#zap rambles

- Referencing isn’t theft. “Do something similar to this existing work, but with your own spin; iterate on an existing work but start the process from scratch” is done at a professional level. The main difference is they know how to do it while still respecting the original work. If you draw and are a big name, expect your art to be a ref for other people. Obviously you can be upset if someone copies it precisely, but art’s just gonna be reffed. If it ain’t traced and is altered beyond simply being a master study, it’s all good.

- Tracing is fine for private practice. Feel free to call attention to artists who trace and post it as their own work, but don’t get mad at and berate the very act of tracing itself. Also learn to know the difference between people who know better and kids who don’t. They might not be receptive to it but they’ll hopefully learn over time - it’s better to explain WHY tracing and posting is bad as opposed to just telling them to piss off for even doing it in the first place.

- Character designs aren’t always the most original thing. I think it’s fair to get upset in the case of stealing distinct characters over a period of time, such as when you notice someone who seems to constantly borrow elements from you or straight up 80% of the same character design without fail within weeks of you making a new character, or essentially copying the vast majority of the characters from one of your stories, comics, etc. but one or two coincidences isn’t something to get worked up over, not even cases where it’s weeks apart. What matters more is the trend. Do they constantly copy from people or was it just a few cases?

- Don’t get mad at kids copying your style. Hell, to be quite honest, I don’t think it’s worth getting mad at anyone who’s simply a hobbyist copying your style. If they’re a kid, they’ll probably grow out of it. Honestly I remember when I was younger I’d get into some bs with finding out who copied me and my friend group’s art and basically talk about ‘em behind their back and it was far more harmful than the actual act of copying an art style was. We’ve all moved past this but honestly looking back it was basically just bullying without the aspect of confrontation. I think if a kid is copying your style (even if you’re young too) and they’re just a hobbyist then they probably just look up to you. Same thing with adult hobbyists. Obviously if they’re taking commissions and such and they fit into the above category of actual design theft and they don’t do anything to differentiate themselves from you then you could probably confront them about it. Otherwise, I feel like style is one of those things people grow into as opposed to just trying on. it’s not easy to copy for so long that it becomes their thing forever. They’ll naturally deviate over time, and it’s only worth being suspicious if they manage to constantly follow your every trend (does every single type of composition you do, even starts to copy all of your experimentation, etc.). If anything, it’s a good opportunity to talk to someone who’s interested in your process. Be nice to them and they’ll probably take your advice to heart, as well as learn a good lesson in varying their sources of inspiration. Of all things though, it’s not worth getting mad over people drawing the way you do hair or the way you do shading even if you notice they do it immediately after they start following you. They’re learning something new about how to visualize their own work through you, that’s something to be happy about, not annoyed.

Obviously I still believe clear cases of theft (well, in terms of what it feels like, not necessarily the literal legal definition) are bad, such as no-permission unsourced reposting, resale of your designs/resale of non-substantial variants, but all of those above points are distinct from that sort of thing and are all completely fair if done to a respectable degree that isn’t excessive.