FTP & SFTP Access
Once a job passes a few hundred files, a browser upload becomes the slowest part of the process. A dedicated FTP or SFTP account gives you a folder structure that matches your own, resumable transfers, and delivery back into the same place you sent from.
What an account gives you
| Protocols | SFTP recommended; FTPS available. Plain FTP is not offered. |
|---|---|
| Host | [FTP host address] |
| Port | [Port number] |
| Credentials | Issued individually per account, never shared between clients |
| Folder structure | /in for uploads, /out for delivery, mirrored to your naming convention |
| Encryption | In transit, and at rest on our servers |
| Setup time | [Confirm the genuine provisioning turnaround, e.g. one working day] |
| Concurrent transfers | Supported, so a large batch does not queue behind one file |
| Resumable | Yes. An interrupted transfer resumes rather than restarting. |
| Retention | Files retained for [number] days after delivery, then deleted |
| Deletion on request | Immediate permanent deletion at any point on request |
| Confidentiality | NDA on every file, whatever route it arrives by |
Connection details are issued with your credentials and are not published here. Ask for them through the account request form.
Which transfer method fits the job
All three deliver the same editing. They differ on what happens when the batch gets large.
| Route | Best for | Resumable | Setup needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web upload | One-off jobs and small batches | No | None |
| SFTP | Ongoing accounts and large batches | Yes | Account request |
| FTPS | Where your systems require it specifically | Yes | Account request |
| Cloud link | Occasional large batches already in your own storage | Yes | None |
Plain unencrypted FTP is not offered. It sends credentials in clear text, which is not an acceptable way to move unreleased product photography.
How an FTP job runs
Request the account
Submit the account request form. Credentials are issued individually and never shared between clients.
Upload to /in
Drop files into your /in folder in whatever subfolder structure you use internally. The structure is mirrored rather than flattened.
Edit and QA
The batch is picked up on the agreed cycle, edited by your named team and passed through three quality-control stages.
Collect from /out
Finished files land in /out, named to your convention, ready for your own ingestion process to collect without manual handling.
How your files are protected
Encrypted in transit and at rest
SFTP and FTPS encrypt the connection and the credentials. Files are encrypted on our servers as well, not only on the wire.
Access limited to your team
Only the editors assigned to your account and their quality-control reviewer can reach your folders. Credentials are per client, never shared.
Deleted on your schedule
Files are retained for [number] days after delivery and then removed, or deleted immediately on request at any point.
If the connection fails
Four things account for almost every failed first connection.
| Symptom | Usual cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Connection refused | Wrong port, or the wrong protocol selected in your client | Confirm SFTP versus FTPS and the port issued with your credentials |
| Login incorrect | Credentials pasted with a trailing space | Retype rather than paste, and check for a trailing space |
| Connects then times out | Your firewall blocking passive-mode data ports | Ask your IT team to allow the passive port range, or switch to SFTP |
| Transfers start then stall | Corporate proxy inspecting the connection | Allowlist the host, or transfer from outside the proxy |
| Uploaded files not picked up | Files placed outside /in | Check the folder; anything outside /in is not collected |
If none of these resolve it, contact support with the client software you are using and the exact error text. Do not send credentials in an email.
Related pages
Request an FTP Account
Get credentials issued.
Request →Submit an Order
For batches small enough to upload in a browser.
Start →Outsourcing
The standing arrangement FTP transfer usually supports.
Explore →How It Works
What happens to a file after it arrives.
Read →Privacy Policy
How your data and images are handled.
Read →Contact Us
If you need help connecting.
Contact →FTP access: common questions
Do you support SFTP or plain FTP?
SFTP is recommended and FTPS is available where your systems require it. Plain unencrypted FTP is not offered, because it sends credentials in clear text, which is not an acceptable way to move unreleased product photography.
How long does it take to get an account?
[Confirm the genuine provisioning turnaround before publishing a figure here.] Submit the account request form and credentials are issued to the contact you nominate.
Can several people on our team use the same account?
Credentials are issued per client account rather than per person. If you need separate access for different teams or brands, say so on the request form and separate accounts are set up.
Will you keep our folder structure?
Yes. Whatever subfolder structure you use internally is mirrored rather than flattened, and delivered files are named to your convention so your ingestion process needs no manual handling.
How long do you keep our files?
Files are retained for [number] days after delivery and then deleted. Immediate permanent deletion is available on request at any point, including before that window ends.
Can you collect files automatically on a schedule?
Yes, on an agreed cycle so a batch dropped overnight is picked up without anyone sending a message. The cycle is set at account setup.
Is FTP transfer covered by the NDA?
Yes. Every file is covered by an NDA whatever route it arrives by, and access is limited to the editors assigned to your account and their quality-control reviewer.
What if I cannot connect?
Check protocol and port first, then retype rather than paste the credentials, then check whether your firewall is blocking passive-mode data ports. If none of those resolve it, contact support with your client software and the exact error text — and never send credentials by email.
Who checked this page
Salim Ahmed
Salim Ahmed runs the production floor at Clipping Path Center in Dhaka, where he has worked in image post-production since [year joined]. He sets the quality-control standard every delivered file is measured against and owns the secure transfer setup described on this page. [One further sentence of biography, qualification or specialism.]
Set up transfer once, then stop thinking about it.
An account takes a form to request and removes browser uploads from your process permanently.
Encrypted transfer · NDA on every file · Deletion on request