I’ve had an image rejected for quality issues and could use some help seeing what I’m missing in my art or technical setup. The list below has the items I’ve checked. It does not contain raster elements I don’t use JPEG compression in the preview nor do I export to a JPEG I have organized the image in layers so it can be customized I didn’t outline the fonts, but that hasn’t been noted as a problem before I target 8K monitors so it is 7680x4320. I’ve had hundreds of images at this resolution accepted so I don’t think this it. Maybe they are watching this more closely? File is less than 1 MB in size. I do use swatches to designate cross-sections. Maybe I should expand these so they aren’t swatches?I’m a PhD student studying engineering and not a professional illustration. Maybe this is an aesthetic train wreck and I can’t see it. Should I rethink the artistic styling and colors?

Participant

Question

Illustrator Vector Image - Quality Issues

Forum|Forum|20 days ago
August 4, 2026
5 replies
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I’ve had an image rejected for quality issues and could use some help seeing what I’m missing in my art or technical setup. The list below has the items I’ve checked.

It does not contain raster elements
I don’t use JPEG compression in the preview nor do I export to a JPEG
I have organized the image in layers so it can be customized
I didn’t outline the fonts, but that hasn’t been noted as a problem before
I target 8K monitors so it is 7680x4320. I’ve had hundreds of images at this resolution accepted so I don’t think this it. Maybe they are watching this more closely?
File is less than 1 MB in size.
I do use swatches to designate cross-sections. Maybe I should expand these so they aren’t swatches?

I’m a PhD student studying engineering and not a professional illustration. Maybe this is an aesthetic train wreck and I can’t see it. Should I rethink the artistic styling and colors?

pvelsect piezo_vel_260510_041119.ai

S

Steve886

Participating Frequently

The first thing I would fix is one item you listed as probably harmless: unoutlined type. Adobe's current vector requirements call for fonts and strokes to be outlined, so make a submission copy and keep your editable master. Because the source is AutoCAD, I would also inspect it in Illustrator's Outline view: select all, then look for duplicate paths, open contours, stray points outside the artboard, and linetypes represented by hundreds of tiny segments. Expand appearances or pattern swatches only where needed, and simplify cautiously so the geometry does not change. File size and an 8K target do not prove the vector structure is clean. For a useful test, clean one duplicate, reopen it in a browser or second vector app, and submit only that file. If it passes, you have isolated export structure rather than the colors.

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

@Robot Squirrel,

I’m unable to open PostScript files.

That cookie-cutter refusal letter is a generic rather than a customized response. Take it with a liberal grain of salt. All points are possible reasons for refusal based on old submission standards, some of which no longer apply. Stock needs to update their refusal letters.

When you submit Vector graphics, they should be uploaded as Adobe Illustrator ai, .eps or .svg files (editable .ai is preferred). The system auto-generates a solid JPG or transparent PNG preview for you. All paths should contain the least number of anchor points required for the project. Use of auto-trace is not prohibited but it rarely produces acceptable results for commercial artwork.

Re-read the 7-part section on Vector Requirements from your Contributor User Guide, starting here:

https://helpx.adobe.com/stock/contributor/submit-your-content/submit-vectors/vector-submission-overview.html

Post back if you have other questions.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

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Robot SquirrelAuthor

Participant

Thanks for the comments back. I hadn’t thought about the minimum anchor points. These illustrations always start out in AutoCAD, and some of the linetypes do not convert well to Illustrator’s .ai format. I’ll check that in the image.

O

oleschwander

Legend

Are your hundreds of accepted images also that kind of special technical drawings?