Desktop dictionary for microstockers
0
For many beginners, it is often quite difficult to understand the specific vocabulary used by experienced stock contributors, which is full of slang terms and abbreviations.
Therefore, the selection below should be useful for novice microstockers while diving into the workflow on stock photo sites:
Ice, iStock – shorthand for the stock agency iStockphoto.com.
Approve – a term meaning the stock site has accepted an image.
Artifacts – degradation of photo quality, most often caused by JPEG compression.
Artifacts appear as color distortion near high‑contrast edges and loss of detail.
To avoid artifacts, save photos as high‑quality JPEGs and avoid repeated re‑saving.
Attribution – the process of filling in key image information for subsequent upload to a stock agency.
The title (Document Title), description (Description), and keywords (Keywords) for each image are filled in when saving the image in a graphics editor.
Attribution can also be done directly on the stock site after uploading a photo or illustration.
Batch – a set (group) of images uploaded to a stock site at once or in several passes, but going through a single reviewer check.
Best match – the image sorting algorithm on iStockphoto.
Backup on CD – a type of sale on the stock site Shutterstock. The backup is an extra service when a buyer wants a disc with a monthly archive of all images purchased on the stock. The author, if included, receives $0.05 for each such image.
Vector, vector graphics, vector illustration – an image format created with vector editors such as Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, etc. A vector can be scaled up or down without any loss of quality or detail, and can be edited.
Vector illustrations also have another advantage -small file size. Most stock sites accept vector illustrations in EPS8 format.
Demand, On Demand – a Shutterstock plan. A buyer pays a fixed amount and, during a set period (usually 1 to 24 months), can download a clearly defined number of images from Shutterstock.
When an image is bought via On Demand, the contributor receives a higher royalty than for a standard subscription sale.
Dreams – shorthand for the stock agency Dreamstime.com
Uploading images – same as uploading works to a stock agency.
Scout image – a single image sent to reviewers before the rest of the batch to hold a place in the queue so the whole batch gets indexed successfully.
This used to be relevant only on Shutterstock. There was even a “scout” theory, though things have since changed.
Isolation, Isolate – a product photo on a pure white background (RGB: 255, 255, 255). The isolation effect is achieved during shooting (overexposing the background) or in Photoshop (selecting the subject and filling a lower layer with white).
Ill, lustra, Illustrator – slang for Adobe Illustrator.
Indexing – the intermediate stage between reviewer acceptance and the image actually appearing in the stock’s library. Indexing usually takes from 1 hour to 2 days.
Because indexing takes time, a newly accepted image may already show in the portfolio even if it is not yet searchable in the main library.
Stock reviewer – a staff or freelance employee who reviews submitted images and decides on acceptance or rejection.
Category – selected from a list during submission; defines the area to which an image belongs. For example, Holidays, Interiors, Industrial, Nature, etc.
Clip art – photos and vector illustrations for design or photomontage.
Keywords, tags – words characterizing an image (7-50). Keywords are specified for each image, are a key factor in indexing, and help buyers find images.
Corel, CorelDRAW – the vector graphics editor Corel Draw.
Lightbox – a gallery/collection on a stock site. Authors can create lightboxes, often around one theme, to simplify buyer discovery of a series.
Lia – shorthand for Fotolia.com
Moneybookers, Bookers – the payment system Moneybookers.com. An account lets contributors receive stock payouts and withdraw to a bank card/account.
Also, a Moneybookers account can be used to pay for goods/services online. It is a very popular payout option among contributors from post‑Soviet countries.
Description – a 5-7‑word image description entered during attribution.
PayPal, Palka – the PayPal system. In some countries it works as a gateway to pay online; it is not suitable for withdrawals there.
Pending – status indicating images are uploaded and awaiting reviewer checks.
Subscription – a common sales model on stock sites whereby a buyer pays for a period (1-24 months) to download a set number per day (regardless of size). On Shutterstock a popular plan is 25‑A‑Day: 25 images/day.
Portfolio – all accepted works by an author.
Single sales – a model for selling photos/illustrations where a buyer purchases just one image. This can pay more than a subscription download.
Product photography – object photos on a white background.
Property release – a document signed by the photographer and the property owner depicted.
Views – the number of image views by other authors or buyers; most sites show this in the account.
Raster, raster image – a pixel‑based image (photos, scans). Quality losses occur when scaling.
Extended sale – a sale model via Extended License, allowing broader usage (e.g., large print runs).
Editorial use – license for illustrative, non‑advertising use. A model release is not required.
Examples: street scenes, celebrity life, social events, sports/music events, cultural events.
Reject, bounce – a reviewer’s refusal to accept a submission; reasons are provided.
Model release – a consent document in which a model grants rights to the photographer for commercial use of the model’s image.
Referral, ref – an author or buyer who registers via a referral link; the referrer receives a small bonus.
Support – technical support service; suitable for questions or issues.
Scout – an iStockphoto employee overseeing reviewer work; complaints can be sent to the scout.
Downloads, DLs – number of images sold.
Stats, statistics – a summary table of sales and earnings by period.
Stocker – a photographer, illustrator, or 3D visualizer who works with stock sites.
Top, top‑seller – a list of best‑selling images on a stock site.
Stock photography agencies, stock photo sites – agencies selling images/video online. Traditional agencies (Getty, Corbis, Alamy) use higher prices (from $100), single sales, and focus on pros. Mid‑stocks (PhotoShelter, Most Photos) sell at mid‑range prices ($10-60). The most accessible for beginners are microstocks (iStockphoto, Shutterstock, Dreamstime, Fotolia, Bigstockphoto, 123RF, Depositphotos) with lower prices ($1-20) and high sales volume.
Fractal – an abstract image generated with special programs (Apophysis). Fractal illustrations (JPEG) are well accepted and sold on microstocks.
Digital noise – image defects as speckles of varying brightness/color, caused by long exposures and high ISO.
Shutter, Shatr, Shatter – shorthand for Shutterstock.com
Shop, photo‑manip – Adobe Photoshop.
Exclusivity – working only with one stock (full exclusivity) or granting exclusive rights on specific images (partial, i.e., those images cannot be sold elsewhere).
Exclusive contributor – a contributor working under an exclusivity program.
Approve – a term meaning the stock site has accepted an image.
BackUp CD – a Shutterstock sale type: a monthly backup disc for buyers; the author receives $0.05 per included image.
Batch – a set (group) of images uploaded together or in several passes but reviewed as one batch.
BDE (best day ever) – the best day of a contributor’s career, tracked by downloads (DLs) or by earnings.
Best match – iStockphoto’s sorting algorithm.
BME (best month ever) – analogous to BDE but for a month.
Category – selected from a list during submission (Holidays, Interiors, Industrial, Nature, etc.).
Description – a 5-7‑word description added during attribution.
Downloads – number of images sold.
DT – shorthand for Dreamstime.com
Editorial – a license for illustrative, non‑advertising use; no model release required. Examples include street scenes, celebrity life, social, sports, music, and cultural events.
EPS – a format saved by editors (Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop) allowing further editing; supports Grayscale, RGB, CMYK, Lab. Stocks require EPS 8 for vector illustrations.
FL – shorthand for Fotolia.com
FTP, File Transfer Protocol – a protocol for transferring files; used to connect to stock FTP servers to upload/download, edit, delete files, etc.
JPEG – a format that compresses with irreversible quality loss.
Isolated – a subject on pure white (RGB: 255, 255, 255), achieved in‑camera or in Photoshop.
Istock, IS – shorthand for iStockphoto.com
Keywords – words characterizing an image (7-50), crucial for indexing and helping buyers search.
Model release – a consent document granting commercial usage rights to the photographer.
Moneybookers, MB – the Moneybookers.com payment system, used for receiving stock payouts and online payments; a popular withdrawal option.
On Demand – a Shutterstock plan allowing a set number of downloads over a period; royalties are higher than standard subscription.
PayPal – the PayPal system; in some regions it serves mainly as a payment gateway, not for withdrawals.
Pending – status for images awaiting review.
Property release – a release signed with the property owner depicted.
Reject – a reviewer’s refusal to accept a submission.
RF License, Royalty‑Free – a license where rights remain with the author; Royalty‑Free allows multiple sales and broad usage within certain terms.
RM License, Rights‑Managed – a license priced by size, use, and duration; a buyer must provide usage details.
Shutter, SS – shorthand for Shutterstock.com
Support – technical support on stock sites.
TFP, Time for print – a collaboration scheme without payment: the photographer works with the model and uses the photos; the model receives prints/files for personal use.
View – the number of image views by other authors/buyers; visible in the account.
Now it should be easier to follow materials with specialized terminology and to understand microstocker discussions in forums or pro communities.
If there are more interesting terms not mentioned here, feel free to leave them in comments and they will be added to the microstocker’s glossary.
This article is available in the following categories: About Microstocks, 123RF, Depositphotos, Dreamstime, Finance, Fotolia, Istockphoto, Shutterstock
