Stock Platforms: Metadata Guidelines & Limits Compared
Every stock platform has its own metadata rules: how many keywords it takes, which field carries the search weight, and whether it accepts AI-generated or editorial content. The table below compares them side by side, and each platform links to its full guidelines. Lemika applies these rules for you: point it at a folder, and it writes a title, description, and ranked keywords for each file, straight into your images.
Metadata limits at a glance
| Platform | Max keywords | Main field | AI content | Editorial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Stock | 49 · first 10 weighted | Title ≤200 chars | Yes | Yes |
| Shutterstock | 7–50 | Description ≤2,048 chars | No | Yes |
| Freepik (now Magnific) | 5–50 · singular | Title ≤100 chars | Yes | No |
| iStock & Getty Images | 5–50 · controlled vocab | Title + description | No | Yes |
| Pixta | 50 | Title ≤200 chars | No | No |
Limits researched mid-2026 – confirm current rules in each platform’s contributor dashboard.
Pick your platform
How it works
- Add a folder. Point Lemika at a folder of photos, illustrations, or video – handle the whole batch in one pass.
- Lemika describes each file. AI reads the actual image and writes a specific title, description, and ranked keywords – no "image of", no filler.
- Review and tweak. Edit any title or keyword, skip a file, or regenerate a single one in the grid view.
- Ready to upload. Metadata is written into each file as IPTC/XMP – most platforms read it on upload. Prefer a CSV? Export one in a click, shaped for your platform.
Why Lemika
Frequently asked questions
Metadata written into your files works for any stock that reads IPTC/XMP on upload. CSV export is ready for Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Getty Images, iStock, Pond5, Dreamstime, Depositphotos, 123RF, Pixta, Vecteezy, Freepik (now Magnific), and Microstock – more added as contributors ask.
JPEG and PNG for photos, SVG for vector illustrations, MP4 and MOV for video.
No. Lemika runs on your computer and your originals stay there. Only small previews of each file go to the AI to be described.
No – Lemika prepares the metadata only. It writes it into your files, and you can export a CSV yourself when you want one. The platform account and the upload stay with you.
Start free with 20 generations after confirming your email – no card required. After that you buy generations as you go – one-time packs that don't renew and stay valid for 12 months – or take a monthly plan if you process a lot. One generation is one file processed end-to-end (title, description, and keywords), and it's a desktop app – the manual EXIF editor stays free forever, with no account needed.