Google Hacks, 2nd Edition

Google Images Advanced Search Interface

The Google Advanced Image Search (http://images.google.com/advanced_image_search) allows you to specify the size (expressed in pixels, not kilobytes) of the returned image. You can also specify the kind of pictures that you want (Google Images indexes only JPEG and GIF files), image color (black and white, grayscale, or full color), and any domain to which you wish to restrict your search.

Google Image search also uses three levels of filtering: none, moderate, and strict. Moderate filters only explicit images, while strict filters both images and text. While automatic filtering doesn’t guarantee that you won’t find any offensive content, it will help. However, sometimes filtering works against you. If you’re searching for images related to breast cancer, Google’s strict filtering will cut down greatly on your potential number of results. Any time you’re using a word that might be considered offensive—even in an innocent context—you’ll have to consider turning off the filters or risk missing relevant results. One way to get around the filters is to try alternate words. If you’re searching for breast cancer images, try searching for mammograms or Tamoxifen, a drug used to treat breast cancer.