I've searched everything I can think of & didn't find an answer. Probably a silly question, but when you view fabrics online, how do you know what direction the image goes? i.e: standing birds, clouds, waves, or even stripes. Are the selvages considered the left and right "sides"?
Thank you.

Usually.

yes, the selvages are considered the left and right sides since they designate the grain of the fabric.

the salvages are sometimes the top and bottom of designs too...every fabric has it's own (characteristics) the way to tell is just by looking at it. :)

I think more to the point, if all your given is a 6" picture of a printed fabric, there is no way to tell if the print is longways, or across the grain. If your buying the fabric with a specific purpose in mind, knowing how the print lies is very important to the amount of fabric you will need. Best to use the "ask questions" email section and ask before you buy!!!

I have had to deal with this a few times. I was concerned enough that I called the store and was still misinformed. That is a tricky question to ask and answer.