MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => Alamy.com => Topic started by: zsooofija on July 07, 2020, 12:57

Title: Vector VS images and illustrations
Post by: zsooofija on July 07, 2020, 12:57
https://www.alamy.com/licenses-and-pricing/ (https://www.alamy.com/licenses-and-pricing/)

Looking at the RF image license prices a vector file costs 5 times less than the smallest JPG and 36 times less than the XXLarge JPG (that can be easily created from the vector file with a free software). So now I am wondering: should I replace my vector files with large JPGs?

What do you think? Any advice appreciated.
Title: Re: Vector VS images and illustrations
Post by: ShadySue on July 07, 2020, 13:05
I have no experience of selling vectors via Alamy and I don't know anyone who does.

But I will caution you that at least for photos, the price on Alamy's page and the real price paid are very seldom the same, by a considerable margin.
It's all about the discount the buyer has negotiated.
Title: Re: Vector VS images and illustrations
Post by: zsooofija on July 07, 2020, 13:33
I have no experience of selling vectors via Alamy and I don't know anyone who does.

But I will caution you that at least for photos, the price on Alamy's page and the real price paid are very seldom the same, by a considerable margin.
It's all about the discount the buyer has negotiated.

Thanks.
Most of my sales correspond to the price shown here (unfortunately), so that's not the problem (I mean it is, but not for me). Do you get $9.99 or lower downloads for images? (I am talking about sales price, so ~$4 comission)
Title: Re: Vector VS images and illustrations
Post by: ShadySue on July 07, 2020, 13:41
I have no experience of selling vectors via Alamy and I don't know anyone who does.

But I will caution you that at least for photos, the price on Alamy's page and the real price paid are very seldom the same, by a considerable margin.
It's all about the discount the buyer has negotiated.

Thanks.
Most of my sales correspond to the price shown here (unfortunately), so that's not the problem (I mean it is, but not for me). Do you get $9.99 or lower downloads for images? (I am talking about sales price, so ~$4 comission)
Oh yes, often, and lower. Sometimes (not very often) under $1 net (distributor sale, bulk discount) - I think my lowest was 63c (net).
Title: Re: Vector VS images and illustrations
Post by: Uncle Pete on July 07, 2020, 13:45
I have no experience of selling vectors via Alamy and I don't know anyone who does.

But I will caution you that at least for photos, the price on Alamy's page and the real price paid are very seldom the same, by a considerable margin.
It's all about the discount the buyer has negotiated.

Thanks.
Most of my sales correspond to the price shown here (unfortunately), so that's not the problem (I mean it is, but not for me). Do you get $9.99 or lower downloads for images? (I am talking about sales price, so ~$4 comission)

Yes I do, I get some lower partner sales. I have no idea what a price is supposed to be on Alamy.

Never sold a vector, I have roughly 200 illustrations 191 are jpegs, one sale: Country: Worldwide
Usage: Personal use, Personal prints, cards and gifts. Non-commercial use only, not for resale. $19.99

My 20 best selling images on SS, including some illustrations, not one has ever sold on Alamy. Some of the same images, have sales on Adobe and IS over the years.

Alamy is a nice 40% when something sells, or 50% for some of mine, but don't count on many sales, or the same things that sell on Microstock. Just like I sell different subjects and images on Adobe.

Everyone is different, maybe you'l ldo better? I'm not an original art illustrator like you.
Title: Re: Vector VS images and illustrations
Post by: zsooofija on July 07, 2020, 13:54
I have no experience of selling vectors via Alamy and I don't know anyone who does.

But I will caution you that at least for photos, the price on Alamy's page and the real price paid are very seldom the same, by a considerable margin.
It's all about the discount the buyer has negotiated.

Thanks.
Most of my sales correspond to the price shown here (unfortunately), so that's not the problem (I mean it is, but not for me). Do you get $9.99 or lower downloads for images? (I am talking about sales price, so ~$4 comission)

Yes I do, I get some lower partner sales. I have no idea what a price is supposed to be on Alamy.

Never sold a vector, I have roughly 200 illustrations 191 are jpegs, one sale: Country: Worldwide
Usage: Personal use, Personal prints, cards and gifts. Non-commercial use only, not for resale. $19.99

My 20 best selling images on SS, including some illustrations, not one has ever sold on Alamy. Some of the same images, have sales on Adobe and IS over the years.

Alamy is a nice 40% when something sells, or 50% for some of mine, but don't count on many sales, or the same things that sell on Microstock. Just like I sell different subjects and images on Adobe.

Everyone is different, maybe you'l ldo better? I'm not an original art illustrator like you.

Maybe it's time to replace my vectors. 19.99 sounds twice as better than 9.99.
Title: Re: Vector VS images and illustrations
Post by: Noedelhap on July 07, 2020, 17:04
I sell vectors there and I often get $4 for them. I don't sell a whole lot there. Used to get some nice extra big commissions from them a few years back, but it's mostly the $4 ones nowadays.
Title: Re: Vector VS images and illustrations
Post by: Shelma1 on July 07, 2020, 17:37
I just don’t understand why vectors are priced at a small fraction of every other type of image. It makes no sense.
Title: Re: Vector VS images and illustrations
Post by: Noedelhap on July 08, 2020, 04:56
I have no experience of selling vectors via Alamy and I don't know anyone who does.

But I will caution you that at least for photos, the price on Alamy's page and the real price paid are very seldom the same, by a considerable margin.
It's all about the discount the buyer has negotiated.

Thanks.
Most of my sales correspond to the price shown here (unfortunately), so that's not the problem (I mean it is, but not for me). Do you get $9.99 or lower downloads for images? (I am talking about sales price, so ~$4 comission)

Yes I do, I get some lower partner sales. I have no idea what a price is supposed to be on Alamy.

Never sold a vector, I have roughly 200 illustrations 191 are jpegs, one sale: Country: Worldwide
Usage: Personal use, Personal prints, cards and gifts. Non-commercial use only, not for resale. $19.99

My 20 best selling images on SS, including some illustrations, not one has ever sold on Alamy. Some of the same images, have sales on Adobe and IS over the years.

Alamy is a nice 40% when something sells, or 50% for some of mine, but don't count on many sales, or the same things that sell on Microstock. Just like I sell different subjects and images on Adobe.

Everyone is different, maybe you'l ldo better? I'm not an original art illustrator like you.

Maybe it's time to replace my vectors. 19.99 sounds twice as better than 9.99.

Vectors might be more desirable than jpgs versions. A photo is a photo, but a rasterized vector is basically less useful than the vector itself.

The pricing discrepancy is odd, I agree. But if vectors are more in demand than their jpg versions, it's better to sell the vectors.
Title: Re: Vector VS images and illustrations
Post by: zsooofija on July 08, 2020, 05:13
I have no experience of selling vectors via Alamy and I don't know anyone who does.

But I will caution you that at least for photos, the price on Alamy's page and the real price paid are very seldom the same, by a considerable margin.
It's all about the discount the buyer has negotiated.

Thanks.
Most of my sales correspond to the price shown here (unfortunately), so that's not the problem (I mean it is, but not for me). Do you get $9.99 or lower downloads for images? (I am talking about sales price, so ~$4 comission)

Yes I do, I get some lower partner sales. I have no idea what a price is supposed to be on Alamy.

Never sold a vector, I have roughly 200 illustrations 191 are jpegs, one sale: Country: Worldwide
Usage: Personal use, Personal prints, cards and gifts. Non-commercial use only, not for resale. $19.99

My 20 best selling images on SS, including some illustrations, not one has ever sold on Alamy. Some of the same images, have sales on Adobe and IS over the years.

Alamy is a nice 40% when something sells, or 50% for some of mine, but don't count on many sales, or the same things that sell on Microstock. Just like I sell different subjects and images on Adobe.

Everyone is different, maybe you'l ldo better? I'm not an original art illustrator like you.

Maybe it's time to replace my vectors. 19.99 sounds twice as better than 9.99.

Vectors might be more desirable than jpgs versions. A photo is a photo, but a rasterized vector is basically less useful than the vector itself.

The pricing discrepancy is odd, I agree. But if vectors are more in demand than their jpg versions, it's better to sell the vectors.

I have no idea if vectors sell better or not (I only have vectors so I can not compare). But also crosses my mind that maybe the demand for vectors is not 5-36 times bigger than demand for JPG. That's why I am thinking of the replacement.
I'm just waiting for some more feedback.
Title: Re: Vector VS images and illustrations
Post by: ShadySue on July 08, 2020, 05:46
<speculation>
It MAY be that the people who want to buy vectors on Alamy don't have vast image needs, like e.g. newspapers, who can negotiate bulk discounts. So MAYBE that's the reason why vector sellers don't see much discounting. Also it MAY be why photo prices are initially priced higher: to allow for deep discounting.
</speculation>
Title: Re: Vector VS images and illustrations
Post by: Shelma1 on July 08, 2020, 09:21
Duplicate post
Title: Re: Vector VS images and illustrations
Post by: Shelma1 on July 08, 2020, 09:22
There’s no good reason to ask 75%-90% less for vectors than for photos. No other agency has such cockamamie pricing.
Title: Re: Vector VS images and illustrations
Post by: Noedelhap on July 08, 2020, 09:34
I've sent an email to Alamy with this question, what their reasoning behind the discrepancy is. Unfortunately due to COVID-19 they're understaffed so I don't expect a reply soon.
Title: Re: Vector VS images and illustrations
Post by: zsooofija on July 08, 2020, 10:48
I've sent an email to Alamy with this question, what their reasoning behind the discrepancy is. Unfortunately due to COVID-19 they're understaffed so I don't expect a reply soon.

I also got the same reply, and posted the question in their forum.
I don't think they will ever reply, in my understanding:
"Temporarily, we’re unlikely to be able to answer your email due to a reduction in team size whilst we respond to the global Covid-19 pandemic."
Title: Re: Vector VS images and illustrations
Post by: zsooofija on July 10, 2020, 11:44
I have just applied to become an "image" contributor. If I get accepted, I'll delete all vectors and upload JPG instead. Waiting time is 3 weeks :(
Title: Re: Vector VS images and illustrations
Post by: cathyslife on July 10, 2020, 12:36
There’s no good reason to ask 75%-90% less for vectors than for photos. No other agency has such cockamamie pricing.

In the past, when I bought vectors, (not from alamy), they were always the highest priced. Which makes sense to me. I agree, it doesn’t make sense that vectors are the lowest priced. If they are, zsooofija, I would do what you said, just upload jpgs to Alamy. Save the vectors for sites that pay you more.
Title: Re: Vector VS images and illustrations
Post by: Uncle Pete on July 11, 2020, 09:47
I have no experience of selling vectors via Alamy and I don't know anyone who does.

But I will caution you that at least for photos, the price on Alamy's page and the real price paid are very seldom the same, by a considerable margin.
It's all about the discount the buyer has negotiated.

Thanks.
Most of my sales correspond to the price shown here (unfortunately), so that's not the problem (I mean it is, but not for me). Do you get $9.99 or lower downloads for images? (I am talking about sales price, so ~$4 comission)

Yes I do, I get some lower partner sales. I have no idea what a price is supposed to be on Alamy.

Never sold a vector, I have roughly 200 illustrations 191 are jpegs, one sale: Country: Worldwide
Usage: Personal use, Personal prints, cards and gifts. Non-commercial use only, not for resale. $19.99

My 20 best selling images on SS, including some illustrations, not one has ever sold on Alamy. Some of the same images, have sales on Adobe and IS over the years.

Alamy is a nice 40% when something sells, or 50% for some of mine, but don't count on many sales, or the same things that sell on Microstock. Just like I sell different subjects and images on Adobe.

Everyone is different, maybe you'l ldo better? I'm not an original art illustrator like you.

Maybe it's time to replace my vectors. 19.99 sounds twice as better than 9.99.

My point was... not many sales, of either kinds of illustrations on Alamy, and they can be good or tiny. That was the sale price, not my commission, which ended up being $8. Photos now seem to be running $10 final commission, unless it's one of the larger uses.

How much is your time and effort worth to make JPEGs that meet the size requirements? Plus your illustrations are creative, mine aren't.

There’s no good reason to ask 75%-90% less for vectors than for photos. No other agency has such cockamamie pricing.

I'd agree. I never looked at the pricing on Alamy because it seems those numbers are just a suggestion and I never get anything close to that.

Here's a photo example that's representative of the new values: I got $1.45 commission

China, Editorial website, Bulk Discount, Flat Rate    $ 3.63
Title: Re: Vector VS images and illustrations
Post by: zsooofija on July 11, 2020, 10:03
How much is your time and effort worth to make JPEGs that meet the size requirements?

Literally 0 effort, since I have them already keyworded and saved in a size big enough for requirements.
Title: Re: Vector VS images and illustrations
Post by: Uncle Pete on July 11, 2020, 11:05
How much is your time and effort worth to make JPEGs that meet the size requirements?

Literally 0 effort, since I have them already keyworded and saved in a size big enough for requirements.

Well that answers it for me.  ;D I thought there would be something to convert the vectors into rasters. Keep in mind I'm not a trained AI software user. I don't pay for CC and use Elements for photos, (sometimes lightroom) because I'm mostly doing Editorial where lots of modifications aren't even allowed.

I do know that making a vector from a photo is much more difficult.

https://www.alamy.com/licenses-and-pricing/ (https://www.alamy.com/licenses-and-pricing/)

Looking at the RF image license prices a vector file costs 5 times less than the smallest JPG and 36 times less than the XXLarge JPG (that can be easily created from the vector file with a free software). So now I am wondering: should I replace my vector files with large JPGs?

What do you think? Any advice appreciated.

I think I need to go read the license pricing.

I wonder what Alamy will say about this.