Ever thought about tapping into Shutterstock for a little extra passive income? If you’ve been exploring digital side gigs, you’ve likely heard that Shutterstock forbids AI-generated art—at least officially. Despite these rules, there’s a savvy workaround that lets you upload AI creations undetected. It won’t be your biggest earner, but every additional stream can help you inch closer to your income goals.

Below, you’ll discover a practical roadmap for turning AI-generated images into polished uploads that Shutterstock’s filters won’t flag. By combining the best of MidJourney, GIMP, PixelMint, and strategic editing, you can transform AI art into legitimate, marketable assets.

Generating AI Images with MidJourney

The foundation of this trick begins with a high-quality AI image. MidJourney, which runs via Discord, is a powerhouse for producing art that looks professional and visually compelling. If you’re new to MidJourney, start by joining their Discord server and exploring the /imagine command. Aim for simplified prompts that yield clean lines and patterns—overly detailed prompts often result in noticeable AI artifacts.

Pro Tip for Seamless Results: Stick to subject matter like minimalist designs or straightforward floral prints. These are easier to retouch later, making them less likely to trigger suspicion during the upload process.

Convert Your Image to SVG

Converting your image to SVG essentially adds vector artifacts and eliminates a lot of the artifacts that AI generate, fooling the reviewers. Use Vectoryx, a free image to SVG converter and convert your AI generated image into SVG before proceeding.

Polishing Your Artwork in GIMP

Once you have an image you’re happy with, the next step is cleaning up any telltale AI markers. GIMP, a robust (and free) image editor, is perfect for tackling this task.

Open Your Base Image: Launch GIMP, load your MidJourney file, and zoom in to spot distortions or abrupt transitions that give away AI generation.
Use Healing & Paintbrush Tools: Carefully blend or smooth out odd shapes and edges. Gradual brush strokes with low opacity help maintain a natural look without introducing new flaws.
Save a Polished Version: Export your file as a high-quality PNG, preserving detail for the steps ahead.

By methodically fixing obvious glitches, you raise your chances of slipping under Shutterstock’s radar. The more “human” your final image appears, the better.

Optimizing the File with PixelMint

Even if your image looks perfect, hidden metadata (EXIF data) can still raise suspicion. That’s where a service like PixelMint (or your preferred metadata-stripping tool) comes in. After uploading your retouched PNG, remove any embedded details and consider converting to an SVG to further obscure its digital footprint. You can also upscale the resolution to meet Shutterstock’s size requirements, usually around 4MB or higher for smoother acceptance.

Applying Subtle Finishing Touches

To further diversify the image—and throw off automated detection—add low-key effects before your final export. Reopen your optimized file in GIMP or another editing program. Apply minimal distortions or light filters, such as slight rippling or subtle texture overlays. The key is to remain virtually invisible to the human eye while introducing enough modifications to sidestep image-recognition algorithms.

Uploading to Shutterstock and Maximizing Visibility

Once you’re confident your file won’t raise red flags, log into your Shutterstock Contributor account. Upload your final JPG or PNG, ensuring the file size meets the platform’s criteria. For the description and keywords, leverage a language model (like GPT) to produce engaging, SEO-friendly text that aligns with popular search terms. Think about phrases that accurately describe your art: “modern abstract background,” “pastel geometric pattern,” or “floral wallpaper design.”

Don’t rush this part. Metadata is essential for discoverability, so using high-traffic keywords relevant to your image will significantly boost your earning potential. And remember to pace your uploads—a modest, steady contribution strategy often draws less scrutiny.

A Small (Yet Powerful) Income Booster

While Shutterstock probably won’t become your primary revenue stream, it’s a worthwhile component in a broader passive income ecosystem. Consistent micro-earnings from multiple images can accumulate, and you never know which design might go viral or become a bestseller.

If you prefer a live tutorial, keep an eye out for the accompanying video demonstration—coming soon—where each of these steps unfolds in real time. Until then, this guide equips you with the key tactics needed to outsmart Shutterstock’s detection systems and monetize AI art, hassle-free.

Ready to expand your side hustle portfolio? Start generating, editing, and uploading your AI creations today—and watch those small wins begin to stack up.