FAQ

What is "Comp image"?
What is "High resolution images"?
What is "Low resolution images"?
What is "Rights Managed"?
What is "Royalty Free"

What is "Comp image"?

In graphic design and advertising, a comprehensive layout or comprehensive, usually shortened to comp, is the page layout of a proposed design as initially presented by the designer to a client, showing the relative positions of text and illustrations before the specific content of those elements has been decided on, as a rough draft of the final layout in which to build around.

The illustration element may incorporate stock photography, clip art, or other found material that gives an idea of what should be visually communicated, before entering any negotiations concerning the rights to use a specific image for the purpose. Picture agencies may encourage such use free of charge, in the hope that the comp image will end up being used in the final product. For this reason, it is sometimes mistakenly believed that "comp" is short for "complimentary", as it is in some other promotional contexts.

Even in the age of rapid desktop publishing software, comps may be developed using hand-rendering techniques and materials to avoid investing too much time on the computer before client approval of the idea, depending on the complexity of the production task. A hand-rendered comp may be useful in helping the client refrain from "nitpicking" the production quality and focus on the design idea.

"Comp" may also stand for composition layout.

What is "High resolution images"?

High resolution photos are provided in JPEG RGB format and are suitable for print publication as well as large digital presentations. Images may be provided as TIFF or other formats upon request.

Illustrations may be in JPEG or eps format. EPS files are resolution independent. This means you may size them to virtually any size or resolution. A low resolution, web version, suitable for use in digital presentations, or printed at small sizes, is also available.

Page Info

On the page to the right of the image you will find image information such as the image size in inches, the uncompressed filesize in megabytes (pixels wide x pixels high x 3 channels), and the actual file size and file format you will receive if you purchase an image license.

Image Use

You must purchase a license for each image. Royalty-Free refers to the fact that there are no royalties charged once you have purchased an image license. An image license is good for one end-user only but a Royalty-Free image may be used for a wide variety of uses.

Rights-Managed images are licensed for a specific use by a specific user. These images offer greater excusivity and therefore the cost is usually greater, however, certain uses may actually be less than a Royalty-Free image license.

CMYK Color Separations

Your pre-press provider or printer will be able to convert the images to CMYK for 4-color process printing. Conversion to CMYK should only be done by someone trained in color separation and knowledgable about the printing process.

DPI Setting & Image Resolution

The image resolution should be set to 300 dpi but in the event that you receive a high resolution image with a resolution setting other than 300 dpi simply open the image in Adobe Photoshop, select Image Size... from under the Image menu, uncheck the Resample Image option, enter "300" for the Resolution and save the image as a TIFF file. Saving as a TIFF file will give you a perfect copy of the image you downloaded with just the resolution setting changed. Alternately, you can ignore the improper resolution setting and simply resize the image on the page. The setting has no real effect on image quality.

The vast majority of images on Acclaim Stock Photography.com have been maximized for size so you should not expect to increase the size of an image without sacrificing quality. You may wish to contact the photographer, who will have a link on the page of the photo you are interested in, and inquire as to whether the image is available in a larger size.

Ordering Prints & Posters

Maximum print sizes are based on a resolution of 150dpi so if you need absolute top quality you may wish to order a smaller size.

What is "Low resolution images"?

Low resolution images are in JPEG format and are suitable for digital display. They are perfect for web sites, PowerPoint Presentations, etc..

You must purchase an image license to use even the small images. The small, web resolution versions are the least expensive image licenses.

These images are also suitable for printing at small sizes; usually 1 1/2 x 2 inches or so.

Non-Profit and Other Free Use. You must contact the photographer for permission to use any of the images for free. You will find photographer info and links on each photo page.

What is "Rights Managed"?

Rights-Managed licensing provides for very specific use of an image and the price is based on that use for that image.

To get a price quote on a particular image follow the link on the image page and enter all pertinent information.

With all images it is up to the end-user to make sure the image is appropriate for their use. Not all images are model-released or property-released.

The page for that image will have release information and you may request a copy of the release directly from the photographer or through our customer service department.

If a release is not indicated you may be able to obtain one by contacting the photographer directly. Each photo page contains a link to the contributing photographer's web site.

What is "Royalty Free"?

By downloading and using the image(s) you agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.

If you are licensing this image as an agent or for use by a client you must provide a copy of this license to the end-user. If you do not, you accept full responsibility for the end-use of the image(s).

If you use or distribute the image(s) in a manner not spelled out here you agree to pay additional fees, which will be determined by Acclaim Images.

Image use is non-exclusive. If you wish to purchase exclusive use of the image(s) please contact customer service.

A license must be purchased for each image.

A license must be purchased for each end-user.

Licenses are not transferable.

Once you have purchased a license you are entitled to use the image for as long as you need and for most any legal use provided that you do not claim the image as your own and that you do not distribute the image for resale or license as stock photography, clipart, web graphics, etc..

The end-user is responsible for all liabilities regarding model and property releases, privacy issues, trademarks, slander, libel, etc., that may arise from the use of the image(s).

Images may not be used as part of a logo or a trademark.

You may not distribute the image(s) on a network, Photo CD, website or by any other means. Images you license are for your use or the use of a single client.

Only the copyright holder and/or agent for the copyright holder may license or re-license these images.

You may not license, re-license, sell, or permit others to use images licensed from Acclaim Images or its affiliates, for design, advertising, journalistic purposes, etc.. Your distribution of the image(s) must be as an end product and in cases where confusion might exist, you should ask.

For example, you may purchase a license on behalf of a client while designing an advertisement for them but you may not then use that image for other clients.

Acclaim Images makes no representation or warranty as to your right to use any individual's name, likeness, and/or image appearing in the Content without first obtaining appropriate rights from such individual.

You are responsible for respecting the rights of those in the photographs. Each photo page spells out whether or not a model release has been obtained for a photo but a release may not protect you if you use the image in a manner that damages the reputation of the model. You are responsible for the end-use and any legal and/or any financial liability that may arise from such use.

Images may contain copyrighted material or trademarks. You are responsible for seeking legal counsel for your use of the image(s). You accept responsibility for all liablilties stemming from your use of the image(s).

By uploading their photographs to the Acclaim Images web site the contributing photographers have agreed to take responsibility for model releases and privacy concerns of people, and certain objects in their photographs. Feel free to contact them for further information.

In cases where photos may be used in ways that might cause harm to a person's reputation, especially in the case of a child, you should contact the photographer and/or model and discuss whether your intended use is allowed.

You may not use any image found on this site for any illegal or fraudulent purpose or to promote pornographic and/or obscene material.

It is up to the licensee/publisher to be aware of how you may use a photo in a particular circumstance. For instance, using a photo of someone in an advertisement is different than using it in a newspaper. Here are some sources that may help you:

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