Animation Source Forums

*sigh* As I've said MANY times before, FANDOM IS NOT A CRIME. Fandom is actually ENCOURAGED by companies like Universal, so don't throw the "drawing Balto is illegal" stuff at me like ten other people have (do your research).

There is such thing as "great minds think alike" but there's a difference between thinking alike and completely copying something, which is EXACTLY what this topic is about. So don't go all "off-topic" on me.

Besides, there IS NO LIMIT to creativity. The uncreative, however, think there is.

And I mean this in the nicest way possible.

Cat, thanks for the reply.
I wasnt actually trying to say Balto is completely illegal and your going to jail if you draw him.

I guess more or less if you tried to profit off your Balto drawings is where you would have the problem. Kind of like driving over the speed limit, still illegal but many times okay just as long as it isnt crazy.
While agreed fandom is not a crime, again, try to profit from it is where the trouble begins, thats what I ment by saying if you want to be 100% legal. Does that make any more sense?

After I posted the last message, another thought came to mind. Alot of members on here are very young and may not know any better. See a drawing and say, thats cool, and then copy it. I dont know how you guys handle someone thats copying, but if its a youngster, its probably best to let them know before you ban them. We dont need angry parents coming on trying to shut the site down.

Cat, this is also all taken in the nicest way, thanks. Your professionalism is respected.

Likewise. But I'm basically posting all of these topics (i have more than one, but those are mostly rants on subject-based matter) so that people reading WILL know (and can't really say they haven't read it without reading the rules. As for banning someone for stolen artwork, even if they didn't know and are probably not selling the artwork as their own, they're robbing the artist of dignity, which in my eyes is one of the worst crimes one could ever commit. If they're copying and they seem young, I let them off with a warning, but after that its game over. Really EVERYONE should read the rules before doing ANYTHING anywhere.

Yes, that's a problem. It's very difficult to know for sure if something has been copied from another artist or not, we can only be the ones making this limit in your mind. But you shouldn't fear sending drawings because of this problem...There is still a very little chance that a drawing you drew entirely by yourself may be taken for something copied from another artist. And since you seem to be a very honest person, you could still show your drawings to another mod or to me, if it happened one day.

That's also why I keep thinking that drawing from screenshots should be allowed. Cat, I think you're being a little too strict on this, because you're a good artist and you know how to draw things without taking references. But for people like me, who draws very rarely, it's impossible or it would be plain horrible. (I know what I mean )

It seems you think that "completely copying a drawing" is stupid and a waste of time, but this is not. At least for people who can't draw by mind. As long as it's not traced, it allows to get a better view on how to draw the thing, how to make shades etc...And everyone has a natural style, so if the drawing hasn't been traced, it will not be exactly the same drawing.

Of course it shouldn't be allowed when it comes to art from fans, but when it is official screenshots, I really don't think the original artists behind them would sue us for doing this. And Universal really don't care about us copying screenshots - which is logical, they don't care much about Balto at all anyway...
So, Cat, I will ask you to remove that drawing from your presentation, or replace it with a 100% traced drawing.




I've studied a bit the whole "fan stealing" problem, and that's EXACTLY what happens in most case. Why do you think stolen drawings are ALWAYS from the best artists? That's because they like them the most. Many fanart artists are offended when someone does that, but in fact, the logic would say that they should react the opposite way...That's a form of praising.
Although, I understand that it's very annoying to see our own art plastered everywhere without giving any credit. But you shouldn't neglect that part of the problem, because the people who do that, most of the time, did that because they liked the drawing and don't know these "common sense" rules.
Of course some of these people continue to do it, even after we give them lots of warnings, but it shouldn't be considered like the majority...

I fixed it up a bit.

Well I know what she is saying steet. I've gotten use to her wrighting in pm's. I don't think she speeks English like I do. No effence. But what she was trying to say was,

Ok I don't do that. Its not nice and if poeple do that, They should get banded. If the artists said no, But people do it anyway. Thats so mean and bad. I'm not a thief at all. I will pm a fanart mod if poeple do that or you Steet.

Keira lion, no effence.

Well you're right, Cat, some people use them as poses, and DONT PUT THE COPYRIGHTS! which is worng, they SHOULD PUT copyrights

If anyone wants to do me a huge favor by tracing that picture of Balto up there, that'd be great XD (for example purposes. nothing will be held against you) I'm too lazy to do it right now. If nobody offers I'll do it, but hey. I don't ask for too many favors LoL

"Ok I do not do that, it is not nice and if people do that they should get banned. If the artists say no but people do it anyway, then that is mean and bad. I'm not a thief at all, I will PM a fanart mod or Steet if people do that."

She speaks english, she's just 9.

As for this topic, I think it's an awesome idea. Even though I don't or can't draw, I dissaprove or art theives.

Perfectly right. Good topic!

I personally wouldn't call the third example theft due to the fact that it can be a common pose and there is nothing to insinuate copying such as in numbers one and two (shape of mouth, markings, tufts of fur, curves, etc.) Still, numbers one and two are great examples:).

As for copying screenshots, they may or may not help you depending on whether or not you are actually focusing on what you are drawing, and why things appear the way they do in the shot (perspective, anatomy, etc). Also, while they are learning tools, I'd say that they should be kept at home and off galleries for original art...while it does take skill to copy something, it can get a bit annoying when you see the same screenshots redrawn over and over in the galleries here (no offense to anyone, of course).

I enjoy doing the screen shot thing, I take pride in it and see nothing wrong with doing so.

I'll be honest though, I am lazy and don't have a lot of time to draw anymore as life moves on, so after I spend the time making the sketch on my pad, the rest follows very quickly.

Made some adjustments to the topic.

Its taken care of already, thank you.