Author Topic: Thinking about joing Alamy (Read 26290 times)

Anita Potter · « **on:** January 26, 2011, 00:57 »

But the thought is kind of freaking me out. I can't just try to pass their inspection with all my RF stuff can I? I've been reading around the board about them and some say they do RF plus RM content or they make images for them to just sell as RM and nowhere else. There is the confusion I'm facing. All I have right now are RF images but don't want to incur refunds if they find my images somewhere else cheaper.

I'm just completely confused about it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Anita

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #1 on:** January 26, 2011, 01:47 »

You're more likely to get refunds from credit card fraud.
Anyway, what's better. to earn $500 and find $50 disappearing in a refund, or not to suffer a refund because you didn't earn anything?
There is loads of RF stuff there that is also on the micros. Don't worry about it. Their inspection is dead easy, maybe on a par with Canstock, and they don't even know how you are going to license anything when they inspect it, that comes in the next step when you do the keywording etc.
It usually takes ages to get sales and a payout, though. But once the sales start coming, maybe after a year, they trickle through slowly but fairly steadily.

Anita Potter · « **Reply #2 on:** January 26, 2011, 02:06 »

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on January 26, 2011, 01:47

You're more likely to get refunds from credit card fraud.
Anyway, what's better. to earn $500 and find $50 disappearing in a refund, or not to suffer a refund because you didn't earn anything?
There is loads of RF stuff there that is also on the micros. Don't worry about it. Their inspection is dead easy, maybe on a par with Canstock, and they don't even know how you are going to license anything when they inspect it, that comes in the next step when you do the keywording etc.
It usually takes ages to get sales and a payout, though. But once the sales start coming, maybe after a year, they trickle through slowly but fairly steadily.

True and thanks. That'll give me something to work on tomorrow. And maybe once I get comfortable there I'll start doing some RM things to test the waters on that.

Thanks again.

Anita

Anita Potter · « **Reply #3 on:** January 26, 2011, 11:40 »

Great now I've got another issue. The only way I can can save my illustrations to meet their 24mb uncompressed size requirements is exporting as a tiff at a large dpi then open it in Photoshop and save as a jpg. My problem is I don't like the way the tiff files make my edges look (I'm sure my first 4 will fail QC because of that). Is there a specific workflow that illustrators use to upload there?

I'm way beyond confused.

leaf · « **Reply #4 on:** January 27, 2011, 15:25 »

Can't you output your illustrations at any size? Just make them really big and submit the images as a JPG... or is there something I'm not understanding?

Anita Potter · « **Reply #5 on:** January 27, 2011, 15:40 »

I tried using my large jpgs that I regularly upload to my stock sites but rejected upon upload as not being at 24mb uncompressed. I've also tried upsizing them to save larger but run out of memory for the process to save as a jpg in Illustrator. There has to be another way to do this unless my tif settings weren't right when I exported in Illustrator I don't know. Unless there's another way to go about it and I'm too stooopid to figure it out.

Punit Patel · « **Reply #6 on:** February 02, 2011, 04:35 »

Hi Anita,

Please check the canvas size in inches if it is more than 150 it will shows an insufficient memory error. I had the same issues then I decreased the canvas size to 100 or 120 inches and it worked. As far as your concern about the uncompressed file size been below 24 mb it completely depend on the illustration and the amount of effects used in it.

Thanks,
PM

dirkr · « **Reply #7 on:** February 02, 2011, 08:27 »

Quote from: photoshopmagic on February 02, 2011, 04:35

As far as your concern about the uncompressed file size been below 24 mb it completely depend on the illustration and the amount of effects used in it.

AFAIK the uncompressed file size only depends on the number of pixels and nothing else (assuming working with 8 bit color depth).
For the file size after JPG compression obviously the content is important.

I think the confusion comes from them (Alamy) making requirements for uncompressed size while they expect us to submit compressed (JPG) files. The file size you see on your hard drive is not the same as the "uncompressed file size".

luissantos84 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 02, 2011, 12:31 »

they want 24MB so you just need to have pictures with more than 8 megapixels (8x3=24)

RacePhoto · « **Reply #9 on:** February 03, 2011, 01:38 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on February 02, 2011, 12:31

they want 24MB so you just need to have pictures with more than 8 megapixels (8x3=24)

That's roughly it, although not exact. Three colors x 8 = 24MB pretty easy!

3350 on the longest side (digital image proportions) will get you to the minimum. But looking on the bottom left of your editing software will tell you the answer. For anyone cutting it to the minimum, make it's 24.4 because the size check isn't the same as the actual uncompressed file size. You need a tiny bit over, or they will fail.

dirkr · « **Reply #10 on:** February 03, 2011, 04:20 »

Quote from: RacePhoto on February 03, 2011, 01:38

That's roughly it, although not exact. Three colors x 8 = 24MB pretty easy!

Pretty easy, but wrong. Why? Because 1 MB = 1024x1024 Bytes. 1 MP = 1000x1000 Pixels.

You'll need around 8,5 MP to get to 24 MB uncompressed size.

Anita Potter · « **Reply #11 on:** February 03, 2011, 13:55 »

I think that's what confused me was the uncompressed it needs to be 24mb how does that uploader know??? It's baffling I tell ya. So far so good managed to get another 22 through QC just the last 10 thumbnails won't show up to be edited and it looks like the sites having issues at the moment so I'll try again later. Might try to do some RM stuff after I get my RF stuff uploaded dunno yet I'm on the fence about it.

Morphart · « **Reply #12 on:** February 03, 2011, 14:46 »

Hi Anita,

I uploaded all my RF portfolio at Alamy, as RF (RM still confuses me... but reading here and there starts to get me out of the fog).

All my Images passed Qc, and I uploaded them all as 6000 x (x) or (x) x 6000 px and they all passed. JPG size are around 4-8 mg each. Don't worry about that too much. Since I aleady had my RF files at 6500 or 6000 width (to sell largers JPG sizes on other sites), it wasn't much of an issue.

I haven't finished yet submiting all my images, but after a month there, with roughly 200-300 illustrations as RF, I had 0 sales, and some views. I guess I might need to try some RM, but that scares me :p.

@BaldricksTrousers
Are you saying that I could, say, change all my RF portfolio at Alamy and change it for RM even tho I have all those files on multiple other Stock websites? And if I sell one, then I can just remove them from the Stock websites I am selling them too? Would that work?

That would be the cake and the icing at the same time to me!

RacePhoto · « **Reply #13 on:** February 06, 2011, 02:05 »

Quote from: dirkr on February 03, 2011, 04:20

Quote from: RacePhoto on February 03, 2011, 01:38

That's roughly it, although not exact. Three colors x 8 = 24MB pretty easy!

Pretty easy, but wrong. Why? Because 1 MB = 1024x1024 Bytes. 1 MP = 1000x1000 Pixels.

You'll need around 8,5 MP to get to 24 MB uncompressed size.

Yes it was very rough, but the first part wasn't.

3350 on the longest side

RacePhoto · « **Reply #14 on:** February 06, 2011, 02:10 »

Quote from: Morphart on February 03, 2011, 14:46

Hi Anita,

I uploaded all my RF portfolio at Alamy, as RF (RM still confuses me... but reading here and there starts to get me out of the fog).

All my Images passed Qc, and I uploaded them all as 6000 x (x) or (x) x 6000 px and they all passed. JPG size are around 4-8 mg each. Don't worry about that too much. Since I aleady had my RF files at 6500 or 6000 width (to sell largers JPG sizes on other sites), it wasn't much of an issue.

I haven't finished yet submiting all my images, but after a month there, with roughly 200-300 illustrations as RF, I had 0 sales, and some views. I guess I might need to try some RM, but that scares me :p.

@BaldricksTrousers
Are you saying that I could, say, change all my RF portfolio at Alamy and change it for RM even tho I have all those files on multiple other Stock websites? And if I sell one, then I can just remove them from the Stock websites I am selling them too? Would that work? That would be the cake and the icing at the same time to me!

Don't do it! You can't sell RF one place and the identical images as RM someplace else. The people who are saying you can are reading between the lines and ignoring the obvious, across all agencies, general rule. Even after I quoted from Alamy (who BT claims they won't answer) and the actual words saying don't do it. I still get the "there's no rule against it".

Yes there are rules and legal complications if someone tries to sell the license the same images with two different licenses.

Don't license you RF images at RM on Alamy! Besides why not just make them RF on Alamy?

dirkr · « **Reply #15 on:** February 06, 2011, 12:37 »

Quote from: RacePhoto on February 06, 2011, 02:05

Yes it was very rough, but the first part wasn't.

3350 on the longest side

You mean 3550? Because that's exactly the size I upsize my pics to (the original 3504 from the 30D are just a tiny little bit too small...).
Or are you talking about a different format (not 3:2)?

luissantos84 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 06, 2011, 13:40 »

Quote from: dirkr on November 08, 2010, 09:53

Not quite. You need about 8,4 MP.
I have to upsize my Canon 30D files (8,2 MP) a tiny little bit to reach the 24 MB uncompressed.

To the OP: Your Tiff file size should be exactly what you are looking for (uncompressed file size), so if that is 25 MB you should be fine without upsizing.

(Here's the calculation:
24 MB = 24x1024x1024 Bytes = 25.165.824 Bytes.
As a 8-bit RGB file needs 3 Bytes (uncompressed) per Pixel, you end up with 25.165.824 / 3 = 8.388.608 Pixels, i.e. roughly 8,4 MP.
Attention: Cameramakers normally seem to calculate "Mega"pixel = "1 million"pixel, in contrast to IT folks where "Mega"byte = "1024x1024"byte.
And forget about looking at JPG file sizes, the compression algorithm can lead to vastly different file sizes for different images of the same uncompressed size.)

RacePhoto · « **Reply #17 on:** February 07, 2011, 02:20 »

Quote from: dirkr on February 06, 2011, 12:37

Quote from: RacePhoto on February 06, 2011, 02:05

Yes it was very rough, but the first part wasn't.

3350 on the longest side

You mean 3550? Because that's exactly the size I upsize my pics to (the original 3504 from the 30D are just a tiny little bit too small...).
Or are you talking about a different format (not 3:2)?

Dang it, I typed that wrong, and you are right 3550 will make a minimum size image just over the 24MB limit for Alamy.

Sorry for the error.

Yes, that's what I look at first, longest side and standard ratio. If I start cropping to something else, like squares or panorama, I have a calculator on the desk.

Anita Potter · « **Reply #18 on:** February 07, 2011, 02:32 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on February 06, 2011, 13:40

Quote from: dirkr on November 08, 2010, 09:53
Not quite. You need about 8,4 MP.
I have to upsize my Canon 30D files (8,2 MP) a tiny little bit to reach the 24 MB uncompressed.

To the OP: Your Tiff file size should be exactly what you are looking for (uncompressed file size), so if that is 25 MB you should be fine without upsizing.

(Here's the calculation:
24 MB = 24x1024x1024 Bytes = 25.165.824 Bytes.
As a 8-bit RGB file needs 3 Bytes (uncompressed) per Pixel, you end up with 25.165.824 / 3 = 8.388.608 Pixels, i.e. roughly 8,4 MP.
Attention: Cameramakers normally seem to calculate "Mega"pixel = "1 million"pixel, in contrast to IT folks where "Mega"byte = "1024x1024"byte.
And forget about looking at JPG file sizes, the compression algorithm can lead to vastly different file sizes for different images of the same uncompressed size.)

The tiffs I had no problem getting to conform to Alamy standards but my problem with the tiffs were that all my lines appeared jagged and unsightly. Even checking anti-alaised didn't make it look any better. Unless I'm missing a checkbox or a step wtih exporting as tiffs. Something I'll have to investigate further when I get the chance. Opening the ai file in photoshop then changing the short side to 5000px then adjusting the canvas when needed has worked out for me so far with getting it to upload properly. Wonder how come they don't post instructions for illustrators like they do with photographers. I'm a little scared to try to put any of my photographs on there as I'm not sure if they'd work or not. Something I'll also look into once I get my illustrations all gone through and uploaded and hopefully pass QC.

Thanks again as this thread has got some valuable information in it

Anita

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #19 on:** February 07, 2011, 17:30 »

I put some up-rezed shots on Alamy a looooooooooong time ago. Sold nada. When I got my 5D, I submitted just a few more images... low and behold, I grabbed an EL sale... and have had a couple more since. I have now started slowly uploading my HD shots. Getting an EL sale there is light-years and $$ from an EL on DT or elsewhere. One thing I am avoiding... I am not going to upload anything I have on the micros.. in a sense, I will keep my port there 'exclusive' by my choice.
I think that if I were a customer and I paid a few hundred bucks for an image off Alamy and the next day found the same thing at DT for pennies or a couple bucks..... I'd be a little upset...

Wishing you success Anita.

=Tom

Morphart · « **Reply #20 on:** February 08, 2011, 17:10 »

@RacePhoto

Quote

Don't do it! You can't sell RF one place and the identical images as RM someplace else. The people who are saying you can are reading between the lines and ignoring the obvious, across all agencies, general rule. Even after I quoted from Alamy (who BT claims they won't answer) and the actual words saying don't do it. I still get the "there's no rule against it".

Yes there are rules and legal complications if someone tries to sell the license the same images with two different licenses.

Don't license you RF images at RM on Alamy! Besides why not just make them RF on Alamy?

Hi, it just that someone on this thread mentionned that we could do it... but it seems that post has been deleted lol. I was trying to understand what exactly RM was and if it was worth it, for Illustrations. I already have my portfolio online as RF at Alamy, but from what I hear RM sells at Alamy, I have yet to see a sale but it's only been 1.5 month there and have not finished with they're long submission keywording.

Thanks for the answer Race, will keep as RF for sure!

ShadySue · « **Reply #21 on:** February 08, 2011, 17:21 »

Quote from: a.k.a.-tom on February 07, 2011, 17:30

When I got my 5D, I submitted just a few more images... low and behold, I grabbed an EL sale... and have had a couple more since. I have now started slowly uploading my HD shots. Getting an EL sale there is light-years and $$ from an EL on DT or elsewhere.
Wishing you success Anita. =Tom

What's an EL sale on Alamy - is that just for RF? Otherwise I've never heard of it!

borg · « **Reply #22 on:** February 08, 2011, 18:00 »

Quote from: ShadySue on February 08, 2011, 17:21

Quote from: a.k.a.-tom on February 07, 2011, 17:30
When I got my 5D, I submitted just a few more images... low and behold, I grabbed an EL sale... and have had a couple more since. I have now started slowly uploading my HD shots. Getting an EL sale there is light-years and $$ from an EL on DT or elsewhere.
Wishing you success Anita. =Tom
What's an EL sale on Alamy - is that just for RF? Otherwise I've never heard of it!

All RF sales on Alamy are EL, I think... There is no another type of RF licenses...

ShadySue · « **Reply #23 on:** February 08, 2011, 18:03 »

Quote from: borg on February 08, 2011, 18:00

Quote from: ShadySue on February 08, 2011, 17:21
Quote from: a.k.a.-tom on February 07, 2011, 17:30
When I got my 5D, I submitted just a few more images... low and behold, I grabbed an EL sale... and have had a couple more since. I have now started slowly uploading my HD shots. Getting an EL sale there is light-years and $$ from an EL on DT or elsewhere.
Wishing you success Anita. =Tom
What's an EL sale on Alamy - is that just for RF? Otherwise I've never heard of it!

All RF sales on Alamy are EL, I think... There is no another type of RF licenses...

Oh, right, I'd heard that the Alamy RF general license grants wider usage than e.g. iStock's. I didn't know they were called ELs. Tx.

borg · « **Reply #24 on:** February 08, 2011, 18:14 »

Yep! No difference between personal and commercial license on Alamy..Only one license for RF!
So, in our microstock language, it's have to be EL...

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Author Topic: Thinking about joing Alamy (Read 26290 times)

Anita Potter

BaldricksTrousers

Anita Potter

Anita Potter

leaf

Anita Potter

Punit Patel

dirkr

luissantos84

RacePhoto

dirkr

Anita Potter

Morphart

RacePhoto

RacePhoto

dirkr

luissantos84

RacePhoto

Anita Potter

a.k.a.-tom

Morphart

ShadySue

borg

ShadySue

borg

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