s a whole other site in itself but this notion of merging sites is a great way to give your website a much needed hook.

Summary

So to summarize, we have looked at 3 different elements that would make for a great designer image host, and also some methods to monetize the idea.

Highlights:

• Hosted image portfolio
• Easily preview web designs (in browser view)
• Watermarked uploads
• Monetization might come from subscriptions or a marketplace

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