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Author Topic: Changes on vectors? (prices and formats)  (Read 11642 times)

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« on: March 18, 2009, 19:08 »
0
hi,

after reading in other thread (link) that Fotolia now accepts EPS and AI files only (instead of svg), i went to FT to (try to) find how the eps should be uploaded (eps only, or eps+preview a la ss, or eps+full size jpg, etc): I couldn't find any info on this, but i noted that their website says vector files starting at 4 credits, and having different prices according to complexity ( 4-6-8 credits for non exclusive files, white to gold ranking)

(from: http://www.fotolia.com/Info/Contents/Vectors)


(from: http://www.fotolia.com/Info/Contributors)

i haven't found any info on what's basic, detailed or elaborate, but here it says "Vectors shall be creative with a lot of details, and the work has to be clean (simple vectors without any creative detail will be refused)" so i guess basic is not really that basic...  ;D (or they are contradicting themselves)...

i checked my gallery and all vectors are still at 8 credits. i haven't seen any description on the complexity levels, but mine are most likely not "elaborate", so I guess the change hasn't come into effect yet or the pages i'm seeing were posted before time...

so.. basic math: instead of the 0.37 x 7 credits (=$2.59) i was making a month ago for a vector, now i will be making:
 0.34 x 4 (=$1.36) for a "basic" vector, or
 0.34 x 6 (=$2.04) for a "detailed" vector, or
 0.34 x 8 (=$2.72) for an "elaborate" vector.

on the other hand, the EL prices for vectors are going up (from 20 to 40 credits for base level, and 100 to 160 credits for silver ranking).

does anyone found more info than this?
will we receive any communication from FT on this changes this time?





« Reply #1 on: March 18, 2009, 20:15 »
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Vectors

    * Vectors must be archived with a JPEG preview inside a ZIP archive.
    * Supported vector formats are AI and EPS.
    * To ensure maximum compatibility, please save your vectors for a lower Illustrator version (for example: Illustrator 10).
    * Preview resolution must not be less than 2400 x 1600 (4 Million pixels).
    * Files must be less than 2 Megabytes.
    * You need to be the author of the files uploaded on Fotolia
    * Do not upload files with logos or other protected trademarks
    * Vectors should be clean files with a lot of detail (simple vectors without creative details will be refused)
    * Do not upload vectorized images

Here is the requirements for vector uploads at FT.  Now I'm just hoping for some of that sweet sweet EL income to come rolling in.

helix7

« Reply #2 on: March 18, 2009, 21:15 »
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    * Files must be less than 2 Megabytes.
 

The 2MB limit wasn't so bad with SVG because of the much smaller file size of SVG images. But a 2MB limit on EPS and AI is just way too low.

I thought the 5MB limit at SS was silly, but this is a bit ridiculous. A 2MB limit pretty much eliminates half of my portfolio from meeting the new requirements.


« Last Edit: March 22, 2009, 16:46 by helix7 »

« Reply #3 on: March 18, 2009, 22:09 »
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Vectors

    * Vectors must be archived with a JPEG preview inside a ZIP archive.
    * Supported vector formats are AI and EPS.
    * To ensure maximum compatibility, please save your vectors for a lower Illustrator version (for example: Illustrator 10).
    * Preview resolution must not be less than 2400 x 1600 (4 Million pixels).
    * Files must be less than 2 Megabytes.
    * You need to be the author of the files uploaded on Fotolia
    * Do not upload files with logos or other protected trademarks
    * Vectors should be clean files with a lot of detail (simple vectors without creative details will be refused)
    * Do not upload vectorized images

Here is the requirements for vector uploads at FT.  Now I'm just hoping for some of that sweet sweet EL income to come rolling in.


thanks, i couldn't find it anywhere in the FT site (i only found it later at the spanish fotolia)

2 megabytes doesn't seem like a lot... and they want "files with a lot of detail". I'm just hoping the preview is not included in the 2 mb  ;D

baz777

  • Im not sociable so I dont use social media
« Reply #4 on: March 19, 2009, 02:34 »
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This is really confusing me!

I have only been uploading vectors as of last Thursday and the only file format I have been able to upload is SVG, (including last night).

I did try uploading a zipped EPS/jpeg with out success.

« Reply #5 on: March 19, 2009, 03:52 »
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As I understand it, the new vector functionality is still under construction. (There was a message from one of the admins on the german forum.)

I'll wait with uploading my vectors for a couple of weeks at least, until the usual bugs have been fixed...

Microbius

« Reply #6 on: March 19, 2009, 04:01 »
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I hope their not expecting us to reupload our back catalog in the new format!

2mb isn't as bad as it sounds because the eps will be zipped, they tend to compress quite well (small resulting file size). I think this works out more generous than the SS unzipped file size.

« Reply #7 on: March 19, 2009, 05:09 »
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I uploaded a 3.7MB ZIP file containing the eps and jpeg no problems.

Microbius

« Reply #8 on: March 19, 2009, 05:35 »
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did it pull keywords etc. from the jpeg?

« Reply #9 on: March 19, 2009, 05:41 »
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^^ I honestly can't remember.

« Reply #10 on: March 19, 2009, 09:33 »
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When you edit your files, the price automatically is set at 8 for vectors. Does that mean they are going to add in an optional range or just screw us over and lower the price on some of our files?

sui

« Reply #11 on: March 20, 2009, 03:39 »
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did it pull keywords etc. from the jpeg?

No, it didn't.

I've been trying to upload a vector to Fotolia since yesterday. I was confused that I couldn't submit an EPS file. I thought it's because of inkscape, so I did try to save my SVG to AI with Illustrator CS3, but still Fotolia refused it.

Good that I found this thread, so I saved my AI to JPEG. Then I zipped both AI and JPEG files and submitted. It worked !!

But unfortunately all IPTC data from AI and JPEG were not pulled out automatically. I need to copy paste manually.

Microbius

« Reply #12 on: March 20, 2009, 04:57 »
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that's a pain, cutting and pasting's a real chore when your uploading to multiple sites. I was hoping FT would take the opportunity to get that sorted.

« Reply #13 on: March 20, 2009, 10:47 »
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When you edit your files, the price automatically is set at 8 for vectors. Does that mean they are going to add in an optional range or just screw us over and lower the price on some of our files?

They priced some vectors uploaded last night at 4 credits. they were at 8 when I submitted the file. Does that answer your question? (older files are still at 8 )
They now have (as far as i remember) one of the cheapest non-sub vectors of all sites... what's next? including vectors in the subscriptions? simple photos of isolated objects on white at half price too?... (i better stop giving ideas for free)

by the way, is it THAT hard to extract the itpc from the jpg preview? What's the jpg for then?
how about sending a newsletter notifying the changes? ... (preferably before the changes go live and we found out someway else)





« Reply #14 on: March 20, 2009, 11:24 »
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that's a pain, cutting and pasting's a real chore when your uploading to multiple sites. I was hoping FT would take the opportunity to get that sorted.

I agree.  I'm no IT whiz but if their system can pull that info from regular photo jpegs why not thumbnail previews for vectors.  And to mirror the above, it would have been nice if they would have told someone/anyone that this was happening.  But this is FT after all...

« Reply #15 on: March 20, 2009, 12:02 »
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So what does a 4 credit vector look like? I was a little curious about what the tiers were. Also, are they planning on changing the prices for old files or just new files uploaded?

I asked this on their forums, so maybe I'll get an answer there. I'm not going to hold my breath though.

sui

« Reply #16 on: March 20, 2009, 14:28 »
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So what does a 4 credit vector look like? I was a little curious about what the tiers were. Also, are they planning on changing the prices for old files or just new files uploaded?

I asked this on their forums, so maybe I'll get an answer there. I'm not going to hold my breath though.

Ok. I just got my last vector approved. I have only 2 vectors at Fotolia.

The new one has only V and XV licenses (without other image size licenses). The V = 4 credit and XV = 40 credit.

My other old vector file still has the old licenses: XS S M L XL XLL V X. Prices are still the old one: V = 8 credit.

So if you are submitting new vectors, you have to sell it cheaper than your old vectors. And the old vectors still sell, perhaps for a while when buyers then realize they can buy cheaper new vectors.

« Reply #17 on: March 20, 2009, 14:51 »
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Can vector files be downloaded in their subs plan??

« Reply #18 on: March 22, 2009, 11:13 »
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I did a search on Fotolia and it looks like most of the new vectors (ones available in just V or XV) were priced at 4 credits. A few were 6 credits and I didn't see any at 8 credits. If new vectors are going to be priced at half the price of the old ones, I don't really see much point in uploading any new vectors there.

It didn't look like any of the old ones had been repriced. They are all still 8 credits. If they plan on halving the price on my old files, I will have to seriously consider pulling all my vectors and just selling my old raster files.

Fotolia what?

« Reply #19 on: March 22, 2009, 19:05 »
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that's a pain, cutting and pasting's a real chore when your uploading to multiple sites. I was hoping FT would take the opportunity to get that sorted.
Really, when I saw that FT wanted a JPG thumb I just assumed that now they would read the metadata, and I was happy that it would save me a lot of time. But uploading to them now takes even longer than ever! They want their vectors submitted in a way no other site does. The zipped EPS + thumb are like CC, but you also now have to upload your JPG versions separately, like on SS.

What is FT thinking?  :-\ The changes are not an improvement, they make things harder.

« Reply #20 on: March 25, 2009, 05:19 »
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I believe they have been forced to lower their prices as a result of the vector prices on another agency starting with V. More and more people have been submitting their vector art to that site even though their prices are ridiculously low compared to other agencies, and this is the consequence. Soon other agencies will follow, pretty sad.

sui

« Reply #21 on: March 25, 2009, 05:29 »
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Got email from Fotolia about this. Apparently FT splits now vectors into 3 levels:

Quote
Vectors Pricing Chart

In order to promote our vectors offer, we decided to modify the pricing structure for vector files. There are now 3 different price levels according to the complexity of the vector file. This complexity level will be appreciated by the Fotolia team.

Complexity level

There are now 3 complexity levels for vector files:

Basic vectors

Vector files with basic forms and effects (shadows, reflexions...).    
 
Detailed vector

Vectors representing a concrete subject (not a symbol or a standalone element) with several details and effects.    
 
Elaborate vector

Vectors representing a complete scene with a lot of detailed elements, effects and with a real creative touch.

So there are more levels for vector. The pricing chart for these type of vectors: basic = 4, detailed = 6, elaborate = 8.

« Reply #22 on: March 25, 2009, 10:37 »
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I got their newsletter too. Not that I'm planning on uploading anything at their new crap-tacular prices, but I thought it was strange that they wanted Illustrator 10 files and not 8 like everyone else.

Did I miss  the day in science class where they explained that the world revolved around Fotolia?

« Reply #23 on: March 25, 2009, 12:42 »
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Did I miss  the day in science class where they explained that the world revolved around Fotolia?

Fotolia-centric universe  ;D

I, unfortunately, do not have a lot of time to put into stock, and am starting to wonder if it's even worth it to continue uploading to FT.  I always did before because it's easy to save an .svg, upload it and copy and paste info from windows picture viewer.  I have no interest in uploading photos to them anymore because it's a crap shoot to see if they'll even get accepted, but at least with vectors they seemed much more lenient, I mean look at some of the crap of mine they've approved.



« Reply #24 on: March 26, 2009, 13:28 »
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I thought this was interesting. Someone posted a response they got back from Fotolia about the vector changes:

"Thank you for your e-mail. As we mentioned on the previous e-mail, Jpeg files and illustrations that comes with the Vector file format are only for Thumbnails.
Unfortunatelly the Vector file is no longer available in Jpeg format to submit it as Xs, X, M, L, XL, X licenses anymore."


I'm not really sure why they would do this.


 

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