Help and FAQ

Most of the answers to your questions are available immediately online.

Finding and Downloading Images

How to find, purchase and download images at Bigstock

How do I get started downloading images with Bigstock?
How many credits will I need, and how much do they cost?
What can I do with the images I download under Bigstock’s regular usage agreement?
What if I want to use an image on a poster, postcard, T-shirt or some other product not covered by the regular usage agreement?
Will I get my photo credits immediately after I purchase them?
How long do credits last?
May I please have a receipt?
I’m having trouble downloading an image file, or I can’t find a file I think I downloaded. What should I do?
Can I download the same image again and again forever without getting charged again?
Will the image I download have a watermark on it?
Can other customers download the same photos after I do?
Which image formats do you offer?
What sizes are Bigstock images? Can I resize them?
Some Bigstock vector illustrations contain type. Do these illustrations come with fonts?
Can I use these photos in web site templates?

How do I get started downloading images with Bigstock?

How many credits will I need, and how much do they cost?

Images downloads cost between 1 and 6 credits depending on the size and format of the image. Credit packages start at $15 for 5 credits. Buy more credits and the price drops to as little as $0.90 per credit. For details, please see our pricing.

What can I do with the images I download under Bigstock’s regular usage agreement?

Bigstock images are provided under a royalty-free license, which lets you use them almost any way you please.

A few important exceptions:

You cannot resell the images.
Under a standard license, you cannot use the images on a product where the image is a dominant feature, such as posters and postcards.
You cannot use the images as part of a logo or trademark.
When using images that depict people, you cannot use them in a way that defames the models.
Some Bigstock images, such as those depicting celebrities or news events, are restricted for editorial use only. Learn more.

For a complete explanation, please read our Image Usage Agreement carefully and see our Usage Examples.

What if I want to use an image on a poster, postcard, T-shirt or some other product not covered by the regular usage agreement?

We can help. Please read about Special Licensing.

Will I get my photo credits immediately after I purchase them?

You will get your credits right away if you pay with a credit card or Google Checkout. If you use an eCheck-funded PayPal transfer, it may take 3 to 4 days for the payment to clear before you receive your credits.

How long do credits last?

You have one year from the date of purchase to spend your credits.

May I please have a receipt?

You can print a receipt from your Purchase History page, which you can find under Your Account

I’m having trouble downloading an image file, or I can’t find a file I think I downloaded. What should I do?

Please visit our How To Download page for common troubleshooting tips, then try your download again. You will not be charged for downloading the same image twice if you do so within 30 days of your first download attempt. If you’re still having trouble, please Contact Us.

Can I download the same image again and again forever without getting charged again?

No. However, you will not be charged for downloading the same image twice within 30 days of your first download attempt.

Will the image I download have a watermark on it?

No. The watermarks you see when browsing Bigstock will not appear on any image you download.

Can other customers download the same photos after I do?

Yes. The photos remain in our library and can be downloaded later by any Bigstock customer.

Which image formats do you offer?

JPG (For photographs)
AI (Adobe Illustrator format, used for vector illustrations)
EPS (Encapsulated PostScript format, used for vector illustrations)
PDF (Portable Document Format, usually used for vector illustrations)
PNG (A bitmap format usually used for illustrations)
PSD (For Adobe Photoshop users)

What sizes are Bigstock images? Can I resize them?

We offer medium and large versions of most images. Medium images are normally 1200 pixels on the longest side and offered at 72 DPI (about 1.1 megapixels). Large images can be up to 4500 pixels on the longest side and offered at 300 DPI (ranging from 1.5 megapixels to 14 megapixels).

All Bigstock images can be resized using common image editing programs such as Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator. When in doubt, the largest size will offer you the most flexibility.

Some Bigstock vector illustrations contain type. Do these illustrations come with fonts?

No. The type you see has been outlined as part of the illustration, and the fonts are not included.

Can I use these photos in web site templates?

Yes. We are one of the only stock image distributors that allows this usage. For a complete explanation, please read our Image Usage Agreement carefully and see our Usage Examples.

Using Bigstock Search

Here are some tips for making the most of the Bigstock search engine.

Uploading and Selling Images

Learn how to become a Bigstock Contributor

I want to submit images to Bigstock. Where to I start?
How much will I earn as a Bigstock contributor? When do I get paid?
What are your specifications for image uploads?
Will Bigstock own the copyrights to my images?
What happens after I submit images? When will they show up in the collection?
How do I upload images?
How can I raise my approval percentage and maximize my sales?
Does it help if I include clipping paths?
Can I edit the titles and keywords of my images after they have been approved?
How many images can I submit at once?
Can I incorporate other images or elements into artwork I submit?
Can I remove one of my submitted images from your collection?
Can I exchange my commissions for download credits?
Why can’t I see the images I just uploaded to the FTP area?
Why do I see the images I just uploaded in the FTP area instead of my Uploaded Photos Queue?
I am having trouble uploading. What should I do?
Do photos containing identifiable people and locations require releases?
I submitted an image but forget to upload a model release. Can I add a release later?
When do I need a property release?
Can I submit editorial images, such as news photos?
Can I submit vector illustrations?
My Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop files aren’t displaying properly. What should I do?
If I’m uploading a vector illustration, do I need to upload JPG files too?
Can I promote Bigstock on my own web site?

I want to submit images to Bigstock. Where to I start?

Great! Please begin at our Contributor Tutorial.

How much will I earn as a Bigstock contributor? When do I get paid?

We pay our contributors $0.50 for each credit spent on standard license images. That means you earn $0.50 to $3 each time a customer downloads one of your images. If you elect to take part in Special Licensing, you can earn up to $60 per image download. You can request a payout when your earnings reach $50.

What are your specifications for image uploads?

All photographs must be uploaded as JPG files.
Illustrations may be uploaded as AI, EPS, PDF, PNG or PSD files. Sorry, we cannot accept images from older graphics programs.
Photographs must be at least 800 pixels across on the longest side, but we prefer images that are at least 2500 pixels across.
You may not submit any artwork or photographs you did not create yourself.

Will Bigstock own the copyrights to my images?

No. You never lose the copyrights to the images you upload to Bigstock. Please see our Terms of Service for details.

What happens after I submit images? When will they show up in the collection?

Submitted images go into our Approval Queue for review. It may take a few days for our review team to accept or reject your images. You can check the status of your uploads in Your Account area. Images waiting to be reviewed are labeled “Pending.”

How do I upload images?

We offer FTP and web-based uploading. Instructions are on our main upload page.

How can I raise my approval percentage and maximize my sales?

Submit images that are crisp, colorful, well lit and well composed. Avoid excessive photo manipulation.
Submit images of subjects in high demand. Read our list of Photos We Need Most.
Submit often and be patient. It can take several months to build a successful portfolio.
Pay attention to keywording. Providing accurate, thorough keyword lists will help the right customers find your images. Do not enter irrelevant keywords.
Monitor your sales and strive to improve the quality of your portfolio. The Bigstock forums are a great place to share advice and get honest feedback from other contributors.

Does it help if I include clipping paths?

Yes. Clipping Paths are especially useful in photos with a subject isolated over a solid color. Learn more about Clipping Paths.

Can I edit the titles and keywords of my images after they have been approved?

Yes. Go to the Uploads area of your account and click “Approval Status“ You will see your images and an “Edit” link next to each. Take care to make only relevant edits. Each edit is logged and reviewed, and we may suspend the editing abilities of contributors who make irrelevant edits .

How many images can I submit at once?

Contributors whose images are consistently approved will have few or no limits on how many images they can submit. However, to keep our approval process moving smoothly, we impose limits on new contributors and those with lower approval percentages.

New users with fewer than 15 approved images: Maximum of 15 images in the Approval Queue.
Users with an approval rate of 50% or less: Maximum of 10 images in the Approval Queue.
Users with an approval rate of 50% to 70%: Maximum of 20 images in the Approval Queue.
Users with an approval rate of 70% to 85%: Maximum of 40 images in the Approval Queue.
Users with an approval rate of 85% to 92%: Maximum of 50 images in the Approval Queue.
Users with an approval rate higher than 92%: No limit.

Images you upload and delete before submitting them to the Approval Queue do not affect your approval rate. However, we may place upload restrictions on users who frequently submit and then delete their images.

Can I incorporate other images or elements into artwork I submit?

Including elements created by other artists is usually not acceptable. Exceptions include Photoshop brushes and cases where you have a license to use the elements you added.

Can I remove one of my submitted images from your collection?

We cannot prevent anyone who has already downloaded your image from using it. However, we usually accommodate requests to remove images from our collection. Please Contact Us with your request. To prevent abuse of our approval process, we will not remove an image that was approved less than 90 days ago.

Can I exchange my commissions for download credits?

Yes, as long as you have earned enough in commissions to qualify for a payout. Please use our Contact Us form to make your request, and be sure to tell us if you want your entire commission as credits, or just part of it.

Why can’t I see the images I just uploaded to the FTP area?

We automatically move your photos soon after you upload them. Please look for them in the Approval Status area in your Account page.

Why do I see the images I just uploaded in the FTP area instead of my Uploaded Photos Queue?

This may be because our system is busy. Please be patient. If your photos have not moved after an hour, please Contact Us.

I am having trouble uploading. What should I do?

Be sure your images are in one of our standard formats and have the correct file extension (JPG, AI, EPS, PDF, PNG or PSD).
Do not upload files larger than 25 megabytes.
Avoid unusual characters in your file names such as * or @. If you are using our FTP system, only upload files, not directories.
If your file names are a series of consecutive numbers, try renaming them.

If you’re still having trouble, please Contact Us.

Do photos containing identifiable people and locations require releases?

Yes. Please download our standard Adult Model Release or Minor Model Release and Property Release. You should upload these releases using the Release Manager before you upload your images. Then, in the Edit and Submit area of Uploads, you can assign releases to your images. If a photo depicts three people, it should have three model releases. If several of your photos contain the same model, the model only needs to sign one release, but the release should be assigned to each image of that model.

I submitted an image but forget to upload a model release. Can I add a release later?

Yes. Your image will be declined and will appear in your Approval Status area, where you can attach the model release and resubmit it.

When do I need a property release?

If a photo is taken on private property, such as the inside of a home or a business, you should have the owner sign a property release.

Can I submit editorial images, such as news photos?

Yes. Please read about Editorial Usage.

Can I submit vector illustrations?

Yes. You can submit illustrations in AI, PDF, EPS, PNG and PSD format. Please preserve the editing capabilities in these files, since customers expect the ability to modify the files.

My Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop files aren’t displaying properly. What should I do?

Be sure you are saving your file in a current format. We support most current file formats but cannot support some older versions, such as older Xara native EPS files.
When saving files in Adobe Illustrator, be sure to check the “Create PDF compatible file” option.
If you see excess white space around your artwork, try reducing the document workspace/artboard, or enlarging the artwork.
If your illustration incorporates fonts, you must render your font layers (in Photoshop) or outline your fonts (in Illustrator).

For other problems, please Contact Us.

If I’m uploading a vector illustration, do I need to upload JPG files too?

No. We create JPG versions of your illustration automatically.

Can I promote Bigstock on my own web site?

Yes! You can earn a 35% commission on sales you refer to Bigstock.

For small web sites: Sign up for our Standard Affiliates Program.
For larger web sites with a customer database: Sign up for our Premium Co-Brand Affiliates Program.
Programmers: Learn about the Bigstock API.

While we encourage you to tell others about Bigstock, we do not tolerate spamming.

Setting up and managing my account

Answers to common registration and purchase problems

I forgot my password.
Why does my credit card show a charge even though the charge didn't go through?
Why am I seeing a credit card error?
Can I get a refund?
Can I close my account?
I signed up for an account but did not receive Account Validation email.
I received the Account Validation email but the link isn't working.
I’m having trouble logging in or logging out.

I forgot my password.

Please visit the Login Help page to retrieve your password.

Why does my credit card show a charge even though the charge didn't go through?

Some credit card companies display an attempted charge for a short time, then remove it a few days later. If you think Bigstock has charged your credit card by mistake, please Contact Us.

Why am I seeing a credit card error?

Please double check your billing address and zip code, and be sure your account has sufficient funds. If you’re still getting an error, please Contact Us.

Can I get a refund?

Once purchased, image credits are not refundable. Please see our Terms of Service for details. If you encounter a quality problem with an image download, please Contact Us for a credit refund.

Can I close my account?

Yes. Please Contact Us with your request. If you are a contributor, please note that in accordance with our upload agreement, you cannot close your account unless your images have been online for at least 90 days. If you close your account, we will remove your images from Bigstock within 24 to 48 hours. If you close an account with less than $50 in commission earnings, you will forfeit your earnings. Please see our Terms of Service for details.

I signed up for an account but did not receive Account Validation email.

Check if our e-mail ended up in your junk mail or spam folder by mistake. If you can’t find it, please Contact Us.

I received the Account Validation email but the link isn't working.

Did the link wrap over two lines in your email? If so, be sure to cut and paste both parts of the link together into your web browser's URL bar.

I’m having trouble logging in or logging out.

First, follow this link to log out. Then try logging in again at the top of the page. If the trouble persists, you may need to delete your browser cookies. (Consult your web browser’s help menu if you aren’t sure how.) If you continue to experience problems, please Contact Us.

Bigstock Glossary

Frequently used terms

API
Clipping Paths
Comping Image
DPI
Editorial Use Images
Lightboxes
MPixels
Mbytes
Royalty-free
Special Licensing
Vector illustrations

API

Application Programming Interface. The Bigstock API is a set of programming tools that lets web developers integrate Bigstock into their own sites. Learn more.

Clipping Paths

Outlines that are saved as part of an image file, readable by many graphics programs. Clipping paths are frequently used to isolate objects in photographs, especially pictures of a subject on a solid color. Learn more about Clipping Paths.

Comping Image

A low-resolution, watermarked image you may download for free. You may only use comping images in draft layouts. They are intended to help you decide if an image is right before you download it.

DPI

Dots Per Inch. DPI describes the resolution at which an image is printed. Most printed projects require resolutions of 150 to 300 DPI, while 72 DPI is typical for computer screens. You can change an image’s DPI using Adobe Photoshop and other image editing programs. DPI is distinct from an image’s pixel size, which describes the size of the image file.

Editorial Use Images

News photos and other pictures of recognizable people and places without model or property releases. These images are suitable to illustrate news articles, but are not cleared for commercial use. Learn more about Editorial Use Images.

Lightboxes

A collection of images that you create and manage. Lightboxes are perfect for keeping track of images you're considering for a project. Lightboxes can be public or private and you can share a lightbox with friends. To get started visit the Lightboxes.

MPixels

Short for megapixels, a measure of an image’s size in millions of pixels.

Mbytes

Short for megabytes, the data size of the file.

Royalty-free

A phrase used to describe images offered with a broad set of usage rights at a standard price. Bigstock customers do not have to pay a royalty for every copy of the product they’re creating. Please see our Image Usage Agreement for details.

Special Licensing

Terms for image needs outside of our regular Image Usage Agreement. To learn more about special licensing, see our pages for buyers and contributors.

Vector illustrations

Images constructed from lines and shapes. Unlike bitmap images (such as photographs), vector files can generally be scaled up in size without suffering any quality loss.

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