Product Imagery and Presentation Standards

Overview

TurboSquid surveys customers to determine which features and improvements they would like to see. One of the main suggestions was improved presentation. Based on this feedback, we have implemented product imagery and presentation standards for all new models being published.

Imagery requirements

Minimum required imagery

All models are required to have one Search Image, at least five Product Shots, and one Wireframe. These should be unique images and/or relevant images that depict the model that is being sold. Providing the same image five times or including irrelevant images does not give customers an accurate idea of what a model looks like and if it will work for their needs. Without appropriate imagery, they are less likely to purchase the model.

Overlays on Search Images

Overlays on Search Images generally clutter the product search and add unnecessary distractions for customers. To provide a clean, distraction-free search experience, search images should be free of the following overlays except when they only provide information to the customer regarding collections.

This means that overlay text cannot be used for marketing or attention-grabbing purposes. The text can only be in a standard font that takes up less than 25% of the total image. Text color can only be black, white or a subdued shade that matches the rest of the image.

You may also use very small, semi-transparent overlays as long as they are not easily detectable in the search view. The reason these overlays are allowed is for image piracy detection if the images or models appear elsewhere.

Black or colored borders, QR codes, personal logos, or non-collection overlays are never allowed on search images.

Opaque overlay

Opaque personal logo

Border

QR code

Wireframes and viewport screenshots

One of the biggest complaints that we’ve received from customers is that not all artists provide sufficient imagery to help them determine how a model is built and how it will render. So that customers can make informed purchasing decisions, artists need to follow these guidelines:

Each product preview must include at least one wireframe image of the model(s).
If you are modeling in solids or NURBS-based formats, a viewport screenshot of the model that is “shaded with visible edges” can substitute for a wireframe. If you are using particles or other types of effects that may not allow you to provide a traditional wireframe, a viewport screenshot can also subsitute.
Products require rendered imagery and wireframe images. Viewport screenshots can be used as supplemental imagery but not as the signature image or as the sole source of imagery.

We know that creating wireframes can be a daunting task if you’ve never created them before. To help you create wireframes like a pro, please check out our article on Creating Wireframes.

Wireframe

Viewport screenshot

Nudity in Search Image

Regardless of the content of your 3D model, Product Search Images must not include nudity. Black bar overlays or blurring are also not allowed, so please either show a clothed version of your model or a head and shoulders shot.

Brand overlays

When selling branded content, you must be careful not to imply that your content is being sold by or endorsed by the company that makes the product. For that reason, you may not use brand overlays on any of your product imagery. Please note that a brand overlay does not include branding that is part of a model (for example, a brand insignia on a car). A brand overlay is a logo that is used on the image but is not part of the model. The only exception to the brand overlay rule is the use of software logos. While you may use software logos on your imagery, you may not use them on your Search Images.

Brand overlay

Presentation standards

Contact information

Since TurboSquid offers extensive and guaranteed support, TurboSquid does not allow artists to publish any form of contact information on the product preview pages or anywhere else on turbosquid.com or affiliate sites. Contact information includes:

Personal website
Email address
Instant messaging handle
Phone number, address, QR codes, or any other information that a person can use to contact an artist outside of TurboSquid.

Product naming

All products should have a descriptive name — one that states what the model depicts. Using file names and leaving on file extensions looks unprofessional. For example, rather than using the file name, “dalmatian.zip”, you should name the product “Dalmatian dog”.

Improper product title

Proper product title

Exorbitant pricing

The majority of TurboSquid’s returning customers are production professionals with a budget, and they expect to pay a fair price for quality models. With that in mind, models should be priced within a reasonable range and should not be priced at an exorbitant level. An example of exorbitant pricing would be a simple model posted at $1,500 or even a complex model at $15,000.

Exorbitant pricing

Quality

Models that are posted on TurboSquid should be of a reasonable level of quality. Models that are below industry standards will be taken offline at TurboSquid’s discretion.

Poor quality

Branded Printables

TurboSquid does not allow the sale of Branded objects in printable formats. Branded models may not be advertised as being printable. This includes mentions of printability in the title, description, and tags.

Disallowed content

AI-Generated Content

In order to ensure that customers are protected, that intellectual property is not misused, and that artists’ are compensated for their work, TurboSquid will not accept content uploaded and sold on our marketplace that is generated by AI. This includes models, textures, and/or other supporting materials. Printable Weapons TurboSquid does not allow the sale of firearms or other weapon models in printable formats. This includes mentions of printability in the title, description, and tags. Standalone Logos While you are free to include logos as part of a model, such as a badge or insignia on a car, you may not publish any content of a logo by itself. Adult content All content that depicts human nudity in erotic imagery, sexual contact, or minors under the age of 18 is prohibited . More generally, this includes content deemed to be pornographic, obscene, or blatantly offensive. For clarity, nudity of adults is allowed as long as it is used for the purposes of conveying anatomical details relevant to the model. However, nudity that is suggestive of or intended for erotic, pornographic, or sexual purposes is not allowed. Copyright issues All content you submit must be created by you independently. You may not use other artists’ content in the models or scenes that you sell. Additionally, you may not use TurboSquid’s name, branding, or any other identifying materials in your model imagery or uploaded content.