Quality and technical issues behind content refusal

Content submitted to Adobe Stock must meet quality and technical standards to support customer needs. Each submission is reviewed against defined criteria to ensure consistency and usability across the collection.

Content quality standards

Content that is clean, sharp, and technically sound is essential for success on Adobe Stock. Content is expected to be production‑ready and versatile. Maintaining high‑quality standards helps Contributors to:

• Improve search visibility within the collection.
• Reduce the possibilities of refusal.
• Supports a strong and professional portfolio.

The following sections outline key technical areas to review before submitting content to Adobe Stock.

Optimize sharpness and focus

Clear, well‑focused content is essential for meeting quality standards. Review and refine focus and sharpness before submission:

• Check images at 100% zoom to identify softness or unintended blur.
• When using motion blur, keep the primary subject sharp and clearly defined.
• Apply depth of field carefully to highlight focus points without blurring important elements.
• Sharpen content thoughtfully during post‑processing to enhance clarity without introducing artifacts.

Edit with intention

Apply edits carefully to maintain quality and avoid introducing technical issues. Consider the following:

• Avoid creating artifacts and noise caused by over-editing your content.
• Use High ISO carefully, as it can introduce noise.
• Retain an original backup file so you can revert and compare if you receive a notification from Adobe of content refusal for this reason.
• Clean the camera sensor regularly to prevent visible dust spots.

Balanced lights and proper exposure

Balanced lighting and exposure help maintain image quality and prevent detail loss. Consider the following:

• Use the camera histogram or live preview to achieve balanced exposure.
• Understand how shutter speed, aperture, and ISO affect the submission.
• Avoid extreme exposure settings that may lead to lighting-related refusals during moderation.

Maintain photo and illustration quality

If a submission is refused for image quality, multiple factors may be at play. Consider the following to maintain overall quality:

• White balance: Shoot in RAW for the most flexibility when adjusting white balance.
• Contrast and saturation: Use tools such as the Vibrance slider in Lightroom for subtle, balanced adjustments.
• Precision edits: Apply clean masking to avoid visible selection errors.
• Color fringing: Remove chromatic aberration to prevent colored halos.
• Composition: Allow space for text or design overlays while keeping horizons level and avoiding excessive cropping.

Maintain video quality

High‑quality video content should be stable, clear, and technically consistent. Consider the following:

• Use a tripod or stabilizer for smooth, stable footage.
• Avoid rolling‑shutter artifacts such as skew, jello effects, or flash banding.
• Apply correct formats and color grading, and submit videos only in their original resolution.

Maintain vector quality

Vector content must be clean, scalable, and easy to edit. Consider the following:

• Close all shape paths fully to prevent gaps.
• Avoid embedding raster images to maintain scalability.
• Use clean, simple hand-drawn paths. Avoid auto‑tracing complex graphics.
• The artboard must meet the upload requirements.

Final quality check before submission

Review content against key quality criteria before submission:

• The main subject must be sharp and clearly defined.
• Check that noise and artifacts are minimized.
• Confirm lighting, contrast, and color are balanced.
• Verify all technical requirements are met.

A careful review helps your content stand out and succeed on Adobe Stock.