When Adobe takes over Fotolia will Shutterstock and iStock be forced to lower their Image-On-Demand (IOD) prices?

Since Getty lowered iStock prices last September non-exclusives images on iStock and Shutterstock images are priced about the same at roughly $10 per image for any file size. (Exclusive images on iStock require 3 credits so they are much more expensive.) However, Fotolia single images are priced 25% to 60% lower than Shutterstock on a yearly basis, and 60% to 75% lower if the customer purchases image packs on a monthly basis.

Adobe wants to integrate Fotolia into its subscription service, but it is hard to see how Adobe will be able to offer a single subscription price that will be a compelling reason for users to switch from Shutterstock, iStock and others to the Adobe offering.

Adobe will make it easy for its Creative Cloud customers to toggle back and forth between Fotolia and Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and its other programs. Then their selling point could be, �Looking for images? Check out Fotolia. They have most of the same images you�ll find on other sites. And, Fotolia�s prices for single images are a fraction of what you pay on those other sites.�

Customers will still buy the images through Fotolia, and then easily import their purchases to the Adobe software.

Will Shutterstock and iStock have to lower their prices to hang onto customers?

Will creators need to withdraw their work from Fotolia so Shutterstock and iStock can argue that the same images aren�t available on Fotolia?

What do you think?

Adobe wants to integrate Fotolia into its subscription service, but it is hard to see how Adobe will be able to offer a single subscription price that will be a compelling reason for users to switch from Shutterstock, iStock and others to the Adobe offering.

My guess is that Adobe will bundle x00 subscription content images per month as part of what subscribers get included with CS.

I do not believe that Adobe is looking to make money directly out of stock photography - rather I believe they are about adding value to their CS subscription packages. Especially as CS subscriptions peak. I am sure that they can afford to break-even on the deal.

By continuing to also offer a standalone Fotolia service they will be able to point to that - as the added value which is included free with a CS subscription.

It does concern me. I wonder what their deal will be with major ad agencies, who keep current on Adobe software (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign). This might make it easier for art directors to find images through FT. Most agencies have agreements with Getty and some now with Shutterstock.

If Fotolia offers lower prices, I say starve them of content. But that's easy for me to say, because I don't have images there since we found out about DPC.