Summary
1. About PSD
1.1 What is a PSD?
PSD (Photoshop Document) files are the native file format of Adobe Photoshop. You’ve probably seen files ending with .psd and they are used if an artist is working with layers.
Every PSD submitted must meet our aesthetic and technical standards (balanced composition, color harmony, current style, commercial value, etc). Most Vecteezy customers are creatives, which means they use images in original and unexpected ways. Fully editable files maximize our customer’s creative possibilities and at Vecteezy, that’s something we highly encourage. Keep in mind that while our customer is most likely a creative with a good eye, he or she may not be an experienced graphic designer or illustrator like you. Tidy up multiple layers and unnecessary shapes, and give our customer a well-managed, easy-to-modify file to work with.
2. Technical Requirements
2.1 Color mode
Mockups / Graphic Elements
The color mode must be RGB. The accepted color profiles are sRGB and Adobe RGB.
Templates
The color mode must be CMYK. Use the CGATS (ANSI or SWOP) color profile in the USA, FOGRA27 or FOGRA39 color profiles for the rest of the world, except Japan, where you should use ISO TC130 color profile.
2.2 File size
Mockups
PSD 1.5 MB minimum
PSD 325 MB maximum
Templates / Graphic Elements
PSD 325 MB maximum.
2.3 Version
To preserve all Photoshop features (layers, effects, masks, and so on), save a copy of your image in PSD (Photoshop format). The accepted version of PSD is Adobe Creative Cloud as this version is compatible with older versions of Adobe Photoshop (such as CS5, CS6).
2.4 Dimensions
Mockups
The PSD file must be over 1,000 pixels (height or width) and less than 5,000 pixels (height or width).
Templates
The size of the file depends on the product type: business card, corporate letterhead (8.5” x 11” / A4), poster (11” x 17” / A3), etc.
2.5 Organization
The files must be named properly and with a descriptive filename. Keep in mind the names of each file must be written accurately in English.
2.6 Metadata
Each image must have a title and set of keywords submitted in English. The exceptions are text relating to holidays, festivities, or special events in specific countries or areas. All titles and keywords must accurately describe the subject matter within the file and cannot contain special characters, spelling/grammar errors, or excessively repeated words or phrases. Please read our general metadata guidelines for more insights.
Titles should be minimum 3 words
You may want to add style tags such as:
- Template style – minimal, clean, modern, unique, etc.
- Type of template – ecommerce, retail, multi-purpose, blog, etc.
- Product functionality – builder, form, etc.
2.7 Fonts
All fonts used in your designs must be free for commercial use.
Text must be rasterized.
Embedded fonts are not acceptable.
The size of the font must correspond to the type of product displayed. For example, a template of corporate letterhead (8.5” x 11”) shouldn’t contain text with a font above 12pt, except for the title.
2.8 Layer Organization
All Photoshop layers must be unlocked and arranged properly, using various layers if necessary. The names of each layer must be written correctly in English.
Delete unused layers. Double-check your layers when saving your image to PSD. Sometimes this information isn’t transferred over and you’ll need to rename layers.
For Graphic Elements, layers must be properly organized. Each element in the composition should be on its own layer along with a mask (when necessary).
2.9 Layers Detail
Each editable element or object inside the file must have its own group or folder and be named accordingly. Inside this folder, it must be easy to identify the editable layer (highlighted with a color). The names of the layers and folders must be written in English.
Each object must be inside a group, and named as such:
- Smart Objects: Place your design here (Double click to edit)
- Layer Inside the Smart Object: Place your design here
- Adjustment layers that allow changing the color should be named as Color or Color “______” indicating the name of the object or the part that it modifies eg. Color tote bag
- Adjustment layers that apply an effect to the scene should be named FX followed by the effect applied: eg. FX light, FX shadow, or FX vignette
- All the masks applied to a Smart Object should be linked to the object, unless the PSD is a Scene Creator Mockup Template
- A label should be applied on every object/layer the user can modify or interact with. For instance: smart objects and color options. Also FX layers, but only when it’s an aesthetic aspect.
2.10 Artboards
Sometimes PSDs are accidentally saved with multiple artboards or windows. Be sure to watch for this issue when saving your files. Removing multiple artboards and/or multiple windows will enable customers to feel confident about the technical quality of your files and possibly download even more files from your portfolio.
2.11 Order and Presentation
Packs and groups of elements should be tidy and well presented. The objects must not be too close to the edges of the design. The distribution of the design’s elements should be carefully organized.
3. General/Aesthetic Requirements
3.1 Model Releases
See current Vecteezy release guidelines.
3.2 Colors
In the case of Templates, where many of the files are meant for print, we recommend using colors that won’t overcomplicate things, such as special inks, fluorescents, or other treatments that are difficult to distinguish when printed.
3.3 Text
If the design contains messages or texts, these should be in English. The exceptions are text relating to holidays, festivities, or special events in specific countries or regions. In the case of Graphic Elements, images containing text will not be accepted.
3.4 Editable background
An editable background adds more versatility to the file. Everything should be done to make the experience as easy as possible for the customer.
3.5 Social Media
If the design contains social media logos, these must be up-to-date logos or branding.
3.6 Current Technology
Due to the importance of electronic devices in mockup compositions, the devices featured must not be more than 2 - 3 years old. For example, mockups featuring older generation devices will not be accepted. However, if the concept and the aesthetic of the mockup reference a specific time in the past, older generation devices may be acceptable in the design.
3.7 Transparency
In the case of Graphic Elements, we recommend that individual elements be transparent so the elements can adjust to the applied background.
3.8 Balanced Composition
When including various elements in the same file, the composition should be clean and balanced, and the elements shouldn’t overlap one another. The elements that make up the image must be correctly cut out and separated into layers.
3.9 Copyright, Logos and Trademarks
If the design (especially mockups) includes an image, you must own the rights to the image to include it in the file. If you don’t own the image, you must include text in the preview image indicating that this image is not included in the PSD file.
Designs that contain any kind of logo or trademark will not be accepted. Any brand / trademark should be removed from the image before submitting the mockup (Apple, Samsung, Sony, etc.)
This also applies to the brand, website or personal details of the designer. The only exception to this is social media logos.
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