Summary: Before submitting items to the Isolated Objects category, ensure that your item meets the requirements outlined in this article.
Tips for creating Isolated object items
Technical Requirements
- All submissions to the Isolated Objects category must be photographed with a camera. Please note graphics, illustrations, and 3D Renders are not accepted in the Isolated Objects category.
- Your file must always be in PSD format.
- Clip or mask your object in Photoshop to fully and cleanly separate it from the background.
- Place the object on its own layer
- Ideally, your file should contain two layers: The top layer will contain your isolated/masked, photographed object.
- The bottom layer should be transparent.
- If the object has a shadow, place the shadow on its own layer.
- Ensure the object clipping edges are smooth and clean.
- Do not flatten your Photoshop file.
- Do not rasterize layers unnecessarily.
- Avoid merging layers unnecessarily.
- Use non-destructive editing methods—masks, vector smart objects and other Photoshop tools to provide the customer with the most flexibility.
- Your photograph should be at least 4.0 megapixels (i.e. a minimum of 2000 x 2000px). The quality of your photograph should be to a similar standard you may find in a stock photography library.
- In order for your photographed object to be eligible for the Isolated Objects category, it must be isolated from its background.
Clipping/Masking
If you are not sure how to clip/mask an object from its background, here are some recommended tutorials that cover some of the important principles, tools and techniques in Photoshop:
- Masking 101
- Masking Basics in Photoshop 5
- Masking Hair in Photoshop CS5
- 5 Great Background Masking Techniques in Photoshop
Ultimately, we are looking for clean, clear, and realistic edges around your object. Jagged, pixelated, unnatural edges are a result of poorly executed masking/clipping and will result in your file getting rejected.
Tips for creating Isolated object items
As quality is subjective, here are some specific criteria we will look for in your submission, so always ensure your photograph meets the criteria stated below before submitting it to us:
- Is your object in focus and free of blur when viewed at 100%?
- We recommend that objects are photographed using a tripod to minimize blur.
- Is your photograph exposed correctly? Overexposed or underexposed photographs will be rejected.
- Are there excessive artifacts in your image when viewed at 100%? If so, your image may be compressed too heavily or over-sharpened.
- Is your object clipped/masked effectively? See the Clipping and Masking section above for more details.
- Does your item have some utility to the customer?
Trademarks
Please note your isolated object must not contain any trademarks or company logos. Trademarks must be removed from your images/photographs before submitting to us.
For example, let's say you have taken a photograph of a T-Shirt with a small logo/emblem on the front of the shirt. You must digitally remove the logo/emblem from the T-Shirt so that the shirt becomes generic and is not branded in any way.
Examples
Here are some great examples of well-executed items currently in our library that demonstrate a combination of excellent quality photography and clean, clear masked edges.
Your submissions should try to emulate, if not surpass the quality shown in the following examples:
Example 1: Street Motorcycle by yio
Example 2: Business File Folders by jocosity
