I forgot my password.

Request a new password by clicking the "Forgot your password" link from the log-in window. Enter the email address you used to sign up for Cutcaster, and we will email you a new password.

If you want to change your password, log in and then click the Profile menu in the upper-right corner of the window. Click "edit" next to Profile, follow the instructions to change your password, and click Update.

How do I search for photos and clip art?

Cutcaster's advanced search function lets you easily refine your searches to find images that meet very specific parameters.

Type a keyword, or a phrase that describes what you’re looking for, in the search field at the top of any page, and click Search. Keywords can be the name of what you are looking for, such as flower or tree, concepts like growth, or emotions like excitement. Results will include all images (photos, illustrations, and graphics) that match the terms you entered.

Additional filters appear in the column to the left of your search results. Use any or all of these to further narrow the results of your current search. Each filter you define appears at the top of your search results. For example, if you include the keyword "daffodil" in your current "yellow flower" search, and also specify that the image should have portrait orientation (by using the shape filter), the terms that appear above the search results would be those shown below:

You can easily remove a search term or filter by clicking the "x" next to it, again expanding your results. Keep adding and removing keywords and filters until you find the exact image you need.

How do I purchase an image?

On the image detail page (click an image thumbnail to go to its detail page), select the file size you want to purchase and the type of license you need, and then click "Add to Cart." When you're ready to check out, click "Checkout Now."

You don't need to be a registered user to make a purchase.

You can purchase using
• Your Credit Card
• Cutcaster Credits
• Paypal

How are images priced?

Because we use an algorithm for pricing our images, you always pay what’s fair. Our algorithm weighs views, downloads, keywords, categories, customer feedback during search results, and a few other variables to determine a market price. In general, prices are tiered based on download size for photos and rasterized graphics (graphics, such as many illustrations, that are not meant to be resized). Prices are tiered based on complexity for vector graphics (graphics that can be resized without losing image quality).

How do I know what size of image to buy?

The image size you need is determined by how you plan to use the image—for print project or web use, whether the image will appear small (e.g., for a thumbnail image) or large (e.g., for a billboard). You may need to resize the image you purchase from us to make it look just right for your project. When choosing an image size to buy, keep these rules in mind:

• All images can be reduced in size without losing image quality.

• No image can be enlarged without losing some image quality. The more you enlarge, the blurrier or more distorted the image can become.

• It's best to buy a size that’s close to, or larger than, the final size you need.

What does "dpi" mean?

DPI stands for "dot per inch," and it is a term used to express the resolution of an image. Specifically, "dots" refers to the number of dots of ink that are printed per square inch of an image. Therefore, an image with higher DPI has higher resolution, and it can therefore be used at a larger size without appearing blurry or distorted.

What does EPS mean?

EPS stands for Encapsulated PostScript file. On Cutcaster, EPS files are vector illustrations, which means they can be scaled to any size without losing image quality.

How do I view Adobe Illustrator (AI) or EPS files?

Adobe Illustrator and EPS files are different to JPEG, PNG and GIF files in that images are a series of lines and curves — not pixels. Windows and Linux users can view these files using Inkscape, an open source vector image editor. Mac OS X users can just use the inbuilt Preview application.

What does "royalty-free" mean?

All the images available on Cutcaster are royalty-free, giving you have broad leeway in how you can use the image. Once you've paid for a royalty-free image, you can use it for nearly any purpose, provided for under the licensing terms, without having to re-purchase it. (In contrast, a rights-managed image requires you to specify precisely how you plan to use it, and what the audience is.) With a royalty-free image, there are

• No limits on how long you can use the image, and how often you re-use it

• No limits on copies

• No limits on your geographical location

You still have to pay for royalty-free images, and their use is still governed by either a standard license, which comes with the purchase of all Cutcaster images, or an extended license, which you may pay extra for more usage rights.

For example, Cutcaster's standard royalty-free license allows you to use our images to illustrate websites, marketing campaigns, magazine ads, book and book covers,
blogs, press articles, documents, TV, video or movies, presentations, reports, and so on, with no limit on copies or time. However, you are restricted from sharing, selling or storing the image in any way that makes it accessible to others. With an extended multi-seat license, however, an image can be shared among internal groups.

What uses are prohibited under the standard royalty-free license?

All images (photos, illustrations, or vector graphics) you purchase at Cutcaster include a standard license, which gives you broad, but specific, usage rights.

The list below details things you can’t do with an image without first getting express approval from Cutcaster or purchasing an extended license:

• Buy and then transfer the rights for the image to another person or company

• Resell the image as your own

• Create a website template using the image and then sell the web template online

• Use the image in a fashion that Cutcaster (acting reasonably) considers to be, or under applicable law is considered to be, pornographic, obscene, immoral, infringing, defamatory or libelous in nature, or that would be reasonably likely to bring any person or property reflected in the image into disrepute.

• Edit the image to convey a negative political or otherwise sensitive message.

If you have questions about whether the standard license meets the needs of your project, email help@cutcaster.com.

What are Cutcaster Credits?

Credits are Cutcaster's version of currency. You purchase credits in advance and then use them during checkout to download images. We offer a number of credit packages to optimize your savings. Credits offer you some important benefits:

• Up to 49% discount on image purchases, depending on how many credits you buy.
• Easy checkout—You can purchase an image with credits in one click, so there’s no need to enter payment information every time you buy.

Go here to buy credits.

How do I track my credits?

Log in to your account, and then click the Profile menu in the upper-right corner of the window. Your credits balance appears near the top of the Dashboard page.

Do credits expire?

Credits must be used within one year of purchase.

How do I re-download an image I have purchased?

If you’re a registered member, log in, and then click the Profile menu in the upper-right corner of the window. Go to Account History > Downloads History. All of the images you’ve purchased are available for download there.

If you’re a non-registered user, check your email inbox for the purchase receipt Cutcaster sent you. This email includes a link to re-download your purchased image.

If a file is missing from your Downloads page, or if you didn't get an email receipt for an image you bought, please contact payment@cutcaster.com.

Where does Cutcaster get its photos, illustrations, and vector graphics?

Photographers and illustrators from around the globe contribute images and graphics to Cutcaster. We are committed to promoting and supporting our contributors, and we pay them as much as 60% of all royalty payments we collect for each transaction.

How do you ensure the quality of images and graphics sold on your site?

We are committed to offering images of the highest quality, and our editors aggressively edit our library to ensure every image meets our standards.

Every file uploaded to Cutcaster must pass an inspection by one or two reviewers before being offered for sale. We examine all files at full size to check for quality, copyright or trademark infringements, and to make sure we hold the correct model or property releases, if required.

We do not sell any images that don’t meet our review standards. Further, any images that are found to be in violation of our copyright and review policies after they are offered for sale are removed from Cutcaster.com. Any members who post the images are banned from selling on Cutcaster.

What's a "comp" image?

A "comp" image is an image used for layout, drafting, or composition purposes only and cannot be used in your final production or project. You can download a free comp version of any image. Go to the image detail page and clicking "Download comp."

If you want to use the image in a final project, you must purchase the original file first.

Do purchased images come with the metadata attached?

Yes. An important feature of our image library is that images are embedded with metadata, which comes with every download. Metadata makes the images searchable with keywords.

Does Cutcaster offer free photos and vectors?

Yes. To find free images and free vectors, click Royalty Free Photos or Royalty Free Vectors at the bottom of the page. Use the filters on the left to narrow the results.

Refund Policy - Satisfaction Guaranteed

Getting you great images that you can use forever, over and over again, is our number one goal. If you are not satisfied with your digital download, you have two options to request a refund within 3 days of your purchase. First, you may request a refund for any fees paid relating to any images you could not download. Second, you may also request a refund if any picture downloaded from Cutcaster has a technical defect, which you did not notice before downloading. In this case, you must erase the downloaded content immediately after you have received the refund and are not allowed to use it in any way. After 3 days, we can not grant any refunds. If you have any questions regarding refund policy, please contact webmaster@cutcaster.com.

What is Cutcaster's refund policy?

Getting you great images that you can use forever, over and over again, is our number one goal. If you are not satisfied with your digital download, you have two options to request a refund within 3 days of your purchase. First, you may request a refund for any fees paid relating to any images you could not download. Second, you may also request a refund if any picture downloaded from Cutcaster has a technical defect, which you did not notice before downloading. In this case, you must erase the downloaded content immediately after you have received the refund and are not allowed to use it in any way. After 3 days, we can not grant any refunds. If you have any questions regarding refund policy, please contact webmaster@cutcaster.com.

I am interested in selling my photos or vectors. How does Cutcaster work?

It's easy and profitable to sell your photos or stock vectors at Cutcaster. Cutcaster is free to use, and we collect only a moderate percentage of each sale to cover our expenses for customer service, promotion, hosting, technology, and order fulfillment.

There are two ways to sign up as a seller:

During the registration process: Click Sign-up to register, and make sure you select the checkbox that says you would like to sell images at Cutcaster. Then follow the onscreen instructions.

After you register: If you’re already registered and later decide you want to become a seller, log in to your account, and then click the Profile menu in the upper-right corner of the window. Click "edit" next to Profile, select the "Become a seller" checkbox, and click Update.

You upload content via an http or an FTP upload system that extracts IPTC data, which makes uploading a breeze.

After you register as a seller, you get access to all the seller-related features on the Cutcaster site whenever you log in. From your dashboard, you can track your earnings, request a payout, submit tax forms, and so on.

How much does Cutcaster pay contributors who sell photos and clip art?

Cutcaster currently pays the following royalty rates for each piece of content licensed:

Exclusive Royalty Rate (55%): For each piece of content you sell, you receive 55% of the selling price.

Non-Exclusive Royalty-Rate (40%): For each piece of content you sell, you receive 40% of the selling price.

Buyer referral (additional 10%): If you refer the buyer, you receive an extra 10% on top of your royalty payment.

You can request a payout anytime your unpaid earnings reach $25. Log in to your account, and choose Earnings from the Profile menu in the upper-right corner of the window. Click Request Payout and follow the onscreen instructions. We pay by Paypal or check.

What types of images and clip art do you need?

We are always seeking to grow our library of photos, illustrations, and other clip art. Go to our Ideas page for a list of topics where we need coverage.

What are the requirements for uploading images and clip art to Cutcaster?

1. Images should conform to these guidelines:

• Upload the largest file size of only your best material. We prefer files with at least 2000 x 3000 pixels. The minimum image size is 1200 x 1600 pixels.
• Upload RGB JPG format only. Images with sRGB color profiles are preferred. If possible, shoot in RAW format and then covert to JPG before submitting to Cutcaster.
• Do not interpolate or up-size your images! Your images should have little to no sharpening.
  

2. You must be the owner, or represent the copyright holder, of any image you upload.

3. When you apply for exclusive rates for a particular photo or illustration, the image must not have previously been represented or sold as royalty-free. You can make an individual image exclusive without being an exclusive photographer.

4. Make sure you have the proper releases signed, and upload them with your images. A rule of thumb is that unless an image is editorial (newsworthy), it must have a release:

• Photos of models (amateur and professional) must be "model released." This includes self portraits and portraits of your family. Photos featuring children under 18 must have a release signed by their parent or guardian.
• Images featuring privately owned property must "property released."

You need to upload the releases with the files. Please indicate if you do not hold the required releases during the upload process or in the "Notes" field on the media details page for the image.

5. Remove all potential trademark violations before uploading. We do not accept any files containing the following:

• Logos, including clearly identifiable logos on clothing
• Trademarks
• Names of companies
• Names of products
• Protected product designs (iPhones, trademarked computers, rubber duckies, etc.)
• Protected forms of transportation (e.g., Audi TT, the Segway, Porsche, etc.)

6. Enter titles, keywords and descriptions as specific to what is in the file as possible: Be expressive but straightforward and DO NOT add extra keywords that are irrelevant to the image. Images with extra keywords will be sent back to you or declined.

If necessary, we can help you tweak your keywords. We have information about our buyers’ keyword search history and the kinds of images they are interested in licensing. Images or vectors with specific and niche keywords are downloaded more often.

How do I upload my photos and clip art to Cutcaster?

First, you need to be registered as a seller on Cutcaster.

To upload files, log in, and click the Profile menu in the upper-right corner of the window Then go to My Uploads > Upload Files. You can upload via FTP, HTTP or Flash. If you have a large photo library to upload, you can send us a DVD, and we will help.

Can I set the price of an image I’m selling on Cutcaster?

Sellers have the ability to choose how they want to price and license their content. There are two options for pricing, which you set as part of the upload process.

Option 1: You can set the start price, in credits, for the small-sized file. We use tiered pricing to price the other sizes for you.

Option 2: You can let us choose the start price and we price everything using tiered pricing.

Over the last three years, we have refined our pricing algorithm to calculate a market price that changes based on every file’s unique characteristics.

How does the image pricing algorithm work?

Cutcaster's proprietary pricing algorithm takes the work out of determining and maximizing your content's revenue by changing an image’s price to match the demand in the marketplace. All you have to do is set a start price (the price, in credits, for a small-size image), or allow us to set the start price, and the algorithm does the rest. The algorithm looks at views, downloads, keywords, categories, customer feedback during search results, and a few other variables to determine a market price. As a result, the price of your image will fluctuate according to actual demand, which helps to maximize sales.

Do I need to upload a signed model release for photos with recognizable people?

If the photos you upload have clearly visible people, you are required to have a signed model release form, for legal reasons, in order to license the image for commercial uses. Cutcaster provides photographer model releases. You can also find model releases on the Upload Files page. Log in, click the Profile menu in the upper-right corner of the window, then go to My Uploads > Upload Files.

Here are some guidelines for providing model release forms:

• Photos featuring children under 18 must have a release signed by their parent or guardian.
• Photos with visible people, whether or not they are professional models, need model release forms.
• Self portraits and portraits of the seller’s family must have model release forms.

How fast will you review my images?

We take a day or two to review submissions. Every photo, illustration, or vector graphic you submit is reviewed by our photo review team for adherence to our requirements, which cover quality, copyright, model and property releases, keywording, and size. We download and view every image at full size to ensure it meets the highest standards.

When we accept an image, it is moved to your account and made available for sale on Cutcaster.com. You can keep track of your uploads on your My Uploads Overview page. Log in, click the Profile menu in the upper-right corner of the window, then go to My Uploads > Overview. If we reject an image, we provide a reason for the rejection on the Overview page as well.

What happens when someone downloads one of my photos, stock vectors, or clip art files?

Each time a buyer purchases one of your photos, illustrations, or vector graphics, you receive an email notification, and the sale is recorded in your account. You can track your earnings by logging in and choosing Earnings from the Profile menu in the upper-right corner of the window.

What a buyer purchases are the royalty-free rights to use that image in a certain capacity. The contributor (you) always retains the copyright.

You can request a payout anytime your unpaid earnings reach $25. Log in to your account, and choose Earnings from the Profile menu in the upper-right corner of the window. Click Request Payout and follow the onscreen instructions. We pay by Paypal or by check.

Does Cutcaster have an affiliate/referral program for sending buyers and sellers to the site?

Yes. If you’re a registered member of Cutcaster, you’re automatically assigned a referral code, which you can use to refer buyers and sellers to Cutcaster.com. To see your code, and learn how to create links with it, log in and click the Referrals/Affiliates link at the bottom of the page.

There's no limit to how many referrals you can send us, so the more you promote us, the more money you make.

Here's what you earn

• From buyers: 10% of the total of any purchases they make. That means if one of your buyers spends $250, you get $25.

• From sellers: 5% of the total of each sale they make. That means if one of your sellers earns $1000, you get $50.

May I use an alias at Cutcaster instead of my real name?

Yes. If you are a Cutcaster contributor, you can specify a public-facing name so your real name remains private. Log in and then click the Profile menu in the upper-right corner of the window. Click "edit" next to Profile, type an alias in the Contributer Name field, and click Update.