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Creative Briefs: Backgrounds


USE THIS SPECIAL KEYWORD IN YOUR METADATA SO WE CAN TRACK AND PROMOTE YOUR CONTENT: BACKGROUNDSP5BRIEF

Background graphics are at the forefront of digital media and product design. This visual device captures attention, expresses moods, and represents brand values—with exciting patterns, colors, and loops bringing projects to life!

In constant demand by web designers, ad agencies, content creators, and artists, uploading your background graphic is always a great idea. Your submission could be selected to elevate work the world over.

 

Stock Media Background Examples

Creatives use backgrounds of all media types in their work. Explore the examples below.

 

Background Footage

Featuring loops, patterns, abstract elements, particles, and various animation techniques, these platforms are likely to use background footage.

  • Web design – Looped and seamless backgrounds make the page pop.
  • Promotional ads and videos – Marketing materials leverage backgrounds to support their message effectively.
  • Film and video production – From news graphics to VFX, artists use backgrounds for various reasons.
  • Visual installations and life events – As stage backgrounds or supplementary visual elements, looping footage immerses attendees in a dynamic environment. Think concerts, art installations, video mapping, etc.

 

Colorful Liquid Shape Abstract Background by airoissei.

 

Background Photos

Photography may work with isolated elements, shapes, lights and shadows, textures, seamless patterns, and more. Here are some common use cases.

  • Web design – Brands often use isolated elements on their websites. For example, green leaves isolated on a white background representing tea.
  • Presentations – Captivating visuals help keep the audience’s attention.
  • Social media content – Attractive visuals are more likely to stop people’s scrolling.

Coffee Beans Background by dusk.

 

Background Illustrations

From digital graphics to print design, illustration can tell versatile stories. Not requiring models and expensive photography, imagination is your only limit! Vector graphics, seamless patterns, and textures are in high demand.

  • Web design and social media – Some products or services require the versatility of illustrations for background images, header images, banners, profile pictures, etc.
  • Print design – From business cards to flyers, textures, and patterns give these touchpoints a signature look.
  • Packaging design – Think Christmas wrapping paper designs, gift bags, and boxes.
  • Product design – T-shirts, socks, mugs, pillows, badges, phone cases, shopping bags, simply everywhere!

Neon Grid Landscape And Sun With 80S Game Style by Swillklitch.

 

Background After Effects

A powerhouse for visually engaging creative assets, After Effects templates enable creatives to make something extraordinary.

  • Social media content – Dynamic backgrounds attract audience attention, and templates such as Instagram stories make it easy for brands to create outstanding professional messaging on that platform.

 

Donut Abstract Backgrounds by DAS1985.

 

Submission Ideas Starters

  • Footage – Try abstract elements, technology-inspired subject matter, short looped and seamless animations, particles, or animated isolated elements.
  • Photos – Snap isolated elements on white backgrounds, or focus on shapes. Shoot subject matter in different styles, from clean and simple to quirky and happy. Feel free to work with gradients, transitions, textures, patterns, and materials.
    • Example: the light and shade in a folded piece of satin cloth, a close up of the grain in wood, etc.
  • Illustration – Seamless patterns and textures are in high demand. However, feel free to experiment with abstract designs, particles, and isolated elements—with backgrounds or transparent alpha channels, and more.
  • After Effects – Social media templates are popular, particularly those reflecting contemporary trends. For this, think Instagram stories, square posts, vertical format for TikTok, 16:9 aspect ratio for YouTube, etc. Remember that trailers, promo videos, music videos, lyric videos, and visual loops also use backgrounds.

Get inspired and explore our existing background media.

 

Suitable Keywords

Background, backgrounds, background loop, background texture, animation, seamless, abstract, particles, alpha matte, alpha channel, bokeh, looped background, seamless, pattern, etc.

 

Target Audience

This evergreen content is incredibly versatile across industries, making for a wide target audience. Think tech companies, web designers, bloggers, ad agencies, content creators, and artists working with digital visuals.

 

Summary

  • Buyers want great backgrounds to help them stand out. Create and upload your background footage, photography, illustration and AE templates
  • USE THIS SPECIAL CODE IN YOUR KEYWORDS: BACKGROUNDSP5BRIEF
  • Ensure your submission falls under commercial use by submitting the appropriate release forms when necessary.

Want visual reference and inspiration? Check out our marketplace!

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Music Briefs – Old School Hip Hop

USE THIS SPECIAL KEYWORD IN YOUR METADATA SO WE CAN PROMOTE YOUR CONTENT: HIPHOPMUSICP5BRIEF

Hip-Hop is a musical and cultural movement that emerged in the late 1970s in New York City’s black communities. Hip-hop has no official anniversary. However, the first hip-hop event occurred on August 11, 1973, in The Bronx, New York. The concert, organized by DJ Kool Herc, is considered a historical turning point in hip-hop history and is celebrated as the International Day of Hip-Hop.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the cultural movement that still defines society today.

 

History of the genre

Hip-hop emerged in the late 1970s in African American communities of New York City as a synthesis of several sources and inspirations, including funk, soul, jazz, reggae, and Afro-Caribbean music.

Keith Cowboy, a member of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, is considered the creator of the term “hip hop.” Afrika Bambaataa, a DJ and hip-hop pioneer, popularized the word by using it to describe the entire culture and movement. Over time, the term “hip hop” came to refer to the music and the associated dance, art, and fashion.

 

DJ Kool Herc

DJ Kool Herc is a Jamaican-American DJ and music producer generally regarded as a forefather of hip-hop music and culture. Kool Herc mixed music on two turntables, looking for the track’s most rhythmically exciting and danceable parts. He then included these passages in his set and used them in loops, which he played repeatedly to give dancers more time to dance. This mixing approach enabled Herc to produce a new sound that became the cornerstone of hip-hop music.

Old School Hip-Hop

Old School Hip-Hop is the first era of hip-hop music, emerging in the 1970s and 1980s. Its socially conscious lyrics addressed topics such as poverty, racism, and crime in the streets of New York, combined with samples from funk, soul, and disco records. Looping these lyrics and sounds together created the basic beat that defined the genre.

As the genre grew, the artists later used drum machines, synthesizers, and other electronic instruments to generate beats, and the genre evolved into New School in the mid-80s, using more complex rhythms and rhymes, focusing more on personal experiences, wealth, and fame, more complex beats, etc.

 

Pond5 Library Examples of Old School Hip Hop

Check out some examples in the Pond5 library to inspire your submissions.

 

Submission ideas

  • Submit tracks in length between 2 and 5 minutes.
  • The tempo should be between 80 and 120 BPM.
  • Rap or beatboxing is a great advantage and addition to the Pond5 library.
  • Don’t limit yourself. Instrumental tracks are also in demand if you don’t have any vocals available!
  • Use samplers, electronic drums, multiple vocals, beat samples, groovy drum samples, or minimal simple beats that define old-school hip hop.

 

Summary

  • Take advantage of the 50-keyword limit and add both broad and specific keywords.
  • Please do not use recognizable band or artist names!
  • We also encourage you to submit separate :15 and :30 versions of these tracks for social media use.
  • Please note you can apply tags to existing tracks in your portfolio.

Top image: The Beastie Boys Mike Diamond Adam Horowitz And Adam Yauch (Second From Right) by AssociatedNews.

Check out more Music Briefs here.