Tue. Mar 19th, 2024
Reverse Image Search

Reverse Image Search is a content-based image retrieval (CBIR) query technique. CBIR is also known as query by image content or content-based visual information retrieval technique. CBIR is one of the applications of computer vision technique to solve a problem. It is the application of searching digital images in very large databases. CBIR technique is just opposite to concept-based approaches where the user searches for any data using the words or concepts.

Contents

What is Reverse Image Search

Reverse Image Search is one of search engine technology through which user can search using an image. It takes an image file as input query and provides all the information relating to the image. Reverse Image Search technique provides the CBIR system with a sample image that the system will use to perform the search. This sample image formulates the search query and gives the result to the user.

In simpler words, there is no need for search keyword to perform a search using this technique. This will remove the need for the user to guess a specific keyword to search for a query. This keyword may or may not return the correct result but using the image for search query will give the correct result about the image. It also allows users to discover more about a particular sample image. Users can find all the information relating to the image and even the popularity of the image. It will also provide users with some other derivation works on the image and other versions of the image.

How to search using an image

It is very easy to use the Reverse Image Search to search using an image.

Step I: At first user have to go to the image search page.

Open Google Image Search

Step II: Then user has to upload the image file from the computer. The user can also enter the URL of an image online to search about it.

Upload the Image

Step III: There are also some extensions available for Google Chrome and Firefox. These extensions will also help users to get search results about any online image by just a single click.

Using the Chrome Extension

This process will work best with those images that are connected to an online content. It means those things for which a potential result exists. The process will not work for any obscure images for which there is no potential result available online.

Best & Most important uses of Reverse Image Search

Here are some of the main benefits of using Reverse Image Search for searching about an image file.

  • This technique is sometimes used for tracking the use of a particular image. It will tell users when and where their image is re-used so that they can decide whether it is legal or not. This will allow users to take action against the illegal use of their image.
  • It also allows locating the source of a particular image. Users can use this technique to know about the origin of the image, where it was first used.
  • Users can also use this technique to find about any duplicate content of a particular image available online.
  • It can also be used to ensure the compliance of copyright regulations of a particular image.
  • With the use of this technique, users can also find information about the unidentified products and other objects available in the image.
  • It can also be used to expose a fake image.
  • Users can also use it to find higher resolution version of the particular image.

Best Android apps for Reverse Image Search

Now, the next part is to find the best apps to use this tool to search for any image. So, here is a list of the best Android apps that users can use for this purpose.

CamFind

CamFind is one of the best-known and oldest apps for searching using an image.  It also includes an inbuilt camera interface through which users can take a photo and then upload the photo to CamFind’s servers. After that, the app uses its proprietary Cloud Sight image recognition API to tell users everything about the image. It will even suggest some websites to users from where they will find some more information about the subject. CamFind for Android

PictPicks

PictPicks is another app that users can use for Reverse Image search. The app runs on Google’s Material Design Interface which makes it very pleasing to use. It uses the Google Image Search to deliver the search results to the users. However, it does not takes the user to Google’s webpage, it just delivers the results through its own user interface.PictPicks for Android

Search By Image

Search by Image is the next app in our list. However, it also displays the search results from TinEye along with the results from Google Image Search. Search By Image app

Image Search

This is the last app on our list of best Android apps for Reverse Image Search. It also uses the Google’s reverse image search engine to find the right information about the image. Although it doesn’t have a built-in camera interface users can snap the photo from any other camera app. Image Search app

Best iOS apps for Reverse Image Search

There are not many Reverse Search Image options available on iOS as they are on Android.  However, this part will include some of the best iOS apps to use this tool to search for any image.

Veracity

Veracity is one of the best and most popular iOS app for this purpose. User have to manually launch the app every time to search about an image. The app allows users to select images from camera roll, photo library, Dropbox or even from the clipboard. Veracity for iOS

CamFind

CamFind is one of the best-known and oldest app for searching using an image. It is also available for iOS devices.  It also includes an inbuilt camera interface through which users can take a photo and then upload the photo to CamFind’s servers. After that the app uses its proprietary Cloud Sight image recognition API to tell users everything about the image. It will even suggest some websites to users from where they will find some more information about the subject. CamFind for iOS

Reversee

This app works as a middleman between the user’s image and Google Image search. It will give a lot of information about the image to the user. The app also includes a built-in image editor that will allow them to crop or rotate the image before uploading. It also allows users to display the result in browsers depending on user’s choice.Reversee for iOSSearch By Image Extension

Unlike most of the apps for Reverse Search Image, Search By Image Extension is a paid app. It will cost a user about $ 0.99 in the U.S. to use this app. However, it will also offer some features that users will not find on any of the free apps. It also allows users to search image from browsers such as Safari, Chrome or even OperaSearch by Image Extension

 

Best Search Engines for Reverse Image Search

Now, after knowing about the best Reverse Image Search apps for Android and iOS, let’s know about some of the search engines for the purpose.

Google Images

Google Images is the most widely used search engine for this purpose. Google Images have one of the largest databases than any other search engine. The feature for Reverse Search Image was introduced in June 2011. This mechanism works via uploading an image from user’s computer or just pasting the image URL in the search bar to search about the image. Google Images

TinEye

TinEye is a product of Idee Inc. It is one of the most popular and widely used reverse search image engines to date. There is an index of more than 13.9 billion images on TinEye. User has to simply upload the image or provide its link to find more similar images. TinEye

Bing Image Match

Bing Image Match is Microsoft’s own search engine’s reverse photo search tool. It also allows users to either upload the images or add the image using the hyperlink. Then the Bing will return similar results relating to the image. However, the result from Bing is not as satisfying as from Google Image Search or TinEye.Bing Image Match

Yandex

Russia’s largest search engine Yandex also has its own reverse photo search tool. It allows users to input image using the URL of the image or even by directly uploading it form user’s computer. The main idea behind the development of this search engine was to track duplicate images. Yandex Image Search Engine

Pinterest Visual Search Tool

Pinterest Visual Search Tool is one of the most advanced reverse image technology. This feature allows users to search for similar images. It also allows users to zoom a particular image and dragging it to a specific part to search for it. Pinterest Visual Search

The below video by an indepependent youtuber gives a sneak-peak on how you can search using an image on the search engines.

I hope that readers will find this tutorial informative and will know about Reverse Image Search. There are more tools like SP Flash tool, and although there is limited choice for Reverse Image Search apps on mobile devices, the available apps work very well. So, I hope that users will try these apps and keep the app that they will like the most.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *