Frequently Asked Questions
Pixta|Subscription|Contributor
For more information, please see:
General
- How can I become a contributor?
- How can I become a footage contributor?
- Is there any images can't be sold at PIXTA?
- Can I sell images shot with mobile phones?
- Is it possible to register and sell images for editorial uses?
- What can I do if I forget my password?
- Where is my on-lined file?
- Can I remove my on-lined file(s)?
- What is Exclusivity?
- What is “Subscription service”?
- What is PIXTA Affiliate Program?
- Can I sell images that are already selling at other stock photo agencies?
Submission
- How do I submit Photos / illustrations?
- How do I submit Footage?
- How should I keyword images?
- Can I upload from my account page?
- Will I receive notifications when my files go on-lined?
- Is there any limit for number of contents I can upload?
- Do I have to tag our contents in Japanese?
- How can I match previous submitted model releases?
- “Are the two footage contents below the same?” is displayed on the screen of applying footage for reviews. What should I do?
Reviewing
- How long does it take for content to be reviewed?
- How can I check the results of reviewing?
- I uploaded multiple contents, but some of them are still pending.
- Why did my file get rejected?
Sales and Payment
- How can I find out which content has been downloaded?
- Will I get notifications when my files are purchased?
- What is a "Credit"?
- How will I get paid?
- Will my earned credits be subject to withholding tax?
- What is contributor rank?
- How can I claim the benefits of the income tax convention?
- There is "Size upgraded" icon in my "Sales History" records. What's this?
- There is "Ex" icon in my "Sales History" records. What's this?
Membership
- How can I sign up for PIXTA?
- Is there any charge for registration?
- I can't correctly complete the confirmation process.
- I can‘t log in.
- I want to register as both contributor member and customer member.
- Please tell me what kind of ID card needed for contributor registration?
Is it possible for me to register as a contributor besides driver's license or passport? - I want to change my account information.
- How can I withdraw from membership?
System / Functionality
Other
General
How can I become a contributor?
Back to TopYou can sign up for PIXTA contributor account from here. Please see also Contributor Guide.
How can I become a footage contributor?
Back to TopIn order to sell footage at PIXTA, you need to pass our Footage Contributor Examination.
Please sign up as a contributor first, and submit your portfolio to PIXTA.
For further information, see "How to become a footage contributor".
Is there any images can't be sold at PIXTA?
Back to TopYes. PIXTA reviews every submitted images and if any of them are not in accordance with our guidelines, we might reject them.
Please read through Submitter Guidelines before selling at PIXTA.
Can I sell images shot with mobile phones?
Back to TopYes. PIXTA accept images shot with mobile phones including smartphones.
For further information, see "Photo and Illustration Guideline"
Is it possible to register and sell images for editorial uses?
Back to TopNo, it's not. All stock images on PIXTA need to ones that can be sold for purposes such as advertisement or other profit-making ones. Therefore, we do not sell images as editorial use. Please make sure to register your works for those puroses. ※ What is the editorial use? ... To use photos without model release for the purposes of news report etc .
What can I do if I forget my password?
Back to TopPlease click here and enter your email address that is associated with your account. A reset link will be sent to you within a few seconds. Check your spam folder if you didn’t receive the email.
Where is my on-lined file?
Back to TopCurrently the only way to find your on-lined contents is to check your portfolio page. Please log in and find the link to your portfolio at "Your account page".
Can I remove my on-lined file(s)?
Back to TopYou can delete the files in "Content Manager". Please note that online files will be deactivated 30 days after you request so as not to make our customers confused.
What is Exclusivity?
Back to TopIn PIXTA, contributors can receive higher royalties with selling their images as exclusive. Exclusive contributors sell. their all images only at PIXTA(Total Exclusive).You can apply to become an Exclusive Contributor member one you have reached 150 sales of photos or illustrations for the past year, or 50 sales of photos or illustrations for the past 3 months.
Partial exclusivity is an option for non-exclusive contributors which raises royalty rates of certain images specified as exclusive. Exclusive images can't be sold at any other stock photo agencies.
As for partial exclusive, you can set certain images as exclusive in your account page by accepting "PIXTA Terms and Conditions for Exclusive Supply of Contents".
For further information, please see here.
*PIXTA Exclusive is only available on PIXTA site or affiliated sites with PIXTA.
What is “Subscription service”?
Back to TopOn our website, we offer subscription service for customers as well.
With the service, user can download many items with certain limits of the number of downloadable items within a prescribed period, once they pay a certain amount of fee.
Depending on the number of downloads, credits are allocated to the contributors.
There is no additional procedure for contributor to sell photos and illustrations on the service.
Besides, those who do not want to sell items on the subscription service are also able to change the setting to “Not to sell on the subscription" on the dashboard on PIXTA.
For more details, refer to the followings.
・Commission rate (allocation rate of earned credits)
・About sales on subscription service
※As of April 13, 2015, the subscription site "Imasia" has been integrated into PIXTA as subscriotion service.
What is PIXTA Affiliate Program?
Back to TopPIXTA affiliate program is a performance-based advertising program in which you can display ad banners and promote PIXTA in your blogs or websites, and earn rewards from new members' purchases.
Affiliate program is available for both contributor and customer members.
To join the program, log into your account page and see "Affiliate Program".
Can I sell images that are already selling at other stock photo agencies?
Back to TopIt is fine with PIXTA.
Basically you are allowed to sell your images at both PIXTA and other agencies.
However, please make sure you have no problem as well with selling those images at PIXTA regarding the terms and conditions of the other agencies.
If you sell your images as Exclusive, you can get higher royalties.
For details, see here.
Submission
How do I submit Photos / illustrations?
Back to TopYou can submit photos / illustrations files from "Your account page". Please read carefully the requirements in "Contributor Guide" before you upload.
Guideline for illustration (including EPS/PNG) is available at "PIXTA Channel".
How do I submit Footage?
Back to Top
Please upload and submit from your account page.
However, you need to pass our Footage Contributor Examination first.
For further information, please check the following link.
"How to become a footage contributor"
How should I keyword images?
Back to TopPlease see Keywording Advice for the details of how to keyword images.
Can I upload from my account page?
Back to TopYes, you can upload and submit your contents from your account page.
Will I receive notifications when my files go on-lined?
Back to TopYes. You can get emails when reviewing is finished. Please go to "Account Settings" and opt-in the notification.
Is there any limit for number of contents I can upload?
Back to TopYou have upload limit per month for photo/illust. It can change depending on multiple factors such as approval rates, quantity of past uploads and quantity of sales. So far there is no upload limit for footage.
For details about upload limits, please see here.
Do I have to tag our contents in Japanese?
Back to TopNo, we accept English tags. IPTC tags can work as they are. In reviewing, they will be automatically translated from English to Japanese. Please note that we may modify or delete inappropriate tags.
How can I match previous submitted model releases?
Back to TopYou can match a model release with content which you uploaded in "Submit Images". However, you can not match model release with content uploaded via FTP in the past. Please upload them again in "Submit Images" when you submit new contents.
“Are the two footage contents below the same?” is displayed on the screen of applying footage for reviews. What should I do?
Back to TopIf there is a similarity between the uploaded footage contents in the form of 4K and stock contents on sale, it is possible that the “same contents confirmation screen” gets displayed.
The stock contents on sale and the newly uploaded contents are displayed on the confirmation screen, please check whether two footage contents are the same or not.
※The same contents confirmation screen is displayed only when both of the two contents are footage contents. You can Not link photo contents with footage contents.
【In the case that two footage contents are the same】
・When you are selling 4K video content, all sizes are converted and sold from the uploaded video contents in in the form of 4K.
・The information of the content, such as tags and model release, will be linked with stock content on sale automatically.
【Please be sure to read.】
In the case that you misjudge the two contents are the same accidentally, the stock contents on sale will be converted to new footage contents, and will also be deleted.
In the case that you misjudge the two contents are the same accidentally,You can Not undo the change. Sorry to trouble you, but please upload the contents again.
Besides, because PIXTA regularly tries to reconsider the examination standard, it is possible for us to reject the original contents that you have submitted and pass the examination before when you reupload next time.Thank you for understanding in advance.
Reviewing
How long does it take for content to be reviewed?
Back to TopReviewing of photos or illustrations is expected to take up to 7 business days and footage reviewing is expected to take up to 7-10 business days. As a result of consecutive holidays or crowded uploads, some reviews may take longer time. We announce in Your account page when there are long delays. In case that if your content has been pending over a month, it might be caused by system failure. Please let us know the content's number via email.
How can I check the results of reviewing?
Back to TopYou can check the results in your "Content Manager"(Your account page). If you want to get informed when your review done, go to ‘Account Settings’ and check "Receive Onlined-Files Notifications".
I uploaded multiple contents, but some of them are still pending.
Back to TopWe have multiple reviewing steps (image quality, tag check or etc.), which may result in some time lag. Usually they catch up in several days, so please be patient. In case of system's error, for example, only one content is still pending for over a month even the rest are already reviewed, please let us know the file number via e-mail.
Why did my file get rejected?
Back to Top Please note that we can't accept contents incompatible with our guildeline.
If your contents got rejected, go to "Content Manager" to check the comments.
Basically we do not accept the contents rejected before, but, you can upload them again if the content is fixable (e.g. inappropriate keywords, dust on your image etc.).
Basically we don't reinvestigate the files that have once been rejected.
Please understand that we reserve the right to decline images on the basis of our own standard, which we are constantly improving for better quality.
However, if the rejection reason seems completely wrong (may be for some system errors), please inform us the file no. and details.
Sales and Payment
How can I find out which content has been downloaded?
Back to TopYou can find all your downloads at "Sales History" as soon as it happens. You can also receive an email when your file(s) purchased. Please opt-in the notification at "Account Settings" page.
Will I get notifications when my files are purchased?
Back to TopYes. You can receive email notifications when your contents are downloaded. Please go to "Account Settings" and opt-in the notification.
What is a "Credit" ?
Back to TopCredit is PIXTA’s currency ( 1 credit = 100 JPY). Your sales and earnings ( including those earned by affiliate program ) are indicated in credits.
How will I get paid?
Back to TopWe offer two payment options: Paypal or Payoneer. You can choose the payment method in "Payment Settings" page. To get paid, please make a request from "Request Payment" page. Our default minimum payout is 50 credits (=5,000JPY) . Payment will be processed on 15th (if holiday, deferred to the next business day) of the month after the next you make a request.
(e.g. If you make a request during August, payment will be disbursed on October 15th.)
If you choose Payoneer as your Payment Method, the amount of royalties in Japanese Yen will be exchanged at the JPY-USD rate as applied by Payoneer to the amount in US dollar, which will be transferred to your Payoneer account, subject to the conversion fee to be deducted in the amount equivalent to 2% of the amount of royalties in US dollar.
The applied JPY-USD rate shall be the rate of an external financial institution determined by Payoneer in accordance with the date of our exchange order, which may be different from the date of your conversion application or payment date.
Will my earned credits be subject to withholding tax?
Back to TopYes. Your earnings derived from selling contents may be subject to withholding tax.
The provision is different depending on each tax convention, so we recommend you to contact your legal and/or tax advisor if you have any question.
See also "Income Tax Information" (Login required).
What is contributor rank?
Back to TopAt PIXTA, contributor rank rises as the total numbers of sold photos/illustrations increases.The more files you could sell, the higher rank and royalty you can get.
*Currently, contributor rank only applies to the sales of photos and illustrations. It is not applied to footage sales.
For further information, please see "Contributor Rank".
How can I claim the benefits of the income tax convention?
Back to TopIf you are a resident of any of the countries which have a tax convention with Japan and eligible for tax relief, please refer to "Income Tax Information" and send required tax forms to PIXTA. (The provision is different depending on each tax convention, so we recommend you to contact your legal and/or tax advisor if you have any question. )
There is "Size upgraded" icon in my "Sales History" records. What's this?
Back to Top"Size upgrade" icon appears when your file is replaced with a bigger one by the customer who had once downloaded it.
Since it's a size upgrade, the difference between two sizes will be charged.
There is "Ex" icon in my "Sales History" records. What's this?
Back to Top"Ex" icon appears when your file is downloaded with an "Extended License". Please refer to "Contributor Guide" for further information.
Customers can add "Extended License" to the files which they had already downloaded in the past. In this case, only the Extended License itself will be charged.
Membership
How can I sign up for PIXTA?
Back to TopPlease register from following page if you wish to register as a customer.
After you have input necessary information, confirmation email will be sent to your email address.
By clicking the URL in confirmation email, your registration will be completed.
There’s no fee needed for registration.
»Sign up
You can sign up for PIXTA contributor account from here. Please see Contributor Guide.
Is there any charge for registration?
Back to TopWe do not collect registration fee nor membership fee.
Both customer membership and contributor membership could be registered for free.
I can't correctly complete the confirmation process.
Back to Top《 The confirmation mail seems missing 》
Please check your spam mail folder. If you couldn't find our mail, please go to here and resend confirmation email.
( If email address is wrong or your registration is already completed, email won't be sent. )
《 The confirmation URL doesn't work 》
If the link doesn't work, please try the following :
- Copy and paste it into your browser.
- Try to login. Your registration might have already completed. If you forgot your password, please reset from here.
If you still have problems, please contact us with your email address.
I ca't log in.
Back to TopIf you can't log in to your account, please make sure that you have input correct e-mail address and password.
Please note that password is case-sensitive, and be careful not to input unnecessary space.
There's also some possibilities of computer environment causing the error, so please check preferred system requirements from here.
If you have forgotten your password, please input your registered e-mail address at following page.
I want to register as both contributor member and customer member.
Back to TopPlease register as a contributor which enables you to both purchase and sell contents.
You can sign up for PIXTA contributor account from here. Please see also Contributor Guide.
Please tell me what kind of ID card needed for contributor registration?
Is it possible for me to register as a contributor besides driver's license or passport?
Back to Top Please submit one of the following JPEG images from the ID confirmation application form.
【For residents in Japan】
・Driver's license (Front or both sides if it has any amendments)
・Basic Resident Registration Card (Juki Card) (Front or both sides if it has any amendments)
・Passport (the identity page that includes your name and date of birth)
・Individual Number Card (nicknamed as "My Number".Front side)
※Please do not submit the back side on which your individual number is stated.
※ A notification card will not be accepted.
※If the image of My Number readable is uploaded, We will delete it immediately.
【For non-residents in Japan】
・Passport
・Driver's license (Front side. If there are items mentioned, please upload the back side as well. Written in English, DOB and your portrait photo are required.)
・Photo ID issued by the government. (Front side. If there are items mentioned, please upload the back side as well. Written in English, DOB and your portrait photo are required.)
【For residents in the People's Republic of China】
・Resident Identity Card (both sides)
ーPlease be sure to read the notes.ー
※ Only upload the image data of your ID here.
※ We do not accept the ID via airmail or email.
※ Provided information must be compatible to your account information including your name and DOB.
※ Document must be 50MB or less of JPEG data.
※ Please note that the data is not acceptable when it is unfocused or includes discrepant information.
※ Until you pass the approval of confirmation document and introductory test, you can not "Submit works".
※ If there's no amendment (e.g. family name or address), the reverse side is not required.
I want to change my account information.
Back to TopYou can change your email address, password or other information at any time in your account page.
Please go to Account Settings to view or change your information.
If you are registered as a customer member and want to sell stock contents, please see a Contributor Guide. Contributor members can make purchase with no additional procedure.
How can I withdraw from membership?
Back to TopPlease log into your account page and follow the instruction in "Close Account".
System / Functionality
What are recommended system requirements?
Back to TopPIXTA is validated by following version/system environment.
If any failure occurs in system environment other than following system requirements, please change the environment and try again.
- Mac OSX
Google Chrome(Latest version)
Firefox(Latest version)
Safari(Latest version)
*Not validated by OS9
- Windows Vista, 7, 8
Google Chrome(Latest version)
Firefox(Latest version)
Internet Explorer 8 or higher
*Not validated by Windows98, 2000, ME, XP
- Others
cookie function is enabled
JavaScript is enabled
Latest Flash player is installed
Flash player is necessary in order to utilize some functions such as uploading images and playing footage preview.
If it's not installed to your system, please download it from Adobe.
http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
I can't watch preview of footage contents.
Back to TopFlash player is necessary to watch footage preview.
Please install from Adobe if you do not have Flash player.
http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
Our recommended network line speed is over 1.5Mbps.
Other
I have no response to inquiry.
Back to TopPlease check your e-mail account again because it could be possible that our e-mail has arrived to your junk mail folder.
If not in your junk mail folder, please contact us again.
It takes about a couple of days until our reply (We are not operating during weekends and national holidays). Please be noted that it might take longer depends on the subject of inquiry or some congestion.