Quote from: bittersweet on October 18, 2008, 05:50

Quote from: j2k on October 18, 2008, 05:32

Re vectors - don't you think that if somebody is looking for vectors then they will tick vector box only? So it shouldn't matter if the vectors are being placed after photos, as long as the sorting within all the vectors works properly.

Let me guess. You're not a designer.

I don't get this blanket statement, does this mean that you think all designers think the same?  Certainly where I work the general look of a project is decided before we search for images, an illustrative or photographic approach is one of the first things discussed with a client.

Of course I don't think that all designers think the same, which is exactly why this is a problem! We are not given enough credit for thinking at all! If I want one or the other, that is the box I check. If I want BOTH then I want to see BOTH, not all the photos and then the vectors.

If it doesn't make a difference, then why change it?

There are plenty of instances where a designer is given more freedom to decide a concept (even if BEFORE taking it to the client) and it is those instances where they (or SOME) would search for a more broad assortment of images. If they want to see a broad assortment, they would likely be conducting a fairly broad search (i.e. with a larger number of results than a "drilled down" search for something very specific) right now they would be under the impression that vectors on istock do not exist.

HA! That's perfect... It's only back to what it was before for those who didn't understand that Istock listened to our concern! Thanks Istock

Are you saying it's back from what it was before from beyond a few weeks? If so, no way. If it is, somebody needs to move some of my best sellers back to the first few pages where they were before.

This new best match seems to be somewhere in between the older one and the last one. The just seemed to dial it back a bit.

Quote from: Vonkara on October 18, 2008, 09:14

HA! That's perfect... It's only back to what it was before for those who didn't understand that Istock listened to our concern! Thanks Istock

Are you saying it's back from what it was before from beyond a few weeks? If so, no way. If it is, somebody needs to move some of my best sellers back to the first few pages where they were before.

This new best match seems to be somewhere in between the older one and the last one. The just seemed to dial it back a bit.

Yeah.. not exactly the old one, but it's a return to the best match by file performance. But if you have high selling files behind then I agree, but mine are in front for the moment. Hope that yours get in the front shortly, it could take some time for things to move maybe

Hope that yours get in the front shortly, it could take some time for things to move maybe

Yea, but no one knows what causes files move up now. Before it was the views/dl ratio, then it was newer files, and now???

Is it just me or did the default images per page on the search get changed from 20-something to 50?

Just did some random searches and non-exclusives are really, seriously handicapped in this current best match. 

For anyone who isn't exclusive, it seems kind of pointless to even be discussing what order our portfolios are in.  We aren't going to be getting any downloads there anyway....

Yep, and it seems that an exclusive might get a whole series of images on the very first page. No limit at all? Sort of pointless.

Just did some random searches and non-exclusives are really, seriously handicapped in this current best match. 

For anyone who isn't exclusive, it seems kind of pointless to even be discussing what order our portfolios are in.  We aren't going to be getting any downloads there anyway....

If you look closely there is probably about 5 non-exclusive files in the first 100 or so of a search. Will be interesting to see how long this best match lasts, and how it affects the revenue of IS...

I already noticed that my downloads have decreased by 50% or more since then. It comes to the point I start wondering why I would go through all the upload trouble. Shutterstock is doing much better now. Alas Istock is my second earner. We'll just have to wait untill they change the algorithm again. Patricia

Since when? Since 24 hours ago when it changed? You do realize it is Saturday right?

Quote from: lisafx on October 18, 2008, 13:27

Just did some random searches and non-exclusives are really, seriously handicapped in this current best match. 

For anyone who isn't exclusive, it seems kind of pointless to even be discussing what order our portfolios are in.  We aren't going to be getting any downloads there anyway....

I agree Lisa, the non-exclusives are now seriously f**cked. We now have two groups on IS, the 'Exclusives' and the 'Excluded'. I still don't get it though, they make 20% more money from everything that we sell. Aren't they cutting off their nose to spite their face? Maybe that thread congratulating Yuri pushed some buttons....

Anyway, I can't be bothered following the best match saga anymore. Sales are going to drop for us Excluded but what can we do. We have no voice, if we complain we'll just get the standard answer "You are non-exclusive, you can't have your cake and eat it". They still fail to recognise how we DO support IS. But anyway,  I am just grateful that IS is my fourth earner this month anyway.

I think you guys got it right here. Non-exclusives just got pushed to the back of the bus. Also does look like views are playing a big role.

I wonder if this is an attempt to increase traffic ranking..J/K

Update from JJRD posted in the illustration forum:

The situation is being addressed, guys... in no way, shape or form is it the willingness of iStockphoto to ''push back'' any content based on medium... and never will.

Stay tuned this one will be fast, trust me, thank you so very much indeed.

linky

Well it looks like its been changed again...

I don;t have vectors in mine, but the searches I've done seem to have vectors in the front page, and my photos more or less where they were before...