Author Topic: Submitting Non-EPS8 compatible files? (Read 2072 times)

Dan_Wiedemann · « **on:** October 05, 2010, 13:15 »

Hey there.

I'm starting with vector illustrations for microstock and I'm getting the basics. My (and everyone's, I guess) problem is that all microstock agencies ask for the Illustrator 8 .eps file. How can I submit something that has a transparency or ANY effects not available on Illustrator 8? For example, this image from Augusto Cabral must have some effects that were not available then:

How can I submit some thing with that sort of effect and still being compatible?

Thanks a lot!

bittersweet · « **Reply #1 on:** October 05, 2010, 13:21 »

You can submit as a raster file. But if you want to submit as vector, unfortunately you are really going to need to learn how to fake transparency, and to do that, you will need to become intimately familiar with the pathfinder tools. It will take some time and trial and error, but once you grasp the process it will become second nature, and you will be able to do it painlessly. You can still include the updated transparency-laden version in your zip file, but you won't be able to use a lot of those effects and get approved as aiv8. so you kinda have to work backwards.

As a sidenote, ai8 DOES support blends, so those are also an option you may find handy during your experiments.

Randomway · « **Reply #2 on:** October 05, 2010, 13:24 »

Hi Dan. Shutterstock now allows .eps10 files. Eps 10 will allow you to submit files with transparency but not with effects. I don't know if any of the other agencies allow this format.

Amanda_K · « **Reply #3 on:** October 05, 2010, 13:29 »

Info on SS http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=74817

As for getting some effects that look like the image above in an eps 8 I'm not 100% sure but I know you can achieve a lot of transparency-like effects as long as you expand things out before saving. Also may be worth it mess around with blends and mesh fill which is actually eps 8 compatible. (iStock accepts this as long as it's noted in the description not sure if any other sites reject for it yet.)

gubh83 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 05, 2010, 13:35 »

Hi Dan,

It surprised me to see one of my images here lol.

Actually all agencies, except for iStock, accept EPS10 files (up to 15mb), so you can use as much transparency as you want.

With the EPS10 files you can't use blur, drop shadow or some effects that will raster, but transperency is ok.

Just one thing, you should not use gradients fading from or to a transparent color, if you wanna apply transparency to gradients, you should apply it to the whole object, not just on one of its colors, hope you understand what I mean.

cheers,

Augusto Cabral

http://stockillustrator.blogspot.com/

bittersweet · « **Reply #5 on:** October 05, 2010, 13:40 »

Quote from: 9lives on October 05, 2010, 13:29

Info on SS http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=74817

As for getting some effects that look like the image above in an eps 8 I'm not 100% sure but I know you can achieve a lot of transparency-like effects as long as you expand things out before saving. Also may be worth it mess around with blends and mesh fill which is actually eps 8 compatible. (iStock accepts this as long as it's noted in the description not sure if any other sites reject for it yet.)

The expanding appearance will work, but depending on your subject, you often will be left with a mess of a zillion points and tiny shapes that are very difficult for the buyer to work with. Blends do not have to be expanded in order to be compatible. Gradient mesh is accepted at IS but is not compatible with Corel Draw so buyers have been known to get irate if they are surprised by it, so yes, be sure to state its existence in the description.

Some of the other sites may have looser requirements, but if you intend to sell at istock, it will require catering to their requirements. Vector sales (today) are profitable at istock, so you might decide it's worth the time to figure out how to make that happen. (ETA: Stockfresh also requires v8)

Good luck!

Amanda_K · « **Reply #6 on:** October 05, 2010, 13:51 »

That's true, I forgot to add if you are going to mess with expanding things start simple and I highly recommend having a plugin to check for open paths too, it can get messy

Dan_Wiedemann · « **Reply #7 on:** October 05, 2010, 14:07 »

Wow. I wasn't expecting so many replies.

First of all, thanks to everyone. I'm trying to get accepted at iStock as an illustrator but it hasn't been easy. Once I do, I definitely intend on selling vector files there, so I think I'll have to learn a few extra things. I do know how to create shadows and all that on different colored surfaces link in this image (the tree shadow) -

Augusto, I always have a look at your portfolio and you sales on Shutterstock impresses me! That's one of the main reasons I'm attempting illustrations.

I'll now try to make some more challenging images! With me luck!

Ohh... can I use the Mesh Tool? Will it be AI8 ou AI10?

Thanks again!