Stock Images

Source free stock photos and placeholder images with direct URLs for Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay, and Lorem Picsum.

Setup

On first use, read setup.md silently. No setup needed for basic use.

When to Use

User needs stock photos or placeholder images for mockups, prototypes, websites, or presentations. Agent provides direct URLs without API keys when possible.

Architecture

No persistent storage needed. Reference files loaded on demand.

Quick Reference

Topic	File
Setup	setup.md
Memory template	memory-template.md
All providers with examples	providers.md
Unsplash category URLs	unsplash-categories.md

Core Rules

1. Prefer Direct URL Services

For quick mockups and prototypes, use services that work without API keys:

• Lorem Picsum — random photos by size
• Placehold.co — colored placeholders with text
• PlaceKeanu — Keanu Reeves placeholder photos
• Unsplash Source — direct links to Unsplash photos

2. Match Content to Context

Need	Best Source
Generic photo placeholders	Lorem Picsum, Unsplash Source
Specific subjects (business, nature)	Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay
Colored boxes with dimensions	Placehold.co
Avatars/faces	UI Faces, This Person Does Not Exist
Icons	Iconify, Feather Icons

3. Know the URL Patterns

Quick patterns that work immediately:

text

# Lorem Picsum - random photo at size
https://picsum.photos/800/600

# Lorem Picsum - specific image by ID
https://picsum.photos/id/237/800/600

# Lorem Picsum - grayscale
https://picsum.photos/800/600?grayscale

# Placehold.co - gray placeholder with text
https://placehold.co/800x600

# Placehold.co - custom colors
https://placehold.co/800x600/000/fff

# Unsplash Source - specific search
https://source.unsplash.com/800x600/?nature

# PlaceKeanu - with size
https://placekeanu.com/800/600

4. Use Cached URLs for Consistency

When building prototypes that need consistent images across sessions:

• Use id parameter in Lorem Picsum
• Save specific Unsplash photo URLs
• Use ?random=1 only when variety is needed

5. Respect Licensing

Service	License	Attribution
Unsplash	Unsplash License	Not required but appreciated
Pexels	Pexels License	Not required
Pixabay	Pixabay License	Not required
Lorem Picsum	Various	Photos from Unsplash

For commercial projects, verify license on original photo page.

6. Load Category Index for Specific Needs

When user needs specific subjects (business people, landscapes, food), load unsplash-categories.md for curated URLs by category.

7. Optimize for Performance

• Use WebP format when supported: https://picsum.photos/800/600.webp
• Use exact dimensions needed (no oversized images)
• For retina: Placehold.co supports @2x and @3x

Common Traps

• Using random URLs in production without caching → inconsistent images
• Hotlinking without checking terms → service blocks requests
• Using placeholder services for final production → unprofessional
• Requesting too large images → slow load times

External Endpoints

Endpoint	Data Sent	Purpose
picsum.photos	Image dimensions	Random photo
placehold.co	Dimensions, colors, text	Placeholder image
source.unsplash.com	Search terms	Unsplash photos
placekeanu.com	Dimensions	Keanu placeholder

No authentication required. No user data sent.

Security & Privacy

Data that leaves your machine:

• HTTP requests with dimensions and optional search terms

Data that stays local:

• Cached images in browser
• No tracking, no API keys needed

This skill does NOT:

• Store credentials
• Track usage
• Require API registration

Related Skills

Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms:

• image — image analysis and manipulation
• image-generation — AI image generation
• frontend — frontend development
• design — design principles
• ui — UI design patterns

Feedback

• If useful: clawhub star stock-images
• Stay updated: clawhub sync