Source for technical images?

[Boomzilla]

This is in the Green Room for a reason! This question is REALLY out there, but I'm asking it here because I know that the quality of technical advice to be found on the Lounge is very high, even on topics not connected with audio.

Background:

I've written a book (my third) for a professional organization. Their publishing arm has the ability to market the book worldwide, translate the text, etc. But they don't offer in-house illustration. That responsibility falls on the author. Of my three books, this is the first one that will require extensive illustrations. I anticipate needing between 50 and 100 illustrations for the book. I've tried hiring illustrators: The first I hired was an artist who had the ability to draw good diagrams, but who lacked sufficient background in industry to know what equipment I was asking him to illustrate. The second was an engineer with good industrial background, but insufficient artistic skill to create the images I asked for.

I then tried to purchase images for use in the book. My first attempt was with Shutterstock.com. They are reputed to have one of the largest libraries of images online, but I found two specific problems with trying to use their images:

1. They lack more than 50% of the images I'm seeking. I want specific diagrams of valves, tanks, pressure vessels, and other industrial equipment (in vector format), and Shutterstock just doesn't have them.
2. Shutterstock wants an "extended license" to use their images commercially, and their pricing (in lots of 25 images) is $70 per image. This is not feasible.

Requirements:

The publisher requires specific permissions for any image used in their publications:

• For the right to use their material in your Work and in any related derivative and ancillary Works
• For worldwide distribution
• For use in print and/or electronic delivery platforms in any and all media now known or hereafter developed
• For use in all editions, for the life of those editions without limitation
• For use in all languages
• For use in advertisements and promotional materials for your Work

Options:

I could produce the images myself. I have both the technical knowledge and the artistic skill to do so, but I don't have the time needed to create the images by my publisher's deadline (June of 2022). I'm working with clients virtually full time, and would have to work evenings and nights to do the illustrating.

I could use internet images and obtain individual permissions for each image from the source. This would be incredibly time consuming and might end up being the most expensive of all the options.

I can find an internet source that has technical images for sale at a reasonable price and offers the permissions required by my publisher. This would be the best option if I can find such a source. I might have to modify the images to depict the specific aspect that I'm trying to illustrate, but I can do that (I have not only the vector image software but also the technical ability to use it).

The Question:

Is anyone familiar with any source of technical diagrams where I might find the images and pricing that I need for this book?

Thanks - Glenn Young

Postscriptum:

The specific images I need include (at a minimum):

a piping leak containment can
a sloped dike containing a leaking tank with a fire at the bottom of the slope (away from the tank)
a failed frangible-roof seam on a tank with a split between the wall and the roof
a floating-roof tank with internal structures identified
a cutaway view of a plug valve
a cutaway view of a ball valve
a cutaway view of a 3-way valve
a cutaway view of a pinch valve
a cutaway view of a fluidic check valve
a cutaway view of a canned centrifugal pump
a cutaway view of a magnetic-drive centrifugal pump
a cutaway view of a fractional distillation column
a cutaway view of a fractional distillation column with multiple side taps
a cutaway view of a packed column with pluggage in the packed section
a cutaway view of a distillation column bottom section with a flange inside the support skirts
a cutaway view of a distillation column bottom section with the first flange outside the support skirts
a cutaway view of a piping expansion joint
a cutaway view of a screw (vane) compressor
a cutaway view of a roots blower
a cutaway view of a rotary kiln incinerator
a cutaway view of a fluid bed incinerator
a cutaway view of a liquid injection incinerator
a cutaway view of a fluidized bed reactor

[hemster]

Have you looked at images published by academic institutions? Research-based journals, etc. may allow re-use of their images without violating any copyrights.

Have a look at this (enggcyclopedia). 

[Boomzilla]

Thanks hemster - I'll check them out!

[DYohn]

3D CAD designer (Inventor, Solid Works, etc.) or a cartoonist rather than an illustrator.

[Boomzilla]

Hadn't thought of that - Thanks, DYohn!

[donh50]

Look for a good technical illustrator rather than an artist or engineer. A friend a few years ago with a similar problem ended up looking for technical writers in the area and they were able to hook him up with several tech illustrators so he found a match.