Author Topic: Best match search favours photos (Read 3718 times)

CofkoCof · « **on:** August 11, 2008, 03:20 »

Looks like IS wants to sell more photos, since vector are harder to find via best match search. There was an interesting topic on IS forums, but you probably know what happened to it: it got locked
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=74368&page=1

I'm wondering why would they do such a thing? If buyers were upset with the many vectors on the first pages they could do a photos only search. Maybe photographers were upset since some vector files get really great sales and probably outperform most photos?

Hopefully this adjustement won't stay.

stokfoto · « **Reply #1 on:** August 11, 2008, 03:43 »

I didn't notice it but I don't think it should have a certain impact on vector sales.if a buyer was looking for a vector image I don't think they'd change their mind and buy a photo instead just because they see more photos than vectors???.besides buyers can easily adjust their search parameters by the search tab above the page and eliminate the type of files that they don't want to search. I don't know I might be wrong though??

CofkoCof · « **Reply #2 on:** August 12, 2008, 04:40 »

Sometimes buyers just want a particular image and they don't care if it's vector or not. It will be much harder for those buyers to see our images now.

Besides if this doesn't change anything why did they do it in the first place?

Read_My_Rights · « **Reply #3 on:** August 12, 2008, 08:23 »

The problem is, that the buyer can not select for/against vectors only Photos and/or Illustrations. My best image that used to be on page 1 for a one word photo search is now on page 7 and is being buried under extremely repetitive illustration renders that are accepted as photos - even though no camera was involved in their creation.

Sux

madelaide · « **Reply #4 on:** August 12, 2008, 16:39 »

I see that in StockXpert a lot. As the default choice is photo, many illustrations (even if raster) are uploaded as photos, and apparently this is something reviewers don't check.

So even if a buyer searches for photos, these images appear in the results.

Regards,
Adelaide

vphoto · « **Reply #5 on:** August 12, 2008, 20:53 »

vectors are useful but lifeless. Most people would search for photos.

Read_My_Rights · « **Reply #6 on:** August 12, 2008, 22:05 »

Quote from: vphoto on August 12, 2008, 20:53

... Most people would search for photos.

And all they get is illustrations.

this situation is aggravated by the fact that at IS Illustrators have to pass a second application so anybody who does not pass or does not want to pass simply uploads under "Image". IS does not have "Photo" submission !! what.

Amanda_K · « **Reply #7 on:** August 13, 2008, 00:56 »

The illustrations you are talking about are most likely 3D renders and Photoshop work, which as you mentioned show up under the Photo option even with Illustrations unchecked. I has been speculated that they show up so high in the best match sort because it may be weighted to show images available in the largest sizes first.

There have been quite a few mentions of this anomaly on iStock's forums. I believe the best match sort order at iStock is changed or tweaked more frequently than most would imagine. I'm sure with all of the data the programmers have they are always working towards a search that is best for the buyers and has the highest overall sales results.

madelaide · « **Reply #8 on:** August 13, 2008, 11:33 »

StockXpert has 3 image types: photos, graphics and vectors. Any type of illustration, when raster and not vector, should be in graphics, not in photos.

Try to search for "clover illustration" and then pick photos only. Then pick graphics - it's the same type of image. Mine appear in the latter.

Regards,
Adelaide

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Author Topic: Best match search favours photos (Read 3718 times)

CofkoCof

stokfoto

CofkoCof

Read_My_Rights

madelaide

vphoto

Read_My_Rights

Amanda_K

madelaide

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