I'm rather new in the world of microstock, but with enough understanding reasons of some rejections of images I had. However, I started with illustrations (non-vectors) and started uploading them to DT, SS and Istock. As they all are allready been accepted at SS and pending on Istock, they were all refused at DT. All with the same reason of being "to simple" ("this illustration contains few elements or the subject is too simplistically represented. Adding more elements or improving the existing ones in terms of creativity and overall appeal will increase the sale potential of your image. Please note that long series of subjects like alphabet letters, world flags, web buttons and other such illustrations will not be accepted separately but only in sets. Please do not resubmit your work unless you improve it according to the above mentioned.")

The illustrations I made had different subjects (Christmas/black friday/cyber monday/ grunge/ abstract,...)and I made them in Photoshop with a lot of layers/effects/text. I know that if I'll add more, it'll ruin the illustration and it's meaning.

I don't know what to do with illustrations on DT, as I get more and more frustrated with them....But I'm considering to stick with photos on DT, instead of mixing with illustrations

Anyone with the same expierience?

Honest feedback is that they were right to refuse them. The Cyber Monday ones have potential but the font is dated. The rest just look super dated overall. I really like your earlier work with the text making up parts of the image, so you definitely have it in you to do better! I would say step back and take deep breath, I am sure if you take a look back in a few months when your skills are better you will see what I mean.

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on December 06, 2015, 10:16
Honest feedback is that they were right to refuse them. The Cyber Monday ones have potential but the font is dated. The rest just look super dated overall. I really like your earlier work with the text making up parts of the image, so you definitely have it in you to do better! I would say step back and take deep breath, I am sure if you take a look back in a few months when your skills are better you will see what I mean.

I know I was a bit late with the "black friday" and "cyber monday", but before I made these I scanned the database to find similar ones (which I didn't find). But what do you mean with the font is dated?
I won't give up on illustrating and trying, but it's just that the last batch dropped my acceptance ratio to a 60% (still don't know what's it for, but I was hoping to stay at around 75%)

I've had a couple this month "too simple" for DT but not everywhere else apparently. I'm still learning but will be more selective in submissions to DT - fussy blighters.

Makes me wonder if Saul Bass or Paul Rand would make it these days - although "simple" works fine if you have a decent concept....take a look at the latest Amex advertising graphics and plenty of others besides.

I like DT and have submitted a lot of images there and have been there a long time (I earned my first microstock payout there 10 years ago this month). IMO, DT's 'too simple' rejection is idiotic. I would never add elements to an image which doesn't need them. Just deal with the fact that sometimes agencies do stupid things, and keep submitting.

"But what do you mean with the font is dated? "

It looks like something they might have accepted in 2004.  And the Christmas font doesn't work with the surrounding elements.  And the mix of colors don't work - red with those blues don't say 'Christmas'.  The Black Friday ones don't make any sense to me with the ink splatters. 

Go online and see the kind of things and graphics companies are using today.  It isn't stuff like this.

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on December 07, 2015, 01:22
It looks like something they might have accepted in 2004.  And the Christmas font doesn't work with the surrounding elements.  And the mix of colors don't work - red with those blues don't say 'Christmas'.  The Black Friday ones don't make any sense to me with the ink splatters. 

Go online and see the kind of things and graphics companies are using today.  It isn't stuff like this.

Thanks for the advice, but I went online, searching illustrations for black friday, and saw most of the things I would create allready made or online, so I've tried something different.
Regarding the Christmas, I totally agree... I shouldn't used the blue and red together.
Should do some more research then and try a bit harder in the designing process before uploading.

I'm not talking about some of the cheesy illustrations on stock sites.  I'm talking about what advertisers are actually doing with fonts and graphics.

ok sorry... misunderstood what you said
I'll look in to it for future references

I got more rejections in DT than SS,FT,IS and 123RF combined.

One note:

You have 2 items with the text: "Cyber Monday Sales Shop 'till your mouse breakes". "Breakes" is incorrect and should be spelled "breaks". Why Shutterstock accepted those with spelling mistakes is a sad mystery. You may want to replace them with correct versions.

Quote from: memakephoto on December 07, 2015, 15:45
One note:

You have 2 items with the text: "Cyber Monday Sales Shop 'till your mouse breakes". "Breakes" is incorrect and should be spelled "breaks". Why Shutterstock accepted those with spelling mistakes is a sad mystery. You may want to replace them with correct versions.

Thanks a lot for that... Completely overlooked it... Just edited and resubmitted them.

Quote from: FotografieSchnabel on December 07, 2015, 16:26

Quote from: memakephoto on December 07, 2015, 15:45
One note:

You have 2 items with the text: "Cyber Monday Sales Shop 'till your mouse breakes". "Breakes" is incorrect and should be spelled "breaks". Why Shutterstock accepted those with spelling mistakes is a sad mystery. You may want to replace them with correct versions.

Thanks a lot for that... Completely overlooked it... Just edited and resubmitted them.

and it should be 'til, because it's short for 'until'. Till is a different word altogether.

Quote from: ShadySue on December 07, 2015, 19:57

Quote from: FotografieSchnabel on December 07, 2015, 16:26

Quote from: memakephoto on December 07, 2015, 15:45
One note:

You have 2 items with the text: "Cyber Monday Sales Shop 'till your mouse breakes". "Breakes" is incorrect and should be spelled "breaks". Why Shutterstock accepted those with spelling mistakes is a sad mystery. You may want to replace them with correct versions.

Thanks a lot for that... Completely overlooked it... Just edited and resubmitted them.

and it should be 'til, because it's short for 'until'. Till is a different word altogether.

I looked that up too but was surprised to find:

Quote
Till, as a variant of until, is a preposition meaning up to the time of. Till—not 'til, an unnecessary abbreviation—has been in the language for centuries, and there's no reason not to use it. To some it may sound less formal than until, but the two words are interchangeable in almost all contexts.

That's from the grammarist.com website.

Yes, till, but not 'till.
If you use ' in this context, it indicates missing letters; so it's either till or 'til.

Quote from: ShadySue on December 07, 2015, 21:51
Yes, till, but not 'till.
If you use ' in this context, it indicates missing letters; so it's either till or 'til.

My mistake, you're right. I was not thinking.

Back to the original question, I just got a "too simple" rejection for an illustration too. It was not too simple for other agencies though.
I was expecting something like "similar". I think it's just a new phrase on their rejection list, the old ones are boring.

How about a link to these not simple illustrations?

Quote from: Dodie on December 09, 2015, 21:31
Back to the original question, I just got a "too simple" rejection for an illustration too. It was not too simple for other agencies though.
I was expecting something like "similar". I think it's just a new phrase on their rejection list, the old ones are boring.

Flag the rejection emails and resubmit them in the future. Works all the time for me.

.

Sorry, something went wrong

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on December 09, 2015, 22:44
How about a link to these not simple illustrations?

Sorry, no link in here.  In case I need a second review or critique from forum members I'll post it to the critique section, no offense.
I just answered the question:

QuoteAnyone with the same expierience?

Quote from: Striving on December 09, 2015, 22:46

Quote from: Dodie on December 09, 2015, 21:31
Back to the original question, I just got a "too simple" rejection for an illustration too. It was not too simple for other agencies though.
I was expecting something like "similar". I think it's just a new phrase on their rejection list, the old ones are boring.

Flag the rejection emails and resubmit them in the future. Works all the time for me.

Thanks, I will try that in the future. This one was a Christmas theme, too late to resubmit now.