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suyoko_8613
December 29, 2025
Question

Question About Similar Content Rejections and Account Impact

  • December 29, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 1178 views

I frequently submit AI-generated abstract background images and often encounter similar content rejections. One thing I’m still trying to understand is how the similar content policy is applied.

From a contributor’s perspective, it sometimes feels that additional variations could actually provide buyers with more choice.

 

I’d also like to ask whether frequent similar content rejections can affect a contributor’s account in any way  for example, leading to longer review times or stricter daily submission limits.

 

If similar content rejections do have an impact on an account, what would be the best approach to avoid them? As contributors, it can be difficult to predict whether an image may be considered similar, since we don’t know what other contributors have already uploaded. So far, I haven’t found any tools that can help predict the risk of similar content before submitting.

 

I would really appreciate any insights or best practices on how to better evaluate whether an image might be at risk of a similar content rejection before submission.

 

[Moderator moved the thread to the correct forum]

2 replies

Nancy OShea
Community Expert
Nancy OSheaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 4, 2026

Customers can use AI to customize Stock images now.  For this reason, Contributors don't need to provide much variation to make sales. 

 

This is what Stock has to say about variations & 'similar content.'

 

image.png

https://helpx.adobe.com/stock/contributor/help/vector-requirements.html

https://helpx.adobe.com/stock/contributor/help/similar-vs-spamming.html

https://helpx.adobe.com/stock/contributor/help/similar-content-guidelines.html

 

  • Drag an image or video thumbnail directly to the search bar.
  • Hover over an asset in search results and select "Find Similar".
  • Use filters to refine your search to certain Content, Colors, or Composition styles.

 

Abstract Backgrounds & Wallpapers are very generously represented in Stock inventory.  If you do a search, you'll find well over 100 MILLION results. With that much competing inventory, it's not something I would spend much time on.

 

A better use of your time would be to find subjects that Stock needs & create suitable content to fill them. 

 

Hope that helps. 

 

 

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
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suyoko_8613Author
January 5, 2026

Thanks for sharing your insight, Nancy. The explanation is helpful and gives useful context from a contributor’s perspective

Jill_C
Community Expert
Jill_CCommunity Expert
Community Expert
December 29, 2025

There are 2 sources of "similars" rejections - those within your own account and those across the entire database. Submitting too many similars in your own account is forbidden by the guidelines (read them again if you're uncertain), and can result in account suspension. Similars across the entire database means that Adobe just has too many of that type of image already and doesn't want to flood Buyers with even more. Backgrounds are definitely in that category. Searching for the keyword "background" nets more than 31 million images. You can search the database yourself to see how many backgrounds exist to the ones you're considering uploading. It is believed that such rejections don't harm your account in any way, but they do waste a lot of your time.

 

None of us knows how Adobe determines if submissions are similar to others in the database. Some think that it largely relies on keywords. I submit only real photographs of real places, and I know for a fact that some of my "similars" rejections are unwarranted, as they are truly unique in the database. Unfortunately, there's not much we can do about it. Sometimes I re-edit an image and alter the keywords a bit and resubmit. If it's not accepted in the second attempt, I just move on.

Jill C., Forum Volunteer
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suyoko_8613Author
December 29, 2025

Thank you very much for the detailed explanation, Jill. I really appreciate you taking the time to clarify the difference between similars within an account and across the entire database.

The point about backgrounds being an already saturated category is especially helpful and gives me a clearer perspective. Your insight about re-editing selectively and knowing when to move on is also valuable. This definitely helps me set more realistic expectations and refine my submission approach going forward.

Thanks again for sharing your experience.

    Jill_C
    Community Expert
    Jill_CCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    December 29, 2025

    You're welcome. Glad to be of assistance.

    Jill C., Forum Volunteer
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