I've gotten into the habit of keeping a working "editable" version of all of my vector images that include text. By "editable" I mean that the text isn't converted to outlines, you can edit the text if you have the necessary fonts (or substitute others). Some agencies require the inclusion of this type of file (GraphicRiver, Creative Market). Others allow it as an additional file (iStock, Stockfresh).

This seems like an opportunity being missed all around in stock. On the one hand, the agencies that don't allow this file type are limiting buyers' ability to edit vector files. On the other, the agencies that do allow these types of files don't seem to be making much of a big deal about it. Which is surprising to me since it seems like a huge advantage for them.

Shutterstock doesn't allow editable text vectors, and I would have thought that the competition might want to use this distinguishing factor to their advantage. And yet we never hear much about this, nor do any companies (as far as I can tell) inform buyers of this distinction.

On the contributor side of things, this seems like a golden opportunity to sort of vote with your images. In cases where I don't have to upload an editable file for text-heavy vectors, I usually don't. I've uploaded a couple to iStock, and GraphicRiver requires it but I don't upload there as much lately. I can upload them to Stockfresh but even when I do it doesn't seem to trigger any sort of change in how the image is presented to the buyer. It just indicates the EPS buying option but doesn't say what else is included, or that an editable text vector could be included.

Why don't they mention it? This seems like a huge opportunity for companies to set themselves apart from competitors on something other than just price. Take Stockfresh for example. Wouldn't they want to say to buyers that they offer a file type that makes it far easier and faster to just open the image and change the text to whatever you want? It's a huge time-saver. No deleting outlined text and setting your own text in the image, trying to match styles and effects. No guessing at what font was used or needing to contact the artist to find out.

If I'm a buyer, I'll gladly pay more for an editable file that I can open and quickly find out what fonts were used, change the text while retaining any styles, effects, arcs, etc., and probably be able to do what I want to do in a fraction of the time it takes if I get the same image elsewhere.

Any thoughts on this? Do you include editable text vectors in uploads to agencies that don't require it?

Have you tried explaining the text is editable in the description? If so, has it resulted in more sales?

I think editable text would restrict your design options. I often do all sorts of funky things to my text (shadows, warping, grunge textures, etc.) that are done after expanding.

But I shy away from anything that creates more work unless it also creates more sales.

...Some agencies worry about font licenses too. Not all fonts are available for commercial use so converting them to outlines is safer since they don't know where every font was obtained.

That's kind of a misconception on the part of agencies. Font licensing is never an issue with stock, contrary to what some agencies might have you believe. Stock artists are not redistributing the font itself, which is the part of the font that is protected by copyright. A font designer can't own representations of the font in outline form. If they could, that would require every logo designer to create custom type for every logo they do. Otherwise how would a company ever trademark their logo?

In my opinion, anyone who is buying a vector file is doing so because they have enough knowledge to edit the pieces and parts, change colors, etc. Otherwise they would buy the jpg. They know how to delete the type outlines and add their own fonts in the same or in a different area to suit their needs...

They might know enough, but they're also lazy. Part of the lure of microstock to begin with was what some of this stuff was the kind of things that buyers (largely designers themselves) could do but it was more cost-effective to just buy it. So they want something that saves them time. They often don't want to be bothered with replacing text, finding similar fonts, etc. They'd rather just open the file, type right over the exiting text with all formatting intact, and be done with it.

I get tons of emails every week asking about what font I used in some image, how to change the text in an image someone got from SS, etc. It is definitely a problem and a hassle for a lot of buyers to not have a more easily editable file.

You get tons of emails from buyers every week and you don't direct them to your own website? I think that's the opportunity you're missing. Offer zip files with editable vectors!

http://www.microstockgroup.com/newby-discussion/about-the-use-of-fonts-in-vector-illustrations/

That talks about embedding fonts in files. I don't think anyone is doing that in stock. Or at least that's not what agencies are asking anyone to do. It is mostly understood with the agencies that allow (or require) editable files that the fonts are not included in any way and must be obtained by the buyer.

Including an editable file in a stock download and providing links/info on where to legally obtain the fonts used is perfectly fine. As long as the font itself isn't being redistributed, either as a separate file or embedded within a file, there is no issue.

Quote from: Shelma1 on June 17, 2014, 21:00

You get tons of emails from buyers every week and you don't direct them to your own website? I think that's the opportunity you're missing. Offer zip files with editable vectors!

I was when my Symbiostock site worked. Now I just direct them to the next best option.

You should try fixing it. More than 180 sites are working fine, including mine. Even if you offer to pay Leo a fee to fix it for you, you'll make that money back quickly if you're getting 100% of each sale. (Or aren't there other ways to create your own site, if not Symbiostock?) Chase (where I bank) now allows you to accept credit card payments online for a 2% fee. Haven't really looked into it.

What's the point of including editable text if the owner does not have the font to use that editable text?  And if they did, they could just put the text in themselves, right?

I use only free fonts that anyone can get, and include either a text file in the ZIP with links to where the fonts can be obtained, or links in the description (at sites that allow long descriptions).

A buyer could put in the text themselves, but if they want to retain the styling in the original image it might be a little tricky. Let's say a buyer gets this graphic from a site that doesn't allow additional formats:



To get the same text styling they need to: 1. Figure out the fonts or find similar fonts, 2. Create some circles, size and center them, and apply text on a path to get the outer curved text. 3. Set the text in the center and apply a lower arc to get the curved effect in "insignia". 4. Fidget with the settings to match the curves, font sizes, kerning, etc.

Not a ton of work, but it still takes some time. And that's assuming the buyer knows how to do those things. Maybe they seem basic to some people, but not everyone knows how to manipulate text in Illustrator.

If we were talking about your own site, then you could always make your own fonts and include them as part of the design (and price). I have a couple fonts that I made that I include with some of my files for sale. I flatten the text, but the files are more of a style sheet than a ready to go design. I could see unflattened text being useful though. Seems like a good way to differentiate yourself from the agencies and have some exclusive/unique content.