August 4, 2009 - San Francisco, California

From their new headquarters in foggy San Francisco, Cutcaster is proud to introduce its much-ballyhooed �BTV� (BTV) photo and vector collection to creative professionals today.  Take a sneak peak at �BTV� by going to www.cutcaster.com/crescendo.

�Creative professionals deserve a better experience when searching for and purchasing content. What Cutcaster provides is better search, better results, better rights offering and all at better market prices,� Cutcaster founder John Griffin explained.  �We introduced �BTV� our first premium collection, to highlight the amazing quality of work in our marketplace and show buyers how easy the website is to use.�

The best of the best included in the BTV photo and vector collection were hand-picked by our highly-caffeinated reviewers and industry professionals for their uniqueness, execution and overall quality. The diverse collection will have graphic designers, creative professionals and photo buyers singing from the top of the closest mountain peaks.

�BTV�, Irish for �mountaintop,� gives creative professionals looking for exceptional imagery a new and untapped source of photos and illustrations priced by the free market.  Inclusive of both exclusive and non-exclusive contributors, the BTV collection will expand over time. Contributors may also request a file be added to the collection but every file included must pass an intense inspection process and meet the collection�s strict acceptance criteria. "The Cutcaster flexible pricing model provides a unique and hard-data insight into the market value of stock photos,� Lee Torrens, a stock photography insider observed.  ��BTV� is a welcome opportunity for all stock photography and illustrators to see our higher value images lifted to another level."

Prices range from $1 for small sizes up to $35 USD for XXL. Sellers set the price for the BTV files. If a buyer wanted to name their price, they are always free to bid on any of the images if they have more time or are working with a smaller budget.

�We haven�t even come close to hitting our peak yet but I�m excited by the growth of sales, which have been doubling every month and also by the number of great photographers we are fortunate enough to be working with and trust us to represent their work.  Our diverse collection is on the verge of breaking 400,000 royalty free images and illustrations and the �BTV� collection will be one more way we can promote our great library to buyers,� Griffin added.

In other news, Cutcaster announced that the increase in revenues has been re-invested into advertising and marketing and more customer service help, which continues to be an industry leader.  The number of Corporate Accounts and buyer sign-ups has been growing faster over the last 6 months because buyers like the flexible payment options, easy to use search and invoicing capabilities. Cutcaster released figures that buyers bid on content around 6% of the time and on average bid 40% less than the listed price for the largest file size.  The time it takes for a typical seller�s response to a proposed bid has averaged 81 minutes and buyers have accepted the final price 43% of the time.

In addition, Cutcaster released new features that include scaled pricing for different file sizes so buyers now have a choice over what image size they want.  Also Cutcaster improved its search functionality and introduced a new suggestive search tool that shows buyers as they type in a keyword what other keyword options are available.

For more information on the �BTV� see www.cutcaster.com/BTV or email [email protected].

About Cutcaster
Cutcaster has tapped into a new and unique source of photo and vector illustrations that can be purchased for any kind of publishing, web design project, printing brochures, advertising, annual reports or electronic usage on websites and presentations. Cutcaster created the first model that adds structure to support licensing user-generated photography and vectors when you don't have the budget to create it yourself.  Sellers can set their prices or those new to the world of licensing can use the Cutcaster Algorithm to find the fair market price.

Visit www.cutcaster.com for more information.

Hey John,

Good to know istock isn't the only site out there with a "premium" collection. Thanks for including a couple of my photos.

I've just taken a quick look at your 'Better than Vetta' collection, the images aren't exclusive, and they cost more in your collection than they would on one of the established successful sites for the same size!!

So in short maybe your ad should read "Better than Vetta - the same stuff from the same contributors thats available elsewhere but this time it's more expensive" and I'd suggest you remove the terms 'untapped' and 'unique source' from your statement because neither really apply.

I thought it was supposed to be a joke post.  No one else read it that way?

It�s ok. when I see some of my old work, I wonder why . did I...

Change the name and forget

Mmmmh... Is it April Fools' Day again?

John comes up with some idea

Really? Is that what happened?

Jokes aside Monsieur Griffin, the last time some site  (hint: Photo Shelter) got into the rink with Getty ... you know what happened?  Might I suggest you check out ebay for a very very large torpedo, should you aspire   to blast Getty/Vetta out of the water
But it's funny , nonetheless!

If it isn't a joke, all it will do is 1. Get them in trouble with istock who, I am sure, has the name trademarked or something, and b. Send people out there wonering what 'Vetta' is, only to find a source of previously unseen content.

It's like an inside joke, but the buyers aren't in on it.

This will make cutcaster 2nd biggest traffic source after sxc.hu. Maybe they just gave up on sales and decided to be an affiliate of istockphoto.

and o - bladi - hell, wassup bro!  

I do like john's efforts but he could have come up with a better name. This name is bad, and it is good he hears it now.

and o - bladi - hell, wassup bro! 

I do like john's efforts but he could have come up with a better name. This name is bad, and it is good he hears it now.

ya right ...cidepix bud .
en serio, methinks John should avoid any word that rhymes with  :

PASTA

or

crappy

 

ya right ...cidepix bud .
en serio, methinks John should avoid any word that rhymes with  :

PASTA

or

crappy

 

All he should avoid is "emulation"

Other than that, he can use whatever word he wants. It's not like he can not come up with something original. Why are we talking about istockphoto now, if this is original.

Betta than Vetta = Plain BAD = Truth hurts

Old MacDonald had a farm....

I don't know about trademark issues and lawyers.  I just see the strategy.  How could you get more attention than going right at the big guy?  Go for it, John.  Win or ... GO DOWN IN A BLAZE OF GLORY.  

Nope, Italian.
And as for trademarking, Apple did a good job with a common English noun.  

We were just making fun of the press release linked above where it said it was Irish.  Thus, my thoughts the whole thing is a joke.

Man, I have never seen such sour grapes and whining.  You guys are all really bitter today.