Although every stock illustration in Ikon’s hand-picked library passes our test for visual and conceptual appeal, when it comes to sales, not all images are created equal.
The most successful stock illustration in Ikon’s extensive collection has been licensed more than 200 times, in 7 different countries, and has been used in book publishing, editorial and corporate websites, broadcast, magazines, newspapers, and advertising. To put this into context, this is 10 times as many sales as the image ranked at 500.
So what gives stock illustrations the X-factor? We look at some of the characteristics of successful images below.
1.Subject focused illustrations
In terms of sales, probably the most important factor to consider is the subject.. While you may have the most interesting and well-executed illustration for underwater basket weaving in existence, its use will be somewhat limited! That’s not to say that niche images don’t have their place - they absolutely do - but they’ll never have the commercial success of illustrations covering the most popular subjects.
Business illustrations
The need for business-related imagery is constant and universal. Themes such as success, risk, leadership, teamwork and communication are popular. And, while the supply of such images is correspondingly high, the majority of these stock images are photographic, making illustrations a compelling alternative. IIllustrations are also particularly well-suited to adding colour and interest to support
complex financial messages, which can be otherwise hard to visualise.
Health illustrations
Images on the subject of
Health
are also in demand, covering everything from
fitness and diet, to hospitals and medical research. Illustrations can bring subtlety and sensitivity to subjects like mental health and illness. By escaping the reality of the photographic, illustrations are able to present the subject in a way which is more accessible.
Science illustrations
Whether you’re looking at the tiniest of blood cells or exploring the vastness of space, science topics are a popular topic for stock illustrations. The right image can simplify complex subjects, opening them up to a wider audience. Longevity matters here, too: because science by its very nature is always changing, the conceptual nature of illustrations helps them stay relevant for longer.
It will come as no surprise that successful stock images are successful simply because they look good! While beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, there are several elements that make for attention-grabbing images.
Space
Successful stock images need to be flexible to use. Allowing space for cropping or adding text means they can be used more easily and more often.
Colour
Illustration allows artists a huge amount of freedom in their use of colour, creating eye-catching visual impact. The same subject can relatively easily be produced in various colour versions, increasing its chances of being ‘just right’ for a particular use. There is also an option of editing stock illustrations, to allow for brand palettes and other design led principles to dictate the colours.
Format
Vector illustrations are very popular with designers, and for good reason. Easy to scale, with bright, clear colours and sharp, crisp edges, vectors offer a great deal of flexibility with no loss of quality and look equally stunning as a thumbnail or a billboard.
Perspective
Illustration can create dramatic images by showing an extreme perspective or an unusual angle of view. Such viewpoints would not be possible from a photograph, which is limited by physical constraints of both the subjects and the photographers themselves.
We all need a laugh (or even just a chortle or a smile) sometimes, which is why humorous illustrations are perennially popular. Comedy is a great way to engage and keep an audience’s attention, enlivening a perhaps otherwise dry article or giving the viewer a sense of discovery. And, because visual humour is a near universal language, this broadens the appeal of an image across subjects and languages, making lighthearted witty stock images particularly versatile.
One of the (many!) reasons we think stock illustrations are great is that they can be highly original due to the nature of the medium. And the more original an image, the more it helps your content to stand out. But what helps make an illustration original?
Conceptual ideas
Ideas such as ‘freedom’, ‘individuality’ and ‘connection’ are important in many contexts and can apply to a wide variety of messages. Illustration is the perfect medium for these kinds of conceptual ideas as it’s not limited by reality. Stock Images that communicate such ideas with flair and give audiences a new take or something to think about can be hugely successful.
Ambiguity
Some kinds of illustrations can be used in a multitude of different contexts, and this versatility translates into success. While the exact meaning of these images may be hard to pin down, they remain visually interesting, even intriguing. Such ambiguity can be very effective and desirable in capturing an audience’s imagination.
Collage
Illustration also lends itself to collage, allowing the artist to use a wide variety of related visual elements in an interesting composition. This makes the image extremely effective in communicating broad or complex subject matter. Illustration can also amalgamate elements that would never be found together for dramatic, conceptual or even humorous effect: need a penguin shaking hands with a crocodile in the desert? Probably not, but you could with stock illustration!
There’s a good reason we’ve used some of our past blogs to explore trending topics: Stock illustrations that cover world events and universal concerns are relevant and successful.
Topics such as migration, sustainability,
democracy, conflict and war, and the
economy, are of worldwide importance and concern.
And, although there is a lot of work happening to address these kinds of issues, these are all problems that are unlikely to disappear anytime soon, which means that stock illustrations on such topics will remain relevant for some time to come.
It’s clear that the most successful stock illustrations are versatile, engaging, relevant and original. At Ikon, our library is full of such images, one of which is bound to be perfect for your next project, so have a look at our handpicked collection today.
Top 5 tips on how to make a successful stock illustration
Although every stock illustration in Ikon’s hand-picked library passes our test for visual and conceptual appeal, when it comes to sales, not all images are created equal.
The most successful stock illustration in Ikon’s extensive collection has been licensed more than 200 times, in 7 different countries, and has been used in book publishing, editorial and corporate websites, broadcast, magazines, newspapers, and advertising. To put this into context, this is 10 times as many sales as the image ranked at 500.
Stock illustration credit Donna Grethen
So what gives stock illustrations the X-factor? We look at some of the characteristics of successful images below.
1.Subject focused illustrations
In terms of sales, probably the most important factor to consider is the subject.. While you may have the most interesting and well-executed illustration for underwater basket weaving in existence, its use will be somewhat limited! That’s not to say that niche images don’t have their place - they absolutely do - but they’ll never have the commercial success of illustrations covering the most popular subjects.
Business illustrations
The need for business-related imagery is constant and universal. Themes such as success, risk, leadership, teamwork and communication are popular. And, while the supply of such images is correspondingly high, the majority of these stock images are photographic, making illustrations a compelling alternative. IIllustrations are also particularly well-suited to adding colour and interest to support complex financial messages, which can be otherwise hard to visualise.
Health illustrations
Images on the subject of Health are also in demand, covering everything from fitness and diet, to hospitals and medical research. Illustrations can bring subtlety and sensitivity to subjects like mental health and illness. By escaping the reality of the photographic, illustrations are able to present the subject in a way which is more accessible.
Science illustrations
Whether you’re looking at the tiniest of blood cells or exploring the vastness of space, science topics are a popular topic for stock illustrations. The right image can simplify complex subjects, opening them up to a wider audience. Longevity matters here, too: because science by its very nature is always changing, the conceptual nature of illustrations helps them stay relevant for longer.
Stock illustration credit James Boast
Stock illustration credit Patrick George
2. Composition
It will come as no surprise that successful stock images are successful simply because they look good! While beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, there are several elements that make for attention-grabbing images.
Space
Successful stock images need to be flexible to use. Allowing space for cropping or adding text means they can be used more easily and more often.
Colour
Illustration allows artists a huge amount of freedom in their use of colour, creating eye-catching visual impact. The same subject can relatively easily be produced in various colour versions, increasing its chances of being ‘just right’ for a particular use. There is also an option of editing stock illustrations, to allow for brand palettes and other design led principles to dictate the colours.
Format
Vector illustrations are very popular with designers, and for good reason. Easy to scale, with bright, clear colours and sharp, crisp edges, vectors offer a great deal of flexibility with no loss of quality and look equally stunning as a thumbnail or a billboard.
Perspective
Illustration can create dramatic images by showing an extreme perspective or an unusual angle of view. Such viewpoints would not be possible from a photograph, which is limited by physical constraints of both the subjects and the photographers themselves.
Stock illustration credit Otto Steininger
Stock illustration credit Alice Mollon
3. Humour in illustrations
We all need a laugh (or even just a chortle or a smile) sometimes, which is why humorous illustrations are perennially popular. Comedy is a great way to engage and keep an audience’s attention, enlivening a perhaps otherwise dry article or giving the viewer a sense of discovery. And, because visual humour is a near universal language, this broadens the appeal of an image across subjects and languages, making lighthearted witty stock images particularly versatile.
Stock illustration credit Oivind Hovland
Stock illustration credit Harry Haysom
4. Originality and illustrative style
One of the (many!) reasons we think stock illustrations are great is that they can be highly original due to the nature of the medium. And the more original an image, the more it helps your content to stand out. But what helps make an illustration original?
Conceptual ideas
Ideas such as ‘freedom’, ‘individuality’ and ‘connection’ are important in many contexts and can apply to a wide variety of messages. Illustration is the perfect medium for these kinds of conceptual ideas as it’s not limited by reality. Stock Images that communicate such ideas with flair and give audiences a new take or something to think about can be hugely successful.
Ambiguity
Some kinds of illustrations can be used in a multitude of different contexts, and this versatility translates into success. While the exact meaning of these images may be hard to pin down, they remain visually interesting, even intriguing. Such ambiguity can be very effective and desirable in capturing an audience’s imagination.
Collage
Illustration also lends itself to collage, allowing the artist to use a wide variety of related visual elements in an interesting composition. This makes the image extremely effective in communicating broad or complex subject matter. Illustration can also amalgamate elements that would never be found together for dramatic, conceptual or even humorous effect: need a penguin shaking hands with a crocodile in the desert? Probably not, but you could with stock illustration!
Stock illustration credit Alice Mollon
Stock illustration credit Darren Hopes
5. Relevance
There’s a good reason we’ve used some of our past blogs to explore trending topics: Stock illustrations that cover world events and universal concerns are relevant and successful. Topics such as migration, sustainability, democracy, conflict and war, and the economy, are of worldwide importance and concern. And, although there is a lot of work happening to address these kinds of issues, these are all problems that are unlikely to disappear anytime soon, which means that stock illustrations on such topics will remain relevant for some time to come.
Stock illustration credit Eva Bee
Stock illustration credit John Holcroft
It’s clear that the most successful stock illustrations are versatile, engaging, relevant and original. At Ikon, our library is full of such images, one of which is bound to be perfect for your next project, so have a look at our handpicked collection today.
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