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Topic: Cutcaster  

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redfig


« on: April 29, 2008, 12:27 »

Hi
I have just found Cutcaster  http://www.cutcaster.com/

What do you think of this idea  for stock
All the very best
Redfig


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DepositPhotos.com
jsnover


« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2008, 15:33 »

Seems to me that given the prices (seemed photos were $20 for a full size) bargaining is just a way to sink a bunch of time into the process. Don't see how that makes sense unless you're looking for something to do.

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ichiro17


« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2008, 15:44 »

oh no, not another - dum dum dum

My vote:  3 LuckyOlivers against it Smiley


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cshack


« Reply #3 on: April 29, 2008, 16:03 »

Nice idea but I don't think it will ever work.  Any idea about the rules there.   If you're going to sell images for $20 wouldn't you need to only upload that image there and not on other micro sites? 

I also looked at some of the images there and they seem to accept almost anything.....I mean ANYTHING!


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redfig


« Reply #4 on: April 29, 2008, 16:05 »

Hi
Here is a link
http://www.microstockdiaries.com/cutcaster-next-generation-creative-marketplace.html
From microstock diaries.
 We we will see how it all goes  Huh


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Wisent


« Reply #5 on: April 29, 2008, 17:27 »

I signed up 30min ago and am still waiting for the confirmation e-mail. Not a good sign if you ask me


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snurder


« Reply #6 on: April 29, 2008, 18:12 »

Looks like FeaturePics on steroids. And you know where that site is headed.


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johngriffin
« Reply #7 on: April 29, 2008, 18:21 »

Hey Guys,

I am John the founder and wanted to see if I could clarify up somethings but also thank you for the feedback.  This will help us get better and I'm learning ;-).  As you can probably tell, we just launched into beta on the first of this month so our doors have only been open for a month.

cshack's comment made me laugh but we are in beta.  Cut me a little slack as I try to catch up to the bigger sites ;-)  Our content has quadrupled since I left my job 4 months ago and we have our FTP almost ready to go but we have bulk upload through the site right now.  I am hoping by next week we have the FTP ready for images.

As for setting your prices, you can set your own price, choose our Cutcaster algorithm as well as set the start price for where it begins trading or you can choose the algorithm and we will set the default start price at 20.  To be totally honest, I don't want to tell you what to charge for your photos because you are the ones who took the time and expense to create them and how would I ever know how to price all the content that was uploaded to me.  Id be lying as well if I said all content should be priced equally. That is what I always found funny about the other sites that they told you what to charge.

jsnover.  That is a great question and i am really glad you brought up that concern.  The bidding shouldn't be a time waster but a way for you to understand where the demand lies at different pricing levels.  In addition, you don't have to respond to bids but you can now get hard data on where to price your content on other sites, your own site or what buyers are willing to pay.  This isn't for Cutcaster.  It's for any of the members so use it as you like.  I am going to publish data on pricing trends, tell sellers and buyers about how people are pricing and detail pricing history in historical charts for people so they know better how to price and license their content.   The idea was to create tools to help people sell more and still keep their prices high.  Not participate in the race to the bottom where the prices for content are being set by the agencies and they are seeing how low they can go to attract more buyers which is hurting everyone. 

Ichiro17 and snurder.  hahahah. That's a good one. No comment on the steroids;-)  I love it, snurder.   

and wisent i emailed you earlier so you should have my email in your inbox.  im not sure where it went wrong but check your spam folder maybe.  i will always be there to help and respond if anyone has any questions or suggestions.  I made that pledge when I started Cutcaster and only brought on people that would help live by that motto and philosophy.  That is why I post my cell phone on the site 2156882751 ( you can call me whenever you like) or my email [email protected]

I'm new but I'm learning.  Thanks for the feedback and keep it coming. And keep up the good jokes ichiro.  hahaha


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UncleGene



« Reply #8 on: April 29, 2008, 18:40 »

This is funny, I was thinking about this idea myself Smiley
Are you going to have a mechanism for reducing prices for photos nobody bids on?

P.S. Your traffic puts you in 20th place among micros. Not bad for start Smiley
« Last Edit: April 29, 2008, 18:44 by UncleGene »

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johngriffin
« Reply #9 on: April 29, 2008, 18:55 »

yeah unclegene.   the algorithm can move the price down based on the variables we have isolated in our research as affecting the prices negatively, for example no keywords or metadata ;-).


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UncleGene



« Reply #10 on: April 29, 2008, 19:02 »

yeah unclegene.   the algorithm can move the price down based on the variables we have isolated in our research as affecting the prices negatively, for example no keywords or metadata ;-).

Let me re-word the question: is your algorithm run on upload phase, or is it also run later on some schedule? If yes, how often? E.g. if algorithm prices something at say $100, will the price  change if nobody bids on it for a year?


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johngriffin
« Reply #11 on: April 29, 2008, 19:05 »

yeah there is a definite time element to it.  if it just sits around for a year inactive,  the price will come down over time.  did that help?


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UncleGene



« Reply #12 on: April 29, 2008, 19:53 »

did that help?

yep. thanks


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Wisent


« Reply #13 on: April 29, 2008, 20:31 »

As John mentioned in his post I was personally contacted by him and the problem was resolved very quickly! Smiley

Thanks again


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johngriffin
« Reply #14 on: April 29, 2008, 22:02 »

Thanks Wisent.  Yeah I am working on what that was but we are always learning and that feedback is great.  I hope you like the site.

I'm still laughing about the FeaturePics on steroids.  I might have to change our tagline for a few days to that ;-) 


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Lizard



« Reply #15 on: April 29, 2008, 22:48 »

It seems that this large preview with watermark like this is giving web-size images for free. Definitely not good solution for my taste.


http://www.cutcaster.com/viewmedia/index/711711775


http://www.cutcaster.com/viewmedia/index/709691398


http://www.cutcaster.com/viewmedia/index/718953404


etc



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redfig


« Reply #16 on: April 30, 2008, 00:19 »

Hi
I joined up and it was all very quick,the return confirmation e-mail was back with in seconds.I uploaded a image which was easy to do even for me.I am going to give it ago.
all the very best
redfig


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windmill


Dreamstime GaugeiStock Gauge
« Reply #17 on: April 30, 2008, 02:03 »

I like this idea!

As a provider i don't think all photos are worth the same!
 
In fact have you ever heard of a fixed price for cars? Are all cars worth the same because they have 4 wheels and engine? Don't think so.

Design, quality and brand are just 3 parameters you have to pay for. That is what i like about this site, its maybe not going to beat the big 6, but as an alternative way of Stockphoto its refreshing.

I will give it a try because i like the spirit and creative approach to the market. God luck! 


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Clivia


Dreamstime GaugeiStock Gauge
« Reply #18 on: April 30, 2008, 02:05 »

Improve the watermark and I will give it a try!  Smiley


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johngriffin
« Reply #19 on: April 30, 2008, 08:56 »

Clivia,

Good call and I have been tinkering with a few watermarks.  Which sites do you think have the best watermark.  I was thinking of making it much more opaque and then putting a watermark in all four corners and then the middle so its protected but I am open to any suggestions as to best protect it.  Many thanks.

@lizard,  I will work on that and let you know.  I will be done with the new watermark tonight.   thanks

@windmill,  that is what we thought as well.


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GeoPappas


« Reply #20 on: April 30, 2008, 10:32 »

johngriffin:

I agree that a good watermark is essential.

Some sites have watermarks that only work well with lighter images, other watermarks only work with darker images (night).  For example, the IS watermark only works well on darker images.  Compare the following two images:





The watermark in the darker image is obvious, but the watermark on the lighter image is barely visible.

I would suggest creating a watermark that has both light areas, neutral areas, and dark areas.  This way it will work with any type of image.

I like your suggestion of putting the watermark in multiple areas.  Some watermarks are only placed in one area, and don't work with specific images.  For example, the watermark on the following image is all but useless:



One idea that I really like, is how 123RF has created a watermark that can be placed by the contributor.  This way, if the watermark doesn't cover the appropriate area, it can be moved.  But if you use watermarks in multiple areas, I don't think that would be a problem.


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cshack


« Reply #21 on: April 30, 2008, 16:31 »

It seems that this large preview with watermark like this is giving web-size images for free. Definitely not good solution for my taste.


http://www.cutcaster.com/viewmedia/index/711711775


http://www.cutcaster.com/viewmedia/index/709691398


http://www.cutcaster.com/viewmedia/index/718953404


etc




The images with no watermark and at that size needs to change as well.  I can see folks copying 100's of web sized images for free!  NOT GOOD!!!


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johngriffin
« Reply #22 on: May 01, 2008, 08:23 »

@ cshack, Clivia and Geopappas... we messed around with the watermark after your feedback, which I thank you for and came up with this one which I think doesn't distract but protects the image in all corners and the middle.  Let me know what you think.   I picked the image as a symbol for would be thiefs.  hahaha

http://www.cutcaster.com/viewmedia/index/728167265

But seriously thanks for the help so I can improve and make the site better.  I'm listening to any and all advice.  Please let me know what else we can do or need. 

Cheers


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jsnover


« Reply #23 on: May 01, 2008, 08:45 »

I think you have to make the watermark translucent instead of opaque. If that were an image of several faces, the buyer wouldn't have a clue if they were smiling or yelling or....

It is hard, but if you make it to secure, buyers can't see enough to know if it's what they want.

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johngriffin
« Reply #24 on: May 01, 2008, 09:44 »

Interesting.  I'll try another style that is more translucent.

You are right about it being tricky to find the right level of security. I know that at one point we had a watermark that was too white and it was hard to see through it so we changed that and then we had a colored one at another point and that screwed up with the overall color of the image.  So it is definitely a balance that we will get.  Good stuff though and getting better I think.


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