Asset guidelines

When creating assets for your tutorial, there are specs and guidelines to follow to ensure your assets can be uploaded. If your assets do not meet the requirements, an error message will appear.

In addition to spec requirements, there are guidelines for images and/or videos created for Adobe product tutorials.

1. Asset specs

Starter file example:

Hero image examples:

Thumbnail image examples:

2. Asset guidelines

Overview

Tutorial assets appear in the app workspace for use in hands-on instructional walkthroughs. They demonstrate the how, why, and when to use app tools and workflows. Through guided exploration, users take a “starter” image or layered file through a series of simple updates. The end-state needs to be clearly different from the start and provide a sense of payoff. Our goals with tutorial assets are twofold: they first need to support instructional intent and clarify how to use the app, and secondly, they should help users feel successful and inspired to apply what they’ve learned.

Placement

3. Tutorial image guidelines 

Express diversity, inclusivity and equality

Adobe cares deeply about celebrating all voices and perspectives. Our tutorial content needs to reflect who we are as a brand and the vibrancy we see in the world.*

Feature people from a wide range of cultural and racial backgrounds, age groups, body types, and genders. Consider people that feel more natural and authentic—everyday “real” people. Aim for images of people that feel relatable to our broad set of users.

Avoid images of women who are 20-35, wearing obvious makeup, attractive by western beauty standards, with studio-like lighting. It becomes a noticeable pattern.

*Corporate brand guidelines, Dec 2020

Represent people in an empowering manner

If you choose imagery that features people, do so in a way that doesn’t objectify them. Avoid nudity, suggestive poses and revealing clothing.

Avoid touching up real human features

Don’t “fix” normal human features or suggest an ideal. As an example, don’t show turning brown eyes blue. If a tutorial requires portrait manipulation, explore a costume, or dress-up approach, like turning hair an unnatural color.

Use uncomplicated images

Images with little visual clutter and a single point of focus work best. They help a user quickly identify the concept being demonstrated, make it easier to follow steps, and more visually apparent when a tool is applied.

Keep it approachable for your audience

Imagery should inspire without being overwhelming or out of reach. It should not skew too slick and high-production, or have the look of requiring deep skill or domain knowledge. It should not run the risk of alienating new users.

Aim to appeal to a broad set of users

Users should be able to relate to the content and make associations with their own intent and workflows. Don’t distract users from that payoff with overly niche, alienating examples.

Be sure to consider cultural relevancy and what that could mean for user preferences in visual style, tone, and messaging. As an example—imagery that’s too dark in value or emotional tone can be off-putting for whole groups of people.

Image licensing

You must use images you created, or have rights to use in your Starter file. All images with recognizable people must be model-released.

If you are not using your images, use Adobe Stock imagery.

DO NOT USE ANY OTHER STOCK SERVICES. Adobe users will have access to use, edit, and download the image via the Starter file, and this use case may not be covered by other stock services’ terms of use.

Crediting Stock Contributors

• In the image credit field, tutorial authors are automatically listed.
• To list the stock contributors, add them as follows: “Adobe Stock: contributor one, contributor two, contributor three.