HUGE Author News: 40-70% Commissions

As of February 15th we are changing the way authors get paid! We'll be upgrading to a new % rates system: 40-70%. While we're still supporting the old 'non-exclusive' plan, we'll be moving our focus and rewarding authors creating unique content for the marketplaces.

The upgrade has been a long time coming as the marketplaces have grown these last two years and we are thrilled to reward our vibrant, loyal and just plain awesome authoring community with a big pay increase in the midst of these troubled economic times.

You can grab all the details on the marketplace blogs here

2009 Envato Plans

As we round out the first decade of the new millennium, it is all systems go here at Envato HQ. We've got many new sites planned and a lot of upgrades and features. In particular we're working on a redesign of the marketplaces, the addition of new file types like Flex, email templates and audio source files, as well as a new pricing system and a flexible licensing system. There's plenty to look forward to!

Read more on the marketplace blogs!

GraphicRiver Beta Invites

In just a couple of weeks we're going to be opening a very exciting new digital goods marketplace called GraphicRiver where you'll be able to buy and sell:

• Layered Photoshop PSDs
  Backgrounds, graphics and abstract designs
• Vector Items
  Cartoons, illustrations and designs
• Individual and Sets of Icons
  Both vector and raster icon sets, small and large
• Textures, Brushes and Add-ons
  Everything you need to take Photoshop and Illustrator to the next level

Initially we're going to go into a private beta for anyone looking to get the jump on uploading items, getting on the popular items/authors page and generally getting started.

Grab a Beta Invite here!

Referral Program % Decrease

One unavoidable, unfortunate consequence of the new rates is that we have to drop the referral % from 50% down to 30% effective February 15th. This was necessary to ensure that it would not be possible to earn more than 100% on a file sale and create security issues. We apologize to all our referrers and understand this may cause some to cease using the referral program. If this is the case, we'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for using the referral program. We appreciate all the many members who have been brought into the marketplaces via your support, the sites simply wouldn't be the same without your efforts.

FlashDen Gets Into the Christmas Spirit

‘Twas a week before Christmas and all through FlashDen,
not an author was stirring, not even Cyan.

When out of the forums there arose such a clatter,
‘Twas a post whose length would make all records shatter.

FlashJunkie proposed an unofficial competition,
$50 the prize for the finest Holiday avatar submission.

The purse, how it grew as the time was a pass’n,
25 dollars from Bobocel, another 25 Jurgen.

It finally stopped at two-hundred-fifty US dollars,
A new badge to boot, for the avatar drawer.

After voting was closed and all were wished good luck,
the winner was announced and of course it was Chuck.

The $3000 New Year Competition

ThemeForest is starting 2009 with a bang! We have $3,000 cash to give away to ten brilliant designers. The authors of the top ten site template submissions in January will each receive a $300 cash bonus! You have two more weeks to prepare your best HTML template; so get started! All submissions into this category will be automatically entered into the contest. The winners will be announced during the first week of February.

For more information, review the guidelines.

Amazing Project Files For Custom Videos

VideoHive now stocks a growing inventory of project files. Project files are professionally made After Effects & Motion files that you can buy and alter to make your own custom videos! You have ready-made composition, effects, and appearance and can replace key elements with whatever you want! Prices range from $5.00 to $25.00, with over 30 files to choose from (and growing). Check out Hedley's Spectrum file which allows you to substitute your own text, images, and photos to make for an amazing broadcast or feature film quality sequence. Complete with working audio equalizers that actually react to the music you throw at it, and you have your own custom masterpiece.

For more information, visit VideoHive.