MicrostockGroup
Agency Based Discussion => Alamy.com => Topic started by: pyrst on October 29, 2011, 05:03
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Hi!
First of all, my apologies if this has been covered before. Did a search but couldnt find...
Am struggling with getting my first batch of 4 images approved by Alamy. Have had three batches with Failed QC. I think that my first two batches failed cause the connection got cut and i didnt upload my 4 images fully. There is no explanation as to why my first batches were rejected, only image processing error stated next to one of the images.
My third batch had an explanation for Failed QC. One of the images was soft or lacking definition. The other three has no motivation as to why they have Failed QC. I am guessing they have failed by default as one image was soft or lacking definition. My question is: shall i take my chanses and reload the three that 'only' are Failed QC and then add another image to the mix? Or should i submit four completelly new images?
Thanks in advance
Anne
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Hi!
First of all, my apologies if this has been covered before. Did a search but couldnt find...
Am struggling with getting my first batch of 4 images approved by Alamy. Have had three batches with Failed QC. I think that my first two batches failed cause the connection got cut and i didnt upload my 4 images fully. There is no explanation as to why my first batches were rejected, only image processing error stated next to one of the images.
My third batch had an explanation for Failed QC. One of the images was soft or lacking definition. The other three has no motivation as to why they have Failed QC. I am guessing they have failed by default as one image was soft or lacking definition. My question is: shall i take my chanses and reload the three that 'only' are Failed QC and then add another image to the mix? Or should i submit four completelly new images?
Thanks in advance
Anne
It doesn't matter if the other images were awesome. If one within a submitted batch fails the whole batch is rejected. So if you think that the other three are good, then find a different fourth one and re-up. Just keep in mind the way they inspect. They don't check every image, they spot check. Because of this they make a broad brush assumption that one or more of the rest of the batch is bad too. If/when you get accepted, be careful how many you upload. If you upload 100 and one of the inspected images is bad, all will be rejected and you'll have to upload all of them again once the image corrections/deletions are made.
You have to make the call on what image failed and take the risk for reuploading the ones you think are good. To eliminate any doubt, upload four different ones. Make sure you are viewing them at 100% and using a calibrated monitor. By the way I have found that most sites are more critical of images that don't POP in color and contrast...i.e. Istocks flat, dull rejections. On many of my images I now use low percentage of a high pass filter for sharpness and contrast because it is non destructive and I can turn it off within an image if I want. Make sure your images are sharp and eye catching.
Good luck.
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Alamy only checks one out of 4 application images?
Why would they even ask to upload 4 images then?
I assume that they looked at the first, which failed, and then didn't bother to give a reason for the other three.
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Alamy only checks one out of 4 application images?
Why would they even ask to upload 4 images then?
I assume that they looked at the first, which failed, and then didn't bother to give a reason for the other three.
Or once one fails, it's over so they don't look at the other three. Same as their reviews. Send in 100 photos, one fails, it gets moved to the front of the list, with the reason and that's all you get. No comment on anything else.
What we don't know from the OP is if it was the first image in the batch or the 4th. It does make a difference.
Easiest is assume they all failed if they were similar and the images all need to be sharp and clear. Just start over. If someone only has four good enough images, there's probably a problem there as well? :)
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Hi again,
thank you all for helpful answers.
the 4 images were quite different. The one that got denied was a high office facade. I dont know in what order i submitted them, but in the report sheet back, it was the first one listed.
Racephoto: i agree, there should be more good ones! But these were the best ones!! Guess a bit nervous too, first time for macro and all...
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Hi again,
thank you all for helpful answers.
the 4 images were quite different. The one that got denied was a high office facade. I dont know in what order i submitted them, but in the report sheet back, it was the first one listed.
Racephoto: i agree, there should be more good ones! But these were the best ones!! Guess a bit nervous too, first time for macro and all...
Just remember they move anything rejected to first in the report when they come back to you. If you sent in 100 and they got to #57 and rejected it, then the whole batch gets tossed, the first one will be the one with the reason.
Also keep in mind you could send in a brown rock on brown sand and if it's exposed properly and sharp, Alamy will take it. Doesn't matter what the photo is. (within some obvious moral and legal limits...) :D I have one place with Alamy that's a foggy road leading to a bridge in the mist. Passed just fine, because it was a clean shot. Everything doesn't have to be tack sharp, just clear, properly exposed and well defined.
If you have a good camera on the list (recommended camera list: http://www.alamy.com/contributor/help/recommended-digital-cameras.asp (http://www.alamy.com/contributor/help/recommended-digital-cameras.asp) ) and good sharp, clean images, you'll get accepted. The biggest rejection I see repeated over and over is SoLD "Soft or Lacking Definition". Shoot at ISO 100, full image frame, get accepted and then start worrying about the rest of what's going to be online and what will sell. Don't use Neat Image or any of those things that ruin images more than they help in most cases.
No sharpening, read the limitations. What they mean is they will actually allow minimal sharpening, NEVER use it on the sky, but anything noticeable and, zip, you're gone.
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RacePhoto's shared lots of useful info.
Just wanted to mention that for the First submission, they probably look at each photo until 1 fails or all 4 pass.
Though my QC results are not 100% green - a bit about about technical aspects...
We all know that photos typically will be rejected if less than technically perfect - soft focus, poor exposure, or whatever.
But, if a shot has something really special going for it, if it's a truly desirable subject, I'd submit it even if it had some technical glitches. Generally, the more desirable the shot, the more leeway with technical aspects.
A gorgeous sunset, shiny motorcycle, or absolutely adorable kitten would likely NOT fall in this "special" category - unless the kitten's driving the motorcycle into the sunset.
an extreme example - It's about 0% likely a reviewer will ever think this:
"Oh, here's a photo of Pres. Obama dancing with his younger daughter in the Oval Office. What? The left wall's blown out - FAILED!"
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an extreme example - It's about 0% likely a reviewer will ever think this:
"Oh, here's a photo of Pres. Obama dancing with his younger daughter in the Oval Office. What? The left wall's blown out - FAILED!"
thehehe
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It's really strange that some people have difficulties passing Alamy's QC. It's much easier than most of the micros. I have had trouble with Alamy only a couple of times (one time uploading a too small image and a couple of times data was corrupted).
Just look at your images; are they sharp (not sharpened!) when you look at them at 100%? You could post your images here, or at least 100% crops so we can have a look at them.