Author Topic: font rules (Read 5280 times)

alias · « **on:** June 22, 2009, 12:25 »

From another thread here:

Quote from: whatalife on June 22, 2009, 12:13

Quote from: alias on June 22, 2009, 12:08
Quote from: cthoman on June 22, 2009, 12:01
I also wanted to say if you were ranting about istock's font rules, I'd be with you, but the banding thing... not so much.

What about the font rules? You can use fonts in rasters and 3D renders. Right?

So is it the fact that vectors should not contain fonts? That makes senses surely because it would basically be like re distributing the font. Is that what you means?

Yes, they are very picky about using fonts in vectors. But maybe that's a topic for another thread.

So I'm curious. & maybe I am misunderstanding. What is the issue upsetting people about fonts?

Is that vectors should not contain fonts? A text as a vector would be like redistributing the font so I can understand the problem. But fonts seem to be fine in photographs and 3D renders. That makes sense.

Or is there some other issue? I was away from IStock for a while has this been an issue recently ?

pieman · « **Reply #1 on:** June 22, 2009, 12:29 »

Quote from: alias on June 22, 2009, 12:25

From another thread here:

Quote from: whatalife on June 22, 2009, 12:13
Quote from: alias on June 22, 2009, 12:08
Quote from: cthoman on June 22, 2009, 12:01
I also wanted to say if you were ranting about istock's font rules, I'd be with you, but the banding thing... not so much.

What about the font rules? You can use fonts in rasters and 3D renders. Right?

So is it the fact that vectors should not contain fonts? That makes senses surely because it would basically be like re distributing the font. Is that what you means?

Yes, they are very picky about using fonts in vectors. But maybe that's a topic for another thread.

So I'm curious. & maybe I am misunderstanding. What is the issue upsetting people about fonts?

Is that vectors should not contain fonts? A text as a vector would be like redistributing the font so I can understand the problem. But fonts seem to be fine in photographs and 3D renders. That makes sense.

Or is there some other issue? I was away from IStock for a while has this been an issue recently ?

Try the Illustrator Manual:
Fonts

alias · « **Reply #2 on:** June 22, 2009, 12:36 »

But because the issue was raised, I was thinking there was maybe some new instruction Pieman. Sometimes the policy gets adjusted and tweaked ahead of the manuals.

pieman · « **Reply #3 on:** June 22, 2009, 12:38 »

Quote from: alias on June 22, 2009, 12:36

But because the issue was raised, I was thinking there was maybe some new instruction Pieman. Sometimes the policy gets adjusted and tweaked ahead of the manuals.

That is up to date. In some instances files are rejected in error but the manual is solid.

bittersweet · « **Reply #4 on:** June 22, 2009, 13:13 »

Quote from: alias on June 22, 2009, 12:36

But because the issue was raised, I was thinking there was maybe some new instruction Pieman. Sometimes the policy gets adjusted and tweaked ahead of the manuals.

No, there is nothing new.

The policy for vectors has always been (as is listed in the Illustrator's manual)

Quote

DO NOT Use text as the primary focal point in your image

This also applies to completely hand drawn fonts that do not at all resemble copyrighted fonts (other than they are obviously alphabetical characters, of course).

This means that vector contributors at istock are not allowed, for instance, to design a calendar page with completely original illustration and typography. They are not allowed to illustrate letterforms and sell those individually or as a set.

However, on the raster side, they are ringing up thousands and thousands of sales with things like this:
example 1
and this:
example 2
and this:
example 3

A few lucky souls have managed to slip through the very profitable cracks:
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_search.php?action=file&lightboxID=3815234

cthoman · « **Reply #5 on:** June 22, 2009, 15:20 »

I didn't mean to start an argument and then just wander away... or did I?

Anyway, I think Whatalife covered it. The vector rules seem fairly strict on hand-lettered text, and the raster rules seem pretty lax by comparison.

What I took away from my rejection was that if you put any hand-lettered text in your vector illustrations, you run the risk of rejection. That may not be their official policy, but I just try to avoid text now (for iStock anyway).

Should I bring up cartoons of historical figures, next? I'm just kidding. I love you, iStock!

bittersweet · « **Reply #6 on:** June 22, 2009, 15:44 »

I don't think you really started an argument. I completely agree with you.

It's just one of those things that some have grown weary of questioning. Not that it has changed from being a completely unfair double standard, but that after about 3 years of "discussion" it is obvious they have no intention of revisiting their policy. To vent frustration, some start lightboxes to illustrate the point. Some even make theirs public.

If you do some searches on the istock vector forum, you'll see that it's been discussed ad nauseum.