21 December, 2008

72 dpi or 300 dpi?

This is a very frequently asked question (FAQ) ask by readers who interested in submitting their works to Royalty Free Stock site. "Should i save my file in 72 dpi or 300 dpi?"....

Let me start to explain with this few terms we often see:-
dpi = dots per-inch (pixel/inch) (pic 01)
MP = million pixels

pic 01

For those who're working in agency or publishing company will know, for better printing quality, they'll set their picture in 300 dpi. For web designer, they will set their picture in 72 dpi (preview quality).

Here's the minimum file requirement for:-
Shutterstock 4.0MP (new photographer)
Dreamstime 3.0MP
Fotolia at least 1600 x 2400 pixels (3.8MP)
123rf.com at least 4MP (2200 x 1700 pixels)
istockphoto at least 1200 x 1600 pixels (1.9MP)
stockexpert at least 800 x 600 pixels
(off cause the bigger, the better :)

To make our job easier, we produce a picture with 4MP (or bigger) will satisfied all the Royalty Free Stock site.

How big is a file with 4MP (million pixels)?
As long as your file's width(W) x height(H) more than 4,000,000 (4 million). Example, 2400 x 1800 = 4,320,000 (4.3MP). So, if you set your file at 300 dpi, it become 8 inch x 6 inch(pic 02). If you set it at 72 dpi, it will be 33.333 inch x 25 inch(pic 03). But the end, BOTH the files are SAME (4.3MP).

pic 02

pic 03

19 December, 2008

Free DIY Calendar

Deco your desk with a stylish DIY calendar from cannon. Just download the pdf file and print it out on A4 paper, follow the instructions and DIY a stylish calendar like this...
click on picture or larger preview

There's many paper craft DIY items you may found @ Cannon Creative Park. Here's some sample of others paper craft you can download (FREE) from there...

Cute Little Town Calendar
Download links:
Stylish Calendar
Cute Little Town Calendar
Cute Monkey Head Calendar
X'mas Pop-up Card
Mother's day Pop-up Card
3D gift Box
Frog Chorus Paper Toy
Hydralic Excavator paper Toy

For more downloads, please click on link to visit Cannon Creative Park.

Related post: Download a 12 sided calendar

16 December, 2008

PROTEUS MAG

Here's another very nice yet FREE pdf magazine for us to download....

click on picture for larger preview

To download this FREE Proteus Mag, please click on link to visit proteusmag.com.

We can also submit our artwork to PROTEUS MAG and share with the world.

PROTEUS MAG is always accepting submissions
We encourage all photographers, painters, sculptors, graphic designers, fashion designers, illustrators, and all other creative types to submit your work to Proteus Mag. Proteus Mag is a place where all creative individuals can flex their creative muscles.

SUBMISSION DETAILS: 

Artists can submit 5 or more print quality images for review. Not everything submitted will be published. Images can be submitted in jpg, pdf, or tif formats at 150 dpi or greater (300 dpi is ideal). Images that are not 150 dpi or greater will not be considered for publication. Using print quality images ensures that your artwork is presented in the best possible fashion.

Magazine Dimensions: 8.5" (width) X 11" (height) or 2250 (width) X 3300 (height) pixels at 300 dpi.

E-mailed submissions must not exceed 5MB. You may send multiple e-mails if needed.

All submissions must include a completed copy of the ART SUBMISSION FORM.

All artists retain the copyright to their work. Proteus Mag is strictly an online publication, and is available as a free PDF download at proteusmag.com. (text and picture taken from proteusmag.com)

For more info, please click on link to visit proteusmag.com.

Related post:
adobe magazine for creative professionals
Iniciativa Colectiva Magazine
Blanket Magazine

02 December, 2008

My latest Upload :: Chinese New Year Series (1)

We want vector! We want vector! We want vector! (buyer)...

Ok. since the Chinese New Year just around the corner, i spend some time re-illustrate my very early illustration "Chinese New year boy and girl" in vector format.

Please also see my other stocks @ istockphoto.

26 November, 2008

2008 green earth graphic design competition result

Sorry! Very sorry!!! Post the wrong (last year) winning result. Here's this year (2008) green earth competition winners...

1st prize
name of design : greening (pop-up card)
design by : ji yoon Yang from korea

2nd prizename of design : recycle at xmas
design by : Benjamyn Cox + Lloyd Moffat from uk

3rd prizes (x3)name of design : Plain Cloud
design by : glen baghurst + matthew cullin from australia


name of design : santa's readjustment
design by : camila gimeno from chile


name of design : christmas wreath- green messages
design by : felicia lee from taiwan

(picture and text taken from designboom.com)

Click on link to visit designboom.com read all the winning designs national and view other shortlisted entries.

Related post:
Green Earth International Graphic Design Competition

28 October, 2008

love your earth competition results

And the winner goes to...

1ST PRIZEname of design : sprout: symbols to cultivate change
design by : Savio Alphonso + instructors for my mfa thesis: theron moore + john t. drew + sergio lizarraga from usa

2ND PRIZEname of design : a tree is not just a tree
design by : agasuke , + jun tashiro (agasuke) from japan

3RD PRIZE (X3)
name of design : one love
design by : jakub stepien from poland


name of design : fossil fuel
design by : sei shimura from japan


name of design : thou shalt love thy neighbour
design by : albrecht marius from switzerland

For more info please click on link to visit designboom and view the shortlisted entries. (text & picture taken from designboom.com)

Related post:
Green Earth International Graphic Design Competition

27 October, 2008

Amanda Rohde

One of the most making money Royalty Free Stock photographer from Australia....


She was a exclusive artist for istockphoto and her username is hidesy. Here's some info about her taken from smh.com.au:-

In 2003, Amanda owned a simple three-megapixel point-and-shoot camera that she barely knew how to use. Now, in this past year, she has made enough money from her photography business to support herself and take on her husband as her business manager. And, as a photographer, she is completely self-taught.

Five years ago, at the age of 23, Amanda discovered the stock photo service, istockphoto.com. Amanda took one look at iStockphoto examples and decided that she could do that. Her only real experience with photography to that point was doing Photoshop image retouching for professionals.

So, with her little point-and-shoot she took some photos, went through the enrolment procedure for iStockphoto and sent off her samples. From that point she hasn't looked back. Right now she has more than 10,000 photos on istockphoto.com and the annual paid download of her pictures is approaching 140,000.

These stock photo libraries rely on cliche images for their business and Amanda says that the big sellers are attractive young women, wearing headsets and smiling a huge smile of the "I'm just here to help" style. And generally speaking the best-selling photos are those against a stark white background into which the designer can place the editorial or advertising text. (text taken from smh.com.cu)

Here's some photos taken from her gallery @ isockphoto.
(pictures taken from istockphoto)

For the full article, please click on link to read @ smh.com.au

Also click on link to view her gallery @ istockphoto.

Related post: Yuri Arcurs

21 October, 2008

Request payment from istockphoto

The minimum payment at istockphoto is USD$100 (to Paypal).
So when your earning have reach USD$100 or more (congratulations!) you can start request payment from istockphoto and transfer to Paypal account...

1. After log-in, click on your username or click on the "Balance: $XXX.XX"(picture 01)
picture 01 (click on picture for larger preview)

2. At your member page, click on "Request payment of earnings" under "Earnings". (picture 02)
picture 02 (click on picture for larger preview)

3. Then you will see the Support page. Select "Payment Request" and click "Create a Contact Ticket" button. (picture 03)
picture 03 (click on picture for larger preview)

4. It will bring you to the Payment Request page. Select Paypal and click on "Continue" button. (picture 04)
picture 04 (click on picture for larger preview)

5. The next page will be Payment Request-paypal page. Fill in your Paypal account (email address) and the amounts. Click on "Send" button. (picture 05)
picture 05 (click on picture for larger preview)

6. The last page, Payment Request. Waiting for what? just click OK button. (picture 06)
picture 06 (click on picture for larger preview)

That's it. Just wait for 5~7 days, you will get a email from Paypal when money have go into your account. (snapshot taken from istockphoto)

Related post:
Register Paypal

18 October, 2008

Another way to draw vector illustration

To a friend of my, who got a very good drawing skill and want to build his vector stock (cos can sell better price), but no so familiar with the illustrator tools...


"Very hard to remember all the tools..."
"Can't control the color gradient as good as you..." (TQ :)
"Why we have to do it this way? if in Photoshop... bla bla bla"

Here's a idea for you. Just draw it in black & white lines drawing format. Who said vector illustration must have colors? Who said vector illustration must have gradients?
All you have to do is draw it as usual (on paper), scan it on to your computer and trace/construct by using the pen tool in illustrator. Or you can just use the pencil tool or the brush tool, select a brush type and start to draw like usual.

Here's some samples taken from a illustrator wehrmann69 from istockphoto. Please click on link to visit his/her portfolio. Some of vector are selling well.

(pictures taken from istockphoto)