Digital artists in their underwear
October 5, 2017 9:58 PM Subscribe
"Hey, can I use your art for a single cover for my music for free?" OMG yes! Here, let me take off my watermark. "Hey could you send me the PSD file?" ...!!!
I make photoshops of people's selfies. I don't want money for this -- I use tons of other people's photos in what I do, and I don't pay them. I was over the moon when this guy said he wanted to use my 'shop of him for a single cover. I took my watermark off, no problem. But the idea of sending someone my PSD file just seems huge, and I'm not sure why. The only reason this guy would want the PSD is if he wants to alter the composition, right? And I feel kind of insulted by that. Furthermore, laying bare HOW I do what I do, as the PSD file would, is something I'm not really comfortable with, even though my little secrets aren't something I'm trying to monetize. Basically I feel like this guy is being massively uncool, but I'm not sure that feeling is entirely reasonable.
Regardless, I don't want to, so I'm going to say no. But I was hoping you guys could help me, (a) make sense of this interaction, (b) put this ask in context of digital art biz norms, which I know nothing about, and (c) phrase my no.
I make photoshops of people's selfies. I don't want money for this -- I use tons of other people's photos in what I do, and I don't pay them. I was over the moon when this guy said he wanted to use my 'shop of him for a single cover. I took my watermark off, no problem. But the idea of sending someone my PSD file just seems huge, and I'm not sure why. The only reason this guy would want the PSD is if he wants to alter the composition, right? And I feel kind of insulted by that. Furthermore, laying bare HOW I do what I do, as the PSD file would, is something I'm not really comfortable with, even though my little secrets aren't something I'm trying to monetize. Basically I feel like this guy is being massively uncool, but I'm not sure that feeling is entirely reasonable.
Regardless, I don't want to, so I'm going to say no. But I was hoping you guys could help me, (a) make sense of this interaction, (b) put this ask in context of digital art biz norms, which I know nothing about, and (c) phrase my no.
Yeah, if he wants to use your art for his single cover then it makes sense that he (or his graphic designer) would want a format like PSD. And no, that doesn't necessarily mean he would want to alter the composition or steal your secrets etc.
Are you getting paid for this? Just put this all down in contract form (i.e. IP rights, compensation, specific permissible uses etc).
posted by aielen at 11:54 PM on October 5, 2017
Are you getting paid for this? Just put this all down in contract form (i.e. IP rights, compensation, specific permissible uses etc).
posted by aielen at 11:54 PM on October 5, 2017
I always delivered originals as PSDs when requested for all the reasons Candleman described. Sometimes they did some color grading or horrible typography that I did not agree with, but I really didn't care.
posted by xyzzy at 12:47 AM on October 6, 2017
posted by xyzzy at 12:47 AM on October 6, 2017
Aielen makes a good point: whether or not you're getting paid, if you want to impose restrictions on the use of your work, make sure you're using a contract. It really can't hurt, and I bet folks on AskMe could help you find a good one and set expectations around what's normal/expected in your particular use case.
Also, I wouldn't be too concerned about secret-stealing. There's a lot of skill that goes into digital art, too; I can follow a Photoshop, tutorial working from the exact same source images, and still not make a copy that's equal in quality. When I use totally different source images with that same tutorial, in hopes of imitating the artist's style style, I usually fail in pretty recognizable ways. For what it's worth, I'm a writer. I work hard on every piece I complete, and how I put words and sentences together to create the arc of a poem or essay is pretty evident to anyone who reads my (or any writer's) work. Aside of the potential for outright plagiarism, I'm not worried about anyone copying my style--if they do it in a successful way, it becomes their own style (with perhaps an identifiable homage to my own), and if they fail at it, that failure is pretty obvious even to readers who don't know the source work (or even that a source work exists). Creativity takes more than just mimicry to be interesting.
posted by tapir-whorf at 2:11 AM on October 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
Also, I wouldn't be too concerned about secret-stealing. There's a lot of skill that goes into digital art, too; I can follow a Photoshop, tutorial working from the exact same source images, and still not make a copy that's equal in quality. When I use totally different source images with that same tutorial, in hopes of imitating the artist's style style, I usually fail in pretty recognizable ways. For what it's worth, I'm a writer. I work hard on every piece I complete, and how I put words and sentences together to create the arc of a poem or essay is pretty evident to anyone who reads my (or any writer's) work. Aside of the potential for outright plagiarism, I'm not worried about anyone copying my style--if they do it in a successful way, it becomes their own style (with perhaps an identifiable homage to my own), and if they fail at it, that failure is pretty obvious even to readers who don't know the source work (or even that a source work exists). Creativity takes more than just mimicry to be interesting.
posted by tapir-whorf at 2:11 AM on October 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
You can always flatten your layers if you're worried about exposing your process.
posted by missmagenta at 3:47 AM on October 6, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by missmagenta at 3:47 AM on October 6, 2017 [11 favorites]
It's also reasonable to ask for signoff on the final version before it goes to production, just to make sure they haven't tampered with it in a way that you're not comfortable with.
posted by Candleman at 6:47 AM on October 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Candleman at 6:47 AM on October 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
You might not be monitizing this piece of work but whatever this guy is doing with your work (plus his work) might generate money for him. So now, money is involved and there is some value somewhere and you need to be aware of that. How would you feel if he used this image for more that this single cover? Posters, t-shirts, other products?
Pretend he's a client, write up a contract outlining your copyrights, what usage you are agreeing to for him to have (e.g. one time single cover reproduction for 1 year vs worldwide perpetual license in all media or somewhere in between), have him read it, understand it and sign it. In consideration for payment (charge him $1.00?) he gets to use your image for whatever you outlined.
This way, there are no sore feelings later on if (when?) he decides he wants to plaster the image on telephone polls or on his greatest hits album cover, or maybe someone else takes the image from him and uses it for something else.
It doesn't hurt to reserve your rights to your creation.
posted by eatcake at 8:01 AM on October 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
Pretend he's a client, write up a contract outlining your copyrights, what usage you are agreeing to for him to have (e.g. one time single cover reproduction for 1 year vs worldwide perpetual license in all media or somewhere in between), have him read it, understand it and sign it. In consideration for payment (charge him $1.00?) he gets to use your image for whatever you outlined.
This way, there are no sore feelings later on if (when?) he decides he wants to plaster the image on telephone polls or on his greatest hits album cover, or maybe someone else takes the image from him and uses it for something else.
It doesn't hurt to reserve your rights to your creation.
posted by eatcake at 8:01 AM on October 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
So, let me make sure I understand you: you use other people’s photos — their work — without either obtaining their permission, or paying them for the right to use them… and you’re also bent out of shape that someone might want to reuse your work and reconfigure it in a way you might not like.
Seems like there’s a life lesson here for you.
Pick up a copy of the Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines. Reading it will give you some insight into how ethical creative professionals conduct themselves, whether it’s paid work or pro bono.
posted by culfinglin at 8:20 AM on October 6, 2017
Seems like there’s a life lesson here for you.
Pick up a copy of the Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines. Reading it will give you some insight into how ethical creative professionals conduct themselves, whether it’s paid work or pro bono.
posted by culfinglin at 8:20 AM on October 6, 2017
Response by poster: Naw, you're way off, Culfinglin -- but hey, enjoy that sanctimony.
Thanks, folks! I just asked him why he wanted the PSD, and he said to make a gif -- which is pretty cool, and not something I can do myself. I also asked him about credit, and we'll see what he says. I feel much better about the interaction now that you put it in context for me -- I'll probably give him the PSD after all. Your point about contracts is well taken, and I'm going to look into that! Thanks again!
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 8:42 AM on October 6, 2017
Thanks, folks! I just asked him why he wanted the PSD, and he said to make a gif -- which is pretty cool, and not something I can do myself. I also asked him about credit, and we'll see what he says. I feel much better about the interaction now that you put it in context for me -- I'll probably give him the PSD after all. Your point about contracts is well taken, and I'm going to look into that! Thanks again!
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 8:42 AM on October 6, 2017
Unless he's intentionally going for a lofi feel with only 256 colors, don't give him a gif if you don't send the PSD - use png or TIFF instead.
Two tips about contracts - due to quirks in the legal system, there must be an exchange of something for it to be considered a valid contract in many cases. So if you're letting him use it for free, you can't just have a contract that says that you're letting him use it. But you can say, "In exchange for a digital copy of the single, I grant the following rights...."
Also, you'll probably see terms like irrevocable that may make you a little leery. That's necessary with things like licensing media, because it's not practical to undo releasing an album using the art, especially in the digital age. What you can do it you want is make future use revocable, though if I was the musician, I'd turn it down in that case just because having to pull all the digital albums and redo the art for them is a pain.
I also asked him about credit, and we'll see what he says.
To your earlier question about where to get more volunteers, he should be willing to do a little social media promotion of you, which could include asking fans to send you photos for future projects.
posted by Candleman at 9:27 AM on October 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
Two tips about contracts - due to quirks in the legal system, there must be an exchange of something for it to be considered a valid contract in many cases. So if you're letting him use it for free, you can't just have a contract that says that you're letting him use it. But you can say, "In exchange for a digital copy of the single, I grant the following rights...."
Also, you'll probably see terms like irrevocable that may make you a little leery. That's necessary with things like licensing media, because it's not practical to undo releasing an album using the art, especially in the digital age. What you can do it you want is make future use revocable, though if I was the musician, I'd turn it down in that case just because having to pull all the digital albums and redo the art for them is a pain.
I also asked him about credit, and we'll see what he says.
To your earlier question about where to get more volunteers, he should be willing to do a little social media promotion of you, which could include asking fans to send you photos for future projects.
posted by Candleman at 9:27 AM on October 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
If he wants to integrate text into the image, it can be more effective to add it as a layer not at the top of the stack, depending on what you have up top.
If he doesn't know a lot about digital media, he may not understand that there's various lossless alternatives to jpg that aren't PSDs.
He's probably not trying to mess with your art or figure out your secret sauce. Just ask him what problem he's trying to solve by asking for the PSD and solve it for him.
posted by Candleman at 10:40 PM on October 5, 2017 [10 favorites]