How to Prepare Your Vector Illustration for Upload to Vecteezy

Hello everyone! Today, we're diving into the essential steps of preparing a vector illustration for uploading to microstock platform Vecteezy, using Adobe Illustrator as our primary tool.

Before we jump into the nitty-gritty, let's clarify what Vecteezy is and how it functions. Vecteezy is a vibrant online marketplace where creators can sell and share vector graphics, photos, and videos. It offers both free and premium resources, attracting a broad audience of designers and businesses. For contributors, it's a fantastic avenue to monetize your creative work by selling licenses to your designs.

So, you've crafted a stunning illustration and you're ready to share it with the world. Excellent! However, before hitting that upload button, a few crucial checks are necessary to ensure your file meets Vecteezy's standards and maximizes its potential. You should verify path integrity, ensure there are no open paths, confirm your artboard dimensions are within specifications, embed comprehensive metadata, and save your file in the correct format.

Here’s a detailed, step-by-step process to prepare your vector files for Vecteezy:

1. Checking Path Integrity:

- Select your entire illustration.

- Navigate to "Object > Contour > Convert stroke to curves". This converts all strokes to filled paths, revealing potential issues with your artwork.

2. Verifying Open Paths with Document Info Panel:

- Go to "Window > Document Info".

- In the panel's upper right corner, click the three lines (menu icon) and select "Objects".

- Check the number of "Open Paths". Ideally, this should be zero. Any non-zero value indicates open paths that need to be closed before uploading.

- After that, select the entire artwork and press "Ctrl + G" (or "Cmd + G" on Mac) to group all elements.

3. Artboard Size and Resolution:

- Vecteezy's maximum file size is 50 MB.

- The minimum image size is 3 megapixels, and the maximum is 25 megapixels.

- For optimal versatility, I recommend setting your artboard size to 4000 x 4000 pixels. This size is compatible with many other microstock platforms, saving you time in the long run.

- Remember to design inside the artboard, anything outside will not be uploaded.

4. Embedding Metadata for Discoverability:

- Go to "File > File Info".

- Fill in the "Document Title", "Description", and "Keywords" fields.

- Craft a descriptive title and description that accurately reflect your illustration.

- Use 25-30 relevant keywords to maximize search visibility, prioritizing the first 5 for maximum impact. Ensure all metadata is in English.

- Good metadata is key to sales.

5. Saving the EPS File:

- Vecteezy requires files to be uploaded in EPS format.

- Ensure your file size remains under 50 MB.

- Use a clear, descriptive, and English filename.

- Zipping the file is unnecessary.

- Save as EPS, Illustrator 10 version, to ensure maximum compatibility. If you need a refresher on this process, please refer to my previous post (link).

By meticulously following these guidelines, you'll significantly increase the likelihood of your illustration being accepted by Vecteezy without any hiccups.

Thank you for joining me on this journey! If you found this post helpful, please give it a like and share your insights or experiences in the comments below.

Happy designing,

YuliDor