Frequently Asked Questions

Anyone can apply to become a logo designer on iStockphoto. Contributors must read a short online tutorial by clicking on the "Upload" link, and then pass a short test based on this tutorial. After you have successfully completed the test, you are asked to submit three sample images, which are inspected by our inspection team. Once the application is approved, you will be able to submit designs to our inspectors for approval.

We ask to see three different examples of your best designs. The more variety that you can show us in terms of style and subject matter, the easier it will be for us to determine your potential as a contributor.

Each design is checked individually by one of our Inspectors for various requirements such as file format, quality and legal issues. This means that every image in the library has been downloaded, opened and checked exhaustively and qualitatively evaluated by at least one, but sometimes two or more Inspectors.

If you are a new designer and you have recently uploaded files, please be patient. Your image is in the queue, and will be processed in turn. There's no need to upload again, or send us an e-mail.

No, you will need to resubmit your application samples to our inspectors for approval.

a.Designs must be Adobe® Illustrator 8.0 compatible EPS files in CMYK. You will also need to submit a 1900 x 2800 pixel 'preview' transparent PNG thumbnail of your artwork. For more information on the AI8 EPS file format please refer to the following article:http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=156

b.You must own the copyright to any design you upload. This means you must be the artist that created the design.

c.Legal notice: uploading images/artwork that belongs to somebody else (copyrighted or otherwise) will result in a suspended membership and may have legal ramifications. This includes submissions derived from photos, renders, sketches, logos or any other material. You must be the creator of your source file: Tracing work you did not create will result in suspension of upload privileges.

d.Intellectual property rights are checked with each file. For some information about intellectual property, privacy and property rights that affect logo files, please refer to our Technical Wiki.

e.When entering keywords and descriptions be descriptive. Include at least five keywords and use a title other than 'dog' or 'man'. Include a description that describes the file, as well as including any relevant information on how the file was built. For more information please refer to our Logo Design Training Manual.

f.Releases: If your design contains a recognizable person (such as a trace from a photo you have taken or sketched from a real life model), you will require a model release form for legal reasons. Children in images can't sign a model release. A legal guardian or parent must sign for all children under the age of 18 years. You will be notified if you need a model release and it can be uploaded later if you're not sure. You can download the iStock Model Release here.

g.Your account profile must have your full, real first and last names, and mailing address entered before completing an application. Anyone uploading with a fake name will be banned immediately.

h.More detailed information is available in the Logo Training Manual.

Logo designs consist of two files:

One CMYK AI8 compatible EPS vector file
One PNG with transparent background

You can also include up to three alternate files if you choose (recommended, but not mandatory). Alternate files can include black, reversed, vertical/horizontal, and different colored versions of your design.

iStockphoto pays a base royalty rate of 50% per logo design.

No. Since each logo is only available to be sold once, it's crucial that all elements in the file be unique.

There are no upload limits for logo designs for the first six months, so get cracking!

No. Each logo design is exclusive to iStockphoto.

Logo designs are priced based on criteria such as the amount of detail in the image, originality, creativity and style, and use of color, shape and line.
Logos are priced accordingly at:

Yes. You can use generic terms (ie 'Pet Shop', 'Grocery Store', 'Automotive Repair') in your designs provided that you created the font or have the rights to use it.

If you purchased or downloaded your font from a website, check there for licensing information. If the font came bundled with software, check the Help files for licensing information.

No. Each logo design can only be sold once.

• Creativity
• Attention to detail
• Consistency of style
• Originality and uniqueness
• Accomplished artistic renderings

Absolutely, however the final decision will be up to the inspector. They will take your suggestion into consideration.

Logo design is different from illustration or any other artistic medium, mainly because of how it will be used after purchase. Here are some important things to keep in mind when designing a logo:

• Will the logo still look great when shrunk to a small size?
• Could the logo easily be converted into a black and white design for non-color applications?
• Is your logo too tall or too skinny (which will likely cause layout issues for clients)? Squared or circular logos better lend themselves to multiple design applications.
• Is your logo clear and instantly recognizable for what it’s supposed to be?
• Would your logo reproduce well if faxed on letterhead?
• Is your logo unique?
• Is your logo confusingly similar to another logo?
• Are your line weights thick enough to reproduce well at different sizes?
• Is there any detail you could remove to strengthen the visual impact of your logo?
• Could your logo be used in a variety of mediums: on a website, on stationery, on billboards, in brochures?
• How many colors have you used? Remember, the more colors, the more difficult the logo will be to reproduce for a client. Also, gradients can be tricky to print so you may wish to avoid them.

We only have a base canister level. All logo designers will receive royalties equal to 50% of the sales price per approved logo regardless of how many logos they have sold.

Once your logo is uploaded, you cannot remove the file from the site for six months. After six months the file cannot be posted or sold elsewhere for an additional three months.

Unlike the royalty-free content available from iStock, logos are only able to be purchased one time. Upon purchase, you will be required to assign all of your rights, including title and intellectual property rights, in the logo to the client.