Alternative for Adobe stock?

[serendipitous_dream0401]

I'm deeply concerned about the rejection of similar images. I spend my entire semester break to AI generate high-quality 1800+ images to update my portfolio. But now I'm facing the so-called "similar image already uploaded" rejection. I'm looking for a good alternative to get a reasonable income for my time. Please share your knowledge. 

[Moderator cured the topics. Please do select only relevant topics.]

[elizabeth_8944]

Thank you, appreciate your answer

[Abambo]

Rather than review then reject, they could just reduce the flow of new assets needing to be reviewed. 

By @Jill_C

What they probably do with their crooked tool. Noone can tell me that a moderator checks the similarity. It may be, that a moderator will take the final decision, but a tool makes the research in the database using some very obscure parameters, and flagging the submissions somehow. Personally, I would attribute a percentage of similarity, where the human reviewer still could accept the asset. 

[Abambo]

Because there are thousands of "creators" who have overflooded these platforms with FAKE CONTENT which simply is not selling anymore. 

By @Suomii

Generative AI looks like a big business for Adobe, or they would stop that immediately. Or at least slowing down this considerably. One indicator for this is that they refuse after multiple requests, to implement a sticky switch to exclude generative AI from the search results. Generative AI, at the end of the day, is probably very lucrative to Adobe.

[Abambo]

Of course there is a logic behind their behaviour and the logic is COMMERCIAL. "Similar images" means they have already something that covers well that topic. 

By @Suomii

That is a short term logic, as those assets will age, and if there is no fresh influx, stock will look like my old CD collection of stock images. However, the commercial aspect is still true, as Adobe gets submerged with submissions, and being able to reject at the source 20-80% of those submissions still leaves a lot of them to be added to the database. And the moderators can focus on quality, especially with the generative AI scrap that gets submitted. It's just a problem, that they also check the real photographs by using the same parameters for similarity.

Maybe you are missing an important point: there is AI integrated with Adobe Stock that customers can use to GENERATE VARIANTS of the same image. 

By @Suomii

No serious customer will generate a bad variant from a wll cured asset. 

So why should they accept a variant of one "concept" image and pay you while it can be generated inside AS? 

By @Suomii

They pay you only, when your asset makes a sale. So that's not an argument. But still, what is, is the cost of moderation. 

[Abambo]

There is no logic being implemented.

By @daniellei4510

This reduces the influx of assets that need to be moderated enormously. That for me is a logic, as real moderation is a huge cost factor, and Adobe did not reach a good quality level with generative AI until now. 

[STOCKYE STUDIO]

I dont agree with this rule of adobe about similiar  images or photos, and i will tell, im a professional designer with more the 25 years of experience working in advertising and branding and 95% of the times we need similiar images for one project, similiar images with diferent angles and different configuration and details... and i will give a exemple ..... and i now im selling AI images in adobe, and the day i sell more is the day some buys similiar images ... i will give a exemple: in one day one buyer purchease 30 similiar images in my account and the images is a sneakers ( sports Shoes ), that buyer or graphic designer needs to make a  sport catalog or sport event branding, just to show to is client, that why is important similiar images or photos for project stay very consistent and strong

[Nancy OShea]

I dont agree with this rule...

By @STOCKYE STUDIO

=========

• Adobe owns & operates this platform. 
• They pay for the staff & infrastructure that sells assets, processes transactions, keeps track of sales & pays out our royalty fees.
• We pay nothing to Stock for the privilege of doing business here.
• Therefore, we have no say in how they operate their business. 

Feel free to submit work to other royalty-free services like Getty, Shutterstock, iStock, Unsplash, Pixabay, Dreamstime, Pexels, etc...

Good luck. 

[williamh98198509]

When I started uploading to Contributor, it was nothing but random images. Then I found a niche that started selling and continued producing similar images (that have also sold). I got the idea to do that from some of the biggest sellers on Contributor who only submit similar content and are doing very well. 

I have images that have been rejected under the "Similar Image(s) Already Submitted" that are not like anything I've ever submitted. In the last month, almost everything has been rejected to the point I have stopped submitting altogether so my account isn't harmed. 

I hope that Adobe finds a better option to resolve this. Apart from making some side income, I enjoy contributing images and seeing them accepted. I hope there is some resolution to this issue. 

[serendipitous_dream0401]

• "Similar images" rejections

  • Adobe is rejecting AI-generated images deemed too similar to existing ones to avoid redundancy in their database.

  • Some users argue there is no consistency—unique or uncommon images are also being rejected.

• Community Reactions:

  • Suomii (Beginner):

    • Supports Adobe’s policy, citing commercial logic and the importance of data management.

    • Suggests contributors research new niches and avoid generating generic AI content.

    • Claims success through focusing on high-quality, unique submissions.

  • daniellei4510 (Expert):

    • Disagrees, citing illogical rejections and inconsistencies in what Adobe accepts.

    • Points out that many accepted images are just as similar as those rejected.

  • thibaultr20691496 (Contributor):

    • Argues that rejection patterns don’t align with logic—rare topics get rejected, common ones get accepted.

  • Jill_C (Expert):

    • Debunks the idea that Adobe is "cleaning" AI content from the platform.

    • States Adobe continues to add ~1 million AI images per day.

    • Criticizes the comparison to platforms like Medium.

    • Notes that customers often prefer to license ready-made images rather than generate their own using Adobe Firefly.

• Author (serendipitous_dream0401):

  • Expresses confusion over the inconsistencies and seeks advice on what types of content to upload.

  • Receives mixed responses, making it difficult to identify a clear strategy

Conclusion:
The thread reflects ongoing confusion and debate among contributors regarding Adobe Stock's AI image rejection criteria. While some advise adapting strategies and focusing on quality and niche content, others highlight inconsistent moderation and unclear guidelines.

[daniellei4510]

Counting multiple sales of the same asset, I have sold 666 portraits and 199 images of food. Granted, my images of portraits surpass the number of images of food. My portrait assets are generally being rejected as too similar, while my food images have generally been accepted (though not always).

So here's the quandary: if my portraits are doing better than my food (note that I never submit the same images of the same model), should I force-feed potential buyers with more food pics (no pun intended) when my portrait sales are doing better, Whether "similar" or not? (with emphasis on 'not').

[Suomii]

Danielle, of course I don't have the "right" answer for you, but if you have 666 portraits images and Adobe is refusing more portrait images while accepting food images, it seems pretty obvious you could only adapt by sending food photos. We don't have the power to influence the market, we could only adjust our strategy according to what Adobe allows us to do. By the way, this is a "critical" moment in which Adobe Stock is evolving...so let's no resist the change and adapt and expand our presence online on other platforms too

[daniellei4510]

Then why do they SOMETIMES still accept my portraits and SOMETIMES still reject my food pics? Again. No logic. Every submission is hit or miss.

[daniellei4510]

And I'm not resisting change by any means. It would help, however, if Adobe told us what those changes are, because random rejections/acceptances don't tell us much.

[serendipitous_dream0401]

Now I'm directly heading to the Not Accepted tab instead of my AS portfolio. Hope time will change everything. I kept my portfolio only in AS but now I feel it's time to investigate other stock agencies. #disappointed

[Abambo · Accepted solution]

Good luck to find an equally profitable site like Adobe stock. Most of the competition does not pay good royalties and does not accept generative AI. Given the experience of Adobe, I would really think that this last is a good thing.

[Beauty vibes]

Yes it's very difficult these days , I am also blocked and haven't had answers yet from the Adobe support team...

last year march they took $80 from me because they thought there was a 'suspicious' buy that was not trusted but I never did anything wrong and they just took the $80 from me and there was nothing I could do.

I told them people like to buy big batches from me because my AI is very rare and pretty much a niche but they did not believe me ...

It's very difficult and disheartening 😢

[Jill_C]

Adobe only deducts royalties from your account if they know that a stolen credit card was used or for fraudulent uses of Free Stock subscriptions.

[Beauty vibes]

That makes sense, but then there is no reason to block me since I was not involved, obviously.



That makes sense, but then there is no reason to block me since I was not involved, obviously

[Jill_C]

Unfortunately, blocking the account during investigation seems to be the only way for them to complete the review. 

[Nancy OShea]

I was not involved...
By @Beauty vibes

==========

You were front & center involved.  

It was YOUR account that was flagged for suspicious activity. It might not have been your fault, but your account was a potential crime scene. That's why the account had to be blocked during investigation.

[serendipitous_dream0401]

Sad to hear your story. There is no help for contributors. There is no good alternative at the moment.

[serendipitous_dream0401]

Where can I find the submission limit?

[daniellei4510]

You can't. As it states, the submission limit is based on a variety of factors related to YOUR account.