Similar content versus spam

To optimize your earning potential, it helps to have lots of content. We encourage you to choose quality over quantity and make sure that each file you submit offers something unique to a customer. Similar content is one of the leading rejection reasons at Adobe Stock. Image spamming can lead us to block or even close your account. Follow the guidelines below to make sure the content that you submit is not considered spam.

Select only the best photos of the batch and ensure that each one offers its own unique value to a customer. Observe how the photographer uses the same objects in the images below. However, by varying the placement of the objects, the photographer succeeds in creating useful variations.  

Sending images with minimal differences, such as a slight change of angle, should be avoided. A few versions of a motif best facilitate the commercial success of the respective files in question. Avoid submitting multiple copies of the same photograph with different post-processing effects applied, such as changing the image to black and white. Designers prefer to add effects themselves to match their projects. 

Avoid using the following methods to add variation:

• Flipping the image
• Providing various cropped versions
• Providing the same image with different exposures
• Providing images with spot color effects or in black and white
• Changing the background color
• Applying image filters

Vector art

Our goal is to provide buyers a large variety of vector art. We reject submissions of multiple files if their only variance is a different background color or effect. Buyers prefer to customize icons and other simple objects according to their project needs. With more complex vector art, submitting some variations of the overall color composition or rearranging patterns and objects is desired. In general, it is acceptable to submit up to three variations of one file.

In the images below, the artist changes the mood and spirit of the image by changing the colors in each variation. 

Avoid using the following methods to add variation:

• Flipping the image
• Changing stroke types or sizes
• Varying the background color
• Adding shadows
• Applying image filters

Videos

Our policy for video is different from other content types. We accept more similar video files because video editors may need multiple similar clips to work with. The images below are stills from videos that show the same subject in the same setting but camera angles and focal points vary.

The following methods are acceptable ways to add variation:

• Framing a subject from various angles
• Using different focal lengths, for example submitting a close-up, medium shot, and wide shot
• Varying camera motion: for example, a pan right and a pan left or a zoom in and a zoom out
• Showing a single location with different actions and/or subjects
• Portraying the same subject in the same environment doing a different action

Avoid using the following methods to add variation:

• Submitting clips with the same framing, camera motions, onscreen activity
• Applying different post-processing effects, such as changing the speed or adding filters