Please email upload@cutcaster.com for help.
Upload Photos User Guide
Upload System User Guide
There are two ways to upload to Cutcaster: you can upload multiple media files by using the site uploader or in bulk via FTP. If you plan to upload a lot of images or vectors, we strongly recommend using FTP.
Upload your media files
Getting started:
To access our upload system, make sure you are logged in and click the 'Upload' button at the menu tabs in the header. To upload individual media files, use the site upload utility. You can also upload files through FTP using FTP clients like FileZilla, Fetch, Cyberduck, SmartFTP or others.
To access our FTP server, set the host to content.cutcaster.com and log on using the username: anonymous and leave the password area blank. Upload your images to your assigned FTP folder ID (given on the upload start page). The folder ID is set as your own upload folder. Just set the remote directory/path of your FTP to the folder ID (ex. REMOTE DIRECTORY or PATH: /1234567890/).
Vector Illustrations:
Cutcaster accepts vector illustrations in EPS or AI (Adobe Illustrator) format. For vector illustrations, you need to create a preview image in jpeg format from your file and upload this together with your illustration. The minimum size of this preview is 640x640px. Vector files should be compressed in a ZIP archive along with the preview image before uploading.
(Note: Do not place the vector illustration and JPEG preview inside a folder when compressing them into a ZIP archive. Only the vector illustration and JPEG preview should be in the ZIP file.)
After uploading ALL your files via FTP, go back to the upload start page and click the "Refresh folder contents" button. The Files summary area shows you how many files are ready to be processed. (Note: When uploading files through FTP, do not refresh the start page until you are done uploading ALL your files on FTP.)
Describing your media files and setting your pricing options
After uploading your media files, you will then need to describe these files and set your pricing options. Use the form in the describe page to enter information of your media files and the pricing option you'd like to use. You can also do batch describing of media files by simply selecting the media files and entering the details on the form then click the Describe selected button.
Cutcaster gives you the option to set the price of your own media files. You can also opt to use our pricing algorithm and even set the starting price yourself for where the algorithm will start.
Note: Media files that have IPTC metadata are automatically placed on the 'Submit' page.
Submiting your media files for approval
After describing your media files and setting your price options, your files are now ready for submission. If your images contain recognizable faces or properties you must next attach the appropriate model or property releases. You can also go back and edit the titles, descriptions and keywords of your images by selecting the 'Edit' option.
Attaching model releases:
If you are uploading for the first time, or you have a new model or property you have shot, click 'Register new model or property' to upload and store a new model or property release. Once you have all your releases stored, simply select one or more releases and click the images where the release applies. Press 'Attach releases to selected media file', and a tiny image below the media information will show you that the release was attached. Repeat the process with any photos or vectors featuring other models and properties. Note that you can click the actual thumbnails, rather than the small checkboxes, to select images more quickly. If you make a mistake, just click on the tiny model images to remove the model release.
For files that have IPTC metadata that were automatically placed on the 'Submit' page, you can set your price options here. Just select the files you want to set the price option to and click the button. You can also set the categories of your files and even set if the files are exclusive to Cutcaster.
Submitting the images:
Select all images that are ready to be submitted and click 'Submit selected'. Choose 'Select all' to submit all your images. The images will now be submitted and appear under 'Pending', awaiting review from our editors on the Cutcaster backend. Now you are done!
Pending section
Files that have been submitted and are pending for approval will appear in this section. If you discover errors after submitting your images or vectors, you can still correct this for your pending files. Just select and click "Move back and edit selected" button to move pending files back to 'Submit' page, where you can correct the information.
The time it takes to review your files will vary a bit, but it rarely exceeds 2 working days. When your files have been reviewed and accepted, they will be moved to your portfolio on your My Studio page.
Rejected media files
Files that we decline will appear in the 'Rejected' section on the upload page. Files could be rejected for a number of reasons. Just hover on the thumbs to view the reasons as to why your files were rejected. You can also remove the files on this section.
Need Help Uploading?
Pre-Upload Questions
Before you upload your content, confirm that:
1. The minimum file size should be 1200 x 1600 pixels. When uploading photos, please upload the largest size that you have. RGB JPG format only and the bigger the file sizes the better i.e. 300 dpi 5 x 7.
2. Read this to understand how to keyword at Cutcaster. THIS IS A MUST READ AND VERY HELPFUL FOR ANY SITE YOU USE. We will not accept files that are not keyworded properly or contain keyword pollution. It puts off the buyers, hurts the community at large who keyword properly and makes more work for the reviewers at Cutcaster. Please be mindful of this everytime you submit.
3. You are the owner or represent the copyright holder.
4. Images of models (amateur and professional) are "model released" and content featuring privately owned property are "property released." You have the signed paperwork for the above releases and will upload and attach it to the file on the submit page. If not, please indicate that on the submit page by checking off the thumbnail and pressing the "Editorial use only" button so that message is attached to the file.
5. You can edit your file's details once it has been released to your studio by clicking on the "e" below the thumbnail.
6. When applying for exclusive rates, the content has not previously been represented or sold as royalty-free on another site and is exclusive to Cutcaster or your own site.
7. When uploading via FTP, it is best to upload around 250-500 images at a time. If your files have IPTC data they will be moved to the Submit area. When you process images after the FTP, please be patient and let the process run. It takes a bit of time.