StockDokan Upload Guidelines: How to Get Your Photos, Vectors and Templates Approved Fast

When you upload to StockDokan, your files go through a review process.
The goal of that review is simple: protect buyers and highlight high-quality, usable content.

If you understand what reviewers look for, you can:

Reduce rejections
Get more files approved
Start earning faster

Use this guide as your checklist before uploading photos, vectors, templates and other digital assets to StockDokan.

1. What StockDokan Reviewers Look For

Every file is checked for:

Technical quality – resolution, sharpness, noise, compression
Visual quality – composition, lighting, color, editing
Content safety – copyright, trademarks, people, sensitive subjects
Metadata quality – titles, descriptions, keywords and categories

If your file is clean, original, useful and clearly described, it already has a strong chance of being approved.

2. Technical Requirements for Photos & Raster Images

Before uploading any photo or raster image (JPG/PNG), make sure it passes these basic technical rules.

Resolution & Size

Use high resolution – suitable for professional use
Avoid upscaling small images just to meet a resolution; this lowers quality
Crop carefully so the main subject is still large and sharp

File Formats

JPG/JPEG for photos and most raster images
PNG only when transparency or very clean graphics are necessary

Color Space & Profile

Export in sRGB color space for consistent web display
Avoid strange color profiles that can change the look after upload

Compression & Artifacts

Do not use extreme compression to reduce file size
Watch out for:
- Blocky areas in flat colors
- Banding in gradients (such as skies)
- Pixelation around edges

If you see compression artifacts, re-export the image with a higher quality setting.

3. Visual Quality: Make Your Files Look Professional

Technical specs are not enough; good visual quality is what sells.

Sharpness & Focus

The main subject should be in clear focus
Avoid:
- Accidental motion blur
- Out-of-focus subjects
- Over-sharpening halos around edges

Intentional blur (bokeh, motion) is okay if it is clearly stylistic and not accidental.

Exposure & Lighting

Avoid overexposed highlights where details are completely white
Avoid underexposed shadows where everything is pure black
Use natural or well-controlled lighting

Check your image histogram or simply ask:

“Can I clearly see the details in both bright and dark areas?”

Noise & Grain

Some noise is normal, especially in night shots, but it should not be distracting
Avoid extreme noise from very high ISO or heavy editing

If noise is strong, use noise reduction carefully without making the image too soft.

Composition & Cropping

Use clear, intentional composition:
- Rule of thirds
- Leading lines
- Clean backgrounds
Remove distracting elements:
- Random objects in the background
- Cropped-off limbs or objects at the edges

Think like a designer or marketer:

“Would I use this image in a website, banner or social media post?”

Editing & Color Grading

Editing should enhance, not destroy the file
Avoid:
- Over-saturated colors
- Extremely strong filters
- Unnatural skin tones or sky colors

A clean, natural look usually sells better than heavy filters.

4. Content Rules: What You Can and Cannot Upload

Even a technically perfect file can be rejected if the content is problematic.

Copyright & Trademarks

Your uploads must be 100% your own original work and must not include:

Famous logos (on products, signs, clothing, etc.)
Branded packaging or devices with recognizable logos
Copyrighted artworks, posters, TV screens, UI from other products

If a brand or logo is clearly visible and central, the file will likely be rejected.

People & Model Releases (If Required Later)

If your content includes people:

Faces should be in focus and respectful
Avoid shameful, hateful or offensive portrayals
Proper model releases may be required for recognizable individuals (depending on marketplace policy and future implementation)

If you are unsure, avoid using clearly recognizable faces or private situations.

Private Property & Locations

Some modern buildings, artworks, or private locations may have usage restrictions. When in doubt:

Focus on wide landscapes, public views or generic interiors
Avoid uploading content where you know the owner would object

Sensitive & Prohibited Content

Do not upload:

Violent, hateful, or explicit content
Illegal activities
Content meant to mislead, scam or harm others

StockDokan aims to be a safe marketplace for all users.

5. Metadata: Titles, Descriptions and Keywords That Help You Get Found

Good metadata helps your file:

Get discovered in search
Look professional to buyers
Pass review more easily (because reviewers understand what it’s for)

Titles

Make titles:

Descriptive and natural
Include important keywords
Avoid keyword stuffing

Examples:

✅ “Modern Minimal Workspace with Laptop and Coffee Cup on Wooden Desk”
❌ “desk laptop coffee work office home remote work productivity modern minimal nice cool”

Descriptions

Use 1–3 short sentences to:

Describe what is in the file
Mention style, mood and use-cases

Example:

“High-resolution photo of a modern home office setup with laptop, notebook and coffee cup on a wooden desk. Perfect for blog headers, productivity articles, remote work websites and social media posts.”

Keywords / Tags

Think like a buyer searching for your file. Use:

Main subject: laptop, coffee, desk, workspace
Context: home office, remote work
Mood/style: minimal, modern, clean, warm light

Do not add irrelevant keywords just to appear in more searches.

Categories & Subcategories

Always choose the most accurate category:

Photos
Vectors & Illustrations
Videos
Themes
Plugins
Apps
Audio
Templates

Correct categorization speeds up review and helps the right buyers find your work.

6. Extra Guidelines for Vectors, Templates & Themes

Different asset types need extra attention.

Vectors & Illustrations

Use clean, organized layers
Make sure shapes are editable (not just embedded bitmaps)
Use proper text outlines or include font instructions
Avoid unnecessary anchor points that make files heavy

Templates (Social Media, Presentation, Print, etc.)

Use smart layer structure and clear naming
Include dummy content and instructions
Keep design modern and usable, not over-decorated

Themes & Plugins

Clean, well-documented code
No malicious or hidden functionality
Easy to install and configure

These details build trust and reduce support problems later.

7. Guidelines for Video & Audio Uploads

Video Clips

Minimum resolution: Full HD (1080p) or higher if possible
Smooth motion, no random shakes (unless stylistic)
No watermarks or logos
Clean color and exposure

Audio & Music

High-quality, clean sound (no hiss, static or background noise)
Correct looping points if it’s loopable music
Clear naming: “Inspirational Corporate Background Music”, not “track01_final2_mix”

8. Common Reasons Files Get Rejected

If you understand common rejection reasons, you can avoid them:

Low resolution or heavy noise
Blurry or out-of-focus main subject
Over-edited colors and filters
Strong compression artifacts
Copyright/trademark issues
Irrelevant or misleading title/keywords
Too many very similar images (spammy uploads)

If you get a rejection:

Read the reason carefully
Fix the issue if possible
Use the feedback to improve future uploads

9. Pre-Upload Checklist

Before you hit “Upload” on StockDokan, quickly ask:

Is my file sharp, clean and properly exposed?
Is there any noise, artifacts or strange colors?
Does it avoid logos, brands and copyrighted elements?
Is my title clear and descriptive?
Are my keywords relevant and honest?
Did I choose the correct category?

If you can confidently say YES to all of these, your chances of approval are much higher.