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Author Topic: Canva  (Read 422430 times)

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« Reply #375 on: February 12, 2015, 18:43 »
+1
Any point in uploading vectors to Canva? Most of the vector elements seems to be free. And when you search you mostly get photos, even if you include the keyword "vector". And what format (page size) should I go for if I make complete designs? There are so many to chose from. Which ones sell the most?

We have a massive backlog of vectors and we're not yet working through it at a meaningful pace. If you already have a contributor account you might as well upload as part of your regular workflow, but don't expect your files to come online any time soon. If you don't already have a contributor account you're welcome to apply, but we're being extremely selective now.

I presume the second part of your question relates to the layouts in the Canva designer. As a contributor you don't need to worry about that. All images can be used in any layout.


« Reply #376 on: February 12, 2015, 20:40 »
0
Any point in uploading vectors to Canva? Most of the vector elements seems to be free. And when you search you mostly get photos, even if you include the keyword "vector". And what format (page size) should I go for if I make complete designs? There are so many to chose from. Which ones sell the most?

We have a massive backlog of vectors and we're not yet working through it at a meaningful pace. If you already have a contributor account you might as well upload as part of your regular workflow, but don't expect your files to come online any time soon. If you don't already have a contributor account you're welcome to apply, but we're being extremely selective now.

I presume the second part of your question relates to the layouts in the Canva designer. As a contributor you don't need to worry about that. All images can be used in any layout.

Thanks for a quick answer!

Yes, I noticed that all images can be used in any layout, but if I create something in american letter format (a full page with another background color than white) for instance, it won't be very useful in a square layout since it would leave white areas on the sides. I was just wondering if any layout are extra popular.

And what about sets of design elements? A set of icons for instance. Would I have to separate them and create one vector file per icon? I guess it would be quite a lot of work for the staff at Canva to do that... unless you have some smart software.

And a final question. I saw that EPS or SVG are acceptable formats. Does the EPS files have to be EPS8? Or can I use transparency and upload EPS10 files?

« Reply #377 on: February 12, 2015, 20:51 »
0
Thanks for a quick answer!

Yes, I noticed that all images can be used in any layout, but if I create something in american letter format (a full page with another background color than white) for instance, it won't be very useful in a square layout since it would leave white areas on the sides. I was just wondering if any layout are extra popular.

And what about sets of design elements? A set of icons for instance. Would I have to separate them and create one vector file per icon? I guess it would be quite a lot of work for the staff at Canva to do that... unless you have some smart software.

And a final question. I saw that EPS or SVG are acceptable formats. Does the EPS files have to be EPS8? Or can I use transparency and upload EPS10 files?

We're a design tool, so we're after design elements, not finished designs, which is what "american letter format" sounds like.  If you're interested in that sort of work, check out our designers program:  http:www.canva.com/designers
If you submit something through our contributor program that looks more like a design than a design element, it'll be rejected.

For now, sets go into the Too Hard Basket.  We've built a tool that allows us to separate them into individual files with incredible speed, but it's not finished and finishing / implementing it isn't currently high on the priority list.  We're not asking anyone to split their sets for us, but we don't object if that's something you want to do. I don't recommend you invest any time in that until we get our vector pipeline operating at a better rate (it's currently crawling painfully slowly).

EPS 8 and 10 are both fine.  :)

« Reply #378 on: February 19, 2015, 13:28 »
+2
...Old un-reviewed images - from next week we'll be working through the backlog from the back, so you'll notice review taking longer overall...

Can you give us an idea of what date you're up to now?

I haven't seen anything from my backlog get reviewed (oldest in queue is October 4, 2014); my last approved file was uploaded September 10th, less than a month before the oldest pending item. I was hoping to see something happening by now and just wanted to be sure these ancient files weren't invisible in the system at this point.

« Reply #379 on: February 19, 2015, 13:50 »
0
...Old un-reviewed images - from next week we'll be working through the backlog from the back, so you'll notice review taking longer overall...

Can you give us an idea of what date you're up to now?

I haven't seen anything from my backlog get reviewed (oldest in queue is October 4, 2014); my last approved file was uploaded September 10th, less than a month before the oldest pending item. I was hoping to see something happening by now and just wanted to be sure these ancient files weren't invisible in the system at this point.

If only it were that clean.  The backlog isn't ordered by date.  I don't think it's ordered by anything much.  To help you manage your expectations, I don't think we'll be catching up on the backlog for another two months based on how fast we've been going so far. 

Don't worry about old files going missing.  So far we haven't lost any files.  :)

« Reply #380 on: February 23, 2015, 23:49 »
+1
I'm so excited - 20 or so of my backlogged images are now online! It appears they are being handled in date order (these were from October 4th and newer ones are still in review).

There were a couple that had a (S) rejection - does that mean soft, and is there any way to know what Canva didn't like? If not, it doesn't matter much - I wouldn't resubmit anyway, but if there is a subject matter you don't want more of, or processing you didn't want, it helps to know. Saves both of us time in the long run.

« Reply #381 on: February 24, 2015, 11:29 »
0
I'm so excited - 20 or so of my backlogged images are now online! It appears they are being handled in date order (these were from October 4th and newer ones are still in review).

There were a couple that had a (S) rejection - does that mean soft, and is there any way to know what Canva didn't like? If not, it doesn't matter much - I wouldn't resubmit anyway, but if there is a subject matter you don't want more of, or processing you didn't want, it helps to know. Saves both of us time in the long run.

Hey Jo Ann, I'm glad to hear you're excited.  We have more reviewers coming out of training and starting to work now, so our progress on the backlog is picking up. 

We have an issue that prevents us from displaying the data about the rejection reasons, but just email me the Media IDs and I'll let you know what they were.  Rejected(S) does indeed mean 'soft' rejection. 

« Reply #382 on: February 24, 2015, 14:39 »
+2
So on Canva all sales are $1 and the royalty is 35% so .35 cent to the contributor every time which would mean that no matter how large or small an image would go for.35 cent? So as where on Alamy I might make $200 for an image at its largest size on Canva I make .35 cent?

« Reply #383 on: February 24, 2015, 14:41 »
0
So on Canva all sales are $1 and the royalty is 35% so .35 cent to the contributor every time which would mean that no matter how large or small an image would go for.35 cent? So as where on Alamy I might make $200 for an image at its largest size on Canva I make .35 cent?

Yes, but the usage is restricted to their online design program.

« Reply #384 on: February 24, 2015, 14:45 »
+5
So on Canva all sales are $1 and the royalty is 35% so .35 cent to the contributor every time which would mean that no matter how large or small an image would go for.35 cent? So as where on Alamy I might make $200 for an image at its largest size on Canva I make .35 cent?

Yes, but the usage is restricted to their online design program.

Why would that be good? If someone makes a flyer for example they print it off and go to Kinkos, or if they make an album cover they then take the design to a printing place, I guess I don't understand how having the image restricted to their online design program is any different then purchasing an image and doing something with it on your own computer as a graphic designer?

« Reply #385 on: February 24, 2015, 14:59 »
+1
..., I guess I don't understand how having the image restricted to their online design program is any different then purchasing an image and doing something with it on your own computer as a graphic designer?

You never get the image on your computer is the difference. It's micro rights managed licensing, in effect. $1 lets you use it in one project, and if you have 4 projects you pay $4. RF licensing you get the money once and that's it.

The reason having it in their design program matters is that it provides a way of enforcing usage. At microstock prices, who'd police the traditional rights managed license? Something you paid for the rights for a book cover in Germany only for 12 months and now you're using it worldwide over 3 years and owe extra money. Getty could afford to chase people up when licenses for that sort of usage were very expensive.

« Reply #386 on: February 24, 2015, 14:59 »
+1
So on Canva all sales are $1 and the royalty is 35% so .35 cent to the contributor every time which would mean that no matter how large or small an image would go for.35 cent? So as where on Alamy I might make $200 for an image at its largest size on Canva I make .35 cent?

Yes, but the usage is restricted to their online design program.

Why would that be good? If someone makes a flyer for example they print it off and go to Kinkos, or if they make an album cover they then take the design to a printing place, I guess I don't understand how having the image restricted to their online design program is any different then purchasing an image and doing something with it on your own computer as a graphic designer?

The regular RF license on any other allows the buyer to use the image in as many designs as he wants (for one customer). So he can use it on hundred different flyers, newspaper ads, websites, mailings, and all we get is a single royalty (as low as $0,25 on e.g. Shutterstock).

On Canva each of these different designs would need a separate purchase.

I have to say I was critical at first (as I posted early in this thread), but now I do see that in a different light.

And they do sell.

« Reply #387 on: February 24, 2015, 16:53 »
0
..., I guess I don't understand how having the image restricted to their online design program is any different then purchasing an image and doing something with it on your own computer as a graphic designer?

You never get the image on your computer is the difference. It's micro rights managed licensing, in effect. $1 lets you use it in one project, and if you have 4 projects you pay $4. RF licensing you get the money once and that's it.

The reason having it in their design program matters is that it provides a way of enforcing usage. At microstock prices, who'd police the traditional rights managed license? Something you paid for the rights for a book cover in Germany only for 12 months and now you're using it worldwide over 3 years and owe extra money. Getty could afford to chase people up when licenses for that sort of usage were very expensive.

so does Canva provide on demand printing like Cafe Press or something, otherwise how else would you print some of the products you can design if it can never leave their design program?

« Reply #388 on: February 24, 2015, 18:18 »
+1
so does Canva provide on demand printing like Cafe Press or something, otherwise how else would you print some of the products you can design if it can never leave their design program?

You download a PNG or PDF of your entire design, not the individual pieces. So if you have text over the photo, for example, that's how it prints and to change that you need to go and modify the design on Canva. I think you get to modify the design within 24 hours without paying again, but after that you'd pay a second time as if it were a new design (not certain about that as I don't use the site as a designer).

« Reply #389 on: February 25, 2015, 22:11 »
0
So on Canva all sales are $1 and the royalty is 35% so .35 cent to the contributor every time which would mean that no matter how large or small an image would go for.35 cent? So as where on Alamy I might make $200 for an image at its largest size on Canva I make .35 cent?

Yes, but the usage is restricted to their online design program.

another factor is that sales thru alamy, esp'ly $200 have dried up for most people.  I've made more from canva than alamy or IS over the last 6 months

« Reply #390 on: February 25, 2015, 22:17 »
+1
Woo, the other day I had 47 images approved, now I have 200!  Go go new reviewers, and thank you :)

« Reply #391 on: February 26, 2015, 06:14 »
0
Reviews are indeed picking up and so are sales. I'm quite happy with Canva!

Semmick Photo

« Reply #392 on: February 26, 2015, 06:42 »
+1
Well half my portfolio was rejected in hindsight. Causing my drop in sales.

« Reply #393 on: February 26, 2015, 10:52 »
+2
Well half my portfolio was rejected in hindsight. Causing my drop in sales.

Others may have a similar experience at the moment as we clean up earlier reviewing errors and bring the collection in line with our new strategy of a smaller, higher-quality collection.  As I said to Semmick by email, this wasn't a light decision and we regret not getting these things right from the start.  But startups are nothing if not fast learning experiences, and we're adapting to what we learn as we go. 

Semmick Photo

« Reply #394 on: February 26, 2015, 10:58 »
0
Well half my portfolio was rejected in hindsight. Causing my drop in sales.

Others may have a similar experience at the moment as we clean up earlier reviewing errors and bring the collection in line with our new strategy of a smaller, higher-quality collection.  As I said to Semmick by email, this wasn't a light decision and we regret not getting these things right from the start.  But startups are nothing if not fast learning experiences, and we're adapting to what we learn as we go.

I understand, but I am not happy with it. My sales were slashed by 85%. What I dont understand is that they are called 'reviewing errors' but the images are high quality accepted on all agencies.

However, I am going through my portfolio tomorrow, manually, and make a list for you, because many images are stuck in processing or have a broken thumbnail and are rejected because of that. Maybe we can work on fixing these issues, and I will then also know what work I still have to submit.

Some good sellers were rejected, maybe then can be reconsidered. But I will take that off line with you.

Cheers
Ron

« Reply #395 on: February 26, 2015, 11:13 »
+2
Well half my portfolio was rejected in hindsight. Causing my drop in sales.

Others may have a similar experience at the moment as we clean up earlier reviewing errors and bring the collection in line with our new strategy of a smaller, higher-quality collection.  As I said to Semmick by email, this wasn't a light decision and we regret not getting these things right from the start.  But startups are nothing if not fast learning experiences, and we're adapting to what we learn as we go.

I understand, but I am not happy with it. My sales were slashed by 85%. What I dont understand is that they are called 'reviewing errors' but the images are high quality accepted on all agencies.
We knew we were going to upset contributors with this change, but I'm very happy you understand. 

We don't dispute that the images were accepted at other agencies, though the "high quality" part is more subjective.  Every agency draws the quality line where they believe it works for them.  Our line is just in a different spot to some others.

However, I am going through my portfolio tomorrow, manually, and make a list for you, because many images are stuck in processing or have a broken thumbnail and are rejected because of that. Maybe we can work on fixing these issues, and I will then also know what work I still have to submit.
I wouldn't bother with this.  All images that are stuck in processing will be unstuck in time.  If you can see them in your portfolio page, they're in our database and won't get lost.  We haven't lost any images yet.  If you uploaded them in the last month or so, they haven't been submitted, but they are still in the file system.  Those images will be submitted when we finish with the backlog.  If the thumbnail is broken that means the image is broken.  Those ones you can upload again. 


Some good sellers were rejected, maybe then can be reconsidered. But I will take that off line with you.

Cheers
Ron
No worries.  Happy to discuss this with you, though the fact that images are "good sellers" doesn't carry any weight with us.  We're after imagery that enables our customers to create beautiful designs.  If we don't think an image can achieve that, we won't take it, regardless of any sales history. 

Thanks for your patience and understanding, Ron.  :)

« Reply #396 on: February 26, 2015, 13:41 »
0
Lee,

    Is there some sort of general guidance available about what you do and do not want?  In my (limited) experience what sells seems to be under the general categories of isolations or backgrounds, which makes sense to me given your platform.  Are those what you are mostly looking for or is there something else that is better?  What kinds of images do you definitely not want?  A little guidance about general directions might save us all some time.  Thanks.

(Sorry for asking if this has already been stated some place but I have not seen it)

BD

« Reply #397 on: February 26, 2015, 14:51 »
+6
I have an image that sold on YOUR SITE 78 times that someone decided to just delete. In fact, in just one month it sold 34 times on your site. Are you going to really tell me your customers think that file is not quality and they dont want it?

There is another agency that has had huge success by paying attention to what its customers want instead of what they think is quality.

Are you guys still deleting images?
« Last Edit: February 26, 2015, 14:58 by BD »

Semmick Photo

« Reply #398 on: February 26, 2015, 14:58 »
+1
I have an image that sold on YOUR SITE 78 times that someone decided to just delete. In fact, in just one month it sold 34 times on your site. Are you going to really tell me your customers think that file is not quality and they dont want it?

There is another agency that has had huge success by paying attention to what its customers want instead of what they think is quality.

Are you guys still deleting images?

I had an image which most likely was used in a template, it sold like gangbusters in January and it was then deleted.

« Reply #399 on: February 26, 2015, 16:37 »
+4
I have an image that sold on YOUR SITE 78 times that someone decided to just delete. In fact, in just one month it sold 34 times on your site. Are you going to really tell me your customers think that file is not quality and they dont want it?
...

If 78 sales or fewer were the retention criteria, they'd delete all 240 of my images there! And I've checked a couple of times today to see if anything's been deleted, but so far not.

I cut & paste the sales pages into an excel spreadsheet, sorted them in order of download totals and about half have been downloaded, not one of them sold 78 times.

I understand the idea that sales at other agencies aren't something Canva wants to consider, but I'm truly puzzled as to why an image with demonstrable sales on Canva would be removed - unless there were model release, property release or other IP issues (like it's of a cruise ship, or has a visible logo or something that would only fly as editorial).


 

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