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C-Puff — Vector traced anime
Published: 2008-08-05 02:49:27 +0000 UTC; Views: 7469; Favourites: 168; Downloads: 0
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It has been a pet-peeve of mine for a very long while now, and as much as I've tried ignoring the problem but it doesn't seem to be getting any better, and frankly I am very confused about dA's rules concerning the matter. As far as I can see the rules seem to be in contradiction with other rules of DeviantArt.
I am talking about Vector tracing.
I had written a journal entry regarding this matter some time ago and there was some confusion as to what I was really getting at.
I am sick and tired of searching the Deviant Art archives for certain anime titles only to receive literally hundreds of Vector drawings that are nothing more than traces of either official art, screenshots or magazine scans. I am not referring to Vector tracings of photographs, or things sketched by hand first, or collaborations where one person drew the image and another person vectorized it. I am referring specifically to vector traces of anime screenshots, official art or magazine scans or something along these lines. I am sorry, but no mater how look at it, it is NOT art. Even if it took you hours and hours to trace the original, blow it up etc etc, it still doesn't make it art.
In my experience vector tracers have hundred and one excuses to validate their traced images. from "dA says it's ok" to "I upload it to dA because photobucket scales down images" to "I tend to get a very positive response for making traces"
It doesn't matter HOW true these statements are, it is STILL not art. Unless you have a written letter from the original artist who physically drew the original image (not the company who owns the character, the actually artist who drew that individual frame, official art, magazine picture) can it even come close to being validated as "art".
Now this opens a whole line of questioning about how vectorizing takes a great deal of skill. This may be true (I for one have a very difficult time using vector based programs short of Flash) and yes it takes more than the casual first time fanartist to create a rather good vector trace, but the sad truth is that when it comes to tracing some-one else's art, how good it looks does not matter. Tracing is tracing and it is Art theft.
A year or more ago there was the big scandal involving Disney-Bubbles' art and how 90% of her gallery ended up being traces of screenshots, colouring books, official art, packaging and other images created by other artists for the Disney company. She was severely reprimanded for this by absolutely every-one on dA, the people who watch her as well as the dA staff. Now her traces were of a very good quality and she had a large fanbase, but in the end her traces were severely frowned upon by the dA staff as well as the community.
Now I do not understand why she got such a harsh time for her traces but the site is completely littered by traces who openly ADMIT to being traces and yet nobody seems to even care, and others even commend them for it. Now I admit that often I will see a vector trace and find it very appealing, but finding out that the artist who submitted it merely traced it and had no hand in the actual creation of the image leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth, and then then to find that same image to have over 200 faves attached to it I can only throw my hands in the air.
Now dA has strong rules against art theft and image tracing of other artists, so why are these anime vector traces allowed? the sad truth is, because they are popular and this is the biggest double standard I have had the misfortune to encounter here on dA. Art theft is frowned upon, but vector tracing of Anime is allowed because 1: it is so very popular with a certain fanbase and 2: anime isn't really created by REAL people now is it? oh yes it's all created by robots or something. it' too GOOD to actually have been done by a REAL artist so it's not technically Art theft
This may be a little harsh though and perhaps there are a lot of paragraphs and loopholes involving this as far as the DeviantArt policy is involved.
but if you stripped away all these extra toppings and added footnotes and loopholes one is left with this:
The site is becoming littered with images, TRACED, not created, and no-one is DOING anything about it.
I expect to get a lot of negative comments on this article but I'm afraid it is the truth. You can validate it any way you want, and defend it to th death, but vector tracings of anime screenshots, artwork and magazine scans is NOT ART
Please. can we not DO something about this? this is suppose to be a community for artistic creativity, not an Otaku fest.
and it makes me feel a little cheap to ask but if you agree with my article or you have some other points or information regarding the matter (even if it goes against what I have said) please share it.
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And just to illustrate my point, here are some of the vectors in question I'm referring to
(to the artists of these, this is not a personal attack, I am just using these images to make my point) :
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LASTLY! I feel I should give a shout out to the REAL vector artists out there. You guys are great and I'm not referring to you or your art in any way in this article
and on a less serious note, this is my first news article, so I apologise if it isn't the best.
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Comments: 195
The only vector I prefer is Vector the Crocodile and Vectorman.
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I had a feeling this was old when I saw photobucket be mentioned
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RIDDLE ME THIS,CUNT.
GIVE ME ONE GOOD REASON THAT VECTOR TRACING IS BAD.
BECAUSE I SEE NO GOOD POINTS,OR ANY POINTS AT ALL,IN THIS POST.
NOTHING.NONE.NADA.
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imagine replying to a comment thats a year old at the point of you commenting
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Because you're copying other people's art, which is illegal and is a form of art theft by law. And honestly, you're a bullying prick for calling this person a cunt. I really hate people like you who think that calling people names somehow makes you hip or cool. It makes you a shithead, just like defending art thieves does.
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No really. I legit want to know how you stumbled on this journal!
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I wonder the same. This just turned up in my sidebar.
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i was browsing my hypnosis stuff when i came across this
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skaalkslds I have no idea how that even works or how that would happen???? X'DDD but thank you for telling me. omg.
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*looks up from newspaper* ....I wrote this journal literally 10 years ago. Where the hell did you even find this?
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puff you really needed to look up from that news paper
you've been reading it for 11 years now.
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did... did you check the date on when I posted this journal? X'D
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yeah, its 2019. if it was still 2018 it would've been 10. it was made in 2008
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exactly X'D so I'm not sure why you'd bother to comment on a journal thing I made when I was.... -squints-.... 20 years old??? It was a long time ago.
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Logical conclusion of this rant:
Photography isn't art either unless you made everything which appears in your photo. Or else it is ART THEFT.
Hand drawn fan art is also not art unless your created the character. Or else it is ART THEFT.
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How do you draw the line between creation and tracing? Tracing uses previous art as a model. Drawing a piece of fan art uses previous art as a model, except from memory.
If you believe the recreation of something from memory is all it takes for something to be considered art, then I'm sorry, you should not even call yourself an artist.
"I am not referring to Vector tracings of photographs, or things sketched by hand first, or collaborations where one person drew the image and another person vectorized it."
You have not given even one good reason what makes vector tracing of anime different from any of these exceptions. The closest attempt at making that point was the following: 'Unless you have a written letter from the original artist who physically drew the original image (not the company who owns the character, the actually artist who drew that individual frame, official art, magazine picture) can it even come close to being validated as "art".' This can't be true because it would also mean that hand drawn fan art is not real art because the design has been stolen without permission. And that just makes you a total hypocrite.
Art is so much more than just the elitism of being able to get the structure and proportions of a figure correct. Its about the creation of something aesthetically pleasing. Trying to limit the definition of art just because you are upset that people have been enjoying art which wasn't quite as difficult to make as your own is just plain stupid.
(Disclosure: I'm not much of a visual artist myself, just an appreciator. But as an artist of other sorts, mostly music, it offends me that you're trying to control the definition of art to please your own emotions. Its still music when you sing someone else's song. Its still art when you draw someone else's character. Its still music when you sing along to the original track. Its still art when you trace the original drawing)
P.s. please respond to this message. Point by point. And don't rage quit either. Defend your original post and explain to me why you are still right despite my response, or it can be officially declared that your opinion is wrong. And yes an opinion can be wrong. If an opinion doesn't stand up to logic, its wrong.
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As someone who makes handmade fanart saying that my art isn't art because its fan art is kinda insulting.
1. fanart if drawn by yourself and now traced from anything is still an art since they created from scratch to honor a person or something they enjoy.
2. Fanart isn't art theft in most situations fanart is encouraged. Take Vinesauce, for example, they have an entire site for fan art since they encourage people to make something for them if they wish to do so.
sure fanart has some copyright issues for the bigger things such as Disney but rarely fanart is taken down from copyright issues
and saying that photography isn't an art is also quite incorrect. The reason it's considered an art since most photography (that's actually nice looking ) requires hard work and planning to find out how they want to make the picture work. saying that it's not art if you don't make everything in the picture its art theft means that people who take pictures of things such as the sky or forests are art thefts. That makes no sense. You can't steal the sky since it wasn't made by anything.
As Arrancar said, "The "art" in photography is the set up and execution of a shot. It's in the vision of the photographer, not necessarily in the subject itself. If you gave 10 people cameras, and put them in the same room, with the same items, you'd get 10 different photos."
and as Arrancar also said "
The point the author's trying to make about art theft, is that copying something line for line, that someone else did should not be considered art. Not that it's not "original" enough.
It's like plagiarism. If a teacher tells their class to write a report on birds, and two people choose to do ducks, that's fine. But if both people turn in the exact same report on ducks, then that means one of them copied the other instead of doing it by themselves. They haven't learned anything from the writing process, they haven't done any work or research, they didn't even rephrase the piece. All they did was copy. The teacher would most likely give that person an F. "
Just like people who trace they are very unlikely to learn something from copying line from line since they do not know how to do their own work besides the things they might have added on. (if they did)
While I see where your coming from you should probably work on your argument before you label your conclusion as logical.
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I do realize I'm really late to this party but I had to respond lol.
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Not to be mean or anything, but your "Logical conclusion" isn't very logical.
"Photography isn't art either unless you made everything which appears in your photo. Or else it is ART THEFT.
Hand drawn fan art is also not art unless your created the character. Or else it is ART THEFT."
The "art" in photography is the set up and execution of a shot. It's in the vision of the photographer, not necessarily in the subject itself. If you gave 10 people cameras, and put them in the same room, with the same items, you'd get 10 different photos.
The problem with non-traced fan art is more the copyright issues (seeing as it's FAN art, someone out there clearly owns the rights to this character) than art theft. But that's a really sketchy line, and an entirely different topic in and of itself.
The point the author's trying to make about art theft, is that copying something line for line, that someone else did should not be considered art. Not that it's not "original" enough.
It's like plagiarism. If a teacher tells their class to write a report on birds, and two people choose to do ducks, that's fine. But if both people turn in the exact same report on ducks, then that means one of them copied the other instead of doing it by themselves. They haven't learned anything from the writing process, they haven't done any work or research, they didn't even rephrase the piece. All they did was copy. The teacher would most likely give that person an F. (And probably detention on top of it.)
The same thing can be said of drawings. If two people show the exact same drawing (even if one is vectored) then that means one of them is just riding the coattails of the other. (Barring collabs, since that's a previously agreed upon distribution of work.) Gaining popularity and recognition for work they didn't do anything but trace.
So why should people who do that with pictures get praised, while people who do that with writing get negative reactions? Answer: they shouldn't. If they didn't do any work, then they don't deserve any praise, and they should be in just as much trouble as someone who plagiarized.
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this made me realize I'm a noob.. I understand... thank you for this article.. I should move on the next level~
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This was made in 2008.
Currently, it is 2011.
We still have the same problem. Proof that the dA staff hasn't done anything about it in 3 years. Painful.
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I haven't been seeing as many vector traces. These days it seems they've been replaced by demotivational posters. Vector traces probably felt an hour was too long to spend on a picture and merely decided to copy it straight from Google and give it a black border
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Vector traces are fine to make desktops and graphics for forums, websites, etc. Screenshots/scans/etc have bad quality most of the time, and it's more pleasing to the eye to have something clean like a vector.
However, anything traced should stay off of deviantART, seeing how that's not their actual drawing. It's not hard to go over a drawing with the pen tool- I would know, I've done it once. [it was a looong time ago, keep in mind.] I don't really see why deviants like vectors so much- especially that one boom a couple years ago. I remember one was always on the front page. The artists are saying "OH MAN, I WORKED [number] OF HOURS ON TRACING THIS, NOW PRAISE ME." It's not right. Especially with the comments that are like "this is so cute" or "I like the pose" rather then commenting on the lines, coloring or the main features of a vector. Commonly, people do not understand that the vector traces are TRACES and not drawn by who uploaded them. Because of this, it really makes people get credit they don't deserve, and to the people who know it's tracing- it makes them think tracing IS A-OK. AS LONG AS I DO IT WITH THE PEN TOOL.
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Honestly, I don't understand why there is such a big objection to vector tracing. Many of the "vector tracers" do credit the original artist for the artwork. And we don't get any cash benefit from them. For those of you who are wondering why the hell people even do vector traces: One of the reasons is that some of us do make our own wallpapers, etc., and sometimes the scan is of too low a quality. To get rid of the low quality problem, really there is nothing we can do except to vector the image. People get credit for them because even vector tracing is a time and effort-consuming process, and if you're looking for a vector to add to your new wallpaper, there is really nothing that can make you happier than a good vector.
Just my own two cents.
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Vector attempter here. I hate tracers with a passion. With anime, all you have to do basically is remove the black lines.
This was a WIP for me [link] and it's really messed up that people get credit for doing something so skill-less. That vector I did took me long enough for me to get a bit irate over the anime traced pieces.
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ARE YOU EVER RIGHT!
I was looking for .Hack fan art that wasn't a trace on here once, and I could barely find any. Quite a bit of the traces weren't even all that good!
I know how you feel, it makes me irritated...
People who trace reading what I say, I'm not trying to be mean to anyone, but I want to see some art that's not a trace on here.
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Tracing is fine if your learning the lines and shapes of a particular artist or style.
However, once you feel comfortable, you really should go free hand. With time and practice, you start to develop your own unique style.
I traced as a child and that helped a lot with the basics. However, through a lot of work and practice, I grasped a style all my own. By the time I was in Jr. High, I was way beyond the tracing.
In short, you eventually need to fly on your own. Just don't take too long to jump out and try.
Cheers.
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I don't abhor it completely, it is my opinion that everyone has to start somewhere, and maybe this is some people's way of "starting," of breaking into a style they admire.
Copying and tracing sucks, but it's flattery. "I think this is so badass I want to do it myself," and there's nothing wrong with that. Maybe some people just don't know how to break away from it, or are simply not confident enough to do so.
Not everyone has limitless confidence in themselves and their skills, and sometimes they just need to learn by doing-over and then weaning themselves from it. Bit. By. Bit.
We all started somewhere.
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I know this is pretty late.
Its nothing new, really. It's been going on for ever with Rotoscoping, and Mr. Warhol himself made millions off a simple portrait of Marilyn Monroe, and a soup can. Whether you're doing an Stock, Magazine clipping or a media still, it is still tracing, and if the essential act of tracing is not art then many vector works are not, by your definition, art.
It's nothing new, or overtly interesting, it is the best way to make money even -- just ask the apparel industry.
Superficial and easy on the eye, no real depth.
What is Art anyway?
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i totally agree with this
anddd straight up boring tracing doesn't take much skill at all i did a few when i was 12 (just for practice and didnt submit to dA)
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Like most people here, I agree with you.
Every one has said what I wanted to say... I don't think there's anything new I could add.
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I lol at the person that hated this. They're probably a tracer as well.
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Everyone's said what I wanted to say already.
I just find it funny that this was posted on my birthday.
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I can't do nothing but agree with you. Actually, before I joined deviantart I didn't know that people still trace other people's images. I thought that only kids do that. Oh how naive I was.
I mean... Who would listen to a singer who steals other artist's compositions and just adds different lyrics? Well personally I wouldn't.
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/sigh....Even more annoying than 's over-paints. =/
Thanks for posting this.
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I completely agree, especially since I can actually create vectors from scratch >:/ And many artists who create original vectors are getting overlooked, much like the anime fanartists you mentioned.
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but vamperialllia girl she is the pinnical of talent!!!!!!! I'm even banned on her page. lawl.
screw that. i need some vector tracings in my gallery so I'm worth a sniff.
It dosen't mater if i fight.
people don't like things that are scary and new
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I don't really have a particularly strong opinion on this, but I'll admit that I don't really see vectoring anime as wrong. Vectoring can produce an image that is of even higher quality than the original and as you pointed out takes skill. But I suppose I have to admit that unless the artist uses it as part of larger piece then there is pretty much zero creativity in this type of art. Or "art". W/e.
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The only rejection probably came from the only person to have their comments turned off... lol
I think if you show them a link to the original picture that was vectored, it'll be removed; I just reported one of them and I'll see if it will be removed.
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I agree 100% on every POV discussed in this, I may use specific pictures for art references but I wouldn't be caught dead stealing or tracing. Tracing irritates me.
As for imitating completely or vector tracing... I have no idea how to use flash or what a vector IS so I couldn't even really do that.
But what if someone took a screenshot, borrowed bits and pieces of it but deviated on the rest entirely? would it still be considered art theft? it's a question that just now popped into mine squashy giant head...
I have never (or will ever) trace or otherwise steal anything from anyone.
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I agree completely with you, I use some as reference but never will I be caught tracing. If I want to get into college theres no way in hell I am doing something so ridiculous as that, plus my Art teacher would end up kicking my ass.
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sigh, you dont know how much I agree on this with you!
I mean , the vector artists are all known and everyone goes all crazy and fav fav when they see theyre ''
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At last, SOMEBODY steps up and does the right thing!
Good job!
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Truer words were never spoken Mudkipped crusader.
I just joined dA recently and just yesterday I say some anime vectors and was like 'what the heck? This isn't art!'
I didn't realise it was an epidemic 
Great article 
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Personally, I really don't have a side on this situation. I think if someone wants to trace these so called "vectors", then it's their business. But the thing I do have a bit of a problem with is if they make that their signature way of art. Then they won't have any original art for people to see.
Like me for example, I *cough* have only made two edits, ONLY TWO, while everything else in my gallery is my own original fanart, nothin' else. But it really does upset me that people would make editing be their signature thing to do. Not only that, I find it as an excuse not to show their real talent, cuz I'm sure that some of these people have some real talent, but they are probably too afraid to show, I dunno.
But that's all I really have to say, if they want to edit and make fake vectors, then it's their business, and until they do get in trouble, then that's what they are gonna keep doing.
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