Why was my image rejected for being “too similar”? Need feedback.

Forum|Forum|11 months ago
April 26, 2025
3 replies
292 views

Hello everyone,

I recently submitted a few images to Adobe Stock, including a photo of a monkey in a suit (created with AI tools), but it was rejected for being “too similar” to existing content.

I understand that Adobe is trying to avoid repetitive content, but I would like to get more specific feedback:

• In what way is my image too similar to existing works?

• What could I improve or change (composition, expression, background) to make it acceptable?

I am attaching the image below for reference.

Thank you for your help and suggestions!

Contributors

Jill_C

Community Expert

Adobe's new algorithm for detecting similars doesn't seem to be discriminating enough to detect small differences between monkeys in a suit, so I wouldn't waste any more time tweaking it to try and get past the "similars" screening. In this case, I would also assume that the tens of thousands of existing "monkey in a suit" images in the database are more than enough...

Jill C., Forum Volunteer

daniellei4510

Community Expert

Agreed. Animals in suits (hey, I've been there) are an AI trope that has been done to death. There ARE at least some benefits to this new "similars" issue, but it does need to be less random. I've decide to continue to submit at least one or two assets per day without being overly concerned about submitting similar images (with some common sense applied), since I'm still having portraits accepted that are much like "similar" ones previously rejected. I'm still not convinced that it's AI making the decisions, but an algorithm looking at titles and keywords. In a month or two, I'll start re-submitting previously rejected images on occasion, switching up titles and keywords a bit, to see if they make it through.

Adobe Community Expert | If you can't fix it, hide it; if you can't hide it, delete it.

photorebelle

Inspiring

Hey,
This question has been popping up a lot lately! Most likely, your image was rejected for being "too similar" because it looks a lot like one of your other accepted or submitted images. Adobe Stock is being much stricter now about avoiding duplicates or very close variations (like similar angles, colors, poses, etc.).

I'd really recommend checking out the replies in this thread and other recent forum discussions — tons of great tips and explanations are already there!

Hope that helps and good luck with your submissions!

daniellei4510

Community Expert

"In what way is my image too similar to existing works?"

If we only knew. This has been an issue effecting (almost everyone it seems) for the last few weeks and we really have no clue how to skirt around the issue in terms of making changes your or rejected assets.

Adobe Community Expert | If you can't fix it, hide it; if you can't hide it, delete it.

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