What to Check Before Sharing a Restoration of a NoDerivatives Photo
By ImgHeal · Updated
A downloadable photograph can carry a license that allows sharing the supplied image while placing conditions on modified versions. Check the actual license before treating a cleaner or colorized copy as ready for publication.
Explore this topic: Share restored photos
Identify the licensed source and proposed output
Save the original item page, creator information, source file, and complete license link. Record its version rather than relying on an ND icon in search results. Describe the intended output precisely: a scratch-cleaned viewing copy, generated colorization, a crop, or an unchanged reproduction. Note where you intend to share it. These details make a permission question understandable and prevent a general statement about downloading from being mistaken for approval of a particular derivative.
Separate preparing a copy from distributing it
Read the actual license and its official explanation. The CC BY-ND 4.0 deed distinguishes sharing the licensed material from distributing modified material. Whether a particular operation creates adapted material can depend on the facts and applicable rules; do not declare every restoration exempt merely because it is helpful or automatic. A credit line does not by itself remove a NoDerivatives condition. Where the planned use is unclear, seek a suitable permission or advice before distributing the changed version.
Keep an explicit sharing decision
If permission is obtained, retain the response with the specific source, edits, audience, and any agreed conditions. If it is not obtained, consider sharing an allowed unchanged source or choosing another photograph with suitable terms. Preserve the editable restoration separately from the copy approved for distribution. Describe AI-generated changes accurately and keep the creator's identity distinct from the editor's contribution. Revisit the decision if the intended use changes from a private review to a public website or printed product.
Check before sharing this record
- Record the exact source and ND license version.
- Describe both the edit and intended distribution.
- Retain any separate permission with the approved output.
Sources and further reading
- Creative Commons: Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0Conditions concerning distribution of adapted material and other permissions that may still be needed.
- Creative Commons: Frequently asked questionsLicense elements, attribution, adaptations, and questions to resolve before reusing licensed material.
Questions about this restoration task
Does adding an original-source credit make any modified version shareable?
No. Attribution and NoDerivatives address different conditions. Read the applicable license and resolve the proposed modification and distribution rather than treating a credit as blanket permission.
Continue with a related guide
Try a restoration on a copy of your photo
Keep the original scan. Upload a separate digital copy, review ImgHeal’s generated result, and decide whether it suits your needs.
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