This article is about traced bases, which seem to have flooded the appropriate parts of Deviantart lately. Many people despise them, and many squeal over them like overzealous fangirls. The admirers love them, because they don't have to bother to draw human anatomy, just throw in some messy hair, some plain clothing, floodfill and THERE! ARTZ! The haters complain about their size, lack of shading, and find them uncreative and label them as art theft.

In my own personal opinion, as long as it is not traced off a fanart, but a stock photo or an anime screenshot, it's not stealing. You can't copyright poses. Very often, a certain pose is just so interesting and inspiring that a doller itches to do a character on a base like that. Not to mention, that eyeballing or using multiple references are still basically copying, thus uncreative, but some of the most popular bases were done that way. So tracing is an option.

But, like all things, it can be done the wrong way, and the right way.

There is a slight misunderstanding concerning bases in the first place. There are two types of it: KISS doll bases and pixeldoll bases.

KISS dolls are usually taller than 300 pixels, portray a certain character with its distinctive features (eyes, tails, horns, hair, etc.) and almost exclusively are posed standing, perhaps with a signature stance of the character. These bases were meant to used in KISS sets - many makers don't even allow them to be used for dolling - which is basically doing heaps of clothes (and optionally, hair) for them to be stuffed into an appropriate file. It's a dress-up game, which certainly takes a lot of time and effort to make.

Pixeldoll bases are hardly ever taller than 300 pixels, NEVER have any hair on them, and usually are shaded with five-eight colors. Their poses can vary from static to action.

In both cases, group bases are relatively unknown, due to the sheer size and difficulty of using them. On a group base, the figures overlap, and it makes a lot harder to clothe them. Therefore, group bases are useless for both KISSmakers and dollers. Couple bases are, however, a loved option in doller circles. (Not so much for KISSmakers)

Also, bases which depict scenes (usually based on anime screenshots), like Lucky Star dance scenes, characters murdering each other or any kind of bed scene are not suitable for dolling purposes.

The only exceptions from the scene/character number rule are bases, which show a family. Parents with their children in their arms are particularly sought after, since many dollers are mothers or have happily married characters.

If you intend your traced bases to be used for pixel dolls, please read the following part and think about it.

Does it have hair/clothes/background? If yes:
It's not a base. It's called a cry for attention.

Did I trace it because I thought the facial expression was cute/cool? If yes:
FAIL. Learn to draw those expressions instead.

Is it traced from a well-known picture of a famous anime? (Especially Lucky Star and Naruto) If yes:
Probably somebody else did it already; besides, everybody will immediately know it's traced.

Does it have more than two characters? If yes:
It's too big and hard to doll on. (Exception mentioned above)

Is it bigger than 350 pixels whether in width or height? If yes:
Too big. It's extremely hard to do proper pixelshading on large bases. (If you "doll" on such bases - think about it. Think. Think hard. Yes, I'm indicating what you think I'm indicating.)

Did I trace it because I can't draw my own? If yes:
LEARN IT. Basemaking is drawing as well, and even tracing needs some knowledge on basic anatomy. If you do not have that, you're doomed to fail.

Remember: tracing is not art. If you trace because you desperately wish to be part of an artistic community, earning the real professionals' praises, then YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG.

Drawing is not the only art. Maybe you can't draw to save your life, but you can write amazing stories. Maybe you have a camera and the knack to capture the best moments. Maybe you can play an instrument well. Maybe you have a good voice and can sing. Maybe you dance or practice sports. Maybe you love to tinker with beads, a needle or crocheting. There are so many artistic things in life, and if you don't find it in yourself to do one - try another! Look at the wide variety of Deviantart's categories! Each and every one of them is some kind of art.

If you can't draw, then you just can't. Learn to do it, or if you don't have the willpower to struggle through the process, leave it alone. It's like cooking. If you can't cook, you sure can survive on instant ramen.

But on the long run, it's not satisfying at all.

-------------
Since the day I first took some drawing material into my hands, I've never considered a traced image as my own, concerning originality. I traced and copied, but it was mostly just the available equivalent of scanning, photocopying and ctrl+c/ctrl+v: making a duplicate of an image I liked. Whenever somebody praised something I copied, I replied "I copied it from [source]."

Those people who trace and recolor, and proudly display those works on Deviantart are young an insecure. I know the feeling, because I've been there once; I desperately wanted to BELONG, to be surrounded by people who understand me and like the same things as I do. However, picking up traits or FAKING traits for the sake of others accepting one is pathetic. It doesn't work on the long run. Whenever I tried to fit in with my classmates, who were more concerned with clothes, popular bands and clubbing, I felt awkward, embarrassed, even intimidated. It was the beginning of a whole new life when I went to my first anime Meet, where the others welcomed me immediately – the love for anime, art and Japan connected us easily.

And I did not have to be anything else than I was. My crappy art was just as good, because many of my friends were just as young and they drew just as crappily. We drew when we had a free moment, we grew, we still help each other out.

We don't copy others, because we're better than that. Always were, always will be.

If you want to belong to Devart, stop tracing and copying. Draw your own stuff, and encourage your friends to do the same. Sure, compared to those 'Big Names' here, your art will look like poop. But there are a lot of people aside you, whose art looks like poop. You already belong to the same circle as them. If you want to break out of that circle – get better. It's not easy, I know.

But life is not about doing what's easiest.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm the proud member of the following Communities:


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-> The not-so-complete FMA Clubs Listing



Visit My LiveJournal account



Don't miss My Y!Hosting account!! All juicy gay porn and naked bishonens!