Preparing for exams
Preparing for exams
As it was said earlier, some profitable microstocks demand few works to check, for estimating of level of you creativity. It is maximum 10 works, that’s why we will prepare exactly 10 works. After successful checking all this works can be sold, that is why we will make them taking selling into account. The first what you need to know is a creative moment. You have to acquaint with something which has found a market. For example, if you send to bank a photograph of nature, this work can be not accepted because of reason “We have too many such photographs”. Even if it is accepted, it will be lost among millions of similar. That’s why, let’s not waste time. So, what do microctocks need and what will be easy-sold? On the whole, every photobank has its own clients’ base and everyone will sell something special, but there are some categories, which will always have a good price. For example, something creative can take a great popularity, but it is difficult to guess. For example, familiar 3D-maker has drown automobile, wholly covered with grass – to the theme of pollution of environment. It was fashionable, original, but wasn’t easy-sold. That’s why I don’t recommend overdoing with creativity for the first time. Let’s start with something simple – get to know the list of the most frequently required words of photobank shutterstock.com, because exactly for this bank we make our 10 works. There you can meet a requirement of banners, buttons, logotypes, frames. They are needed on sights. Different backgrounds and textures also meet demand. Family is popular as a subject. Holyday themes. In fact this list is changing depending on season and other conditions, so I recommend paying attention to it before making of your works. Then it is good to flick through different magazines because the majority of them buy illustrations on photobanks. Then look at the best works of this week. For sure, you can find something which you will like and will be able to manage. To add I can only remind that you’d better send many-sided, various works.
Also you always have to remember about the technical moment . Firstly, NEVER use other people’s work, may be, only as a source of inspiration. You can’t use another’s creativity – fully or partly. Do you think no one can reveal plagiarism? Believe, any artist or photographer will recognize his work among million. He has created it he knows all about it. More than that, there are people, who advisedly remove competitors which use another’s works. And if it happens, you will not only lose reputation, you will also get everlasting ban on microstock, and even court examinations. We will talk about plagiarism in details in next articles.
The next what you should remember, are registered brands. It is not allowed if there is a word “coca-cola” on your photo, even in little letters on the background. At bests, this work won’t be accepted. You should avoid any logotypes, labels, as a last resort you should make them indistinguishable by degrading and painting over.
While photographing model must take off all rings, chains and watches if they are not a part of scene. It will extend a purchasers range.
Let’s talk about every kind of creativity.
1. Photograph. Photographs need resolution not less than 4 megapixels. It is important if there are no noise and artifacts, the light stays in a right places and the focus is where it should be. Enlarge your work up to the maximum and watch attentively: if there is something which you dislike, you must correct and improve it. There cannot be any “Satisfactorily” or “May-be-they-won’t-mark”. No, everything must be ideal. Only in this way result can appear. Of course, photographs of this level need good technique, but believe me, there was photos, loaded from cheep cameras. Usage of programs must be reduced to the minimum. For example, for cleaning, for removing of skin defects. It is important to make attendance of photoshop unnoticeable. By the way, it is often possible to see on photobanks photos, isolated in white. This is done for simplification of designers, who will buy this photo – they can fill it with everything they want. It’s pleasant to buy this works, but it doesn’t mean that you have to do white background everywhere. Often background is the part of composition. Then all depend only on your fantasy.
2. 3D illustration. Just as photos, loaded illustrations must be not less than 4 megapixels. All here is much easier, but you shouldn’t relax and load 2 balls. Your opportunities are unlimited, try to use all your potential, after the render use all necessary graphic redactors. Somewhere lighter, somewhere to illuminate, somewhere to tint. You must use only your textures and never another’s, or you have to change them beyond recognition , the same with models. Enlarge the illustration up to the maximum and attentively look for presence of artifacts and crooked borders.
3. Vector illustrations. Vectors are sold in 3 formats: Jpg, eps-8 and svg. Care about doing of 3 copies of your work in different formats. Jpg is also made not less than 4 megapixels. This is not difficult. Vectors are easy for doing in any size. But everything is much more difficult with eps and svg. The point is that microstocks sell vectors in the old format of eighth version of illustrator. It is done to extend purchaser range. Not everyone has the new version, and it is unknown what your work will be opened with. Eps-8 is the golden mean. But it sets limitations on usage of instruments of graphic redactor. You can’t use instruments which has appeared in new versions of illustrator. If you use new instruments and save your work in eps-8, you will have absolutely another work, which will differ from your idea, and the pile of rubbish to boot. You cannot use: clarity, option of imposition, instrument of shadow. You have to forget and stand without it. It also very important not to have open ways in the illustration. For their searching and closing you can use appropriate plug-ins for illustrator: closepaths and selectMenu. Try to make all lines smooth. For that you should think about graphical drawing board. Don’t load too simple works. Svg is necessary for loading of works to the microstock fotoia.com.