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Journal

Research and notes on what stock buyers need and why, with the matching work inside each article.

6 November 2026 · 9 min read

Editorial or commercial use: what the label really means

Why an asset ends up marked editorial, which releases move it into commercial use, who holds them, and a thirty-second test before you place it.

30 October 2026 · 9 min read

Adobe Stock licence types, explained for buyers

What the standard, extended and enhanced licences each permit, the three cases that force an upgrade, and what survives a cancelled plan.

15 October 2026 · 8 min read

What a "made with AI" label means when you license footage

What the AI label on a stock asset tells you about releases, rights and your own disclosure duties, and where generated footage is the wrong choice.

14 October 2026 · 7 min read

Transparent-background cut-outs vs automatic removal

Why a ready-made cut-out beats automatic background removal, where the artefacts show up, and what to check along the edges before you use the file.

12 October 2026 · 7 min read

Product podiums and mockups: choosing the right stage

How to pick a podium or mockup for product work: where the image is allowed to run, matching material and light to the product, and leaving room for type.

9 October 2026 · 8 min read

Gobo and shadow overlays: blend modes and common traps

How to lay a shadow or gobo texture over a flat scene, which blend mode to use, what to check before licensing, and when the effect becomes a cliche.

8 October 2026 · 7 min read

Christmas and New Year footage: licence it in October

Why holiday imagery has to be chosen in October, how a B2B greeting differs from a retail window, and what the EU's new rules mean for green holiday visuals.

23 September 2026 · 7 min read

Halloween stock footage: what to license, and when

What Halloween campaigns actually need to show in 2026, when to license it, and the tired shots that make a seasonal campaign look like everyone else's.

22 September 2026 · 8 min read

Accessibility and inclusion in stock footage: a buyer's guide

Which accessibility and inclusion shots are scarce on stock sites, what to look for in them, and the mistakes that make a module or campaign look dated.

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