Update to Our Auto-Trace Policy for Vector Illustrations

[vincent shutterstock]

Hi everyone,

 

We have updated our policy for vector illustrations with auto-traces. Please read this blog post:

http://www.shutterstock.com/blog/update-to-our-auto-trace-policy-for-vector-illustrations

 

If you have a question or require clarification of the new policy, please feel free to post a reply below.

We will post a follow up with an FAQ.

 

vincent

 

UPDATE

 

After receiving feedback from a number of our contributors in regards to our new auto-trace review policy, we have put together this FAQ to clarify some of the details that were not included in our original blog post

Q: Why can’t you create a separate category or tag for auto-traced vectors?
A: A separate category unfortunately does not actually help us reduce the number of poor quality auto-traces.

Q: Why can’t you tighten the rules for submission of auto-traces instead of denying them altogether?
A: That is exactly our intention with this policy, we are refining the kinds of vectors which we will accept, but we are by no means refusing ALL auto-traces. We will continue to accept auto-traced one-color vector elements (i.e line art, silhouettes), basic textures (paper, rough-surface), gradient textures, and even watercolour auto-traces as long as they are presented as background textures. Check out our lightbox of acceptable auto-trace vector techniques here.

Q: Can you raise the 15MB limit so contributors can submit higher quality traces?
A: While we feel the current 15MB limitation is acceptable for the majority of vector submissions, we will explore this option further

Q: Can you start accepting PSD files, since rasters are not editable?
A: We feel that a high quality raster actually allows a customer more flexibility, as they can create and manipulate an auto-trace on their own.

Q: If a watercolor effect is created with brushes, do we have to include the brushes in the vector?
A: It’s not required, that is totally up to the contributor. Any vector brushes can be either expanded or included in the pallette

Q: Will you be removing previously accepted auto-traces from your site?
A: No, any auto-traced content that was accepted prior to this policy will remain in the collection. As with most review policy changes, we normally do not remove previously accepted content unless it goes against a legal or compliance restriction.

In summary, our intent with this policy change is not to deny contributors the freedom to create new content, but rather provide them with the opportunity to create higher quality content that our customers have come to expect and in turn increase their portfolio profitability.

We value our collaboration with all our contributors and welcome their feedback and input. If you have any questions that were not addressed above, please post them in the comments below and we will do our best to address them as they come in.
 

[Fixazh]

http://forums.submit.shutterstock.com/gallery/image/262-unacceptable-auto-trace/

 

Vincent, please explain this

[vincent shutterstock]

If you disagree with the results of a review or feel that the review was incorrect, submit it again and a different reviewer will give it a second review.

[Fixazh]

Re-upload. Approved. Thank you, Vincent.

[Fixazh]

Upload for review JPG illustration. At this time - background. Simulated oil painting. Without autotrace. Rejected for the same reason - Unacceptable Auto Trace

Perhaps there are still a problem on the side of the review. Either reviewers JPG illustration and vectors combined into one team. Either SS is not explained to them. Politics is only changed for vector illustration?

[Darla Hallmark]

Maybe you should use a different filter, that doesn't look like autotrace.

[vincent shutterstock]

Upload for review JPG illustration. At this time - background. Simulated oil painting. Without autotrace. Rejected for the same reason - Unacceptable Auto Trace

 

Perhaps there are still a problem on the side of the review. Either reviewers JPG illustration and vectors combined into one team. Either SS is not explained to them. Politics is only changed for vector illustration?

 

If you didn't use autotrace but get the rejection for it, then whatever effect you used must have given that impression. So we recommend a different effect. Of course when we institute a new rule like this it is the effect we are after as much as the method used. 

[Fixazh]

If you didn't use autotrace but get the rejection for it, then whatever effect you used must have given that impression. So we recommend a different effect. Of course when we institute a new rule like this it is the effect we are after as much as the method used. 

 

Autotrace splits the image into a plurality segments. Art filter transforms the image into the brush strokes. That is, doing an imitation of painting. These are two different methods are not hard to distinguish. Whatever from filter. Identical structure brush strokes. And various forms of outlines.

If contributor doesn't make autotrace real painting. Then yes, maybe contours of brush strokes. But there is a reference image, or property release.

I understand Unacceptable Auto Trace is a preventive measure against many uploads big size jpg instead of rejected vector.

[Fixazh]

Maybe you should use a different filter, that doesn't look like autotrace.

 

I tried a third image. Still life. The same filter. A little more detailed elaboration. The description I says that this illustration jpg. Something was before - friendly quick review. Approved.

[Eng. Bilal Izaddin]

Hi, can I submitt both jpeg and vector file as other atock agencies do so the buyer have the chance to buy which one he like