Author Topic: Frustrating Rejections at Dreamstime (Read 4415 times)

daveh900 · « **on:** July 20, 2011, 11:31 »

I have had a lot of rejections at Dreamstime lately. In May my acceptance was at 78%, in June only 17%. The low acceptance rate in June is due to a batch of files that were all rejected due to being "overly simple" (they weren't).

The frustrating part is that the files are selling, and selling well, at other sites.

Here is one vector that was rejected at DT:
Back to School Stamp

And the reason:
"Too many photos/illustrations on the same subject or from the same series. Your submission should not duplicate content already in your portfolio or content which you plan to upload separately in the future..."

Now, I have a lot of files with the same style, but they are each unique and I have nothing in my portfolio that uses any elements from this design.

Do I try to re-upload them at a later date? Can I plead my case with DT, or is it a lost cause?

Pixart · « **Reply #1 on:** July 20, 2011, 11:46 »

Check if you used the same naming and keywording pattern. i.e. "Floral Background" can be 100% different but exactly the same keywords and title are accurate. I get the impression that if you reuse same title/keywords it may not even get looked at.

Microstock Posts · « **Reply #2 on:** July 20, 2011, 12:09 »

That's interesting Pixart, cos I've had a few of these rejections lately. On one of the rejections I wrote to them. I shot the image 2 years ago, it was never sent to any microstock site until now, I sent the image on its own and not with a bunch of other shots from the same shoot and it was rejected for, "Too many photos/illustrations on the same subject or from the same series..." My first thought was that they are scanning titles/keywords/descriptions, they have to be. And as you say the image could well not even have been looked at. Very frustrating, as the OP says.

michaeldb · « **Reply #3 on:** July 20, 2011, 12:36 »

IMO "overly simple" should never be used as a reason for rejection at a microstock site. If buyers want simple illustrations, they should be allowed to buy simple illustrations.

How can an illustration be too simple if it makes money? Is DT an RF stock business or an art gallery? If it is a business, then the only good reasons to reject an image are lack of commercial value (and reviewers are often less skilled at judging that than successful contributors are), or technical or legal issues.

pancaketom · « **Reply #4 on:** July 20, 2011, 12:40 »

I've had a few rejected for

" We have too many similar images already. Please perform a search on the subject before uploading, to see what is already online and where to fill niches."

When I think it is a somewhat obscure subject I do a search and rarely find any let alone many similar images. I'm not talking about isolated apples or mallard ducks here.

I think DT is trying to fix a problem they have in the wrong way, but I suppose they can do what they like in their own sandbox. If it continues to get worse at some point I'll stop uploading there.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 20, 2011, 12:44 »

Quote from: pancaketom on July 20, 2011, 12:40

I've had a few rejected for

" We have too many similar images already. Please perform a search on the subject before uploading, to see what is already online and where to fill niches."

When I think it is a somewhat obscure subject I do a search and rarely find any let alone many similar images. I'm not talking about isolated apples or mallard ducks here.

I think DT is trying to fix a problem they have in the wrong way, but I suppose they can do what they like in their own sandbox. If it continues to get worse at some point I'll stop uploading there.

DT seem to be holding some favorite folks.. we just need to get there

digitalexpressionimages · « **Reply #6 on:** July 21, 2011, 07:29 »

I got three rejections yesterday for "not quite what we're looking for". That has to be the most frustrating reason I've received. It's generic and vague and really not up to them as buyers should decide what they're looking for.

daveh900 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 28, 2011, 23:14 »

Following up on my original post...

I uploaded the color version of my previous example and it was accepted, see here: Color Back to School Stamp

I have both versions of that graphic at Shutterstock and the one color "grunge" version has outsold the color version 4-to-1. I reuploaded to DT with a note explaining that it is selling well at another site. Not sure if that will help.

jm · « **Reply #8 on:** July 29, 2011, 03:33 »

Some reviewers think that more complicated means better.
Fortunately it is vector. So best way how to get simple vector approved is to add illustration of chequered raccoon with wooden legs that dances pogo and has parrot and rat smoking pipe on his shoulder. And buyer can remove it.

Eireann · « **Reply #9 on:** July 29, 2011, 06:09 »

The stamp is good Dave, truly good.
They've made a mistake, it should not have been rejected.
And I absolutely agree. The blue version should outsell the coloured version.
They made a mistake. Try again, it looks simple but the stamp is a good illustration and it will sell.
Try again

nicemonkey · « **Reply #10 on:** July 29, 2011, 10:31 »

I thought it was just me

One month I would get 100% approval and then the next 10% there seems to be no pattern to the rejections

Microstock Posts · « **Reply #11 on:** July 29, 2011, 10:59 »

Quote from: nicemonkey on July 29, 2011, 10:31

I thought it was just me One month I would get 100% approval and then the next 10% there seems to be no pattern to the rejections

A general thing I've noticed is that during Summer months there tends to be more rejections, for me starting mid June and probably until end of August. I'm not really a big enough submitter to say that it is a certain trend, but I have a very bad AR during summer months across the sites, not to mention slow sales during this period. For most agencies review times are slower too. They are probably rotating holidays right, so reviewers which are not on holiday probably have more work load or there are temporary staff working, which may have less experience. Anyway, I'm just speculating and not saying I know what goes on there.

michaeldb · « **Reply #12 on:** July 29, 2011, 11:44 »

Quote from: jm73 on July 29, 2011, 03:33

Some reviewers think that more complicated means better.
Fortunately it is vector. So best way how to get simple vector approved is to add illustration of chequered raccoon with wooden legs that dances pogo and has parrot and rat smoking pipe on his shoulder. And buyer can remove it.

Quote from: jm73 on July 29, 2011, 03:33

Some reviewers think that more complicated means better.
Fortunately it is vector. So best way how to get simple vector approved is to add illustration of chequered raccoon with wooden legs that dances pogo and has parrot and rat smoking pipe on his shoulder. And buyer can remove it.

This is so funny!

This is so sad, because it's true. What has the complicatedness of an image got to do with how well it will sell? If DT thinks that an image will not sell, DT should say so. The only other reason for rejection should be on technical or legal grounds. DT is not an art gallery, if buyers want an image, they should be able to buy it, complicated or not.

IMHO DT is making a big mistake by alienating their suppliers with these absurd and nonsensical rejections.

Microstock Posts · « **Reply #13 on:** July 29, 2011, 11:59 »

Quote from: michaeldb on July 29, 2011, 11:44

IMHO DT is making a big mistake by alienating their suppliers with these absurd and nonsensical rejections.

Yeah but policies only change if it hits them not if it hits us. Look at IS now, suddenly they are upping their referral payments to contributors. Why? Because they have been hit. And when the agencies are hit that's when they act. We are hit all the time, but usually it's no skin off their nose.

daveh900 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 30, 2011, 00:56 »

Quote from: Eireann on July 29, 2011, 06:09

The stamp is good Dave, truly good.
They've made a mistake, it should not have been rejected.
And I absolutely agree. The blue version should outsell the coloured version.
They made a mistake. Try again, it looks simple but the stamp is a good illustration and it will sell.
Try again

Thanks Eireann, I have resubmitted with a note pleading my case and it was accepted this time. I actually received a note from the reviewer as well.

rubyroo · « **Reply #15 on:** July 30, 2011, 08:20 »

Good for you Dave.

I'm glad it worked out for you.

alexmk · « **Reply #16 on:** July 30, 2011, 09:34 »

I almost stop uploading at DT.
That's the result of their stupid policy "Too many photos/illustrations on the same subject or from the same series"
Meanwhile checked how many pending images are there, yesterday 5000 today around 7000.
Glad to see that and it's time move down to middle tier sites.

micelinjo · « **Reply #17 on:** June 04, 2012, 15:29 »

Hi there,
I need help regarding illustration(vector) rejections at Dreamstime, due to technical issues : Poor execution. Please pay more attention to rough/jagged/faceted lines/curves. Lines and curves should be smooth, not aliased, in order to best serve the concept of the image.)
- Poor execution, please pay more attention to the details. For illustrations, please look for: poorly traced/auto-traced and scanned images, noise and innacurate texturing on 3D renders, too simplistic works, faceted curves, aliased/jagged lines, banding effect on gradients, open paths (vectors), noise/distorted pixels on various textures and images used within the illustration, moiree due to downsampling....

Can somebody please suggest, what should I do to avoid this.