1. THE BASICS
2. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
3. GETTING STARTED
4. SEARCH
5. LIGHTBOXES
6. LICENSING IMAGES
7. DOWNLOADING IMAGES
8. ADDITIONAL RIGHTS CLEARANCES (Trademark, model, property, etc...)
9. PRIVACY
10. CONTACT
1.
THE BASICS
1.1
What is stock photography?
Stock photography
is photography that has already been produced and is available to be licensed
for future use. Assuming you need professional-quality images, the alternative
to using stock photography is commissioning a photographer to do a custom
shoot, which is often cost prohibitive and takes a considerable amount of
time to arrange and complete. With commission work, you run the risk of not
getting what you were looking for. With stock photography, what you see is
what you get - right away. Thanks to ever-increasing internet bandwidth, browsing
and downloading stock photography is incredibly quick and easy. As budgets
shrink and project timelines compress, the usefulness of stock photography
intensifies.
1.2
How could I use stock photography in my business?
Our clients
do not fit any particular mold, other than the fact that they need professionally
produced transportation imagery faster and cheaper than they could get by
commissioning a photographer. Our clients use Transtock images in:
- Advertising
Campaigns
- Company
Websites (for both aesthetic and functional purposes)
- Product
Packaging
- Editorial
Pieces
- Calendars
- Textbooks
- Brochures
- Annual
Reports
- Multimedia
Presentations
- Email
campaigns
- Customer
Relationship Management tools
Of course,
this is not an exhaustive list; there are many more ways you or your clients
could benefit from licensing images from Transtock.
See our "Solutions"
section for ways our product could serve your particular business.
1.3
After I make my payment, will I own the image?
No. We
do not transfer ownership of images. You are paying for the privilege of legally
using a copyrighted image for a certain period of time, and for a limited
type of usage. The artistic creators of the images, our photographers, maintain
ownership of their work and are granted protection under US copyright law.
Likewise, until we receive
payment in full for the appropriate licensing you are not permitted to use
these images in any way.
1.4
How will I benefit from licensing stock photography from Transtock?
Our subject
matter ‚ transportation ‚ is both capital and talent-intensive to photograph.
You could shoot the vehicles yourself, and save some money, but the quality
of the image will be readily apparent in terms of the subject matter, lighting,
retouching, pixel density, and overall effect. Even if you choose to commission
a photographer for your job, all photographers are not equally capable of
producing world-class transportation photography. We have compiled the work
of the best transportation specialists in the world saving you a lot of time,
money, and trouble. No need to reinvent the wheel.
2.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
2.1 Which browsers are compatible with Transtock.com?
Netscape Navigator® version 4 and above, Microsoft® Internet Explorer version 4 and above, and the America
Online® browser version 4 and above should be compatible with the site. Note
for America Online users on Macintosh® computers: If you're using AOL version
3, Netscape Navigator version
3, or Microsoft Internet Explorer version
3, you won't be able to reliably access the secure areas of our site. Please
upgrade to AOL version 4 or above. If you're experiencing difficulties
accessing certain areas, your computer may not be accepting cookies, or your
system may be behind a corporate firewall, which can make accessing secure
servers difficult. If you encounter problems, contact our technical support
staff.
2.2 Does
my browser need to accept cookies?
No. Transtock.com
does not require the use of cookies however accepting cookies does make using
the site more efficient for you. If you have cookies enabled and have chosen
to save your username and password on your computer, the site will recognize
you and you will not need to login each return visit.
2.3 Do
I need to be able to make a secure connection to your site?
You may search
for images without a secure connection; however, most of the pages on the
site require a secure connection.
2.4 Do
I need to turn off my pop-up blocker?
In some browsers you may need to turn off the pop-up blocker to view the rate calculator.
3.
GETTING STARTED
3.1 Why
should I register?
Registering
allows you to download free comps, create lightboxes, and license images.
It is quick and easy.
3.2 How
do I register?
Step 1: Click on the LOGIN button at the top of each(?) Transtock.com
page. You will be asked for your user name and password.
Step 2: Click on the link that says: "Not a registered user?" You will
be asked to select a user name and password and provide some additional information,
including your e-mail address. Enter the required information.
Step 3: Check the box if you would like to receive updates,
promotions or special deals from Transtock.
Step 4: Check the box if you would like your user name and
password saved on your computer.
Step 5: Check the box if you agree to Transtock's terms and
conditions. Click submit.
You will be
asked to LOGIN before using the site. Enter your user name and password and
begin!
4.
SEARCH
4.1 How
do I search for images?
Searching on our site requires an understanding of two functional areas:
1.) How our images are keyworded. This will give you a more precise idea of what vocabulary and nomenclature works on our search engine.
2.) How our search engine interprets your search request. This will help you understand what kind of syntax to use when structuring search requests.
How
Our Images Are Keyworded
Transtock's
image library is searchable by keywords we assign to each image.
These keywords describe the image in the following ways:
Keyword categories
Transportation genre: (automotive, aviation, nautical, trains etc.)
Generic vehicle type: (truck, car, airplane, sailboat, passenger train etc.)
Manufacturer of vehicle shown: (Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, etc)
Country of origin (British, Japanese, South Korean, American, German, French, Italian etc.)
Model of vehicle shown: (Camry, Corvette, Mustang etc)
Model Year of Vehicle Shown: (2005, 1996,1971 etc)
Trim Level (EX, LX, SE etc)
Era of Vehicle Shown: (1960s, 1970s, etc)
Special Class of Vehicle Shown: (classic, concept car, etc)
Body style of vehicle shown: (wagon, sedan, coupe, etc)
Color of vehicle shown: (red, white, black etc.)
Angle of vehicle in shot: (front _, profile, interior etc.)
Camera Angle: (Point of View, overhead, detail, low angle)
Location shown: (beach, highway, forest, city etc)
Weather/Lighting: (sunny, overcast, studio etc.)
Motion description: (action, static)
Style of image: (Editorial, Advertising, or both)
Adjectives that describe objects shown: (muddy, rusty, wet etc.)
Image orientation: (horizontal, vertical, square, panoramic etc.)
Color scheme of image: (color, black and white, sepia)
Keyword Search
Keyword Search
is the most effective way to search for what you want, as it gives you several
parameters to choose from. This is for people who want to inch their way into
the swimming pool comfortably and deliberately.
Our search
feature also allows you to narrow your search once you've chosen a category.
On the left had side of your screen there is a pull-down menu called "Narrow
Your Search"
You can also
narrow your search by clicking "Search Within Results" button and entering
a new search term in the search box.
Browsing
Featured Images
We have gathered
a representative cross section of our library and placed them into featured
collections to give you a taste of what we have. This is for the folks who
watch other people get into the swimming pool before they jump in themselves.
In this area of the site, we have done the searching for you.
How our Search Engine Interprets Your Request
When you enter a single keyword as a search term, for example,
“truck” - the search engine combs through our entire
image library to find any image that has a truck in it. If you
enter a keyword that does not exist in our image library, such
as “hang glider”, the search engine will look for
that keyword, and produce no results. The best thing to do at
this point is to enter a more general keyword, for instance, “aviation”
and browse for images that fit your needs.
Searching for Combinations of Terms
Find ALL Words - Use AND between search terms
to find images that contain ALL the words you type. Or just separate
words with a space, which will be interpreted the same way.This
tends to produce a limited number of results.
Using search words ‘motorcycle people’ will produce
results containing images of both motorcycles AND people (in the
same image).
Find ANY Words - Use OR between words to find
images that contain any of your search words. This tends to produce
a high volume of results.
Using search words ‘motorcycle OR people’ will produce
results containing images of motorcycles OR images of people.
Exclude Certain Words - Use NOT before words
that you want the system to exclude from your search. This function
is particularly useful after an initial search produces a large
number of results. Once your search results appear, try the “Search
Within Results” feature and use the ‘NOT’ operator
and a keyword that represents a cross section of images you do
not want to see in the search results.
Using search words ‘motorcycle NOT dirt bike’ produces
results containing images of every type of motorcycle we have,
except dirt bikes.
Word Groupings - Use combinations of AND, OR,
and NOT within a search, surrounding the words you want grouped
together in parentheses. Note: Wildcards (*) and phrases can also
be used with these types of searches.
Using search words ‘action AND (196* OR 197*)’ produces
results containing images of moving vehicles from the 1960’s
or 1970’s.
4.2 I got a null search
result. What should I do to ensure I maximize my odds for getting
results?
Tips to Avoid Null Search Results:
If your search includes a word that is not in the keyword database
or is misspelled, the word will be ignored. For example, if you
search for ‘Ford Explorer’, your search will not
produce any results. A quick check and you will notice that Explorer
only has one ‘r’. Enter ‘Ford Explorer’
and browse the results.
Anytime there are numbers at the end of the vehicle model you
are looking for, stay as general as possible at first. If you are
searching for an Infiniti M35, and the search comes up empty,
try searching for an ‘Infiniti M*’ Using the wildcard
asterisk to substitute for the model number will produce a broader
range of results.
Keywording is somewhat subjective, since everyone looks at an
image and describes the scene differently. We suggest you try
several terms to describe the image you have in mind. Refer to
our non-exhaustive keyword list in 4.1 of this FAQ to see how
we keyword our images.
If you are still coming up empty handed, call us at 310.827.3440,
and we’ll do the custom search for you -- for free.
4.3 Where do I search for images?
We offer several search methods: Quick Search, Keyword Search,
or browsing specific pre-arranged Collections.
Quick Search
Located at the top of every page, the intent of the Quick
Search is to enable you to search immediately. It is great for
those who like to dive right into the swimming pool. Just type
the word or words that your project requires, or your imagination
is producing. If the initial search is unsuccessful, you will
be taken to the keyword search section to refine your criteria.
Keyword Search
Keyword Search is the most effective way to search for what you
want, as it gives you several parameters to choose from. This
is for people who want to inch their way into the swimming pool
comfortably and deliberately.
Our search feature also allows you to narrow your search once
you've chosen a category. On the left hand side of your screen
there is a pull-down menu called “Narrow Your Search”
You can also narrow your search by clicking “Search Within
Results” button and entering a new search term in the search
box.
Browsing Featured Images
We have gathered a representative cross section of our library
and placed them into featured collections to give you a taste
of what we have. This is for the folks who watch other people
get into the swimming pool before they jump in themselves. In
this area of the site, we have done the searching for you.
4.4 Why do you offer the choice between “Advertising
Look” and “Editorial Look”?
Many art directors and graphic designers get frustrated
with sleek, set-up advertising shots getting displayed right next
to more spontaneous spectator-like or intentionally vanilla editorial
shots. In an effort to make your life easier, we have segmented
our images based on their “look.”
Advertising Look
These images are print advertising ready, and many have
indeed been used in past advertisements. They are sleek, sexy,
and just look like they had a high production cost.
Editorial Look
These images are less flashy and tend to focus more on
substance than on style. If it looks like it was shot by or for
the press, including the enthusiast press (Road & Track Magazine
or Boating Magazine for example), it probably has the editorial
look.
Keep in mind that these “looks” are not mutually exclusive
categories. Some images are categorized as both. If the distinction
between the look of the image is unhelpful to you, simply click
“Either” and determine the style on your own.
4.5 If I like an image with an “Editorial Look,”
am I limited to using it for Editorial use only?
No. The “look” of the image refers to its inherent
style (when it is obvious), and does not speak to its potential
use. You could certainly use an image with an “Editorial
Look” for advertising. You could also use an image with
an “Advertising Look” for editorial.
4.6 I am interested in using an image featuring a recognizable
Formula One team and/or its recognizable driver. Can I use it
for anything other than editorial purposes?
Yes, but not without contacting us first for a release. You would
need to get a special release from the team/driver. In this case
or any other similar case, we would be more than happy to do the
legwork for you for a fee. Please contact us for further information.
4.8 What if I cannot find the image that I am looking
for?
If you have searched the site and are unable to find the image
that you are looking for, we wholeheartedly apologize. But the
road does not end after a search leaves you empty-handed. When
what you are really looking for eludes the search engine, our
production and sales staff is here to help. It’s the equivalent
of asking a salesperson at a retail store if they have any “more
of these in the back.” Our friendly, eager staff will diligently
search on your behalf.
Just call 310.827.3440, (866.399.6206 toll-free) or email us
.
5.
LIGHTBOXES
5.1 What
is a lightbox?
A lightbox
saves images of interest to you. The images in your lightbox become your personal
collection at Transtock. It is easy to add, delete, read details and magnify
images while viewing your lightbox. Our lightboxes have a unlimited image
capacity. A lightbox allows you to view a pre-selected group of images and
show them to a co-worker, editor or art director. Your lightbox saves everyone
time.
Don't worry,
placing images in a lightbox does not require any financial commitment on
your part.
5.2 How
do I create a lightbox?
As soon as
you click "Add to lightbox" beneath an image, you create a lightbox. Every time
you click "Add to lightbox" after the first time, you are adding to your lightbox.
5.3 Can
I have more than one lightbox?
Yes. You can
create as many lightboxes as you need.
5.4 Can
I email my lightbox to a co-worker?
Yes. When you
have your lightbox open, simple click on the "Email Lightbox" at the bottom
of the screen.
5.5 Will
my lightboxes carry over between my visits to Transtock.com?
You can return
to your lightboxes by clicking on "My Lightbox" at the top of the screen.
6.
LICENSING IMAGES
6.1 What
does it mean to "license" an image?
When you license
an image you purchase the right to use that image per the terms and conditions
of the licensing contract. Every license Transtock grants has a time limit.
There is never a permanent transfer of ownership with Transtock images.
6.3 What
if the licensing specifications listed in the pricing matrix do not meet my
requirements?
If your licensing
specifications are not listed please call 310.827.3440 or e-mail email us and we'll be happy
to assist you.
6.4 Do
you offer bulk discounts?
Absolutely.
Our sales staff are capable of granting discounts on a case-by-case basis.
Your business is important to us. Please call 310.827.3440 to see if your
order qualifies for a bulk discount.
6.6 How
do I complete my purchase?
Purchase one
or several images by following the steps below:
Step 1:
View Cart
Collect the
images you want to purchase in your shopping cart. When you have a final selection
of images in your shopping cart, click on the VIEW CART DETAILS link. A page
with your selected images, captions, photographers name and image availability
will load.
Step 2:
Calculate Licensing Fees
Calculate the
licensing fees by selecting the usage type (ex. Corporate: Annual Reports),
quantity (ex. 50,000-100,000) and size (ex. 1/2 page) of each image you want
to purchase. After completing your selections, click the APPLY button to price
the image. If your licensing specifications are not listed,
please call 310.827.3440 or email us.
Step 3:
Purchase
Once each image
has been priced, click on the CHECKOUT button. You will be prompted to type
in personal information (name, address, etc.) or verify the information in
your personal profile. Then, enter your shipping and billing information,
including a payment method and click the CONFIRM ORDER button. An e-mail confirmation
will be sent to you regarding your purchase.
Step 4:
Getting Your Image(s)
Once your order
has been confirmed, your images can be delivered to you in a variety of ways.
You will be prompted to choose the method that meets your personal needs.
You can:
* Download the image directly
from our site.
* Have the
image e-mailed to you as an attachment.
* Have the
image be sent by disk.
Step 5:
Billing
Your account
will be billed automatically via credit card or if your company is approved
for purchase orders you will be billed via an invoice mailed to you.
6.7 How
safe is it to put my credit card on your site?
We guard your
information with same level of vigor that we protect our images and transaction
data. We use the latest encryption technology to help ensure that your information
is kept safe while in transit. You can learn more about security in our privacy policy.
6.8 May
I use a Purchase Order instead of a credit card?
Yes. First,
you must be approved by Transtock to make purchases using Purchase Orders.
You'll need to fill out a credit application. Once approved, you will be given
the option in the payment section to pay by purchase order. Our terms are
NET 30. As a reminder, license to use our images is not granted until we receive
full payment.
7.
DOWNLOADING IMAGES
7.1
What formats are available?
We are a completely
digital stock photography agency. All of our images are high-resolution.
@Transtock.com .
7.2 What
is the resolution/quality of the imagery?
Images on the
Transtock site were obtained in one of two ways. One method is original film
scanned with a drum scanner that has a dynamic range of 4.2 or better. The
other way is via professional digital SLR cameras with a minimum resolution
of 8 megapixels and shot in the RAW format. All images on our site are a minimum
of 60 megabytes (13x18 inches at 300 dpi) but many are over 100 megabytes
(16x24 inches at 300 dpi). We use the Adobe RGB (1998) colorspace.
7.2 How
large can I print your images?
In general
our images can safely be enlarged to 125% of their original image size without
affecting the quality. However, how large you can print a digital image will
vary greatly on how you are outputting it, what your target resolution is
and what kind of hardware you are outputting it with. The composition, sharpness
and amount of detail in the image itself will also affect your output size.
For more information you should consult directly with your printer or service
bureau to find out the specific capabilities of the device you're working
with.
7.3 Why
are Transtock images in RGB format instead of CMYK?
Transtock images
are meant to be as versatile as possible for the end user. When an RGB image is converted
to CMYK, several parameters
must be taken into consideration, including paper stock, four-color film output
device, layout software programs used, types of inks used, and special effects
intended by you, the designer. We don't want to make these decisions for you.
We would rather you have the control in deciding exactly how your images are
converted to CMYK.
7.4 How
do I download a comp of an image?
Click and hold
on the image.(Right click for PC users)
Select the
"Save this Image As..." or "Download Image to disk" option
from the pull-down menu that appears.
Choose the
destination file where you want to save the image.
Click Save
and the image will begin to download to the chosen location.
7.5 Are
non-watermarked comps available?
Yes, you will
be able to download low-resolution non-watermarked images once you have registered.
7.6 What
about high-res comps?
Please contact
us directly for obtaining high-resolution comps at 310.827.3440 or email us .
7.7 How
do I download an image that I have purchased?
Once you have
purchased an image you will be instructed how to download the image. If you
experience any problems please contact us directly at 310.827.3440 or email us .
7.8
If I do not download off of the site, what other delivery
methods are available?
We can email the images to you which is the fastest method. Compressed as a JPEG, each image is around 5 megabytes which is small enough to email but may take a while to receive if you're on dial-up. We can also send you a CD-ROM disk via FEDEX, for which there are additional charges.
8.
USAGE GUIDELINES
Note: The
following questions and answers are provided in order to address some common
concerns in layman's terms and do not constitute a legal position. Please
refer to our terms and conditions for more detail and binding language.
8.1
I am going to use this image for advertising (non-editorial), and I notice
that the vehicles depicted in the image bear obvious trademarks, does the licensing
agreement cover me in this regard?
The Transtock
licensing agreement deals with copyright licensing only, so no, the agreement
does not "cover you" in this situation. In this case you would be responsible
for making the decision whether you need to get a manufacturer release or
not. If you feel you need a trademark or other type of release please contact
us directly at 310.827.3440 or email us
and we'll be happy to help you.
8.2
When is a trademark release from the manufacturer required?
A trademark
release from the manufacturer is not required for editorial or educational
uses. The images in our library are copyrighted by the original photographer
but many images are of things that are trademarked by the manufacturer
that made the vehicle. Therefore, permission from the manufacturer for a trademark
release might be necessary. Transtock has close contacts will all of the manufacturers
and we can secure licensing for you. Most manufacturers
do not charge a fee for licensing; they only want to make sure that the images
of their vehicles are used in a positive way. Some, however, do charge a fee
for licensing, and if you wish, we can negotiate these fees for you.
8.2
How long will it take to secure a trademark release?
That depends
on the usage of the photo and the manufacturer involved. In some cases, we
can obtain a release the same day, while others can take several weeks.
8. 3 Do I have to give a written
credit to the photographer?
It's not required, but we request that
the © copyright symbol, photographer's name and Transtock be applied to each
image or in the credits. We may offer a licensing discount if it is shown.
9.
PRIVACY
9.1 How
do you protect the privacy of the information I submit to you?
We do not share
your personal information outside Transtock.com. We do not sell or share email
addresses with companies outside Transtock.com. For a complete overview of
how we protect your information, read our privacy policy.
10.
CONTACT
10.1
How do I contact Transtock?
Transtock
11949 Jefferson
Blvd.
Suite 102
Culver City,
California 90230
Phone: 310.827.3440
Fax: 310.943.2195
Email: 
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