About
Microstock Graphics
Microstock Graphics is a blog about creating computer generated pictures and selling them on microstock picture agencies.
My name is Oliver Klimek, and I have been fascinated by computer graphics for 25 years. I am no professional graphics artist, though. My regular daytime job is selling stamps and old letters to collectors.
In late 2008, I started submitting the pictures I created in my spare time to various microstock agencies after being moderately successful selling some of my photography there. I found that there is a real demand for computer generated images in microstock and I have been enjoying a steady trickle of income ever since. It’s far from paying a living as I have not been creating pictures on a day to day basis, but I still enjoy this additional income stream.
For those of you unfamiliar with the term “microstock”: Microstock agencies are websites where photographers and desginers can offer their works to publishers and advertising agencies. The prices at microstock sites are fairly cheap (usually under $10 per picture). This is opposed to “macrostock” where picture licenses can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The downside for publishers is that they are not guaranteed to be the only one to use a picture they purchased. There is always a slight chance that a direct competitor might buy and use exactly the same picture. Artists get little for the sale of a picture, sometimes only $0.25. But because the pictures are cheap they will sell much more often than at high price agencies.
My main “workhorse” for creating pictures is Vue from e-on Software, but I also use various other software, especially for fractals.
Now I decided to share my knowledge in this blog. I wouldn’t call my self an expert yet, but one purpose of this blog is also to move ahead with my own work by devoting more time to creating pictures than before.
What You Will Find Here
- Reviews of the software I use
- Software tips and tricks
- Reviews of microstock agencies
- General information about microstock
- Information about useful resources from the web
- Finding topics for images
What You Won’t Find Here
- Anything about vector graphics.
- Advanced 3D modeling
These are topics that I have not much knowledge of and that would take too much time for me to learn. Instead I will focus my energy on the things I already have experience in. The world of computer graphics has so many facets that it is not possible to be an expert in every field.
I hope you will have as much fun as me creating good looking and well selling pictures!
My Portfolio
I have submitted my pictures to several microstock sites. Some are pickier than others, this is why all portfolios are a bit different from another. A klick on one of the sample pictures leads you to my portfolio on the corresponding site.
