Inconsistent image reviewing - the grey area of 'similar images'

[Gem24]

Hello,

I'm opening this discussion through frustration with images libraries and their interpretation, and sometimes rejection, of images they deem too similar to another image already in your portfolio. Here I describe one recent experience, images shown.

I uploaded to Adobe Stock two similar images. Both are hearts, one representing the gay community colours the other showing lesbian community colours. Although the basic design is the same, neither share colours and there is a slight design difference, the gay heart has six coloured hearts and the lesbian one has seven. A third difference is that they represent different social groups. I would add, there are no other images like these already in my portfolio.

Adobe accepted the gay heart but rejected the the lesbian one. Shutterstock and Bigstock accepted both images. Adobe's decision to reject one of these similar images seems at odds with review decisions they have made in the passed. Earlier this year I submitted two vectors showing deer in winter scene. Design wise they were identical and the one difference between them were colours, one in shades of blue and the other in shades of orange. Adobe accepted both images.

The deer images had one difference between them where as the heart symbols have three. I would mention, the orange deer image was rejected by Bigstock for being too similar tho the blue one, but that's a whole different story.

Sometimes the the review decisions appear almost random. Maybe the reviewers have quota limits of different types of images? All I know is that sometimes the decisions made are annoying!

[Abambo]

You are right! They are similar, but not the same.

[joanH · Accepted solution]

Hi Gem24, Yes you are right as Abambo says - similar but not the same. You are probably also right about the reviewer, " review decisions appear almost random. Maybe the reviewers have quota limits of different types of images? All I know is that sometimes the decisions."

And all of your quoted words could also be correct. As long as the human reviewer is subject to certain unknowable pressure to sort out too many photos of the same or similar thing, the reviewer will have different reasons for rejection. So, what will you do to be less annoyed? You may always offer these similar works separately so the similarity is not instantly noticeable.

Keep cool; and figure out what will work for you and the acceptance of your offerings to Adobe Stock. Best wishes, JH

[Gem24]

Thanks for your comments JoanH and Abambo,

As you say JoanH, I need to accept the reviewer's decision. There doesn't seem to be any appeal process so there is not much I can do if I think they are wrong. It's just sometimes submitting images to libraries feels like aiming at a constantly moving target!

Ok deep breath.... What I plan to do is include the rejected lesbian heart in an image which includes other symbols representing the lgtb community, hopefully that will be accepted without issue. Gem

[Abambo]

Gem24  wrote

As you say JoanH, I need to accept the reviewer's decision.

Let's call MatHayward​, again. Sorry Mat to disturb you, but I think this is important.

[MatHayward]

With vector images it's very easy for designers to change the colors to what they want after they purchase a license for the file.  The design fairly simple and is the same between the hearts, only the colors are different. The moderation team will accept some variations (never more than 3) but it's a judgement call.

In this particular case I can see the justification for the color variation and duplicate upload. I have put the file online.

Kind regards,

-Mat Hayward

[Gem24]

Hi Mat,

It's great you have put this heart symbol on online!

I realise I my have similar issues with images in the future, although will try to avoid them by differing two submissions of the same design. When you have what you think is a good idea for a symbol for example, providing colour variations I think is useful and makes the image more versatile. Not everybody who uses image libraries are designers and therefore may not know how to change colours on a vector, have the appropriate programmes or may not want to spend time doing that.

However I happy outcome for me, many thanks

[Abambo]

Gem24  wrote

Not everybody who uses image libraries are designers and therefore may not know how to change colours on a vector, have the appropriate programmes or may not want to spend time doing that.

That, however, is highly improbable. Ai files are special, and if someone is looking into Ai files, he has the appropriate programs to edit. An exception may be someone having Photoshop or similar and not being able to edit vector images but being able to place them in Ps. Those cases are rare.

The second point of a simple design is for sure also pertinent. It would have been more valuable for a potential buyer to get the different symbols grouped into one file. This would result in less files but may be higher sales figures on a single image. I suppose that sales figures of an image drive the image ranking higher.

[Gem24]

Hi Abambo,

I get your point about vector images, however as images are available as jpegs as well, I assume some customers may prefer this 'almost' non editable format instead? Therefore offering some variations on one design maybe helpful?

I also see your point about grouping similar themes together as one image. In fact I usually do that, and some of these grouped images have sold well for me. With the heart symbols I thought I would see how they did individually to start with, I may eventually include them on a single file containing various lgtb designs.

[Abambo]

I'm happy that your issue could be solved and that Mat clarified the handling on those files. This was a pleasant problem solving round.

[DrSniffy]

I would say even in photos the "similar" is frustrating. As I submit but also use stock, when I'm picking photos, I like a choice, even if the differences are subtle, like "this one has 4 things in it, this one has 5.. great, I was looking for this with 5". As the OP mentions, other stock agencies don't get involved in "similar" but do reject "same". The moderator deciding similarities takes away the choice from the buyer.

Shops sell more than one type of chocolate, but it's all chocolate. Some just has a slightly different flavour you like...