How to Prepare Your Vector Illustration for Upload to Shutterstock

Hi everyone! Today, we’re going to discuss how to properly prepare your vector illustrations for upload to Shutterstock. This platform allows artists and designers to sell their creative work, including illustrations, photo edits, and more, while earning money through sales and licensing. With Shutterstock’s vast reach and customer base, your art can gain visibility and generate income. So, let’s dive into the essential steps to ensure your submission meets their criteria!

Shutterstock is a global marketplace for creative assets that allows you to sell your images, illustrations, and videos. As a contributor, you can monetize your artwork and potentially earn between 20% to 40% of the sales price, depending on your contributor level. Whether you’re a seasoned illustrator or just starting out, Shutterstock provides a platform to showcase your art to a vast audience.

Now that you're excited to share your artwork, let’s go through the critical recommendations you should follow before saving your file.

Image Components: Refining Your Vector Art

1. Text Avoidance: Limit or eliminate any text elements. Buyers prefer to customize their fonts and typography.

2. Use of Autotracing: Be cautious with autotracing options; overusing them can lead to unpredictable and messy results.

3. Raster-Free Zone: Do not embed raster images (JPEGs, PNGs) within your vector files. Ensure all elements remain purely vector-based.

4. Signature Exclusion: Avoid placing your signature or name directly on your illustration, as this is typically not permissible on Shutterstock.

Outlines: Precision and Polish

1. Optimal Anchor Points: Focus on having an appropriate number of anchor points. Too many can lead to jagged lines, while too few may flatten your artwork's appearance.

2. Closed Paths: Ensure that all filled shapes have closed outlines to prevent rendering issues.

3. Line Weight Variation: Incorporate varying line weights to add depth and visual interest to your illustrations.

File Organization: Streamlining for Success

1. Artboard Size: EPS files should be a minimum of 4MP and a maximum of 25MP. I recommend aiming for an artboard size of 4000 x 4000 pixels for universal use across platforms.

The maximum file size you can upload via browser is 100 MB for EPS files. When uploading via FTPS, you can upload JPEGs up to 50 MB, EPS files up to 100 MB, and TIFF files up to 4 GB.

2. Layer Labeling: Clearly label all layers to maintain organization and aid in easier editing.

3. Cleanup: Delete any hidden or empty layers and unused panel items.

4. Unlocked Layers: Ensure that all layers and sublayers are unlocked.

5. Artboard Containment: Make certain that all artwork fits within the artboard boundaries and remove any stray elements.

Pre-Submission Checklist: Final Touches

1. Gradient Integrity: Check that your gradients are processing correctly and maintaining their integrity.

2. Bitmap Absence: Double-check for any raster elements.

3. Preview Mode Inspection: Review your artwork in Preview mode to catch any possible issues.

4. Anchor Point and Line Review: Zoom in to at least 100% to carefully inspect for stray anchor points and poorly connected lines.

Step-by-Step Process for Preparing Your Files for Uploading to Shutterstock:

1. Check Illustration: Select your illustration and go to "Object > Contour > Convert stroke to curves". This will help expose any errors in your drawing.

2. Document Information Panel: Access "Window > Document Info". Click the three lines in the top-right corner and select "Objects." Aim for a "Paths" count of zero. Any number above that indicates open paths that need fixing.

3. Artboard Size: Make sure your artboard is set to 4000 x 4000 pixels for best results.

4. Metadata Embedding: Boost discoverability by embedding metadata into your file:

- Go to "File > File Info".

- Fill in the "Document Title", "Description", and "Keywords". Use 25-30 relevant keywords, with the first five being the most crucial.

5. Saving an EPS File: Shutterstock accepts JPEG, TIFF, and EPS file formats. But I recommend uploading only an EPS file.

If you need to know how to save an EPS file, please refer to my previous post (link). But if you still need to know how to properly save a JPEG file, you can follow this link.

- There is no need to zip the file.

By following these steps and recommendations, you’ll be well-prepared for submitting your illustrations to Shutterstock.

Thank you for joining me today! If you found this guide helpful, please give it a like and share your thoughts or experiences in the comments below. Happy illustrating, and good luck on your journey with Shutterstock!

Thank you for your time,

YuliDor