Here are the main points to note when submitting to Knot Stock, please see the complete list of guidlines located here. Image Specifications here.
File Type
Only RGB or Greyscale Tiff's saved in PC Byte order.
Jpeg's, Psd's, Gif's, or Bitmaps. Also Mac formmated images will be rejected.
Content
Sound technical content to a professional standard, free of dust and dirt.
Any badly exposed or out of focus technically inferior content or any traces of dust, dirt, or hair.
File Size
48Mb Minimum, with the exception of reportage material. Digital camera files of above 14Mb are acceptable if upsized to a minimum of 48Mb.
Any low resolution files that fall below the 48Mb minimum.
Sharpening
Non sharpened images.
Sharpened images.
Compression
Non compressed images.
LZW or any other form of compression.
Alignment
Correctly aligned images sent to Knot Stock as you want them to appear on the site.
Incorrectly aligned images, for example images the wrong way round or inverted.
Labeling
Please clearly write your name and the email address to which the images should be uploaded, directly on the media - do not use lables.
Anonymous or illegible media
File System
Write CD's and DVD to ISO 9660 or send external firewire hard drives PC formatted (FAT16 or NTFS).
Non ISO 9660 media or external firewire hard drives non PC formatted or FAT32
Image Data
We import the IPTC "Caption" and "Keywords" fields only. All other information is added by you, on-line.
Please read this document carefully before you submit images. We will reject any submissions that do not adhere strictly to all of these guidelines:
(Everything below is required by all images that are either scanned or taken via. digital camrea)
Editing
If you submit technically inferior or otherwise unsuutable images, we reserve the right to reject them so it's worth spending time editing your portfolio before sending it to us. Please ensure that your images are the right way up when viewed on a monitor screen. Images that are not aligned properly will be rejected.
Color Mode
RGB
Image Quality
Images must be spotless and will not be accepted if they are not.
Sharpening
Sharpening is not acceptable
Compression
Compression of images is not acceptable. Please choose "NONE" for the compression option in Photoshop. Please do not apply any of the compression to your images. (i.e. LZW, ZIP, or JPEG)
Byte order of TIFF file
PC (you will be given an option of "PC" or "Mac" when saving images in Photoshop, please choose "PC").
All contributors using digital cameras will need to submit images by using the guidelines below.
Digital Image Format
We accept TIFF files only (We will not accept any RAW or JPEG files).
Tiff files must be flattened and saved with all Alpha channels removed.
Digital Image Size
40MB file minimum, All digital camera images must be captured on a digital camera capable of producing files of 14MB and upwards. Please then interpolate the images to a minimum of 40MB using professional upsizing software. Please be aware that customer needs depend on the size of the images and the output that size can produce. To find out more information aboutt reproduction please look at our "repo" document. (We recommend Genuine Fractals (http://www.lizardtech.com) for the best results. We reserve the right to reject over manipulated images.)
Digital Bit Depth
8 bit images.
Digital Resizing
Resizing is accepted if you are upsizing using interpolation software such as Genuine Fractals.
All contributors using digital scanners will need to submit images by using the guidlines below.
Scanned Images Format
TIFF files only (No JPEG, Bitmaps or PSD files).
Tiff files should be flattened and saved with all Alpha channels removed.
Scanned Image Size
40MB file minimum. Interpolation is not acceptable.
Scanned Bit Depth
Scan to the highest bit depth possible but convert to 8 bit before sending the images to us.
Scanned Resizing
Resizing of scanned images is not acceptable
Knot Stock requires that contributors supply their images as RGB TIFF files, PC byte order, which is a true cross-platform format, and contains all of the original data. Please ensure that the file is not compressed in any way. Name your files according to your own filing system, as this will help you retrieve information about your images once they are online.
(Please Note: We cannot acceot more than 20 images for your first submission.)
You will be able to submit images through your account or by snail mail. Below is a general outline explaining both processes. Please be advised you can submit images quickly and receive a faster response through the upload option in the contributors account.
Uploading Images
To upload images you will need to login, using the user id and password you chose in the registration process. When you have logged in to your contributor account you can upload images by selecting "add new images". You will then be able to upload a single image or upload up to twenty images at a time.
Mailing Images
Knot Stock accepts both CDs and DVDs. Please set the file system to ISO9660 before writing the CD or DVD (we can also accept UDF format for DVDs). Please write DVDs at single speed as we find writing at faster speeds can cause data corruption.
Media Format
CDs - ISO 9660; DVDs - ISO 9660/UDF format. Please write DVDs at single speed - this takes longer but reduces errors.
Inclusion of information on the media
CDs / DVDs should contain TIFF images files only and no sub folders. Please ensure there is nothing else on the media. Placing any other files such as text files or low-res thumbnails on the media is not acceptable. Please do not include any correspondence to us on the media; queries should be by e-mail only, to support.
Model Release and keyword inforation
If relevant, you can put any keyword or model / property release information on the submission using Excel spreadsheets only. We are encouraging those who do not use the IPTC fields already, to move toward using them. (If you include an Excel document please allow five buisness days for your images to be processed.)
IPTC headers and packaging
We are ONLY importing the IPTC information from the caption and keyword fields.
Media handling and packaging
Please ensure you handle your CD/DVDs with care and use a case to send them in. You should also mark the value of the goods sent to Knot Stock as 'of no commercial calue' - we will return them back to you unopened if the is not done.
Please indicate if images are scanned or taken using a digital camera by labeling the CD/DVD with either "SCANNED " or "DIGITAL" respectively.
Clearly write your name and email address on the CD/DVD, using a permanent marker pen such as the "Sanford Sharpie Fine Point". DO NOT use any sticker or labels.
Address to send images
The Proof CDs/DVDs should be labeled "EA Proof"; Submissions after that should be labeled "Image Submission".
Knot Stock, Inc.
P.O. Box 551337
Jacksonville, Florida 32255
Return of media
Due to the large volumes of submissions we receive, we regret that we cannot return any CDs or DVDs submitted to us.
Caption and Keywords
Contributors are responsible for keywording and captioning their own images. Tou will be able to update and edit keywords at any time. Captions and Keywords should not contain punctuation or other non alpha-numeric chatacters such as &,!,?,/,{,(,\, etc. A search for the word "peace" will return an image with the keyword "peaceful" but not "peacefully" in it's keywords. Search Tips for buyers will recommend using root words to return more search results.
It is unacceptable to use keywords NOT legitimately related to the subject matter. This will be considered SPAMMING the search engine and will not be tolerated. It is also unacceptable to use profanity, onscenity or anything meant to be offensive to any ethnic or religious group.
Description
Description should not contain punctuation or other alpha-numeric chatacters such as &,!,?,/,{,(,\, etc.
Model & Property Releases
Instructions for uploading releases
Licensing
Contributors can select from two licensing models, Rights Managed (RM) or Royalty Free (RF).
Rights Managed
Represented on the search system by Rights Managed (RM). This can be both Non-exclusive or Exclusive and that the image is licensed for a specific use.
Non-exclusive:
The buyer pays a licence fee each time they use the image, but another buyer can also purchase and use the image under the same licence.
The buyer must specify, each time: intended use, media, territory, and duration.
Pricing is based on intended use, media, duration and territory. The territorial pricing will be matched to the specifc country.
Exclusive:
Exclusive is avalible only where the option 'Rights protected' apears underneath the price calculator.