Are vector traces allowed?

Genkishonen · Newb Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 5

Well?

I like doing vector traces of screenshots and scans. And I wanted to know if it's allowed here.
I'm not sure, but I think it should on a site mostly for fanart. Even deviantART considers it a valid form of fanart.

Just want to clarify Smile

Kirbyt · Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 11:28 am Post subject:

FAC don't allow copyrighted screenshots to be edited. Breaking this rule can report your pictures that was stolen.

Genkishonen · Newb Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 5

No no, a vector is not an edit. You're redoing the whole picture, but by tracing it. So you're not uploading any original parts of the picture, just an exact (but bigger, prettier and non-pixelated) copy of it.

London · Moderator Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 6474

Traces are not allowed.

The only rule deviantart enforces is no gay porn.
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Genkishonen · Newb Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 5

lol you're right xD

Well too bad ^^ Gotta go back to dA then Very Happy

Jedi · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 11:25 am Post subject:

[quote="Genkishonen"]lol you're right xD

Well too bad ^^ Gotta go back to dA then Very Happy

[/quote]

Why not learn to draw your own poses for the characters, instead? Surely that'd be much more fun.
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Stratadrake · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 6:02 pm Post subject:

deviantART actually does have an established opinion on the matter of tracing. Ignoring the obvious cases where both the original and traced versions are yours...
http://help.deviantart.com/304/

Basically...
- Digital tracing or editing/manipulation of another person's work is not allowed without explicit permission given from them to do it. An open statement of that nature (to no one in specific) may [b]or may not[/b] constitute valid permission.
- Using a picture as reference material for freehand reinterpretations (e.g. using a similar character pose) is generally allowed, but the original artist needs to be cited to avoid trouble, and attempting to copy the source image's composition down to every last detail, even if no actual tracing is involved, can be considered [i]unethical copying[/i] of the original piece and deemed a violation.
- Fanart is slightly more lenient about drawing from reference material than is original art, that's what novice fanartists do and notwithstanding the above point about unethical copying, that is generally tolerated as well.
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Genkishonen · Newb Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 5

That FAQ entry is old. They allow tracing as long as you don't trace from another artist. Traces of screenshots and official art are allowed: http://news.deviantart.com/article/40612/

[i]Essentially this means that if someone copies or traces a screenshot from their favorite cartoon the staff will be more forgiving and if someone has copied or traced your original artwork or photograph they will be less forgiving; especially if you are the one to file the official complaint.[/i]

All reports on vector traces are coming back as "invalid", explaining it's a "valid form of fanart". So it's totally allowed there ^^

Stratadrake · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 5:21 am Post subject:

No, that's not strictly true. Yes, fanart is given more leniency because of the tendency for artists to copy from official sources, however it still must be their own work and not contain portions of the original material, and if the situation is ambiguous than dA staff will err on the side of [i]not[/i] deleting it.
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Genkishonen · Newb Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 5

Of course it doesn't contain portions of the original material. I don't paint over a screenshot and upload it. But it's still a 1:1 copy (trace).
I get so many reports but none of my pics gets deleted.