Choosing Asset Type for AI Images on Adobe Stock: Photo vs Illustration for Borderline Photorealisti

Whether illustrations or photograph is selected, they will, or at least should, be rejected for quality issues. Moderators review images at 100% and even 200%, so a good moderator will not miss such details.

What is a slight AI look under close inspection? That sounds like generative AI defects!

I can't add much to what @RALPH_L  and @daniellei4510 said already.  Except that AI artifacts are undesirable and should be corrected or removed prior to submission. 

• Carefully examine every quadrant of content at 100-300% magnification.
• Fix all errors if you can, or discard it & start over. 

It requires a lot of talent & skill to turn machine-generated content into commercially successful artwork. It's great if you have the patience for it. 😁  But it's not so great if you don't. 😝

Good luck.

Here are some examples:

Screenshot 2024-02-04 at 12.23.50 PM.png

Adobe’s current guidelines suggest that if an image is intended to mimic a real-world photograph, it should be submitted as Photo. If it is intended to look like art, a drawing, or a CGI render, it should be Illustration.

When to choose "Photo"

Even if there are slight artifacts, you should choose Photo if:

• The subject is a real-world object (living room, dog, landscape).

• The lighting, depth of field (bokeh), and textures are designed to look like they came from a lens.

• The logic: Buyers searching for "Modern Living Room" usually filter by "Photos." If your realistic-looking room is hidden in "Illustrations," it won't reach the target audience.

When to choose "Illustration"

You should stick with Illustration if:

• The image has a "painterly" or "digital art" feel.

• The proportions are intentionally surreal or stylized.

• It looks like a 3D render (CGI) rather than a captured moment.

The AI Label: Since you must check the "Created using generative AI tools" box anyway, the buyer is already warned that the image isn't a traditional photograph. This "AI" tag is your primary legal and ethical safety net, not the Asset Type.