You can use images from the DCS Image Library for educational purposes only. There is no charge for this. If you want to use an image from the DCS Image Library for any other purpose, please email us details of your request.

You can find images by using either the "browse by category" or search facilities. On the left side of the screen below the DCS logo is “browse by category”. This shows a list of categories which represent the work of the DCS. Clicking on a word takes you to the images in that category. Alternatively, using the "quick search" text box: at the top of the screen, enter a word or phrase for an image you would like to find and click on the “go” button. Quick search is not case sensitive and will pick up plurals e.g. “event” will also display “events”. Please note that a quick search for a term such as “deer” will pick up all instances and types of deer, so will return a lot of results. Therefore, for a more specific search you can use the advanced search facility.

To do this, click on the "Search" button at the top left of the screen. This takes you to the advanced search page. Here you'll find a dropdown list of keywords which you can choose from. You can also use the dropdown "description" menu to choose whether the image description should contain, or not contain, a particular word which you then type in the textbox provided. You can then choose to search for images which match "any" or "all" of the criteria you have set. E.g. if you are searching for an image of a red deer calf you would select "Deer - Red" from the dropdown list of keywords, then select "description contains" and type "calf" in the textbox. If you only want the results to show a red deer calf you would select "search on all". If you select "search on any" you would also find images of other red deer, or other types of deer calf.

Now click "search" to search the library and your search results will appear.

Below the text “Search Results” is “You are here”. This helps you see where you are, and also allows you to go back to amend your search by selecting “Search”, or to go back to the start by selecting “Home”.

The search results show how many images matching your criteria there are in the collection and shows a thumbnail image of each record. If you want to, you can download a tiny thumbnail of the image to your desktop by clicking on "download thumbnail", or you can add an image straight to your lightbox. Your lightbox acts like a shopping basket for you to collect your images for downloading.

Before you add an image to your lightbox, you may want to view it in more detail by clicking on the image, or by clicking on “view details”. This will open a larger preview of the image and will show you the image description and the technical information for the image. This includes the file size (in kilobytes) of the download file. The download files are approximately A6 in size and so can be printed up to that size at 300dpi, or can be used for web or powerpoint presentations. If you require a larger image size for your purposes, please email us details of your request.

If the image you have viewed in detail is not suitable, simply click on the “Results” link to take you back to your search results. If the image is suitable, you can click “add to lightbox” to create a mini portfolio or basket of images for you to compare and select from. You can add as many images as you like to your lightbox and your lightbox will be active for 28 days, so you can come back and review and download images later. You can remove all images by clicking on “clear lightbox” or remove individual images by selecting “remove” under each individual image.

Once you have all the images you want in your lightbox, click “add to download” under the first image. This will take you to your download page. If you have other images in your lightbox you want to download, click on the "Lightbox" button at the top of the page to go back and do the same for each image you want to download.

When you have added all your images to the download, click on the “Download Images” button.

A form will now appear on your screen. It simply asks for your name, email address, intended image use and any instructions or comments. Fill in the form and check that you have entered the information correctly. If you make a mistake just click on the “reset” button. When you are ready, click on the “send” button.

The information you enter on the form will be used to process your image request and to provide statistical information for the Deer Commission for Scotland on image use. Your information will not be passed to third parties.

After submitting the form a “Thank you” page appears. This simply confirms that the information has been sent and that you can now download your images.

You now need to click on the correct download format for your computer i.e. “.zip format” for PC users, and “.sit format” for MAC users. If you do not have the software to open/expand a .zip or .sit file you can download free software from the web such as Winzip or Stuffit expander.

A File Download Window will appear asking if you want to open or save this file.

Choose to save the file to your desktop and when the download is complete either exit your browser to begin working with your images or follow the other links on the page

If you need any help or have any questions or problems, you can email us for assistance. Normal office hours are 9am - 4.30pm Mon - Fri and we will respond to you request as soon as possible.

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