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New vectors up at Shutterstock

Business card and holiday vector sets:

Christmas light string vector backgrounds:

This is a question I’m going to ask every so often here. I’ve been building a gallery of vector stock illustrations for several months. It’s progressing very well, but I would like to fill some of the areas in stock that are underrepresented. The best way to do it is to ask you what you need.

So…

What are some types of vectors you have looked for in microstock but haven’t been able to find?

If it’s something I can do a good job in creating, I’ll build for that type.

Just leave a comment or send me a message through:

http://melissapatton.net/contact.html

You don’t have to give your name or email. Your message could be as simple as one word.

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New images just up at Shutterstock:

Gold shield vector element on a black background:

Gold vector frames on black backgrounds:

This last week I’ve been working on a freelance project. The project was creating a three panel set of graphics for a tradeshow exhibit. This was my second tradeshow graphics project. It was a good opportunity to work with large scale print graphics and how placement affects their design.

I created three panels (two 18 3/8 x 35 7/8 inches and one 34 1/2 x 9 5/8 inches). They were designed to fit on an ExpoGo! folding tabletop display unit.

Now that the project is completed, I’ve gone back to building stock illustrations. I’m sending new images in for approval now.

Two new sets are already up:

Blue gray moon vector backgrounds:

Green shooting star vector backgrounds:

Something very exciting happened a few days ago. Along with selling stock illustrations, I also sell 3d stock models at Turbosquid. I got contacted asking if I would agree to have one of my Turbosquid models featured on the CD that comes along with 3d World Magazine.

In 3d World Magazine: Issue #110, the CD will include my model seen in this image:

(3d computer generated wedding dress image)

I sell the model at Turbosquid where you can check out all the info on it.

I’m very excited. 3d World Magazine is an internationally distributed professional 3d arts magazine. Being on the CD is a great opportunity.

When the issue comes out I will do a big post on it.

New vector images up at Shutterstock.

Gold vector border designs on black backgrounds:

Several new images are online with more to come over the next weeks.

Halloween backgrounds in vector format:

White shield design in vector format:

The links above are for Shutterstock.

123rf and Stockxpert currently have jpg versions.

I’ve been using ProStockImage for keywording and uploading for a week now. It has cut my uploading and portfolio management time significantly. I now have working portfolios at several microstock agencies.

Here are my current galleries:

Shutterstock (vector/jpg) – 785 images

Dreamstime (vector/jpg) – 256 images

Stockxpert (jpg) – 201 images

123rf (jpg) – 218 images

Fotolia (jpg) – 83 images

I’m in the process of adding vector options to my Stockxpert gallery. I’ll post when the option is active.

New images in vector and jpg options up at Shutterstock:

Blue abstract backgrounds:

Leaf design images on black backgrounds:

Fluorescent light bulb images:

Green monster isolated on a white background:

Also my entire Shutterstock portfolio can be found at this link.

This week I decided I wanted to try out a microstock keywording/uploading program. Two of the major programs for this are ProStockMaster and CushyStock. Both programs allow you to add IPTC keywords to an image and upload the file to multiple stock agencies. The programs save time and help you keep track of what images are uploaded where. Both programs have a free trial version downloadable from the web.

CushyStock:
- A visually soft colored interface
- The ability to order images into preset categories
- You can add multiple new agencies for uploading files (not just the preset ones)
- It supports .eps files and has the ability to create .jpgs from eps files
- Lots of additional features
- Cost about $50

ProStockImage
- A dark gray interface with more text than buttons
- Has a fixed number of agencies you can submit to
- Doesn’t support .eps files
- Cost about $90

I learned about both from various microstock forums. After trying both out I decided to buy ProStockMaster.

CushyStock has many useful features, but the interface is counterintuitive to the way I naturally work. Many of the options are more geared for photographers and would be very useful to them. The preset categories don’t match up well enough with the themes of my images to be as useful as the could be for me.

Also, I’m still a computer programmer at heart. Having a piece of software with only a few windows, a mostly text-based interface, and an easy to master underlying structure immediately appeals to me. ProStockMaster is doing everything I wanted a program to do for me and I don’t really have to switch out tabs or windows to have it do so.

Both programs are good pieces of software but it is a matter of personal preference. While I now own ProStockMaster, I haven’t deleted CushyStock. It has good features and if my needs change I may one day buy it.

My suggestion would be to download both and try each one out on your files. Whichever one you’re more comfortable with is the right one for you.

Having said that, you can also upload with any good ftp program. My favorite is Filezilla for free. However, having the ability to keyword, multi-upload, and keep your files organized creates hours of time you can spend creating more images or doing anything else you enjoy.

Shutterstock has launched it’s On Demand program. Now buyers who are looking for only 5 to 60 images have subscription plans. Each plan allows you to buy a standard license for any image on the site. They have two options, one for small & medium jpegs, and a second for large jpegs and all vector files.

I’ve started uploading jpg versions of all my new vector. Those jpgs are available under the first plan with the vectors available on the second.

If you’re interested in trying out a small subscription, consider using my referral link below:

http://submit.shutterstock.com/?ref=143440

If you’d like to sign up for a subscription without being referred use this one:

http://www.shutterstock.com