Good morning deviants!

Before talking about the Really Terrific Questions coming out of the great comments received on the deviantART Stock Project, we want to address a few simple misconceptions about the Stock Project on Fotolia.

You are NOT required to provide a social security number at sign up unless you plan to apply as a stock provider.  Artists and others who just want to buy stock do not need to provide a social security number.  The reason for the social security number has to do with tax reporting requirements when you are paid for your work.

You are NOT required to sell stock exclusively through the dA Stock project with Fotolia.  If you decide to be exclusive, your royalty will be higher.  If you don’t want to be exclusive, you can still become a provider to Fotolia.


The biggest question we have from the comments is:  Will all the free stock on dA get swallowed up in a new stock offering?  It’s easy to just answer “no.”  But a better answer would be to have the community tells us what to build and what to leave alone.  Maybe “free” stock on deviantART could be better organized?  What would this look like? Maybe the “rules” or “conditions” for using free stock could be better stated or could be more uniform from artist to artist?  Or maybe it should just be left alone as is as a true community solution that moves with the community’s will - - organized essentially on a one-to-one basis.

A clear message seems to be a need for commercial stock licenses to allow the use of stock only on deviantART.  So it would be great to have some specific feedback from more of you about what the rules would be in terms of when and where commercial stock can be used on deviantART.  For example, what if people paid a small amount, like a subscription, to use the commercial stock in any art that stays only on deviantART?  Or should it just be free for listed uses?

What does “only on deviantART mean?”  No prints? No downloads?  No off-site sharing? Would it be OK to use commercial stock in a dA Portfolio if the stock was part of a manipulation or of a sample design?  It’s easy to just say “yes.” But people who make a living from stock may not feel the same way.  So what would be “fair?”

There are many other issues brought up in the comments so far and a number of really constructive suggestions outlining how dA should approach stock. This would be a really long, intricate journal if we tried to list them all and it’s time now to get really focused answers, a couple of questions at a time.  So consider these the first among more to come and thanks so much for participating in this terrific dialogue!



Visit the dA Stock Project w/ Fotolia

Welcome to #StockProject, deviantART's official group focused on community dialogue about commercial stock offerings!  This group is your home to discuss how we should design an on-site integrated stock offering, to view educational resources about making, selling, and licensing stock, and to access hundreds of free stock assets.
 
Our goal is to provide deviants a place to talk about stock (both creating stock for others and incorporating stock assets into new pieces of art) with fellow enthusiasts and to benefit from the passionate stock community already active on deviantART. We are starting the process by providing access to millions of images through the deviantART Stock Project with Fotolia.  It aims to give deviants the ability to find and use stock under simple licenses at fair prices.

Fotolia, a leading microstock provider worldwide, is the perfect partner for this project as they're a company that is truly committed to using community involvement to change the traditional business of microstock offerings. Fotolia provides important expertise in making stock work as a commercial undertaking.

We're excited to be embarking on this new adventure and want to hear your feedback during the journey!

  Key points to keep in mind as you browse the group:

  No gallery submissions will be accepted -- yet.  For the time being, this group serves as a discussion and information headquarters.  However, feel free to check out our gallery to access and download free stock assets.

  We welcome all deviants to join as Members or Watchers!  Doing so will ensure that you receive timely and important updates regarding the deviantART Stock Project as it develops.

  There are a few ways you can get involved:

1.  We want your input!  Let us know what you think about the deviantART Stock Project by commenting on this blog!

2.  What exactly is microstock?  Want to learn more?  Join our Educational Corner to expand your mind!

3.  Check out our stock gallery where you can download hundreds of stock images completely free, courtesy of Fotolia.

4.  Millions of gorgeous stock images are available just a few clicks away at stockproject.fotolia.com.

What are you waiting for?  Now's your chance to get involved!  

Visit the dA Stock Project w/ Fotolia

We're happy to announce a brand new contest! In the Seven Deadly Sins contest, we're challenging you to pick your favorite deadly sin to either promote or fight against in an advertisement format. You may decide that more people should be filled with wrath. Maybe you want to fight against the temptations of gluttony. It's completely up to you! This is your chance to either save or tempt the city of San Francisco, where the winning entry will be featured on a billboard!

Not only will the winner's work be posted on a billboard, but the winner and a guest will be flown to San Francisco to see their work in person! We'll also choose six finalists who will receive a plethora of deviantART goodies, $700 USD, and $25 USD of credits at stockproject.fotolia.com.

You must use three (3) stock images from this group. We've provided a template, which you can find at the contest announcement, in order to format your entry for use as a billboard. We've also curated a special sinful-stuff gallery to make the process easier, which you can find here, You can use any stock from #StockProject but cannot use any other stock from anyone else or from any company. Licensed brushes and fonts are OK. Be sure that all stock images used are listed as a resource in the description of your entry.  And be sure to read the Official Rules for the full details.

This contest is open to the entire site, including international audiences who are 13 years of age or older. To read all the rules and enter your submission, check out the contest announcement!

Visit the dA Stock Project w/ Fotolia