Content Guidelines
Content Guidelines
47 articles
- Content Policy Updates: AI-generated ContentShutterstock does not accept AI-generated content from our contributors
- Content Publishing Standards: Personally Identifiable Information (PII)Commercial content cannot contain real names, addresses, signatures, or any personally identifiable information (PII)
- Does Shutterstock accept 3D objects or models?3D objects on Shutterstock are powered by PixelSquid
- Vector and Illustration Quality RequirementsLearn about content submission requirements such as design composition or rasterization quality.
- Content Publishing Standards: Anti-CounterfeitingContent cannot depict currency, checks, identification documents, or postage stamps that pose counterfeiting risks.
- Photo and Video Quality RequirementsLearn about content submission requirements for quality such as focus, exposure, or noise.
- Content Quality Standards: Post-productionContent manipulation must be of high quality to be accepted.
- Content Quality Standards: InterlacingVideo footage should not exhibit fast motion ("combing") or blurring due to frame bending.
- Content Quality Standards: Distortion/AnomalyAn overview of distortion and anomaly issues in video clips
- Content Quality Standards: Still Photo in VideoStill photos in videos are acceptable when used with specific effects.
- Content Publishing Standards and Policy UpdatesShutterstock is simplifying and expanding our approach to content submissions.
- Description and Keyword Best PracticesTips and best practices for creating compelling metadata
- What are the technical requirements for video?Submitted video clips must meet the specified file formats and resolutions
- Can Shutterstock help me recover lost work?If your hard drive crashes we may be able to help you
- Can I submit videos created on a mobile device?Yes! It’s important to shoot and transfer in the highest resolution possible.
- Offset Artist FAQEverything you need to know about submitting to the Offset collection on Shutterstock
- Do you accept 4K footage?Technical requirements for 4k footage
- Do you accept footage with Alpha Channels?We accept certain forms of Alpha Channel
- May I submit logos that I designed?Logos are permitted under certain circumstances and restrictions
- Content Quality Standards: ExposureContent is underexposed, overexposed, or was shot in unfavorable lighting conditions.
- Content Quality Standards: FocusContent is not in focus or the focal point is not appropriate for the composition.
- How Are Keyword and Title Spamming Defined?Keyword spamming is overusing repeated or irrelevant terms. Titles must not include repeated words or phrases from descriptions.
- Best Practice Recommendations for Saving EPS FilesHow to save the highest quality vector at the smallest file size
- How to avoid trademarks when creating content for commercial useFollow these recommendations on trademarks to stay within our content publishing standards on Intellectual Property
- How do I include existing metadata with my content submission?We accept descriptions, keywords, and other metadata as a CSV file for image and video submissions
- Content Publishing Standards: Contextual MetadataDescriptions and keywords, along with other relevant tags are essential to making your content discoverable.
- Content Publishing Standards: Intellectual PropertyWhen contributing content to Shutterstock, you must have proven IP ownership of all content that is submitted and what is depicted.
- Content Publishing Standards: Legal DocumentationCertain content cannot be accepted without releases, press credentials or other additional documentation.
- Content Quality Standards: Aliasing / MoiréContent contains visible aliasing / moiré.
- Content Quality Standards: Camera Stabilization / MovementCamera movement should be intentional and motivated by action within the frame.
- Content Quality Standards: Color ProfilesYour image contains both RGB and CMYK color profiles.
- Content Quality Standards: CompositionUnacceptable framing, cropping or overall image/video composition.
- Content Quality Standards: Design CompositionElements in the design must not be misaligned, misplaced, or unevenly cropped.
- Content Quality Standards: Digital Conversion QualityDust, scratches and debris in scanned artwork are not acceptable.
- Content Quality Standards: Distracting ElementsUnintentional presence of dust or other distracting elements in the frame is not accepted.
- Content Quality Standards: Editing TechniquesAn overview of our standards for editing techniques
- Content Quality Standards: EPS FormatWe only accept EPS files compatible with version 8 or 10 of Adobe Illustrator.
- Content Quality Standards: Extra Vector ObjectsVectors should not contain any objects outside of artboard or in hidden layers.
- Content Quality Standards: Font RequirementAll live fonts must be converted to outlines.
- Content Quality Standards: Frame Rate / Shutter SpeedFrame rate conversion can lead to ghosting and duplicate or skipped frames
- Content Quality Standards: Gradients/BlendsGradients and blends should display a smooth transition of colors and tones.
- Content Quality Standards: RasterizationRasters should be compressed at a high resolution.
- Content Quality Standards: Vector Color MismatchIncluding CMYK PostScript in RGB files may cause a color shift.
- What kind of camera and equipment do I need to create stock content?You can create beautiful and engaging stock content without spending a fortune on pro gear or editing software.
- Guidelines for Submitting Diverse and Inclusive ContentSubmission guidelines for content that relates to race, ethnicities, disabilities, religion, age, gender, and sexual orientation.
- Quality Standards: Noise / ArtifactsContent contains excessive noise, film grain, compression artifacts and/or posterization.
- What are the technical requirements for images?Only certain formats, color profiles and dimensions are accepted