Activating contest entries for rating
The basics - What does "activating" an entry mean? - Why do we need to do this? - How do I activate my entries? - When can I start activating?
Doing your rating - Which contests will I rate in? - Can I rate in the contest I've entered to activate my entries? - Do skipped images count towards my 20? - Can I stop part-way through and come back later? - What happens if I run out of images to rate? - I have several entries — which one activates first?
Deadlines and missed activation - What's the activation deadline? - What happens if I don't activate an entry in time? - Can other people tell that my entry isn't activated? - Will you remind me before the deadline? - What happens if I withdraw an activated entry?
Following your entries and rating for enjoyment - How do I see how my entries are doing? - What does "% activated so far" mean on the contest page? - Can I still rate in a contest just because I enjoy it? - I haven't entered the contest — has anything changed for me? - What happened to rating images to see my live score?
The basics
What does "activating" an entry mean?
In Crowd-rated contests, each entry you make needs to be activated before the Crowd can rate it. To activate an entry, you rate 20 images in another contest. In return, your entry is guaranteed to receive 20 ratings of its own.
Why do we need to do this?
The more ratings each image receives, the fairer and more reliable every contest's results are. Activation means everyone who enters also contributes ratings — so every image gets a properly rated, trustworthy result, judged by a cross-section of the whole contest-entering community, rather than a small group of volunteers.
How do I activate my entries?
After you enter a contest, you'll be shown a couple of suggested contests to rate in — just pick one and start rating. Each time you complete 20 ratings, one of your entries is activated. You can also start at any time from the Activate now link on the contest page, or from Your Contests.
Only rating you start through these activation routes counts towards activation. Rating you start elsewhere — for example from within a contest page that you’re not entered into — works just as it always has, but doesn't count towards activating your entries.
When can I start activating?
Straight away — from the moment you enter. You don't need to wait for the contest to close to entries or for its rating period to begin. If you activate an entry before rating starts in that contest, it simply begins receiving ratings as soon as rating opens.
Doing your rating
Which contests will I rate in?
We suggest the contests where ratings are most needed — that's how we make sure every contest's images get the ratings they're due. You'll always be offered a choice of suggested contests, and you can switch to a different suggestion each time you activate an entry.
Can I rate in the contest I've entered to activate my entries?
Normally, no — activation rating happens in other contests. The only exception is if you've rated everything available in all the other contests currently in rating; in that unlikely case, rating in your own contest will count towards activation.
You can always rate in a contest you've entered just for the enjoyment of it — see below — but that rating doesn't count towards activation.
Do skipped images count towards my 20?
Yes. Choosing Skip ("Not for me") or Not on brief both count towards your 20, so you're never forced to score an image you don't feel able to judge.
Can I stop part-way through and come back later?
Yes. Your progress is saved. When you return, you'll see how many images you have left to rate to activate your next entry, and you can continue where you left off.
What happens if I run out of images to rate?
If you rate everything available in a contest before completing your 20, you'll be prompted to choose another contest to continue in. Your count carries over — if you had 13 images left to rate, you'll still have 13 left in the next contest.
I have several entries — which one activates first?
Your entries activate in the order you entered them. Every 20 ratings activates your next entry, until they're all activated.
Deadlines and missed activation
What's the activation deadline?
Each contest has an activation deadline: 2 days before its rating period closes (1 day before in New Joiners contests). The deadline is shown on the contest page alongside the contest's other key dates. The final days of rating are reserved so that entries activated close to the deadline still receive their full 20 ratings.
What happens if I don't activate an entry in time?
An entry can't be activated after the deadline has passed. An unactivated entry isn't rated by the Crowd, doesn't receive a Crowd result, and doesn't earn Crowd ranking points.
In contests that are judged as well as Crowd-rated, your entry is still seen by the judges and can still win judged awards and the ranking points that come with them — missing activation only affects the Crowd side.
Entry credits aren't refunded for unactivated entries, so we do everything we can to remind you before the deadline.
Can other people tell that my entry isn't activated?
No. Anyone browsing the contest sees your entry exactly as they see every other entry. Only you can see which of your entries are activated.
Will you remind me before the deadline?
Yes. You'll see reminders on the contest page and in Your Contests, and if any of your entries are still unactivated with less than 48 hours to the deadline, we'll send you a reminder as a notification and by email. You can turn this reminder off in your notification preferences.
What happens if I withdraw an activated entry?
Withdrawing an entry means its activation is lost. If you enter a different image in that slot, it will need activating afresh — the 20 ratings don't transfer.
Following your entries and rating for enjoyment
How do I see how my entries are doing?
Once an entry is activated, you can follow its standing throughout the rating period. It shows as "Awaiting position" until it has received its first few ratings, then as a percentile (such as "Top 23%") while rating is still under way, and as an exact position (such as "370th") once the activation deadline has passed.
What does "% activated so far" mean on the contest page?
It's the share of the contest's entries that have been activated and begun receiving ratings. It rises throughout the rating period as more entrants activate.
Can I still rate in a contest just because I enjoy it?
Absolutely — and we hope you will. When you start rating in a contest you've entered, you'll be asked whether you want to activate your entries (which takes you to another contest) or rate in this contest. Rating in the contest works just as it always has: your ratings count towards the images' scores, you can rate as many images as you like, and the images you've rated are revealed in the Images you've rated tab along with their current positions — so you can see how your eye compares with the Crowd's.
I haven't entered the contest — has anything changed for me?
No. If you haven't entered a contest, you can rate in it exactly as before, and your ratings count in full. Activation only applies to people with entries in Crowd-rated contests.
What happened to rating images to see my live score?
That's been replaced by activation. Previously you could rate a number of images to unlock your own entries' live scores; now, activating your entries is what unlocks following their positions — and it also guarantees your entries the ratings they deserve.