You may have heard us mention “modified stock” when discussing a project’s scope, but what exactly does that mean? Simply put, it’s when we take an existing stock illustration and customize it so it fits your site, brand, subject matter, and overall style.
The Pros
- Saves time and money – Modifying an existing illustration is faster and more affordable than creating one from scratch.
The Cons
- Not 100% custom – While it’s tailored to your brand, the original source still exists and may be used elsewhere.
My College Core – A Modified Stock Example
For illustrations on MyCollegeCore.org, we started with a stock illustration and:
- Simplified the design
- Updated it to match brand colors
- Incorporated brand elements (e.g., a circle motif)
- Added the logo
Want another example?
The image at the top of this post is also modified stock! Below, you’ll see the original stock illustration alongside the customized final version.
When Not to Use Modified Stock
- For proprietary or resale purposes
- When the budget allows for fully custom illustrations or icons
- When a one-of-a-kind design is needed (e.g., a boring machine)
- For logos — never use stock for logo design!
August 2025 Update
This post was originally written before AI-generated artwork became as widely used as it is today. AI has its own set of pros and cons, which we’ll be covering in an upcoming post.