1. Microsoft Clip Art Is Free and Pretty Good. You do not have to pay a hefty bundle for clipart; you can it for free from Microsoft.  Few things are free these days, except maybe your first hit of acid, so I suggest you take advantage of it.  Gone are the days when you have to worry about ending up with the same five images everyone else has.  Microsoft clip art has thousands of images to chose from.

Check out Microsoft Clip Art.http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/default.aspx

2. Avoid Outdated Images and Colors. The biggest clipart mistake people make is using outdated looking images.  Watch for the color choices that the clip art you use include.  Avoid fuzzy, and images that are not crisp.  They make you look like an amateur.

Use crisp, dynamic images.

3. Photos Look More Professional Than Animations All of the fun animated images in the clip art file may look interesting, but pass them up for the solid and professional looking photos, you’re not creating a preschool newsletter!  Today you can find photos of just about anything and they portray a much classier and more professional image for your document.

Use photos and dump the animated images.

4. Avoid Copyright Infringement.  Don’t just go out and grab images from Google or other websites.  You run the risk of copyright infringements, which can land you in big legal trouble.  Instead stick to clip art programs or websites  which allow you to purchase the rights to images you use.

Make sure you use images that do not have copyrights attached.

5. Bold Imagery Makes Points Clear. Use images that are bold and uncluttered.  Use simple pictures that tell a story.  Watch out for images that have backgrounds other than white, as they have a tendency to look busy and out of place on your documents.

Simple is better.