Gob smacked by Adobe and their classification of quality issues

[PBJM Studios]

It's not often that I am left speechless by Adobe but they have really hit the nail on the head with this.

I have submitted some photos for Adobe Stock and they have either been rejected due to "Quality Issues" namely File ID: 1196706180 and File ID: 1196835355 or "Intellectual Property Refusal" namely File ID: 1196835074 or File ID: 1209400354. 

Regarding the Quality issues - It is in sharp focus, it is color corrected using Adobe Lightroom and it is in 8300 by 5864 so it is not small. Where is the problem.

Then there is the Intellectual Property Refusal refusal of a skyline. It has been refused because its at night and its of Los Angeles. Yet I have just been on Adobe Stock and found an image for sale (not as clear quality) e.g Los Angeles night skyline in LA, California, USA Stock Photo | Adobe Stock

Please help me understand because I cannot get my head around Adobe's 'quality control'

Thank you

Duncan

[Abambo]

Whatever the issues are, you are using the wrong profile. Adobe requires sRGB for stock.

Malibu: the counter light effect disturbed me. For the rest, your 2 images are too small for us to check correctly. Upload the assets as submitted.

[Abambo]

LA Holiday at night: It is underexposed

and I see noise, even in that small picture.

Size is not a quality criterion. And for the IP refusal, check for logos and the same. That's probably the IP refusal cause.

[PBJM Studios]

Of course it will be under exposed - its a nigh time shot. I dont understand your point

[Abambo · Accepted solution]

Of course night shots do not need to be underexposed. That is the difficulty of night shots. None of my night shots are underexposed.

[PBJM Studios]

We will have to agree to disagree. You cannot take night shots like this one without having parts of the image underexposed. If you overexpose it - then it wouldnt be a night shot

[Gary Wornell]

Duncan - It might be that the blue triangle on the histogram is an indicator of the problem. The shot doesn't need to be bright, but areas of an image that are out of black range can be the issue. Just lift the blacks until there is not issue.

[Nancy OShea]

Of course it will be under exposed - its a nigh time shot.

By @PBJM Studios

==========

Nighttime scenes that are suitable for commercial use are very challenging to capture at night. Even under the best conditions, some post-processing is required.

Growing up in LA, film crews frequently shot location scenes in my area. I once asked the film crew why the cars had their headlights on in the daytime. They told me they were shooting a nighttime scene.  The post-production lab would convert day to night.  Movie industry tricks -- nothing is as it seems.  😉

Modern digital photographers use other tricks.

Turn DAY into NIGHT

Layer Stacking & Blending with multiple exposures at various settings

As always, compare your best work with current Stock inventory.  To get accepted, your image quality should meet or exceed what Stock is currently selling.

https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=los+angeles+night+skyline

Hope that helps.

[Jill_C]

The first image is underexposed and blurry. The second image has lens spots in the sky and blownout areas.

[PBJM Studios]

I do appreciate what you are saying here. 

[PBJM Studios]

And then we have this one. Refused because of Intellectual Property Refusal

[Jill_C]

Here are the first 3 IP issues that I spotted - looking after these.

[Jill_C]

City and street scenes are always going to present IP issues with license plates, store signs, logos, building signs, billboards, people, etc.  my rule of thumb is that if I can edit those out in less than 5 minutes I'll consider them for Adobe Stock. Given the high chance that the image may never be licensed anyway, investing any more time than that isn't justified unless there is something quite unique about the asset.

[PBJM Studios]

Jill. Thank you for your advice on this one. I understand what you are saying now and I understand the IP issues.

[Abambo]

This is a one second refusal. Please note that the moderator only needs to spot one reason for the refusal. And they are good at finding even the smallest logo hidden somewhere. 

Once you know how this works, you will see immediatly if the asset is worth to submit or not. This one would be a very difficult fix. 

The number plates of the cars and the people are also identifiable objects and need to be fixed, either by a property or model release or by editing out. Simply burring the face would be a quality issue. 

[daniellei4510]

Were these taken with a mobile phone? Display P3 is a common profile used in cell phones. Sharpness is difficult to determine at the size submitted, but focusing does appear soft in both assets, especially the cityscape.

[Abambo]

Camera Information
Make: Panasonic
Model: DC-S1R;
Owner:
Lens: LUMIX S 70-200/F2.8;
Shot Information
Focal Length: 117.00 mm (in 35mm: 126 mm)
Exposure: 1/10 sec, f/2.8; ISO 320; Manual; Pattern metering
Image Size: 1290 x 774
Orientation: 1 (Normal)
Resolution: 200.00 Pixel per Inch
Flash: Did not fire

[PBJM Studios]

No, it wasnt shot on a mobile phone. The details above are correct. However, this was rejected due to Intellectual Property Refusal

[daniellei4510]

Got it. It wouldn't be unusual for a moderator to select the incorrect refusal reason. They only have seconds to review each asset.

[Jill_C]

The Moderator can select only one rejection reason code, so I suppose they press the one that they see first. In this image there are both quality and IP issues.

[PBJM Studios]

OK - here is the full size shots of LA at Night attached.

[Abambo]

All IP issues.

[Abambo]

Checking the quality: you have numerous artefacts in the picture, like those odd colour changes:

or the chromatic aberration for the lower arrow.

Whatever you did to this image, it was not quality enhancing.

[PBJM Studios]

My argument is , is the Bank of America sign and logo the focus of the image. No!

You have had to zoom in by 400% to be able to see it. Still begs the question, why was this similar picture allowed Los Angeles night skyline in LA, California, USA Stock Photo | Adobe Stock

[oleschwander]

Duncan - can you see any trademarks in the image you link to?