Sell photos and stock illustrations via top microstocks
Shutterstock
FTP uploads to any microstock and stock photography agency by replacing Shutterstock
Nov 19th
Did you know that if you do not work with Shutterstock microsotck agency you can use “Shutterstock FTP” credentials uploading to any FTP-enabled stock photography agency instead?
Just keep in mind that what is shown as “Shutterstock” in PSM microstock software is in fact your trusted “ABC” stock photos agency.
Doing that is simple: go to “Upload->Stock Agencies->Shutterstock” and replace Shutterstock FTP server name with the name of the FTP server for “ABC” stock photography site, adding your FTP credentials for that stock imagery agency or stock content distributor.
From now on, each time you upload to “Shutterstock” the file actually goes to “ABC-stock”.
Uploads to Shutterstock microstock agency switched to FTP
Nov 19th
Please note that PSM requests the application restart after the auto-upgrade. When you get “please restart now” message always shown after the updates download please restart the app!. The application won’t work properly until you restart it.
If anyway the things seem to go wrong after the auto upgrate please download and install the full archive. Auto-upgrade is always incremental and it can not guarantee the binaries consistency if you missed a few previous updates. That’s why we always recommend upgrading to the latest available PSM release.
Mac only: if you choose to install the full archive to get the upgrade, be sure to select “Connect to the existing DB” at the first run of your new PSM copy and point to the folder containing your existing ProStockMaster_DB. Do not delete your previous PSM installation until you are sure that everything works as expected.
New in this release:
1. Uploads to Shutterstock microstock web site are switched to FTP. Go to “Upload->Stock Agencies” to change your credentials.
The FTP server name is already filled in for you by the app. Your FTP user name is your email address, which is on file with Shutterstock and the password is your regular Shutterstock web site password. Since the connection to Shutterstock is now via FTP only, your stock photos sales stats for this site can not be displayed anymore.
2. “Export Metadata” dialog added in “File->Export Metadata” menu. It creates a CSV file with JPG IPTC metadata and a few more file parameters for all JPGs in a specified folder. Optionally, it works recursively on all the subfolders of the specified folder. You probably remember this free JPG IPTC metadata dump utility? Now it is an integral part of PSM, available for free with any license. Just open “File->Export Metadata” menu and select a folder to be exported.
3. Fixed an annoying bug causing thumbnails not to be displayed in many cases.
I am sure you faced it at least once – you start PSM, open a folder and there are no thumbnails, just the file names with ‘…’ are displayed. Well, not anymore.
The app still needs some time to draw the thumbnails at the first access, but once the initial processing is done you get all the graphics instantly.
4. EXIF reading is back.
EXIF decided to leave PSM for a few weeks. Now it is back at its full.
5. Manage metadata – copying data between images: verified & OK. Also the dialog will close now when a user press OK in the “applied” confirmation message.
6. Alamy uploads: only one image can be uploaded. The issue is still there.
A quick check shows that the same is correct for Alamay uploads from their web either with their Java applet or with Alamy ActiveX control. Seems to be a problem with their web server. More info…
7. Minor fixes & updates for performance and graphics, here and there
Keyphrases handling by various stock photo agencies
Mar 8th
So here is the trick that Terry pointed me out a few months ago and Jorgen confirmed the same issue for some more agencies:
IPTC keyphrases interpreting differs between various stock agencies.
It means that if you index your image with a keyphrase like blue water, it will be retrieved OK from IPTC data on e.g. iStockphoto, but will become two keywords blue and water on e.g. Shutterstock. If you will try another trick by doble-qouting your keyphrase (note that PSM is a rare applications which allows you doing that without any problem) and your original keyphrase becomes to be “blue water”, Shutterstock will show it correctly as a blue water keyphrase, but iStockphoto will not show it at all (BTW, why is that iStockphoto.com?)
FIXED – Uploads to ShutterStock fail
Mar 16th
UPDATE: The issue is fixed. The new version 1.2.2 is available for download. You can upgrade your software by following the upgrade notes listed here: http://www.prostockmaster.com/upgrade.htm
I also fixed a minor issue with some gibberish which was sometimes inserted in the generated keywords list and made the version update verification procedure a bit more reliable.
In short, get the new version and enjoy!
-David
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Due to the recent changes at ShutterStock web site there is a new issue with ShutterStock uploads. At the moment the files uploaded with ProStockMaster do not appear on the web site, so please do not upload your work to ShutterStock until the fix is available.
This issue will be fixed during the next few days. Hope the update version will be ready for download before the weekend. Those of you who use version 1.2.1 will be informed automatically on ProStockMaster’ start that the new update is available. If you have an older version please go to “Help->Software Updates…” menu and verify periodically if the update is already available.
I am negotiating with the few sites to establish and use a dedicated stable API that will eliminate such unpleasant situations in the future (some of them already have such API). As usual, these things take time. Sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding
Mac package update
Sep 23rd
The Mac packaging is updated!
Now Mac version is packaged with native Mac bundler and finally ProStockMaster on Mac is delivered and installed like any other native Mac application.
I like Mac look & feel: http://www.prostockmaster.com/images/mac_main_screen.jpg – really cool Mac-native GUI.
Finally: Payment, price and the unlimited version
Aug 29th
I just finished today testing of all the payment stuff. The payment processor is going to be PayPal and the product price will be EURO 39. / $49.
All the payments are processed on PayPal site and at the end the payer receives software activation code generated by ProStockMaster site. I hope you guys will excuse me if I will not accept GBP and AUD at least at this phase. PayPal also accepts credit cards, so it should handle 99% of payment options this way.
I am also adding an affiliate program, so anyone who want to promote ProStockMaster will get 25% sales commission on any sale of the software to his/her referred buyer.
At the moment I need 2-3 more days to add “lock/unlock” functionality to the software, so a person who has downloaded ProStockMaster can pay, get his activation code and enter it in the app without a need to re-download the software. I think at the end of this week all this stuff will be ready.
Security issues
Jul 5th
I have been asked multiple times a question like:
> Is it secure to enter my site’ user name and password into your application?
It’s a good question. Since you login to an Internet stock photo site with your user name and password, ProStockMaster shall know these parameters in order to login and properly upload images to your account on selected site. This is the only way the application can securely access your personal account on that site and upload images there.
If you are familiar with any FTP client, like Smart FTP or cuteFTP, it is exactly the same process.
The client asks for your credentials and then uploads your files on your behalf to some FTP site. ProStockMaster follows this approach and uses your credentials for proper login into a stock site and upload your work to your personal account. There is no other use for your credentials.
ProStockMaster hides and encrypts your sensitive information storing it locally, thus providing reasonable (however, not an “unbreakable”) level of security for your personal data. This level of security is comparable with the level of security you would expect to get from a typical FTP client or from your favorite web browser.
