Can I use this gray smoke on black background photo for free, commercially?

Yes. This photo is licensed CC BY 4.0, so you can use it in commercial and personal projects — websites, ads, social media, videos and client work — at no cost. The one condition is the credit: “Gray Smoke On Black Background” by BudgetPixel AI (https://budgetpixel.com/images/gray-smoke-on-black-background-77570ab3) — CC BY 4.0

What size is this photo?

The original is 2048×1152 pixels (JPG); it also downloads at 1280 px and 640 px on the long side. Its wide shape suits website hero banners, YouTube thumbnails, desktop wallpapers and presentation title slides.

Is this photo AI-generated?

Yes. It was generated by AI from the prompt “thick billowing gray smoke cloud drifting in from the left, on a pure black background” and it passed an AI review for quality and safety before listing. The downloaded file carries the IPTC “AI-generated” marker and its licence details.

Where can I find more backgrounds images like this?

Browse the Backgrounds collection, see the similar images below, or describe the exact picture you need and generate it free on this page.

Gray Smoke On Black Background — Free Stock Photo (HD JPG)

Thick billowing gray smoke drifts in from the left against a solid pure black background

About this photo

Dense, swirling soft gray smoke billows across the left side of a seamless black background, with ample empty copy space on the right. This dramatic, atmospheric asset works well for overlay effects, moody design projects and compositing.

Prompt: “thick billowing gray smoke cloud drifting in from the left, on a pure black background” — AI-generated and reviewed for quality before listing.

Editor's note (9.0/10): Naturally flowing smoke texture matches the brief perfectly, with clean edges, no artifacts, and generous usable copy space.

Also searched as: smoke overlay · gray smoke background · black background smoke · billowing fog effect · atmospheric smoke

Direct file: 2048×1152 JPG

Using this photo — common questions

Can I use this gray smoke on black background photo for free, commercially?: Yes. This photo is licensed CC BY 4.0, so you can use it in commercial and personal projects — websites, ads, social media, videos and client work — at no cost. The one condition is the credit: “Gray Smoke On Black Background” by BudgetPixel AI (https://budgetpixel.com/images/gray-smoke-on-black-background-77570ab3) — CC BY 4.0
What size is this photo?: The original is 2048×1152 pixels (JPG); it also downloads at 1280 px and 640 px on the long side. Its wide shape suits website hero banners, YouTube thumbnails, desktop wallpapers and presentation title slides.
Is this photo AI-generated?: Yes. It was generated by AI from the prompt “thick billowing gray smoke cloud drifting in from the left, on a pure black background” and it passed an AI review for quality and safety before listing. The downloaded file carries the IPTC “AI-generated” marker and its licence details.
Where can I find more backgrounds images like this?: Browse the Backgrounds collection, see the similar images below, or describe the exact picture you need and generate it free on this page.

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Similar images

Need a different take? Tweak the prompt and generate — free, no account

Safe-for-work images only — no nudity or sexual content, no real or famous people, no children. Blocked requests still count toward today’s limit.

Takes under a minute. Good results join the library for everyone, with their prompt.

Want it private, larger or edited? The image workshop generates with every model and keeps your images to your account. A free account comes with 300 credits a month.

Get images like this from your AI agent or your code

The whole library is searchable through the BudgetPixel MCP connector and the developer API, on every plan, Free included. A search costs 10 credits and returns each result's download link and credit line, so the 300 credits a free account gets every month cover 30 searches.

Ask your AI agent

Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor to your BudgetPixel account once, with no API key, then ask in plain words:

Find a free stock photo like “Gray Smoke On Black Background” and give me the download link and its credit line.

Connect the MCP server

Call the API

One request, with an API key from the developer console:

curl -G https://api.budgetpixel.com/v1/stock/images \
  --data-urlencode "query=gray smoke on black background" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $BUDGETPIXEL_API_KEY"

Get an API keyAPI docs

Nothing in the library fits? On any paid plan the same connector and API generate images to order, and the models also come as plugins for ComfyUI, WordPress and Cursor.