Spirits of the Earth

Joining and Plotting => Character Registration and Directory => Topic started by: Rhindeer on April 10, 2008, 05:56:43 PM

Title: Art usage policy! Please read! [UPDATED!]
Post by: Rhindeer on April 10, 2008, 05:56:43 PM
Update: Images that violate our art policy will now be removed from profiles without warning.

1.) You may use any art style (including photography) to represent your characters. Your own art, commissioned art, photo-manipulation, celebrity photos, anime art, CGI art, traditional art, digital art...it's all good! Use what you like!

2.) If you are using images that are not your own, please make sure to credit the source! You must list their name and include a link to the original source. Be sure to read each artist/photographer's usage policy to be sure that you are even allowed to use their pictures, first.

3.) Cite your own work, too! That way we don't accidentally take it down.

4.) You're free to use art from official, corporate sources (published anime, video games, movies, TCGs, etc.) as well as photos of celebrities without crediting the specific artist/photographer so long as you name the source (the title of the movie, TV show, game, etc.).  Apart from these sources, please either credit or do not use the image. If you're unsure as to whether something is or is not an official source, we'll err on the side of caution and disallow the image.

5.) Photo-manipulations/edits are acceptable provided that you obtain the artist's permission. Stock photography and Creative Commons photos/art are of course open to editing and manipulation. Just please credit the original artist/photographer as usual.

6.) No AI art. Due to the issues surrounding AI art, such as art theft, we will not be allowing it.

7.) If you can't find the artist of an original piece (for instance, say you found the image on photobucket or pinterest), do a reverse image search! TinEye (http://tineye.com/) is a great resource for that.

8.) If it is an image that has been commissioned (and you're not the owner of the original commissioned character) then we're going to disallow the image.
The person who commissioned it paid good money for that character image, so it's safe to assume they wouldn't want someone else using it.

9.) ]If an image has nudity in it, please place it under a spoiler tag with a warning.
Some people browse from work and school. Characters portrayed must be 21+.
[spoiler][img=http://ImageLinkGoesHere.com][/spoiler]
Thank you!

F.A.Q

Are there any exceptions to crediting artwork?
Yes. If the art is very obviously from a corporate art source (like Disney, or an anime series), we require only that you name the source, not the individual artist/photographer.  Also, if you commissioned the piece yourself, there is no need to cite attribution.  These are the only two exceptions.

Their name is on the picture. Do I still have to credit?
Yep. Even if their name and url are on the picture, we still require written credit.

I can't find the artist and this picture is perfect!
No artist, no credit, no picture. Sorry! But there's tons of artists out there who you CAN credit. Go check their art. (Try DeviantArt.)  Or visit The Studio (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?board=3.0) and see if you can find an artist to draw a picture for you. We even have a Commissionable Artists Directory (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=26095.0). Or commission an artist elsewhere. Or draw the picture yourself. Or visit Portrait Adoption (http://portraitadoption.com/) and buy a portrait there!

I found the art on Pinterest/Google Image Search/etc and have the artist's name! Is that good enough?
Pinterest and Google image searches do not count as a source for the image. You must link to the image's original source. Generally, googling the image or the artist's name will lead you to the image's original source (such as the artist's website, Deviantart, tumblr, or other social media).

So if I credit I can use any picture I want, right?
Not quite! Some artists disallow their work to be redistributed even if credit is given. This is their right as the copyright holder, and we will honor their decision.

Well, I'm still searching for the original artist...
Great! Take the picture down until you can find them. Then you can put it up. (:

Can I edit/recolor an artist's image?
Do you have their permission to do so? Then yes! If not? Then no! You can gain permission one of two ways:
1.) Contact them and ask them personally. If they say yes, then you can! If they say no, then don't do it!
2.) Read their artist FAQs if they have any! If they say in their FAQ that their images are available to be edited, then go for it! If they don't have a FAQ or they say they cannot be edited, or they say nothing about the subject at all, then assume that is a no and either don't do it, or contact the artist directly. Then refer back to point #1.

I'm still waiting for permission/haven't heard from the artist about editing their work, can I just put up the edited version while I wait?
Nope! No answer from an artist is considered a "no" until they say otherwise.
Title: Re: Art usage policy! Please read! [UPDATED!]
Post by: Rhindeer on June 08, 2018, 11:19:10 AM
Here is a sample of how to properly source your image!

(https://78.media.tumblr.com/ba67be3464416016f5ada5e52443a70b/tumblr_p8jatpKX2Q1r9ee9go1_1280.png)
Art by Ikimaru (http://ikimaru.tumblr.com/post/173779126870/some-dragon-prince-of-sorts)

The breakdown:
I not only credited the artist by name, but I also linked to the original image on the artist's page.

Going onto Ikimaru's tumblr, I see that in her links list she has a FAQ (https://ikimaru.tumblr.com/tagged/faq). In reading the FAQ, I notice she has an informational link about using her art (https://ikimaru.tumblr.com/private/110814093170/tumblr_ktKTPOiyB6BvLgksK) listed at the top, which states what she is and isn't okay with. She even lists what kinds of edits she is and isn't okay with!

When available, always read artist FAQs, and when unclear, send a message to the artist to clarify any questions you may have.

If you don't get an answer, assume the answer is no.