--- title: How to License Images | ArchExplorer Archive Guide description: Step-by-step guide to searching, licensing, and downloading architectural photography from the ArchExplorer archive. 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[For Contributors](https://archexplorer.com/apply-contributor) Search - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. # How to Search, License, and Download Images from ArchExplorer [Getting Started](https://archexplorer.com/purchase-guide?hsLang=en#start-your-search) [Advanced Search](https://archexplorer.com/purchase-guide?hsLang=en#use-advanced-search) [Picking Your Images](https://archexplorer.com/purchase-guide?hsLang=en#preview-your-images) [Saving to Lightbox](https://archexplorer.com/purchase-guide?hsLang=en#save-images-to-lightbox) [Licensing and Downloading Process](https://archexplorer.com/purchase-guide?hsLang=en#buy-images)   ## Getting Started 1. Register or Sign In to get Started 2. Search by a project name, architect, company name or location. 3. For more precise search use quotation marks and commas between keywords. Example: "SOM", "NEW YORK", "SKYSCRAPER". 4. Press the Search icon to get to the Advanced search options.   ## Advanced Search 1. Filter by displaying Images or Projects. 2. Narrow down searched keywords by selecting categories that show the number of images (ex. 7 images). 3. Create and Save Content to the Lightbox: - Generate a PDF: Click the "Print" button to create a PDF file of your selected images. - Email Your Selects: Click the "Email" button to send your selected images. - Add to Cart: Click the "Add to Cart" button to prepare your selected images for purchase. - Request a Price: Click "More Actions" and select "Price Request" to inquire about the cost of your selected images. 4. View your Lightboxes or your shopping cart. 5. Click on a photo to view more details, add an image to the lightbox, and see pricing options.   ### Picking your images 1. View more images from the same project (if available). 2. Explore additional keywords associated with the image. 3. Click “PRICE” to begin the licensing and downloading process. 4. Detail information about the image, including Original filename, Photographer, Image Size, production date and related project.   ### Saving to Lightbox 1. Press the Lightbox tab in the bottom right corner to open it. 2. Switch between created lightboxes and stay organized by renaming them. The lightbox can be downloaded or emailed as a PDF file. 3. Use this drop‑down menu to add or move selected images to your shopping cart, remove selected images from Lightbox, or Email a link to the selected images in Lightbox.   ### Licensing and downloading process 1. Open the image you like and click on the "PRICE" button. 2. In the pop-up window, choose your desired usage type from the "Use" section. 3. Choose the desired duration for using the image from the available options in the “License Duration” drop-down menu. 4. Click "ADD TO CART" and navigate to your shopping cart. 5. Once you're ready to check out, click "Next" in the shopping cart. To submit your order, click "Place your Order". You can then submit your payment via PayPal, after which you will receive an email with a link to download your image(s). ## Let’s talk about your project. ###### Contact us: ###### General: [hi@archexplorer.com](mailto:hi@archexplorer.com) ###### Licensing: [licensing@archexplorer.com](mailto:licensing@archexplorer.com) ##### Follow us on [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/archexplorer/) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/11056663/) © 2026 All rights reserved. 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