THIS IS NOT a chapter for a graphic, but rather a chapter focused on stolen artwork. If this line does not make any sense, which it probably doesn't, just read. You'd better read.

OKAY, SO I don't usually do these but alas, here I am. Oh, and no. This chapter is not directed to anyone. Mostly. But all that aside, I want to discuss stolen artwork. So many graphic designers will literally take someone else's vector or manipulation, slap some text on it, and call it a cover. Just...no. And whether you do this on accident or on purpose, it doesn't matter. Either way, you're stealing someone else's artwork and passing it off as your own.

Alright. First, I want to discuss Pinterest (and Google, but mainly Pinterest). I have worked with so many people who will literally find free "resources" off Pinterest and use them on their graphics. I'm going to say it now. Don't use Pinterest.

On Pinterest, users can pull things off other websites and pin them, then either passing it off as their own when asked by others if the art can be used, or letting others believe that it's a free resource and they can use it. Most of the time, it isn't. Yes, Pinterest is great for inspiration, but I'm begging you, stop using it for resources.

Similarly, on Google things from other sites are posted. That does not mean you can use them. And as far as watermarks go, a watermark does not determine whether the art can be used by someone else or not.

So if you can't use Pinterest or Google, what can you use? There are actually a ton of sites out there that will offer free stock images that you can use. Below I'll list some, though when you do get photos from them, make sure to read through the rules regarding usage of their photos first. Anyways, some sites: Pexels, Unsplash, Pixabay, and DeviantArt. Pexels = my hero. DeviantArt = requires an account. That probably made no sense. What I meant was that I absolutely love Pexels but I've never actually used DeviantArt—I have heard from many, many people, though, that it's a great place to get images (though artwork is also shared across DeviantArt, so be careful).

This chapter is getting quite long now, isn't it? Or not, depending on what you're reading it on, I suppose. But anyways, there's still a lot more I want to say, but I'll end this chapter now with this—"[part] credit to the artist" is not credit. Okay, think about it this way. If you spent hours on a design then found another graphic using your design with the words "background credit to the artist" next to it, would you be happy? Presumably not. "Credit to the artist" tells your viewers the design is not yours, of course, but it does not properly give credit. So unless you can give proper credit on a design that you're allowed to use with credit, don't use the design.

Well there you go. I hope my little rant was somewhat helpful to you (and if you're an intentional art thief, I hope it offended you in some way) and that if you do accidentally use others' artwork, you'll be able to find proper resources from now on.

xoxo,

writesthetic