What columns does the Adobe Stock CSV need?

Filename, Title, Keywords, Category and Releases. Filename must match the uploaded file exactly, Keywords is a comma-separated list, and Category is the numeric Adobe category ID.

How long can an Adobe Stock title be?

Keep titles at or under 70 characters. Longer titles are truncated in search results and can be rejected during review.

How many keywords should an Adobe Stock file have?

Adobe accepts up to 50 keywords. Aim for 25-49 accurate, relevance-ordered keywords — padding with loose synonyms hurts placement.

Guide

Adobe Stock CSV format: columns, limits and upload steps

Most Adobe Stock CSV rejections come from three things: a filename that does not match the uploaded asset, an over-length title, or a category value Adobe does not recognise. Here is the exact shape of a valid file.

The columns Adobe expects

Column	Required	Rule
Filename	Yes	Exact match, including extension and case
Title	Yes	Descriptive caption, 70 characters or fewer
Keywords	Yes	Comma separated, up to 50, most relevant first
Category	Yes	Numeric Adobe category ID (1–21)
Releases	Conditional	Names of model or property releases on file

Write the title as a caption, not a keyword list

Adobe indexes the title heavily, but a comma-jammed keyword string reads as spam to reviewers and to buyers. Describe subject, action and context in plain language: "Young woman reading a paperback in a sunlit cafe" beats "woman, cafe, reading, book, coffee, sunlight, lifestyle".

Keyword order is ranking signal

The first ten keywords carry the most weight. Lead with the literal subject, then setting and action, then concept and mood, and close with compositional terms like "copy space". Cap the set at 49 so it also clears Shutterstock's limit and one metadata set works on both sites.

Encoding and separator gotchas

Save as UTF-8. Smart quotes from a spreadsheet break the import.
Quote any field containing a comma; do not use semicolons as separators.
One row per asset, no blank trailing rows.
Keep the header row exactly as Adobe publishes it.

Generate a valid CSV for a whole batch

Drop the batch into the Metadata World studio and add your own AI key.
Select Adobe Stock as the export platform and set keyword min/max.
Review titles and keywords inline — limits are enforced as you type.
Export the Adobe CSV and upload it alongside your files.

Frequently asked

What columns does the Adobe Stock CSV need?: Filename, Title, Keywords, Category and Releases. Filename must match the uploaded file exactly, Keywords is a comma-separated list, and Category is the numeric Adobe category ID.
How long can an Adobe Stock title be?: Keep titles at or under 70 characters. Longer titles are truncated in search results and can be rejected during review.
How many keywords should an Adobe Stock file have?: Adobe accepts up to 50 keywords. Aim for 25-49 accurate, relevance-ordered keywords — padding with loose synonyms hurts placement.

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Next: Shutterstock keyword optimization and image keywording for microstock.