Attached Link: http://www.istockphoto.com/design_spotlight_details.php?ID=1272

"Effects are not very welcome in graphic design. Are you for real tantarus???" Sans2012, actually, tantarus had a good point there. A lot of old school print graphic designers look down on basic Photoshop effects. Plus, it's available and easy to use, and as a result it becomes overused. It's an easy way out, and the technique is very recognizable, so there's that to consider, too. If it looks too much like all you did was apply a ready-made style, then people aren't as impressed with it. As for stock images, ditto what bonestructure said. I use a lot of stock photos for the book covers I do, especially for photo compositing an original piece. There ARE, however, some places that sell them at reasonable prices. I'm including a link to one of my photo composition pieces at a stock photo place I use often.