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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

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