Which Reference images are OK for Artists to Use?

[matthewcross]

Unsplash is also free and good. If your budget is small you can get great references for good prices.

[afroborilafemme]

Peter once again giving artists those juicy insider tips! ❤

[suzt]

It’s great that you are actively working to do the right thing in regards to copyright, as so many don’t. But actually, it is legal to produce a painting based on a photo, even if it isn’t in the public domain. So the digital collage you made as your reference would be a copyright breach if you published that as your art, but once you’ve painted it, my understanding is you are not breaching copyright…

[xbhigyxn]

ow, you photoshop your reference, put it up all together and then draw & paint it in your style, that's great.

[johnfrankenfield]

Thanks so much man this really helped 🤙

[miloslepotic]

What’s your stance on people HEAVILY inspired by your style? Does that feel good or?

[andrewc]

I would also add that fan art or art that represents a symbolized character should be sold carefully, or only posted as your portfolio rather than merch. Cause when companies decide to crack down its not going to be a fun time and Japan does not have fair use protection.

[orionlucas]

This is super helpful! Thank you ten hundred!!

[marcuscostello]

you can use any image you want as a reference image

[freelifeproductions]

google.. i dont do commercial work. you dont copy peoples work. just use it as inspiration and make it your own. nothing wrong with that..

[houndgirl]

Im just saying if it is posed differently no one can take an image and do copyright claimes fair use exists for a reason.

Now if one just draws the exact same pose then i see the issue, but otherwise no~ there are soooo many variations online that can be similar if not exactly the same from another. Its cool these tools exist for those who want to copy, but anything other than that I don't see any issues with.

[ZDPQC]

"reference" and "commercial use" are two totally different things. Turns out you can literally use anything ever produced as reference. But cannot sample, etc without the copyright. Not that hard guys.