Developed and supported by PACA, pacaSearch serves to bridge the void left by existing image search engines. Unlike Google, pacaSearch provides buyers with results for only licensable imagery. Other existing search engines serve up both commercial and personal images in their photo search results. This can be especially problematic for professional image buyers.

“Learning about the functionality and usefulness of the PACA enhanced directory put a big smile on my face,” Lee Horton, Multimedia Editor, K12 Inc. said. “As a photo editor and art buyer I search multiple sites daily. This tool puts more control in my hands. With the launch of pacaSearch I can successfully and accurately find imagery in less time, with less hassle, while having more agency resources at my fingertips.”

Here is how it works in a nutshell. A buyer submits a term into pacaSearch to locate a library of images to explore. Almost instantly pacaSearch returns an index ranking of member libraries by both relevancy and most matches providing the searcher with multiple perspectives. Clicking on any of the libraries takes the user directly to the relevant imagery.

pacaSearch allows buyers to rapidly sample choices from multiple collections. They will relish the vast improvements pacaSearch provides over any existing image-based search engines. For example, searching by concept (a common weakness of image-based search engines).

pacaSearch helps members achieve broader online distribution of their image libraries at near zero cost. pacaSearch also facilitates the creation of highly coveted direct personal relationships between buyers and member agencies. Conversely, buyers will be constantly exposed to previously unknown sources of highly relevant content from among PACA’s globally diverse group of trusted professional image collections. PACA members will be provided access to traffic reports that include statistics detailing the number of searches, most frequent terms, and terms with no search results.

Keeping with PACA’s Mission Statement, pacaSearch does not collect a fee, bounty or royalty of any kind. The purpose of this powerful search technology is to provide the entire marketplace with a solution as dynamic as the collections available and with the convenience of a personal assistant. “PACA took on this project as a means to expose their members’ archives to a broader marketplace. PACA is working to be an advocate for our members commercially as well as with industry standards and issues,” noted PACA President, Maria Kessler.