Job Description

This is the second round of ClipArtists' interview process by invite only. If you found this page by other means, click here to apply for 2012 Freelance Graphics Illustration Jobs first.

In this final screening process you will be asked to submit work samples following our 7 steps stock image creation process that will take approximately at least 1 hour to complete. If your application is successful, you will be paid for the time spent and we will use your work, after you sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and "Work for Hire" agreement.

The success of your application is determined by how well your work has met nine "SEW" standards and how well it has addressed user search intent, as explained below.

ClipArtists Stock Images Standard

We want you to create the best quality stock images on the web so there is no time pressure or deadline. However, if your rate is $30USD/hr, you should be competent producing on average at least 1 stock image per hour (including time researching and developing concepts).

Our vision can be summed up as the "SEW" standard, which stands for:

Simple design - "Less 3 Pro"

"Less is more" - reduce details until only the ‘must have' is left without becoming boring

"3 colors or less" - keep minimal unique colors by using gradient effects, transparency...

"Professional" - simple does not mean child-like drawings, it must be of high artistic level

Exquisite quality - "Flawless Crystal Bull"

"Flawless" - if something does not feel right to you, it probably won't for someone else

"Crystal clear" - clean lines and clear details, especially for photos or digital paintings

"Bull's eye" - proper art style for the given topic (e.g. creepy+Halloween=Yes, creepy+Christmas=No)

Wow factor - "Expressive Interesting Soul"

"Expressive" - convey a strong message or idea

"Interesting" - treat each image as a piece of stand-alone art

"Soulful" - evoke emotion or feeling

Click here to download samples of images that meet our standards.

Concentrate each image on communicating a single message/idea and/or emotion/feeling that answers the user's "search intent".

What is User's "Search Intent"?

By user's "search intent" we mean certain characteristics of an image people are looking for when searching for a particular topic.

For example, if you were to create an illustration of "funny face clipart" it's clear that someone searching for "funny face clipart" is looking for humorous looking face expressions done in clipart style. These images can be in the style of cartoon, comic, icons or sketch drawings, but probably not photographs. So a digital painting of a funny face portrait in realistic style would miss user "search intent" and the stock wouldn't sell.

Unlike the example above, most of the times the topics we give you won't give you clear ideas on user's "search intent". So you will be asked to perform a quick initial research on Google for each topic to identify the intent, as explained below.

Developing Stock Images

  1. Search the given topic phrase in Google and analyze first page results

    2. We will use "funny face clipart" as an example for the given topic:

    search-results

    Quickly check the results that intrigue you the most. Do not spend time reading anything except for listed titles and descriptions. A fast way to find images is by checking Google Preview screenshots.

  2. Identify user's "search intent" to get accurate direction/s for developing ideas/concepts

    3. You do not have to open and check all web pages listed on this first page result, just do enough so you can get the feel for the user's search intent for that particular topic. If the first page result does not give you clear ideas, feel free to perform Google Image search for the given topic.

  3. Come up with better original ideas/concepts than what is already available online

    4. Most of the time what is already available online for the given topic is of inferior quality according to our "SEW" stock image standards, especially results shown on the first page listing of Google.

    So there is a lot you can do to contribute to the World Wide Web.

  4. Creatively and freely develop those ideas/concepts (play around with quick sketches)

    5. The sketches can be hand drawn on paper and then scanned or digitally drawn using your favorite tool such as Wacom Intuos pen tablet.

    These sketches are supposed to be quick art concepts, so they will be simple line drawings without color. At this stage the Editor wants as many unique ideas as possible to choose from, rather than polished works.

    Expect to produce on average at least 5 concepts for every 1 final stock image. Your focus here is to generate lots of different art concepts fast.

  5. Refine developed ideas/concepts and send them to Editor for review

    6. Make sure you clearly mark a number, starting from 1, beside each sketch so the Editor will only have to email you back the number of the chosen concept.

    All sketches for the same topic should be saved under the same single .jpg file at 67% Optimized quality based on Photoshop "Save for Web" option, with file size not exceeding 2MB.

    The .jpg sketch file must be named exactly after the given topic, all lowercase with underscore separating words. Example: funny_face_clipart.jpg

  6. Following "SEW" standard, turn approved ideas/concepts into stock images

    7. Depending on your specialization, the final stock image file can be:

    a). Vector Illustration - .eps (Adobe Illustrator 10 or less compatible)

    b). 3D Render or Digital Paint - .tiff (minimum size width+height=7,000px)

    c). Photograph - .jpg (minimum size width+height=7,000px)

    Name your final stock image file exactly after the given topic, all lowercase with hyphen separating words. Example: funny-face-clipart.eps

  7. Submit final stock image with thoughtful descriptions and follow further Editor instructions if necessary

Describing The Image

Be both Abstract and Specific - try to think of all possible situations the image might be useful for while making sure it's not off topic and always stay Concise.

Follow this 7 levels of description:

  1. Emotion or feeling expressed
  2. Message or idea conveyed
  3. Subjects portrayed
  4. Related synonyms
  5. Possible uses
  6. Occasions
  7. Artistic style

Describe your image using simple plain English at 7th grade level - only use technical words when appropriate (ex. "avant-garde" is considered a technical word with similar meanings to simple words like: "modern", "innovative" or "future forward". "Avant-garde" is more appropriate for describing high-end fashion related photo shots).

Final Stock Image File:

General Requirements

YES:

  1. Avoid 100% saturated colors (they tend to create amateur look)
  2. RGB colors only
  3. Accompany your work with property or model release if necessary
  4. File named exactly after the given topic with hyphen separating words (see above)

NO:

  1. Derivative artworks based on photographs, scans, clipart, 3D renders, graphics, sketches found on the Internet or books, etc.
  2. Trademarks and Copyrighted materials you don't own
  3. Identifiable information like license plates, address, etc.

Vector Illustrations

YES:

  1. Cleanly built
  2. Easy to edit
  3. Clearly label and group shapes
  4. Unlock layers, turn off guides
  5. Delete unnecessary color swatches, shapes and points
  6. Delete invisible 'work' layers
  7. Check “Scale Strokes & Effects”
  8. Save as .eps file
  9. Adobe Illustrator 10 or less compatible

NO:

  1. Open shapes (except unfilled shapes)
  2. Rasterized objects
  3. Poorly autotraced images
  4. Mixing RBG and CMYK colors
  5. Sliced gradients
  6. Unexpanded fill and stroke effects
  7. Copyrighted effects you don't own
  8. Text as the primary subject
  9. Unconverted text (must be converted to paths/outlines)

Bitmap Graphics/Photos

YES:

  1. Photo-realistic look, natural colors (if it's 3D render or photo)
  2. Clear subject focus
  3. Well lit and properly exposed
  4. Clearly isolated background (unless it's decorative art or otherwise stated)
  5. Appropriate amount of background copyspace
  6. Clean lines (for digital paints)
  7. Minimum 7,000px (width+height total)
  8. Saved as .jpg or .tiff files
  9. Full size without quality reduction

NO:

  1. Unrealistic look (unless it's art painting)
  2. Blurry throughout without focus
  3. Poor exposure or flat light
  4. Unnecessary background
  5. Overly sharp or feathered isolation
  6. Visible noise at 100% inspection
  7. Lacking color or light contrast
  8. CMYK or other color modes
  9. "Rezzed-up" images - increasing pixel dimensions to be larger than the original size

Test Work Samples

Have you read all guidelines above and are ready to give it a try? Let's begin:

  • Following steps above, research and develop 5 art concepts for "cake clip art" topic
  • Choose 1 concept you think is the best (or combine ideas) and turn it into stock image*
  • Time your work in 2 phases separately: research+concepts and final stock image

*Note: for this test sample, we will skip step 5 and let you choose the best concept. If you find yourself having to refer back to the job description in the middle, make sure to exclude that time from your report below.

When all is done, please submit your work using the form below:

Work Test Submission Form


First
M.
Last Name

If you application is successful we will hire you for the first 1-2 weeks through Elance.

If you application is successful we will hire you for the first 1-2 weeks through oDesk.


    Choose:
Vector if your expertise is vector illustrations and you will submit vector .eps files.
Graphics if your expertise is 3D render or digital painting and you will submit .tiff files.
Photography if your expertise is shooting photos and you will submit .jpg files.


Make sure to follow detailed guidelines as mentioned under "Developing Stock Images" section


This is how much time it took you to produce the concept sketches + time spent research the topic to identify user's search intent. It's important that you answer this honestly, we understand you might not be 100% efficient as this is your first time.


Make sure to follow detailed guidelines as mentioned under "Developing Stock Images" section. There is a limit of 20MB total file upload for this form, so you might need to upload .jpg instead of .tiff


Please describe your image following 7 levels of description as mentioned under "Developing Stock Images"


This is how much time it took you to produce the final stock image based on your chosen specialization + time describing it above. It's important that you answer this honestly, we understand you might not be 100% efficient as this is your first time.


Please be honest. When looking at your work samples we assume you have understood all guidelines and requirements, unless you specify otherwise.



Please be honest with your answer. Suggestions are more welcome than just saying you liked it.

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