Author Topic: "poor execution" rejection on previously approved image... (Read 7233 times)

lola · « **on:** March 16, 2011, 01:19 »

Is it worth it to "bother" the reviewers to tell them that an image they just rejected is actually more accurate then the version they approved only 1 month ago? They rejected it for "poor execution" which bothers me too - the other one was almost exactly the same - all of a sudden it's badly done?

This is the new one (changed to make the character look more like a bird, fixed her eye-shadow - it was not aligned properly - and got rid of pink background to make editing easier for designers - it was getting views, but no downloads anywhere) - btw it was approved on SS - old one deleted, and it sold within a day already:

This is the old one:

It's a jpg, so none of the eps reasons for poor execution go with it. Another file that I submitted at the same time was also rejected for the same reason - of course it was approved everywhere else. I wonder if they just hit whatever button they seem to be nearest during review-time.

(The only thing that I can possibly see is that in the new one I didn't stroke the "nails" on her feet - as in the other image - could that be it?!)

DT seems to have the highest rejection rate for me so far. I know that I'm not some genius at this - I only started to do digital stuff 2 months ago, but I can't be that bad when everyone else is approving my stuff.

sharpshot · « **Reply #1 on:** March 16, 2011, 05:41 »

I stopped uploading to DT a few months ago. I just don't agree with sites rejecting new images that would sell and keeping lots of old ones that don't. I think eventually they might see the sense in accepting images that are better than the ones they already have. Until that happens, I can't be bothered uploading.

Ellerslie · « **Reply #2 on:** March 16, 2011, 06:56 »

I have the same problems. I really don't understand what they want to see because they reject very beautiful images and usually I feel angry when they say "poor execution". I have 100% acceptance ratio on fotolia and shutterstock so I'm sure that my works are good (some works won digital art challenges too...). I think they are looking for some categories that are not so present on dreamstime.
I don't like the revision time too, it's too long!!!
In any case, it's not so important, I love SS and I think that in the future there'll be only SS and who'll change before his mentality...

(p.s. sorry for my english $:-\$ )

lola · « **Reply #3 on:** March 17, 2011, 13:50 »

i wrote them an email about it - they don't want these things discussed on the forums - so we'll see...

I know it's just a rejection - get over it - but they've rejected majority of stuff I've submitted and as you all know these files take precious time to make. Also, if DT is one of those sites that doesn't earn you money until you have a large port - how am I ever going to make it with all of these rejections?

for all the "high standards" and all, my port get among the lowest views there...

RT · « **Reply #4 on:** March 17, 2011, 13:56 »

I'm no illustrator but my immediate obsvervation is that the outine on the bird and flower to the top left as we see it appears faded compared to the rest of the subject, maybe that's why they rejected it. I understand why the faded part adds a dimension to the body of the character but I always thought the outline of characters such as this need to be defined. That's my guess anyway.
I've given up trying to understand the reviewers on Dreamstime a long time ago.

lola · « **Reply #5 on:** March 17, 2011, 21:06 »

Hi RT - yeah, it's faded on purpose to add to the dimension - where the 'light' is coming from. The stroke is colored with a linear gradient to fade up on the left.

They've now put it back up, so I guess my email convinced them. But they have still rejected what I thought was a very nice file for poor execution.

Anyways, I'm over it.

I do appreciate the opportunity to gripe though - always nice to have a place for that, when you need it.

digitalexpressionimages · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2011, 13:50 »

You should gripe Lola. Illustration is especially subject to style and stylistic choices made by the illustrator and it is not up to Dreamstime to accuse anyone of poor execution. There are lots of rejection reasons I disagree with and breaking the so called "rules" to do something new and different is one of the big ones. If buyers don't like it then they will at least have the choice to not buy it.

Overall I think Dreamstime needs to re-word their rejection reasons. Being told my work has poor execution infuriates me and perhaps if they re-worded it to sound less like they're talking to an amateur I wouldn't get so pissed.

lola · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2011, 22:08 »

digexpress.. - I just wish I knew what they meant specifically was done "badly" according to them. Like, was it the outline, the coloring - what? Maybe you don't need to say it in the initial rejection - because it takes a long time, but if someone is replying to your rejection email - take the time.

I have since had the file approved, but the other one - I asked about, and nothing - no extra reasons, or explanations - they just ignored my question altogether - though they specifically ASK us to email them regarding rejections, and not talk about it on the forums.

My approval rating is now under 20% there. Whatever, I'm new, and with the high rejection rate they're perhaps more tough on me than others...?

digitalexpressionimages · « **Reply #8 on:** March 22, 2011, 07:21 »

Quote from: lola on March 21, 2011, 22:08

digexpress.. - I just wish I knew what they meant specifically was done "badly" according to them. Like, was it the outline, the coloring - what? Maybe you don't need to say it in the initial rejection - because it takes a long time, but if someone is replying to your rejection email - take the time.

I have since had the file approved, but the other one - I asked about, and nothing - no extra reasons, or explanations - they just ignored my question altogether - though they specifically ASK us to email them regarding rejections, and not talk about it on the forums.

My approval rating is now under 20% there. Whatever, I'm new, and with the high rejection rate they're perhaps more tough on me than others...?

They probably didn't answer because they don't have an answer. The rejection "reasons" are nothing more than canned, generic responses and they simply pick the one that most closely fits. I doubt that any of the editors are illustrators and so none of them are qualified to determine "bad execution" in an illustration.

In fact, I once contacted support to question the credentials of the editors following a rejection. If I'm going to accept and respect a rejection decision it has to come from someone qualified to make that call. That email was ignored as well. I still don't know what training or qualifications the editors have.

donding · « **Reply #9 on:** March 22, 2011, 13:12 »

The problem with Dreamstime, where rejections are concerned, is when you question it, it goes back to the same reviewer and usually gets rejected again for the same reason. I quit doing it a long time ago. If they reject and I don't feel it should have been...I wait til it's out of the rejection pool and then I just rename the file...rekeyword it a bit and resubmit. Usually it will get through the second time since it is a different reviewer.