Answered

Seeking Advice: "Quality Issues" Rejections and Zero Downloads

Forum|Forum|4 months ago
January 4, 2026
4 replies
605 views

Hi everyone,

I’ve been contributing to Adobe Stock for a while now, but I’ve run into two main challenges where I’d appreciate your expert guidance:

1. Technical/Quality Issues: A significant number of my uploads are being rejected for "Quality Issues." I’m trying to identify my mistakes is it typically related to noise, focus, or perhaps AI artifacts? I have attached an example of a rejected image below for your review.

2. Low Sales/Downloads: Even for the images that do get approved, I’m seeing almost zero downloads. I’m wondering if my keywording strategy is off or if I am targeting niches that are already too saturated.

I would love to hear your thoughts and any tips on how I can improve my portfolio's performance. Thank you in advance!

Correct answer Abambo

If your assets are generative AI, the most probable causes for a quality refusal are generative AI generated artefacts and rendering errors. Check your assets at 100% and you will see them.

Abambo

Community Expert

As for your sales: What are low sales? I would guess that from a good portfolio, about 10% of the assets generate sales, and about 1 to 2% generate a lot of sales. All that is in relation with the competition, both in numbers and quality. If a search does not bring you on the three first screens, it is quite improbable, but not impossible that they will make a sale. When they make a sale, there is a certain probability that there will be a follow up sale. And sometimes very old assets generate a first sale, and then they generate regularily sales. That's how it works with my portfolio.

ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer

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Erol C.Author

Thank you for explaining how sales distribution works; it makes perfect sense.

In my case, I currently have 144 assets, have been online for over two years, and have had a total of 31 downloads so far—and as you mentioned, some of these sales came from older assets.

Based on your experience, should I analyze the assets that are currently selling, or should I produce similar 3D and design-focused content based on them, or would it be more effective to produce different content for a broader approach?

What do you think I should do next?

Jill_C

Community Expert

You should continue to grow your portfolio slowly but steadily. The previously licensed assets should give you a better idea of what is saleable. You can also review trends per the current link on your Dashboard page and check out the Insights tab for Recent top sellers.

Jill C., Forum Volunteer

Abambo

Correct answer

Community Expert

If your assets are generative AI, the most probable causes for a quality refusal are generative AI generated artefacts and rendering errors. Check your assets at 100% and you will see them.

ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

I can't see attached files. This forum's viewer is broken.

Quality is an issue that gets discussed regularly here. Customers want the highest visual & technical quality for use in commercial projects. Emphasis on commercial.

As to your second point, how many approved assets are in your Portfolio so far?

Contributors don't see much return on investment until they have about 1,000 assets for sale that appeal to a wide range of customers on a variety of subjects. Casting a wide net catches more fish.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

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Erol C.Author

Thank you for reviewing my portfolio.

I currently have 144 approved assets, mostly 3D illustrations, which have been uploaded for over two years and downloaded 31 times so far.

I understand your view that contributors generally need around 1,000 assets to achieve a better return on investment. I'm trying to understand whether my main limitation is just portfolio size or if there are other approaches I should focus on. - Are there any alternative strategies you recommend, or specific trends/topics that are currently performing better?

daniellei4510

Community Expert

Actually, 31 sales out of 144 assets isn't all that bad. So yes, it's a matter of portfolio size.

Adobe Community Expert | If you aren't submitting your assets in sRGB, you probably didn't read the rules.

daniellei4510

Community Expert

We would need to see a couple of the rejected assets at the size they were originally submitted in order to be of any help. Also, how many assets are presently in your portfolio?

Adobe Community Expert | If you aren't submitting your assets in sRGB, you probably didn't read the rules.

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Erol C.Author

My portfolio currently has 144 assets, mostly 3D illustrations.
At the beginning, I uploaded some low-quality files and had issues, but I’ve already fixed that and my recent uploads meet the quality standards.

My main concern is that only 31 downloads were made from 144 assets uploaded over more than two years. I’d really appreciate any advice on how to improve visibility and sales.

daniellei4510

Community Expert

Your 144 assets amount to a small star in an enormous galaxy of millions upon millions of assets. Increase the size of your portfolio.

Adobe Community Expert | If you aren't submitting your assets in sRGB, you probably didn't read the rules.

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