Participant

Answered

Projects have started to be rejected too often

Forum|Forum|3 months ago
November 7, 2025
4 replies
329 views

Hey everyone, I wanted to ask — how are things going for you with uploading projects to Adobe Stock lately?

For the past two months, almost everything I submit keeps getting rejected. I work in my own unique style, creating futuristic grunge graphics, and my sets have been selling really well — sometimes up to 300 sales in the first monthafter upload.

But recently, Adobe has started rejecting my new sets, even though they’re completely original and not related to my previous works.

I’ve already tried changing the format of how I prepare the files — no effect.
I thought maybe the issue was with titles or keywords — also no result.

I understand that many of my works share a similar aesthetic, but that’s my signature style — both I and my buyers love it. Yet Adobe seems to think I should change it for some reason.

Has anyone else experienced this or knows how to fix it?
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Correct answer Jill_C

The database I'm referring to is Adobe Stock's inventory of more than 800 million assets. Have you ever searched for an asset on stock.adobe.com? You should do that to ascertain what your competition is. Regarding rejections, many Contributors have complained in this and other forums for most of this year that the rejections for similars have become erratic and often unjustified. However, Adobe has chosen not to change their current reviewing standards. The changes to their reviewing practices have slowed down the growth of their database, which seems to have been their primary goal. Unfortunately, there is nothing we as Contributors can do about it other than to halt our submissions or submit to other agencies.

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vali_5965

Participant

The acceptance rate on Adobe Stock has become very harsh and unpredictable lately. In the last 1.5-2 months, nearly all my technically sound, high-quality images are getting rejected with generic reasons like "noise" or "technical issues". The same work that would have been accepted easily before is now declined. This is extremely disappointing and feels unfair. The standards seem to have skyrocketed overnight, which pushes loyal contributors away.

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BonkiStudioAuthor

Participant

Hey, yeah, it’s honestly really frustrating. Adobe is my top-performing stock — it brings in more than all the others combined. And when I try to keep creating works in the same style that used to sell really well there, I spend a lot of time and energy — and then they just say, “Sorry, we don’t need that anymore.” It’s honestly very discouraging.

I really hope they fix this, because within my style, I still don’t understand what’s acceptable and what isn’t. I’m even afraid to start new projects now, since they’ll probably just get rejected again

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Yasmine patterns

Participant

I have the same problem specially in the last month, I create vector seamless patterns, I was surpised that Adobe accepted colorways of my old patterns while rejected my new patterns , there is something wrong with their system, their system is completely random and probably depend on AI or some robot that can't read visiuals right. I think the only thing you can do is to change colors or positioning of your vector and may be they will accept it . I hope they fix their system because they are rejecting a lot of good assets and accepting similar content , at least that the case with me, keeping posting your graphics to other stock sites and creative market and wait until they fix it in Adobe

Jill_C

Community Expert

If you've followed other posts here in the forum, you would know that Adobe rejects for similars not only in your portfolio, but in comparison to all other assets in the database. And they often get it wrong. I don't know if your graphic collections have similarities in the database. Wouldn't the elements be more useful to Buyers if they were on a transparent background?

Jill C., Forum Volunteer

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BonkiStudioAuthor

Participant

Hi, the introduction isn’t very clear to me, especially the comparison with a database.
Considering my works, I’m quite sure there aren’t any exactly like them on the stock.

As for transparency — I can’t add it since these are vector files, not just JPEGs.
I tried to find a similar complaint on the forum, but most of the issues there come from photographers rather than vector artists.

Overall, I now understand that they’re looking for more individuality,
but how can anyone achieve that when everything already looks similar in one way or another?
And spending time creating graphics that end up being rejected feels discouraging —
it takes both time and energy to build a proper set.

These projects sell really well on Creative Market too, and I believe they also have a place here.
Otherwise, many contributors will just start uploading their rejected works as big bundles on Creative Market and sell them there at their own prices.

It’s all a bit strange — I don’t really understand why they’ve made the review process so much stricter.
Before, almost everything was accepted — for every 300 files I might get 2–3 rejections,
and now it’s like 10–30 rejections for every 100 uploads.

Jill_C

Correct answer

Community Expert

The database I'm referring to is Adobe Stock's inventory of more than 800 million assets. Have you ever searched for an asset on stock.adobe.com? You should do that to ascertain what your competition is. Regarding rejections, many Contributors have complained in this and other forums for most of this year that the rejections for similars have become erratic and often unjustified. However, Adobe has chosen not to change their current reviewing standards. The changes to their reviewing practices have slowed down the growth of their database, which seems to have been their primary goal. Unfortunately, there is nothing we as Contributors can do about it other than to halt our submissions or submit to other agencies.

Jill C., Forum Volunteer

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ZALEZPHOTO

Inspiring

I appreciate your work. Let me say that as a graphic artist I'm an infant.

But I do see an issue with repetition in your work and some lack of "unique factor"

Since you were getting amazing results in the beginnig, my suggestion is that you expand what you are doing.

For example, use AI to add animation to your work, and experiment with new approaches unique to you.

There's nothing more exciting than seeing your imagination drive you.

Cheers!

Francisco ZALEZPHOTO

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BonkiStudioAuthor

Participant

Thanks for the feedback, Francisco!
I appreciate your suggestion, but in my case using AI would only create more issues with getting my works accepted, rather than improving them.
I prefer to keep developing my own visual style naturally

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ZALEZPHOTO

Inspiring

I understand, and I think you're correct.

AI is changing very fast, I'm way behind, but I do see a great opportunity and why I'm open to it and trying to keep up.

Keep up the great work, I also see a pop art angle to what you're doing, don't dismiss that possibility.

cheers

Francisco ZALEZPHOTO

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