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Messages - Mifornia
151
« on: January 14, 2024, 07:13 »
Not all of AI creators output hundreds of images per day.
Ive been at it for a year and have only Ai 2,000 images, but I make png and paintovers, then I adjust them in Lightroom. So for me an output of 5-10 images per day is pretty good.I enjoy seeing what will pop out from prompt and I enjoy painting over AI on my iPad. Ive been selling ok until dozens of copycats after Ive been featured in top sellers several times. Its disheartening to see blunt copycats
I dont notice that amount of images equals more money, since its my bestsellers in unsaturated categories that make majority of my $ and they are unique ideas (well, they were)
I think Adobe Stock is great output for a hobby, but Ill have to find a more protected output for my unique ideas. Why waste them to be copied? My average stuff that anyone can do, dont sell well, may be $5 per month per image. Retouching, etc. as others mentioned takes too much time to make it worth it and its not like those images will keep selling. They fade.
I dont see how its possible to make a living on it. I think it will be a game of Stock Survivor who can last longer with little rewards, probably people in countries with less income.
I love prompting though, its fun.
152
« on: January 09, 2024, 15:08 »
Hi,
Im currently using Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom on PC.
However, for my IPad, Im looking for something more basic and faster that can batch process a file or a folder from png format to jpeg with good quality results for larger files. Should work on iPad Pro.
Thank you
153
« on: January 08, 2024, 23:00 »
Same case. But u have to report each image id. i do not want to check all these thousands. So i let it be.
Same here as well. I did get a response, but not a solution: we will get back to you shortly. I didnt notice any difference sales wise. All that protesting against AI, I was panicking that it wouldnt sell its one of my best sellers. Go figure.
154
« on: January 08, 2024, 22:48 »
I think tradition photography will always have print clients.
I can produce 30mb files in MJ, but quality is not comparable with edited in Lightroom RAW
I dont see any problem why customers cant use AI images for social media adds that stick only for a day or so anyway
Unfortunately, AI is so good at art, that Im pretty positive that art will die a slow death and will become a luxury of wealthy.
I wonder when AI will replace wedding photography? So many young couples cant afford it, so feed your photos, prompt it and bingo - wedding photography for a fraction of the price!
155
« on: January 08, 2024, 22:36 »
Where can you check your acceptance rate and rank as a seller? Thanks in advance for reply, cant figure out where to find tjose
156
« on: January 08, 2024, 22:33 »
Cobalt,
I also started get higher than $1 sales lately often. I didnt have $1.34 sales before at all. So something must of changed if Adobe didnt raise prices, then may be we hit some kind off next price level? However, Im not up to 10,000 yet and past 1,000, so thats also probably not it. I still get $3.30 and even $22 sales at times, as well as lots of $0.34 sales.
Some of my files are accepted in the same day and some sit there for months I deleted them and resubmitted them with new keywords and some got accepted. I also resubmitted some as illustrations and they also got accepted. Once I uploaded a png with no alpha and until I corrected that, I didnt get anything accepted for 2+ months.
Sometimes 2 out of 10 gets accepted, others are are rejected for quality yet they are the same (like a blooming tree branch) I guess, they just have enough of blooming tree branches, so they rejected most of them. Since I also noticed that generic stuff that anyone can produce is sitting in queue for months. More unique or niche stuff gets accepted fast.
As for sizes, I keep my sizes as is. Most of stock photos are used now are for web or social, no? So x4 upscale in MJ should give you a 20mb+ size and you need only 4mb + to submit to Adobe. Why do you need to upscale it in Topaz or Adobe Zoom? (What am I missing?)
157
« on: January 08, 2024, 21:51 »
How important is to add keywords to image metadata? I can do that from my computer, but not from my iPad (most of my illustrations are made on iPad) It it ok if I dont add metadata to my images?
You must add a title and at least 5 keywords before you can submit. It doesn't matter if you embed them in the metadata before upload, or if you add them in the contributor portal after you upload. It must be done. Not only is it required, it's by far the most effective way to get your content seen and sold.
-Mat Hayward
Thank you Mat for your reply. I have another question: I see that numerous other accounts/people copied my description and keywords exactly word to word from my best sellers. Is that allowed?
158
« on: December 19, 2023, 09:52 »
Adobe definitely changed something: now instead of waiting 2 months for reviews , my jpegs are reviewed in 1-3 days, but most of them are rejected for quality control. Before, I use to wait 2 months, but 100% of them were accepted. (Be careful what you wish for 😂)
Review times for png are now longer, 3 weeks instead of 2
My eye for my own quality control with a 30 years of experience didnt change. Im utterly confused. My only guess that Adobe hired more reviewers, but didnt educate them? Why such a drastic change?
You really need to have a thick skin to continue in stock business rejections and copycats are my daily reality now.
159
« on: December 12, 2023, 21:32 »
Thanks
160
« on: November 12, 2023, 21:32 »
Yes, I am having 50 download days, it is fun  . But just for another two weeks, then seasonal images start going down.
Now I just need to reach 500 a day for a proper income...
Your goal is to make $400 per day?
161
« on: November 12, 2023, 21:24 »
Yeah, I was there few times too and although it was nice to see my name, I was just afraid copycats will have a feast.  I was hoping I will be higher in search when "Sort by featured" is chosen on buyer's side, but it wasn't the case. Badge is really great idea. 
Ditto to copycats 😞 Where is an option to sort by featured?
162
« on: November 12, 2023, 21:18 »
Images that I submitted 6 days ago got accepted yet images that I submitted 25 days ago didnt get accepted. Anyone knows why that might be?
I feel like Adobe is sending me an encrypted message that I dont understand 😂
163
« on: November 07, 2023, 22:52 »
this is confirmation of my theory,that there are upload and acceptance limits for AI content.
this explains the reason for the numerous rejections that many are having,entire batches rejected,because they have already reached the limit.
is not specified what limit,but I think 500 or 1000 per month for AI content,but it's just my guess.
I think its 1000 per month or more for established accounts. I also think it highly depends from moderators who accept images. One of my batches of same style was completely rejected because of quality. Yet similar variation in different color was accepted and selling. I think and hope the moderation time is better now. In July I had a whole month when nothing was accepted. Now its back to weekly acceptance. Sometimes 5 images, sometimes 90 at a time - dont know why, but Im grateful.
164
« on: November 07, 2023, 22:32 »
The main benefit is an increased level of bragging rights. If you make it to that list, it's validation you are doing something right. It means your newer uploads are meeting the needs of customers and are selling well. The moderation team does not see this information, nor do customers.
Thanks,
Mat Hayward
Thank you Mat for clarifying it. Is there a way to opt out of being featured on this list? If moderators or customers dont see it, I would rather stay humble. It would be nice if there would be a badge that Adobe can attach to a profile. It would speak of quality of images and might give customers more confidence to download them?
165
« on: November 07, 2023, 17:26 »
Mat, what are the benefits of top sellers list (other than getting a free PS subscription)? Can customers see that seller was on that list? What about people who accept our submitted images, do they see that sellers images are what customers seek?
166
« on: November 06, 2023, 23:32 »
It does make me happy, but its a hobby, just like painting. Results are similar as well: Only about 5% of my images sell at all and I cant predict which ones.
From my very limited experience, one AI image results in $5 of total downloads , if it sells at all. All of my best sellers are paint-overs or png. I dont know how customers tell the difference between straight AI and my paint-overs, but somehow they obviously do.
I was quite disappointed in my income and thought I was doing quite terrible until my account was featured on top sellers list. That depressed me even more, since it shows that my images are selling well
I would say if you are a student, retired, stay at home mom/dad, or live in low income country - then its worth it to play stock lottery. I live in area where studio apartment is $3k per month. I cant see how making less than $5 per hour is feasible.
One will have to produce a lot of AI output to earn a living. You definitely need a pro subscription for that plus Adobe PS or Lightroom subscription. Dont spend your money on Topaz, you can upscale in PS now with similar results.
$60 pro subscription comes with a private mode. I dont find prompting easy. Yes, you can generate easy stuff easy - but there are already millions of similar images out there. I had to pay for MJ academy to learn how to prompt and I still cant produce upscaled results that are good quality. You are right, if you zoom in, they all look like crap, yet customers are buying them must be downscaling them for web. (After we spend time upscaling them to look like crap 😂)
167
« on: November 06, 2023, 22:50 »
Anyone saw any benefits from featured on recent top sellers list?
So far, Ive been featured 3 times this year, but my sales actually went down every time during those weeks.
168
« on: November 06, 2023, 22:37 »
I only uploaded to Adobe, because I thought Adobe would protect from blatant copycats.
169
« on: November 05, 2023, 17:12 »
This happend to me as well and I discovered AI images with titles identical to mine in every rarely used 15 words even to the rare location in North Europe, which of course was not there. I guess these great AI "artists" copy titles of high ranking images to generate their images. Would be nice to know if you find images with identical titles, too.
OMG!!! You are correct! There are several people who copied my description and keywords one to one and generated similar images to mine. 😱 Is copying intricate/unique tittle and description one to one legal on Adobe?
170
« on: November 03, 2023, 19:52 »
For how many months or years stock image can sell (not seasonal)?
171
« on: October 19, 2023, 18:30 »
I also noticed a trend that one illustration gets to the top of the search, sells well daily for about 2 months, then disappears. At the same time another illustration gets the spotlight and start selling well then also disappears, and so on. They are not my best illustrations even, so I dont know why those particular ones outsell my best ones by 500%?
Im fairly new to stock, about a year, with only 3 pages of png illustrations. So I assumed that was the norm. Is someone hand picking and dropping them or is it an algorithm?
172
« on: October 19, 2023, 09:55 »
Send a DMCA takedown notice to [email protected]
Thank you for advice. Do we need to copyright our artwork ourselves or it is automatically copyrighted by Adobe with copyright office?
173
« on: October 19, 2023, 03:30 »
My png images are offered for free download without Adobe watermark at https://clipart-library.com/ I only upload to Adobe. What can I do?
174
« on: October 18, 2023, 22:11 »
For 15 years now, I have been uploading what a now, not so famous stock photographer called it "Snapshot images" I am an Exclusive and never looked back. I will never play with AI. My portfolio has paid my mortgage for a 2900 sq foot house in Florida every month from the third year I started. I am turning 65 next month and am very happy with the 22000 real life images I have in my portfolio. I don't worry or care what others do. I just focus on my own port. I can't believe 15 years has gone by so fast when this other photographer made me cry with every submission. I am older and wiser now. I can't lift my Canon5DM1V anymore because of fractures in my back but I still manage to get those "real life shots" everyone laughed at with my Iphone. And I must say, They do sell well. When AI came out I thought "oh goodie" I will just lay in bed and type words. I played around with different programs and the AI architecture pictures were so real looking. But nothing gives me the satisfaction of taking that"snapshot photo" and having it sell 30 times for the month. I still upload but not like I did every day for 12 years. Now I am just sitting back watching everyone look at other peoples ports instead of concentrating on their own and building the shots they have the talent to shoot. I am not with Adobe, but I do use all the photoshop programs. I am not going to upload the new version so there will be no mistake in my uploads. There are a lot of oldtimers in this thread that I have read for years without commenting but I thought It was a good time to drop in and say, shoot what you shoot best and you will never get in trouble with that. Your port won't be disabled. Keep looking at the fraudulent accounts and you will cause yourself a lot of turmoil on the very fast tract to age 65 when all you can hold is an Iphone. And actually I am very happy with the sales of my Iphone pictures. It isn't the camera, but the eye that looks through it.
Are you still happy with IStock? What about copycats? Ive read that whole account can be copycatted? (Im only upload to Adobe, but curious if IStock is worth uploading to) Thank you
175
« on: October 18, 2023, 21:27 »
Its definitely a very sad development for skilled artists. There will be people with very clean prompts who can generate clean vectors with minimum touch ups.
However, I saw a similar development when computers were introduced, the need for classically trained artists with solid anatomy knowledge, a hand that was painfully developed to draw classical strokes that breathed, clean color palette, intricate composition, etc its all mostly became irrelevant. I saw so many artists who couldnt draw basic perspectives, yet they graduated with degrees.
I also put my brushes aside and learned Adobe, Softimage, then next new software , etc
To my surprise, all of the top artists at several major companies that I worked for still had a very strong classical training, even if they didnt use it. There is a certain level of acknowledgment of the pain of learning those skills from mean old instructors, that does give you a right of passage and a faster rise to the top.
And what about globalization? We already compete with artists from countries where $ stretches so much more, its actually worth it doing vectors for stock.
Lets hope that it still be the same you still need an artist to create an image that stands out. Uneducated eyes just cant do that, but they definitely can dilute the market where good artwork may get lost.
I witnessed how computers changed art, AI might be even more disruptive and scary Im trying my best to learn it as well, it seems easier than learning Adobe, Softimage, Maya, etc Even easier than learning digital painting that so many traditional artists also used to laugh at.
We can protest and fear the future, but today will turn in to a different tomorrow that will be filled with new kind of artists, artists who didnt live in a world without AI and for them AI will be a natural tool, just like Adobe for us.
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