Adobe Stock Guide
Adobe Stock Rejection Reasons: The Complete 2026 Guide
Adobe Stock rejects images for a specific set of reasons. Most rejections fall into these categories — and most are preventable before you upload.
1. Logos, trademarks and branded items
What triggers this
Any recognizable logo, brand name, product label or trademark in the frame — even partially visible.
Common mistakes
- •Car logos on vehicles
- •Brand names on clothing
- •Product packaging in lifestyle shots
- •Computer or phone screens showing OS interfaces
How to fix
Remove, blur or replace the branded element. Or submit as Editorial (with appropriate editorial metadata).
2. Watermarks and photographer signatures
What triggers this
Any text, logo or mark overlay on the image that wasn't part of the original scene.
How to fix
Never submit images with watermarks. Remove all overlays before export.
3. Readable text in the frame
What triggers this
Text that can be read within the photo — signs, labels, screens, documents.
How to fix
Either remove/obscure the text, or submit as Editorial with accurate description of the text content.
4. Noise and grain
What triggers this
Excessive digital noise, especially in shadow areas. Common in high-ISO shots.
How to fix
Use noise reduction in Lightroom or Photoshop before export. Check at 100% zoom before submitting.
5. Compression artifacts
What triggers this
JPEG artifacts from over-compression — blocky patterns, color banding, ringing around edges.
How to fix
Export at maximum quality (JPEG quality 90-100). Avoid re-saving JPEGs multiple times.
6. Focus and sharpness
What triggers this
Images that aren't sharp on the intended subject, or have motion blur when it wasn't intentional.
How to fix
Review focus at 100% before submitting. Ensure the primary subject is sharp.
7. Metadata issues
What triggers this
Missing title, irrelevant keywords, keyword stuffing, or titles that describe unrelated content.
How to fix
Use accurate, descriptive titles. Keep keywords relevant to what's actually in the image. Avoid repeating the same keyword multiple times.
Check your images before uploading
Image Tagger AI scans for logos, watermarks, readable text, noise and compression artifacts automatically — before you waste time uploading images that will be rejected.