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stop-tracing β Stamp - Good and Bad
Published: 2008-10-22 02:01:39 +0000 UTC; Views: 9150; Favourites: 919; Downloads: 74
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Simple as that.
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Comments: 54
honestly they both seem like the same thing to me
all artists are just glorified tracers
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The common definitions of "tracing" and "referencing" confuses me. It seems that the main difference is that tracing is when you draw something that has next to no differences from another drawing. But when I draw using a reference, I constantly look at the other picture and try to get it just right. But I've seen a few other comments in this that state that referencing is when you take inspiration from another drawing and add your own style or "flair" to it.
The shorter version of this question: is the way I use reference pictures considered tracing and, in turn, plagiarism?Β Β
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Why is tracing bad? I mean if you're passing it as your own ya, but that's how I learn new art styles I trace the same picture or similar pictures until I learn how to draw what and where to place it.
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Tracing is for fuckin' loosers.
But the worst is when people thinkg tracing is a kind of referencing....
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It's okay to trace your OWN artwork, but if you trace other artist's artwork, then that isn't good.
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I do trace art(never really post it on DA) yet, it is of my OWN artwork that I have already drawn.
usually when I don t feel like redrawing it.
I am currently editing my drawn art digitally so it can be seen better
I recolor my own art when I don't feel like redrawing it.
so, I kinda do what is wrong, yet not as bad because it is of something I already drew. Only reason I did it was gecause I needed amsecond copy of it for a differnet reason.
but those people that never gave an effort and trace everything, never bothered to try it themselves. It makes me feel like shit for tracing/recoloring my own art.
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tracing is ok when your like 7 years old but not when your like 15 i know LOADS of 15 year olds that trace and say they did it WOSTΒ
is some get payed for it i saw a guy get asked for a drawing he was payed to do it took him like 10 mins to do i was pissed now i know
why they thet say tracing is stealing ><
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Usually when i draw i use bases as references with poses (i still suck) never ever ever do any tracing with them i did that when i was like 8 years old i think is because i want it t learn but it always make me feel bad i want it to know how to do it on my own, i have seem lots of good artist having this problems latlely in deviant is a shame really, im not the greatest artist aroun but trying to do it on my own always make me proud, i dont understand the people that trace how can you be proud of copying someones work including tracing from mangas and other copyrigth material
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Don't use bases, use photos. Bases don't teach proper anatomy or posing.Β
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I was guilty of tracing twice in my early deviantART career, but at the time my art wasn't even popular enough for anybody to notice that fact. Believe it or not, I have a THIRD piece of art that is entirely traced deep down in my computer's art archives; thankfully, I was smart enough not to submit it.
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im guilty of tracing too i admit but it was becuse i was so in the "i cant draw im horrible" cus evryone said i coudent and i beleaved them
now i see the error of my ways and im proud to look at a pic and say "i did this"Β
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I think we're all guilty of tracing at some point.
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Yeah but only a few have the courage to tell how many Deviants trace and go saying Β they didntΒ
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I would be one to tell. I don't tolerate art thieves much, then again, I could be called one for one of my deviations because I don't remember the base maker's name. But I did have the base saved in my laptop for the longest time. I should probably get that changed.
Honestly, I'd rather see a Deviant attempt at art, even if it's bad, than to see them trace other's works.
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The question is how do you tell the referenced from the traced.Β
I mean if the style is different and all you can tell but even with tracing you can just add in your own style. DX
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Referencing means you look at a picture of a character/person/pose/object/something else and try to draw it yourself with your own flair (Eg. If you're drawing a person/character you draw them in another pose, if an object you may change the angle, etc.) It's useful for when you don't know how to draw something or want to try something else.
Tracing is putting the picture up to a window, taping another sheet over it, and directly following the lines you see. Or whatever other method of tracing there is. It's OK if you're 5 years old and don't understand its not going to help your artistic flair since you won't know where the lines are naturally meant to go.
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Well occasionally I'll draw pictures from how to draw manga books. I don't trace them (well i'll ink over them) and I make sure to add some changes (smaller/bigger boobs, gender bending, different facial expressions, maybe combine two poses, the appearance that kind of stuff). However I don't just put a piece of paper over it and trace it.Β
To me tracing is flat out going over the lines which is actually hard to tell. What I'd like to know is how do you look at an ACTUAL picture you didn't draw nor watched the process of drawing and determined if its traced or not? Without having to look at the original picture.Β
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i use to trace when I was in 1st grade. Now all I use is refs. ^.^
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I can't remember tracing anything unless I had to. Back in middle school, I only used references. I would pause a cartoon (or any other video) on Youtube and draw what's on the screen. Referencing does a better job than tracing imho because you get to learn more about things like poses and expressions, and how the character looks; and you can always stop using the reference and draw from memory later.
I understand, though, if a kid traces as a means of practice, but that stuff doesn't really belong on here.
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That's awesome. I use various screenshots as references when I'm drawing my own characters. It helps me better understand anatomy.
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I traced when I was 5-6 years old. It seems like stuff that kids would do before going into an art class. I study from refs and when I get use to the different poses and looks, I will move away from using them.
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Referencing is so much more handy since it helps you figure out how to fix your anatomy instead of blantantly copying someone elses hard work
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Yes. It's so true. 
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I traced when I was younger, but I usually just make up my own or reference something like mine
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I use people's images as references, but I do NOT trace them. That's why I say: "Respect their properteh!"
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I traced when I was verrryyyy young, but I get more pleasure doing it myself. I feel more accomplished
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I trace MY drawings for practice. I reference OTHER PEOPLE'S works. U mad?
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I've been trying to pull myself away from tracing...God, it's such a bad habit.
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Traced pictures often look even crappier than the original images anyway.
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Lol, and what's funnier about this stamp....I've NEVER and still can't trace XD I just can't. I actually TRIED one time just to see how it turned out, and it was crappier than my own drawing. O____o
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Doh, I'd be lost without references. But tracing would be pretty tough for me, I draw after running TV shows. XD
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I traced when I was 6.seriously...I wanted to draw Sailor Moon characters...but my lines were kind of shaky and I wasn't able to draw those long legs and so on. ...then my grandma laughed of me and I stopped doing it. it's been like 15 years since then...and my grandma still laughs of me...she's going like 'remember when you were 6 you used to be a lil' tracer'.
As for reference...I used to make my best friend stay in certain poses, make her a photo...and TA DAAAAAAA...pose reference. for hands, fingers I use my own. and for clothes...I use no reference at all. I just follow my imagination.
tracing doesn't help much. but references can really make you improve your style
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Check out my most recent journal. This person tried referencing AFTER I posted evidence that their pictures were traced/copied
[link]
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There should be some Artist Commandments. And this should be like, #4.
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refencing is okay, except when it looks exactly like the referenced image but the characters hair color is different.
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I couldnt agree more!, It angers me to see when in school people trace something for a project, It makes me want to smack them in the head
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*Sigh of relief* I was afraid there for a second that referencing would be considered as tracing! lol;;; (Or cheating still 
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I've done some tracing in my life, but let me tell you that they were only for practice. Never will I ever upload a traced picture onto the internet. I usually just trace once for practicing purpose, and then I chuck that traced drawing into the trashcan and start drawing in my own style.
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Yes, NEVER upload a traced picture into the internet, because if you were caught by an an art theft protester you could be in HUGE trouble. o.o
I don't trace to practice my drawing skills, and if I do, it's only for colouring practice.
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i dunno. a bit of people support tracing. they say it helps you get better and is an art form its self 0_o
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yes tracing is for people with no talent lol
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