How to Submit Distinct Content on Adobe Stock
To maintain the quality and discoverability of content within our collection, we encourage our Contributors to submit content that is varied and thoughtfully curated while avoiding submissions that are too similar. Similar content is one of the top reasons we refuse content submitted to Adobe Stock. When there are too many similar submissions, it can reduce the visibility of your creative work to our customers.
Here are some tips and best practices to help differentiate your submissions to avoid content refusal for being too similar.
Why We Refuse Similar Content
Submitting content that is too similar, whether in composition or subject, can make it difficult for customers to discover your content. Choose the strongest and most distinctive content that best represents your creativity while offering variety for customers.
Best Practices for Differentiated Submissions
Be Selective: Submit only the strongest variations from a shoot or creative idea.
Diversify Metadata: Adjust metadata for the unique attributes of each submission as repeating the same titles and keywords for similar submissions can lead to content being refused.
Think Like a Customer: Imagine you’re searching for content. What looks redundant and what kind of content do you want to discover?
Photography: Showing Creative Range
When uploading photos from your shoot, review whether or not each image tells a unique story, shows a different emotion, or offers a new composition. Images that are too similar with minimal changes to angle, expression, or lighting may be refused.
Tips for distinct photo submissions:
Curate submissions to three variations of a single photographed scenario, unless there’s a clearly defined change that calls for more.
Vary your framing, subject interaction, environment or story.
Focus on emotion, movement, and energy of your subjects to create visual diversity.
Variations to avoid:
Flipped images
Various crops
Different exposures
Different background colors
Different image filters
Vector Art and Illustrations: Be Selective with Style Variations
If you’re a vector artist or illustrator, you may choose to create sets or themed collections to submit to Adobe Stock. Ensure that each variation adds something unique and meaningful to the collection. Repeating the same character, icon, or design with only slight color changes, layout adjustments, or pattern shifts may result in your content being refused for being too similar.
Tips for distinct vector and illustration submissions:
Showcase your style with variety and avoid repetition.
Curate submissions to three versions of the same design with minimal modifications.
Use color, form, and composition to express distinct concepts.
Variations to avoid:
Flipped or rotated images
Different stroke weights on the same illustration or graphic
Different background colors
Different image filters
Video: Capture Variety in Each Frame
Video allows for exceptional creative variety; different takes, angles, and pacing adds range to your portfolio. To keep your submissions strong and searchable, focus on choosing clips to upload that feel distinct from each other, as overly similar content may be refused.
Tips for distinct video submissions:
Select key frames that demonstrate different camera movements, angles, or narrative moments.
Curate submissions to avoid submitting entire sequences where nothing significant changes between frames.
Use different frames or subject actions to create engaging variety in submissions.
Use different focal lengths such as close-up, medium shot, and wide shots to show meaningful variations.
Vary your camera motion, such as a pan right or a pan left or a zoom in and zoom out.
Variations to avoid:
The same frames
Similar camera motions or onscreen activity
Applying different post-processing effects
Adding filters
Generative AI: Curate Intentionally
AI-generated content has opened exciting creative opportunities; however, it also requires careful prompting and curation. Submitting dozens of variations based on a single prompt with only minimal changes can lead to content being refused for being too similar.
Tips for distinct AI-generated submissions:
Focus on concept diversification, not just visual changes.
Don’t mass-upload all of the prompt’s outputs. Instead review and select the strongest content.
Ensure content is commercially viable and free of artifacts or inaccurate information.
Use metadata and titles that clearly reflect the uniqueness of the content.
Variations to avoid:
Flipped or rotated image
Different image filters
Different background colors or minor color variations
Similar composition or subject without substantive changes
Different cropping or aspect ratio
If Your Submission is Refused
If you receive a notification that content has been refused due to similar submissions, don’t be discouraged. This is an opportunity to refine your portfolio and submit your strongest content in future submissions.
