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Cut-out images
Example cut-out
© Andrew Paterson A cut-out is an image where the principle objects and subjects can easily be removed and placed onto another image. These are typically studio-shot images on white backgrounds, but they may also have coloured backgrounds.
Digitally altered images
Example of a digitally altered image
© Steve Allen Travel Photography Whilst many images may be altered to a certain degree, if the original scene has been changed significantly we define it as digitally altered. This includes adding, moving, or removing items and major changes to saturation, contrast and levels. Essentially, a digitally altered image is a distorted image of the original scene.
An image should not be classed as digitally altered if it has been cropped, converted to black and white or if minor changes have been made to levels and saturation.
Editorial customers (e.g. newspapers, magazines, book publishers) need to know if an image has been altered such that it no longer has the exact appearance of the original. Some customers need to be guaranteed a degree of authenticity.
Illustrations
Example of an illustration
© Design Pics Inc.Illustrations are images created by means other than directly through a camera. These may be digitally created or created using more traditional methods such as painting or drawing. If an illustration fills the entire photograph it is deemed to be an illustration rather than a photograph. If you take a photograph of an illustration but show it in context, for example a photograph of a person painting a picture, this is a photograph and not an illustration.
Number of people in the image
© moodboardWhen answering the question regarding number of people, you should only list ‘real people’. But this should also include body parts, silhouettes, obscured views of people where they are unrecognizable, famous people, indigenous people and crowd scenes.
All of these images should be annoted as including people.
We have further guidance on our blog.
Further help
- Information on:
- The Alamy Forum - the answer may be there.