Content Review
Guidelines and Standards
78 articles
Content Guidelines
Content Guidelines
- 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
Review
Review
- How is content reviewed?Content is reviewed daily by experienced professionals
- What can I do if my first submission did not get approved?Tips for understanding rejection reasons and helpful links for new contributors
- How long does it take to review my submitted content?Content you submit will be reviewed by our expert team of reviewers as quickly as possible.
Understanding Rejections
Understanding Rejections
- Why was my content rejected as Non-Licensable Content?Content cannot be licensed due to legal restrictions
- Why was my content rejected for File Integrity?Follow these tips if your content was corrupt or if there was an error in transmission
- Why was my content rejected for Spelling/Grammar?Images featuring text must be without spelling or grammatical errors
- Why was my content rejected for Incorrect Illustration Designation?Photographs that contain illustrations or graphics should be submitted as photos
- Why was my content rejected for Artboard?Vectors must be on one artboard
- Content Quality Standards: White BalanceContent produced with an incorrect white balance setting is not acceptable.
- Why was my footage rejected for Resolution / Aspect Ratio?Pillarboxing and letterboxing are acceptable only for vintage content
- Why was my footage rejected for VR / 360 / 3D?Shutterstock is not accepting 360/virtual reality or 3D footage at this time.
- Why was my video rejected for Clip Length?Clips should be be between 5 and 60 seconds unless loopable or a complete transition.
- Why was my content rejected for Submitted to a Different Account or Previously Submitted Content?Shutterstock does not accept duplicate content
- Why was my content rejected as being objectionable, explicit, or inappropriate?Content is not appropriate for our marketplace.
- Why was my image rejected for Illustration Designation?Scanned artwork and digital composites with illustrations should be tagged as illustrations
- Why was my content rejected or removed even though the customer site contains similar work?We regularly audit our collection and refine our review policies
- Why was my vector illustration rejected for Multiple Windows?We do not accept vector files with multiple windows
- What does overuse of noise reduction and sharpening look like?Images with excessive noise reduction or sharpening effects applied look either soft or too crisp
- Why was my content rejected for Editorial Designation?All editorial content must be properly tagged during submission
- Why was my content rejected for Mature Content Designation?Subject matter with nudity, sexual themes, profanity, or graphic depictions must be designated as Mature Content
- Why was my content rejected for Personal Branding/Timestamp?Do not include names, signatures, watermarks, personal logos, or datestamps / timestamps in content and/or metadata.
- Why was my content rejected for Inaccurate Information?Inaccurate information within images or clips will be rejected
- Why was my content rejected for Inappropriate Representation?Potentially inappropriate depiction or description of a person’s race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or age.
- Why was my content rejected for Image / Video Orientation?Content must be uploaded with the correct orientation
- Why was my content rejected for Text / Graphic Placement?Text should be applied in ways that are easy for the customer to edit
- Why was my content rejected for Translation Required?An English translation is required. Add small amounts to the title field. Large amounts of non-English text are not allowed in content.
- Why was my content rejected for Altered Editorial?Editorial images should never be significantly altered
- Why was my content rejected for Similar Content?Content that is too visually similar to previously submitted or approved content cannot be accepted
- Why was my content rejected for QR Code?Detailed QR code designs, whether functioning or inactive, are prohibited.
- Why was my video rejected for Audio?Examples of acceptable and unacceptable audio for video clips.
- Why was my content rejected for Vector / Illustration Technical Quality?Illustrations submitted to Shutterstock must be of professional quality