Author Topic: I'm Accepted... Now What Size Should My Images Be? (Read 6157 times)

EricBullerPhotography · « **on:** September 23, 2016, 13:35 »

I read several places that for the fist submission, to limit the megapixels to the minimum required by each stock agency in order to reduce an initial rejection due to slightly soft focus or minor defects when submitting. Well, my first batch of images have been accepted by Shutterstock, iStock, Fotolia, Dreamstime, and Alamy!

Before I submit my second batch of photos, I hope to gain some wisdom regarding image size (megapixels). Specifically, I am interested in your approach to sizing images for the five agencies listed above.

Thanks!

THP Creative · « **Reply #1 on:** September 23, 2016, 14:23 »

Congrats on being accepted Eric!

Everyone will have a different theory on this, and the agencies will tell you not to resize at all.

However for me, I generally try and keep my files above 24MP as many sites consider somewhere around that to be XXL or similar which opens up a extra price tier for on demand downloads. But for alamy be sure to run all images through this excellent (although old looking) piece of software: http://www.braeside.plus.com/photography/alamy/alamy.html and it will tell you if they are too small which will be an automatic fail for your submission.

As a last resort, if you think an image won't cut it at a larger size due to camera shake or similar then you can downsize it to just above 6MP which is the approximate limit for many agencies smallest size. Hope that helps.

PigsInSpace · « **Reply #2 on:** September 24, 2016, 14:46 »

I have a crop sensor camera, and downsize most of my images to 6 megapixels to upload. I've found it eliminates rejections for blur. I've had tripod photos rejected for blur in the past, so don't feel bad. If I'm looking at an image still full size and I think it's spot on or pretty close, I try it at full or only reduce it to 12-15 megapixels. After a while, I got the hang of what Shutterstock would accept; they seem to be the most particular.

I used to make everything 6, but then I uploaded two similar images, one of which I forgot to resize, and both sold simultaneously, and the buyer paid more for the big one, so if I can get things up bigger, I'm glad to have the extra cash.

ShadySue · « **Reply #3 on:** September 24, 2016, 15:19 »

Quote from: Microstock Man on September 23, 2016, 14:23

But for alamy be sure to run all images through this excellent (although old looking) piece of software: http://www.braeside.plus.com/photography/alamy/alamy.html and it will tell you if they are too small which will be an automatic fail for your submission.

Hmmm, it's certainly dated, as it notes a 23mb uncompressed image as failing, whereas current lowest size is 17Mb uncompressed. I can easily check the uncompressed file size while working on it in Photoshop, I don't need a separate app.

Secondly, unless things have changed, although one pic failing at Alamy fails a whole batch, the one time I accidentally submitted a file which was too small (back when the minimum was IIRC 42Mb), it just 'dropped' the file as it was being uploaded with a 'too small' message,; it wasn't failed, and the batch went through OK. But that was some years ago, so that might have changed. Though an auto dropping at upload seems the best way to deal with my sort of silliness.

THP Creative · « **Reply #4 on:** September 24, 2016, 17:13 »

Quote from: ShadySue on September 24, 2016, 15:19

Quote from: Microstock Man on September 23, 2016, 14:23
But for alamy be sure to run all images through this excellent (although old looking) piece of software: http://www.braeside.plus.com/photography/alamy/alamy.html and it will tell you if they are too small which will be an automatic fail for your submission.

Hmmm, it's certainly dated, as it notes a 23mp uncompressed image as failing, whereas current lowest size is 17Mp uncompressed. I can easily check the uncompressed file size while working on it in Photoshop, I don't need a separate app.

Secondly, unless things have changed, although one pic failing at Alamy fails a whole batch, the one time I accidentally submitted a file which was too small (back when the minimum was IIRC 42Mb), it just 'dropped' the file as it was being uploaded with a 'too small' message,; it wasn't failed, and the batch went through OK. But that was some years ago, so that might have changed. Though an auto dropping at upload seems the best way to deal with my sort of silliness.

You must be running an old version Shadysue as the current version is correct in approving 17MP. Check the website link I posted, and you'll see it in the changelog.

Everyones workflow is different. I don't prepare images specifically for Alamy. I just edit a whole bunch at once (30-100) and then run them through the app. anything that doesn't pass doesn't get sent to alamy. Saves me a bunch of time versus checking each file at a time in photoshop and them remembering which ones can go to Alamy. But each to their own.

ShadySue · « **Reply #5 on:** September 24, 2016, 17:17 »

Quote from: Microstock Man on September 24, 2016, 17:13

Quote from: ShadySue on September 24, 2016, 15:19
Quote from: Microstock Man on September 23, 2016, 14:23
But for alamy be sure to run all images through this excellent (although old looking) piece of software: http://www.braeside.plus.com/photography/alamy/alamy.html and it will tell you if they are too small which will be an automatic fail for your submission.

Hmmm, it's certainly dated, as it notes a 23mb uncompressed image as failing, whereas current lowest size is 17Mb uncompressed. I can easily check the uncompressed file size while working on it in Photoshop, I don't need a separate app.

Secondly, unless things have changed, although one pic failing at Alamy fails a whole batch, the one time I accidentally submitted a file which was too small (back when the minimum was IIRC 42Mb), it just 'dropped' the file as it was being uploaded with a 'too small' message,; it wasn't failed, and the batch went through OK. But that was some years ago, so that might have changed. Though an auto dropping at upload seems the best way to deal with my sort of silliness.

You must be running an old version Shadysue as the current version is correct in approving 17MP. Check the website link I posted, and you'll see it in the changelog.

Everyones workflow is different. I don't prepare images specifically for Alamy. I just edit a whole bunch at once (30-100) and then run them through the app. anything that doesn't pass doesn't get sent to alamy. Saves me a bunch of time versus checking each file at a time in photoshop and them remembering which ones can go to Alamy. But each to their own.

I didn't run the app, I have no need. But the example file showed a 'failure' at 23Mb.

I only send Alamy pics to Alamy, I don't send RM elsewhere, (at least so far), not an issue.

Dodie · « **Reply #6 on:** September 25, 2016, 09:35 »

I think you are confusing Mp with Mb. Accepted size is 6 Mp but not less than 17 Mb uncompressed:
Alamy requirements:

Quote

2. Photos from a camera that has a minimum of 6 megapixels
Cameras with less than this won’t be able to produce a good enough quality for us to sell
3. JPEGs
Shoot or illustrate in whatever format you like, but you’ll need to submit your images to us as JPEGs.
4. JPEG file size of over 17MB (when uncompressed)
This is likely to have a compressed JPEG size of 3-5MB. Opening a JPEG in an image program such as Adobe Photoshop will show you the uncompressed (open) file size.
http://www.alamy.com/contributor/how-to-sell-images/guidelines-for-submitting-images/?section=3

ShadySue · « **Reply #7 on:** September 25, 2016, 10:38 »

Quote from: Dodie on September 25, 2016, 09:35

I think you are confusing Mp with Mb. Accepted size is 6 Mp but not less than 17 Mb uncompressed:

Not confused, just a typo; but the end result of my post is the same. Typo corrected. Tx.

SergeStudio · « **Reply #8 on:** September 25, 2016, 11:05 »

Congratulations
For all microstocks I 6000x4000px sending uncompressed or 24MP.
Standard quality jpg images I get 100 from June to December Mo.
(Images of studio black or white).
Jpg compress without loss of quality in the final value.

If it helps ...

Dodie · « **Reply #9 on:** September 25, 2016, 12:29 »

Quote from: ShadySue on September 25, 2016, 10:38

Quote from: Dodie on September 25, 2016, 09:35
I think you are confusing Mp with Mb. Accepted size is 6 Mp but not less than 17 Mb uncompressed:
Not confused, just a typo; but the end result of my post is the same. Typo corrected. Tx.

Sorry, it was for both of you and I know it was just the "slip of the pen".
What Microstockman wanted to say (but couldn't) is that a 6 MP image can be smaller than 17MB, that is why the app is good for him. I am using your method.

So, to recap for the original poster, let the uploader throw it away if it is smaller than 17MB, it is faster.

YadaYadaYada · « **Reply #10 on:** September 30, 2016, 17:10 »

Quote from: Dodie on September 25, 2016, 12:29

Quote from: ShadySue on September 25, 2016, 10:38
Quote from: Dodie on September 25, 2016, 09:35
I think you are confusing Mp with Mb. Accepted size is 6 Mp but not less than 17 Mb uncompressed:
Not confused, just a typo; but the end result of my post is the same. Typo corrected. Tx.
Sorry, it was for both of you and I know it was just the "slip of the pen".
What Microstockman wanted to say (but couldn't) is that a 6 MP image can be smaller than 17MB, that is why the app is good for him. I am using your method.

So, to recap for the original poster, let the uploader throw it away if it is smaller than 17MB, it is faster.

Doesn't it say 17MB uncompressed and under 6MP camera won't produce a good enough image? They are the same thing in the end. Kind of?

6MP = 3000 x 2000 or 3 colors x 6 = 18 which means the 6MP image should be 18MB uncompressed.

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Author Topic: I'm Accepted... Now What Size Should My Images Be? (Read 6157 times)

EricBullerPhotography

THP Creative

PigsInSpace

ShadySue

THP Creative

ShadySue

Dodie

ShadySue

SergeStudio

Dodie

YadaYadaYada

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