*edit 2-please read bottom for a NEW artist tracer! And also, please contact me with any other tracers you know Thanks!*
**edit-new links**
[link]
^an admission from a former tracer

Everything you need to know about what is art theft and tracing.
[link]
[link] rules and definitions
[link] referencing and copying
**end edit** (thanks to new links from

And yes, I mean if you're an artists I want your opinions on this.

TRACING. Is it an art form or not? Technically people do it a lot to help with reference lines etc, but they're creating something thereafter. What do you think of real, unquestionable and unrepentant tracing? I just found out that it is legal on DA, for the first time ever, actually. I mean, I know you can trace some things, but tracing directly off of another artist and not crediting them, as far as I know, is still stealing. US law, where DA resides, states that you must change at *least* 20% of the original composition in order to call it your own. Now, with that said, DA's own policy states this.

"Respect Your Fellow Artists

As a vibrant and growing art community deviantART welcomes all kinds of original artworks; but we MUST insist that the artwork which you submit be your own original works.

Your deviations must be your own original creations and you may only use resources which are considered legitimate and legal. Submissions which make use of works without proper permission or licensing by the original author will be removed as they come to the attention of the staff. This policy applies to all Deviation submissions, Scrapbook entries, and the preview images used for written submissions.

If you have reason to believe that a deviantART submission violates this policy you should use the official Report Violation link which is available on every submission page."

So, what i'm wondering, is how does someone steal from famous people, block commentary on all her deviations (which say NOTHING about the artist, give credit to the original creators, or even mention that she may have otherwise borrowed at least a concept), and even go as far as to block *polite inquiries* on her page with anything that even POINTS to the fact that she's being dishonest. Seriously, what she is doing is illegal by law standards, and not just ethics. It's hard to have your work taken directly and to get 2k favorites under someone else's name with no credit. It's your intellectual copyright and your work! Do you think it's fair.

I just found out about this phenomena from a posting surrounding . You can read more about her from
[link]
and
[link] (my friend said the photos don't show up on that, so just in case here is a link to the photos
[link] )
Please read all of that. I know it's long, but it explains things.

Regardless, I want opinions. In my opinion, tracing is valuable and i'm not going to say that i've NEVER done it. There is a fine line, however, in blocking commentary, hiding it, and otherwise *lying* about whether you drew something. Regardless of that fact, taking art without credit is STEALING and hers is even AGAINST THE LAW. It's ridiculous. I mean I understand allowing it as an art form because in some cases I wouldn't consider it thievery..but if no additional creativity is put in OR it's from someone ELSE'S WORK... as in drawn work not from photo etc etc...then yes, it's stealing. That's my opinion. Seriously though, I want yours. What do you think? I want to have different opinions, I want to see multiple sides, and I want to hear some people with differentiating views. And again, I don't think tracing in and of itself is bad, but if you're doing it not to learn (as one prominent and talented artist here did to learn), not from your own work, and not giving credit..... then in my opinion it is as bad as stealing and not giving a damn otherwise. Please, pitch in your two cents. Also, if you wish, read the news article I made here.
[link]

Another tracer was found! She's doing the same thing as by blocking comments on pictures and hiding comments on her userpage...except she has a whole userpage FULL of hidden comments. Doesn't look too good for her...of course some people just do that so =/ Without further adieu, I give you =/ Way to disgrace a nice pharoah's wife with your tracing. She at least paid for her art =o. Apparently she's going around tracing famous deviant's work as well. How original. I'm wondering how many more are out there? Also, if you can mention the article and get it out, the more people that favorite the more chance we have of people reading it on the bottom of v page. I mean, you don't have to. By all means just mention this but get the word out about tracing if you can. I think it will help change the rule for the better of those of us who do work for our art. =/ Oh, and for laughs... her journal says
"Commission Status

Commissions Closed.

- Client Commission I - DONE

- Client Commission II - DONE

- Client Commission II - DONE

- Commission for *Kensai-Kaze - Waiting Refs"
Never has the phrase "waiting for refs" been more ironic ! (tracer found by )

ANOTHER journal.
[link]

And another artist , though she's young and i'm not sure she knows that she needs to credit. I left her a kind message. Please do the same (especially if you know spanish, though I think she may know english.