simoneheld

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to extend my premium membership (and I usually chose the 3 month option), but you can only buy 12 month premium membership now, in case you don't want to switch to automatic billing. WHAT IS THIS ?! Is dA trying to commit their members to them? Now this is a rip-off of the grandest kind!!! I'm thinking of not extending my premium membership now because I'm really tired of this greedy place here!

CSS Journal Coded by FleX177

A lot has changed in the photomanipulation community and genre since I created my first manipulation - and not necessarily in a very positive way.
Lately, there's been a tendency which makes it harder and harder for non-professional artists to create high-quality artworks because...

1. You are no longer allowed to use sxc.hu as they recently released an official statement saying that artists like photomanipulators aren't allowed to take images from sxc.hu and alter them UNLESS they have the original photographer's permission to do so, but even that is tricky because you very often aren't allowed to display the final result on websites like dA.
Now since sxc.hu was one of the leading sources for us photomanipulators to get high quality images, and above all a huge selection of photos to choose from, it's very hard to find something similar.

2. High quality stock images are expensive . If you want your photomanip to be unique, creative and individual (and I'm sure that you want that), you'll have to pay for stock images because like I said previously, high quality stock is rarely freely accessible nowadays, and you have to go to places like istock, dreamstime or depositphotos and purchase your stock photos. This is costly, expecially if you are a non-professional artist and/or produce artworks frequently!

3. Stock images on dA are often subject to too many restrictions. There are lots of very good stock images on dA, and it'll probably be the most reliable source for photomanipulators in the future, but unfortunately, stock artists very often have too many and sometimes very odd rules for the use of their photographs, and you just get tired of following them all.

4. Art theft . Although this topic is a little worn thin and personally, I'm really tired of discussing it, it is indeed a big problem and it's really sad and annoying to see artists having to cover their artworks in watermarks (and thus, very often ruin them) to avoid their artworks being stolen.

I think there's no doubt that it's getting harder and harder for manipulators to create free high quality artworks that are both creative and individual (you know these stock images that are used over and over again in different manips, don't you?), and if you aren't a decent photographer yourself and can fall back on a bunch of friends who are willing to model for you, it won't get easier for you.
I'm not sure where this is going, but personally, I'm slowly turning my back on photomanipulation, even the community because there are too many rules, restrictions and discussions on those rules and restrictions.

CSS Journal Coded by FleX177

Browsing the list of popular journal entries on dA, I've noticed that people keep writing entries in which they ask dA members to fav their journal entries to win points, free poems, personal features, individually designed artworks AND dedications. I'm not sure what to think of this new trend, but it seems that people keep courting favs, page views and watchers at any cost .

I hate how dA is slowing turning into a market place.

What do you think?

CSS Journal Coded by FleX177

Very often 'copying' is used synonymously with 'art theft' here on dA but beware:  They are two completely different things. Whereas 'copying' means reproducing an artwork, 'theft' is using the artwork (that is not your own) in a new context without asking for permission and perhaps even selling it or benefitting from it in another way.

We're not going to talk about 'art theft' today (there are zillions of blog entries on this topic on dA), but 'copying'. (Side note: The type of art this article is based on is photomanipulation but there are tips for every other art/artist, too.)

Now, first of all, let me classify three different types of 'copycats':

1. A person who reproduces other people's artworks in order to learn and improve from it: Many of those are beginners in their genre/style and just want to get ahead and learn a few things by trying out someone else's style. Sometimes those people aren't even aware that the original artist might not be pleased.

2. A person who likes a certain artwork (or perhaps the stock images used) and wants to create something similar because they want to have that masterpiece for themselves.
An additional problem with photomanipulation is that there is always a limited supply of (high quality) stock images (at least if you only use those from dA) and very often, artworks look similar, although their theme/concept is completely different. This happens because two manips with the same stock model against two different backgrounds might still look similar.

3. A person who copies on purpose because they want to be just as popular/good as the original artist.

Let's move on to the next point:

What can you do?
- Use low resolution submissions of your work but the theme should still be visible.

- Make copying a contest: Pick out one of your artworks and ask people to copy it using similar stock and send them to you.

- Report copies if you see them even from other artists.

- If you're a moderator in a group, vehemently decline artworks that look very similar to others (even if people claim they've never seen the original before).

- Hint groups to copies of originals they've accepted (but don't do that too often, you might end up being the most hated person on dA ).

- When you see a copy of one of your own artworks, contact the person and ask to be credited as an inspiration.

- If you see other artworks copied, contact the original artist.

- Be tolerant once in a while! Remember copying is NOT stealing. At least the person has been creative, and perhaps it's you who is a bit paranoid. There might be a plausible reason that you'll know when you ask.

- Don't submit! Yes, you heard me. If you can't stand being copied at all, dA is not the right place for you. Keep your artworks on your hard drive.

A few final words
Quite frankly, sometimes I get a bit irritated by people who make a fuss about someone having made a copy of one of their artworks. It's not that their artwork has been stolen and is now sold as a poster for a lot of money. Remember that it's a compliment in a way, too. The copyist loves and adores your artwork and style and wanted to create something similar. It just wasn't the correct method.
Remember that you're now a respected and popular artist because your artworks are so creative and good that people want to do the same thing. You too were a beginner once and maybe you worked in a similar way.
And last but not least: Remember it might not have been you who had that blazing idea. Perhaps you've unintentionally copied someone as well.

CSS Journal Coded by FleX177