How To: Art Crediting

Based on the post by Yams on KWR.

Art Crediting

We'll add a few posts on how to source art and link to them when we can, but here is an outline of why credit is important, and what counts as credit.

The following do NOT count as credit:

:small_orange_diamond: Pinterest :small_blue_diamond:

:small_orange_diamond: Google / Search Engines :small_blue_diamond:

:small_orange_diamond: Zerochan :small_blue_diamond:

:small_orange_diamond: Fanpop :small_blue_diamond:

:small_orange_diamond: we heart it :small_blue_diamond:

:small_orange_diamond: The name of a website without a name (Example: "Found on DeviantArt") :small_blue_diamond:

:small_orange_diamond: Saying it is written on the image :small_blue_diamond:

:small_orange_diamond: Saying you "don't know" the artist :small_blue_diamond:

Zerochan often will have credit on the page for the image, often in the form of a Pixiv ID number. That is the artist to credit, not Zerochan. The same with DeviantArt (though the artist is a LOT easier to find on DA).

Good sources for proper credits:

:small_blue_diamond: Twitter :small_orange_diamond:

:small_blue_diamond: Tumblr :small_orange_diamond:

:small_blue_diamond: DeviantArt :small_orange_diamond:

:small_blue_diamond: Pixiv :small_orange_diamond:

:small_blue_diamond: Instagram :small_orange_diamond:

:small_blue_diamond: Facebook (official artist pages) :small_orange_diamond:

If you add the artist's name / handle / blog name, the that's credit! You don't need to add the website, but it's optional and encouraged. With Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram in particular, make sure that the page you're sourcing the art to is the Artist's actual page, not a page that reposts the art of others without credits or permission. Some pages do add credit for fanart, so the sourcing is already done for you if you use those!

What if I can't find the artist, or have trouble with it?

This happens! Sometimes artists have deleted their works, or it's been shared on Pinterest so much that the actual source is hard to find. Here are a few tips.

:arrow_forward: Reverse image search sites including: Google Search By Image, Tineye.com, CTRLQ.org, and so on.

:arrow_forward: Image Search app by Qixingchen (available on Google Play)

:arrow_forward: Try multiple searches

:arrow_forward: Look at all the results that aren't from Pinterest, they might have credited!

:arrow_forward: Try searching on a computer (many reverse searches are glitchy on phones)

:arrow_forward: Look for a watermark / signature

:arrow_forward: Ask an artist! They tend to know a lot of people in the community.

:arrow_forward: Searching the character name on Google or a tag on art sites (a long shot but sometimes you get lucky)

:arrow_forward: Asking for help!

What & When To Credit:

:arrow_down_small: Fanart used in your posts as images :arrow_down_small:

:arrow_down_small: Fanart used for backgrounds of posts :arrow_down_small:

:arrow_down_small: Fanart used in edits and your bio :arrow_down_small:

:arrow_down_small: Cosplay photos that are not of you (and photographers if they are of you) :arrow_down_small:

Why Credit is Important

Artists work hard. They spend years learning and improving and practicing to have their work recognized and appreciated. And if you're wanting to use their work for your post or edit, that means they've earned your attention. They deserve your respect and to have their work respected too.

Artists are human beings pour their hearts and souls into their craft, and there's nothing more discouraging than losing out on credit for your work. Some artists will get so distressed by reposts and art theft that they change their names or delete all their artwork or pages entirely.

If you have the ability to ask the artist to repost: ASK. If the work or their pages says specifically to NOT repost their work, please please respect their wishes and just link to where the art can be seen on their site if you want to share it.

and finally:

CLAIMING ART AS YOURS THAT IS NOT IS THEFT.

This is not only against the rules on SE Amino, but the Amino app as a whole. If you don't know the artist, we're willing to help! Just. Ask.

That's all for today~

Background Image: :link: :link: :link: