Is it ok to use AI for references?

[DoraWritesBL]

So, I read that if you use a reference, you might end up getting sued over it. Because it would be stealing.

But if I generate an AI picture, can I use that as a reference? My basic tablet (an alternative to paper because a single sketchbook costs about as much as the tablet here. (which is about 14 lev and the sketchbook has only like 80 pages.)) should come either today or tomorrow, so I figured I can ask now.

(Because I know how it feels like to have your work stolen. There was a time when bots scrapped almost all the stories from this site and mine were also scrapped. I don't want to do that to someone.)

 

[Corty]

Using anything for reference is not something you can be sued over.

If you mean tracing someone else's art and then putting it out, now that's a different deal.

 

[DoraWritesBL]

Using anything for reference is not something you can be sued over.

If you mean tracing someone else's art and then putting it out, now that's a different deal.

Oh, so tracing is the stuff that can get me in trouble. Good to know!

But should I use AI? I mean, AI hands are the stuff of nightmare. I am worried that I might learn to draw wrong.

(Not that I have a grand goal. I just want to fill my time with something and draw some Bultine (Hetalia Bulgaria x Hetalia Byzantine Empire) pictures. (Because I am the only one who ships them XD)

 

[JHarp]

Oh, so tracing is the stuff that can get me in trouble. Good to know!

Tracing isn't inherently wrong and many people learn how to do things 'correctly' by doing so, the main issue is marketing it as your own work when you are actively using someone elses work as a template. The internet can and will prove you fake if you do so.

Tracing for practice though can be great depending on the person. As for AI stuff, not just hands but anything where an object is in front of another can cause AI issues, learning those mistakes would lead you to not completing parts of your drawings I would think.

 

[DoraWritesBL]

Tracing isn't inherently wrong and many people learn how to do things 'correctly' by doing so, the main issue is marketing it as your own work when you are actively using someone elses work as a template. The internet can and will prove you fake if you do so.

Tracing for practice though can be great depending on the person. As for AI stuff, not just hands but anything where an object is in front of another can cause AI issues, learning those mistakes would lead you to not completing parts of your drawings I would think.

Ok. Do you know from where I can get some non-AI references? DA is full of AI. Google images also has tons of it. I won't post anything anywhere, but I really want to learn and for that, I need the practice.

 

[Corty]

Ok. Do you know from where I can get some non-AI references? DA is full of AI. Google images also has tons of it. I won't post anything anywhere, but I really want to learn and for that, I need the practice.

It depends on what type of art you are looking for.

If you are into anime, start with:

イラストコミュニケーションサービス [pixiv]

pixiv(ピクシブ)は、作品の投稿・閲覧が楽しめる「イラストコミュニケーションサービス」です。幅広いジャンルの作品が投稿され、ユーザー発の企画やメーカー公認のコンテストが開催されています。

www.pixiv.net

You can also search for a booru site; I won't link them because most of them are NSFW from the start. Pixiv has a filter.

 

[DoraWritesBL]

It depends on what type of art you are looking for.

If you are into anime, start with:

イラストコミュニケーションサービス [pixiv]

pixiv(ピクシブ)は、作品の投稿・閲覧が楽しめる「イラストコミュニケーションサービス」です。幅広いジャンルの作品が投稿され、ユーザー発の企画やメーカー公認のコンテストが開催されています。

www.pixiv.net

You can also search for a booru site; I won't link them because most of them are NSFW from the start. Pixiv has a filter.

thanks!

 

[SailusGebel]

 

[Envylope]

All artists use references. You literally have to do it.

All artists use references. You literally have to do it.

The issue is only if you try to make monetary gains with someone else's character. But you can even use parts of characters as reference for a new character. Even still people get commissions for fanart.

 

[Akaichi]

AI is not very good for references, it can get the proportions wrong and have some very wrong things. As for the legality of it, it would depend on the country, japan have some crazy strict rules I heard. On the other hand proving that an AI image was used as a reference is impossible (unless you reference the four fingers and the split chin), but no one will really know, so as lo g as you know what you are doing, feel free to do it.

 

[Paul_Michaels]

So, I read that if you use a reference, you might end up getting sued over it. Because it would be stealing.

But if I generate an AI picture, can I use that as a reference? My basic tablet (an alternative to paper because a single sketchbook costs about as much as the tablet here. (which is about 14 lev and the sketchbook has only like 80 pages.)) should come either today or tomorrow, so I figured I can ask now.

(Because I know how it feels like to have your work stolen. There was a time when bots scrapped almost all the stories from this site and mine were also scrapped. I don't want to do that to someone.)

I don't think you have anything to worry about. If the Fanfic community isn't getting sue for using copyright material then you should be good.

 

[Iloveshovels]

I absorb. Ai has no rights

 

[Shelbie]

AI art isn't stealing. the crap like 'scraping' you have heard about is just a made-up term that completely ignores how AI art is actually created. old-style compositing, THAT is stealing, but for some reason, the AI critics consider that somehow morally superior.

Scratch someone who complains about 'scraping', and find a greedy wannabe whining because no one's buying their talent-less graffiti for book covers anymore.

And no, you can't be sued for it. That's just propaganda floated by the greedy haters preying on the ignorant and trying to terrify people. into going back to their horses and buggies instead of driving cars.



What? I am just saying what everyone knows but keeps silent about. Like how awful live-action Disney remakes are.

 

[Kitsuna]

AI art isn't stealing. the crap like 'scraping' you have heard about is just a made-up term that completely ignores how AI art is actually created. old-style compositing, THAT is stealing, but for some reason, the AI critics consider that somehow morally superior.

Scratch someone who complains about 'scraping', and find a greedy wannabe whining because no one's buying their talent-less graffiti for book covers anymore.

And no, you can't be sued for it. That's just propaganda floated by the greedy haters preying on the ignorant and trying to terrify people. into going back to their horses and buggies instead of driving cars.



What? I am just saying what everyone knows but keeps silent about. Like how awful live-action Disney remakes are.

Not saying you're wrong, I just found it funny, that's all~ Ai is very useful tool

 

[Iloveshovels]

No? Like, pretty obvious

 

[Lysander_Works]

So, I read that if you use a reference, you might end up getting sued over it. Because it would be stealing.

But if I generate an AI picture, can I use that as a reference? My basic tablet (an alternative to paper because a single sketchbook costs about as much as the tablet here. (which is about 14 lev and the sketchbook has only like 80 pages.)) should come either today or tomorrow, so I figured I can ask now.

(Because I know how it feels like to have your work stolen. There was a time when bots scrapped almost all the stories from this site and mine were also scrapped. I don't want to do that to someone.)

That's not how references work. Using a reference just means you are crediting the artist who made the image; getting permission to use it commercially is an entirely separate requirement. Referencing that artist simply makes it easy for them to become aware of anyone who doesn't have that permission.

With AI, you technically have the same problem since AI absolutely does not ask for artist permissions for making them, but since they get altered in the process anyway, chances of discovery go way down, unless you get unlucky and it spits out something that is a 99% match to the original (which it won't tell you either way). Artists probably care less if the output looks nothing like the original, and there is muddy work proving whether it was copied partially anyway, but it's still a muddy thing to do in the first place, which is why more than half of everyone will tell you using AI covers is a legal grey area.

If ever you do get permission to use something commercially, you technically don't have to reference it but still should (because a different internet user might think it is stolen and do their own digging). And always keep paperwork/receipts.

AI art isn't stealing

In the rare instances where AI puts out a nearly exact copy (98%+) of the original work, I think many would disagree with you there. Though it has become less common over time.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Might be a weird suggestion but I would consider looking into coloring books and maybe comic books and magazines for inspiration (especially if you plan to start by tracing before evolving into freehand art).

 

[AmbreaTaddy]

So, I read that if you use a reference, you might end up getting sued over it. Because it would be stealing.

But if I generate an AI picture, can I use that as a reference? My basic tablet (an alternative to paper because a single sketchbook costs about as much as the tablet here. (which is about 14 lev and the sketchbook has only like 80 pages.)) should come either today or tomorrow, so I figured I can ask now.

(Because I know how it feels like to have your work stolen. There was a time when bots scrapped almost all the stories from this site and mine were also scrapped. I don't want to do that to someone.)

Professional artist here :

Almost all professionals use references to draw. I'm not talking about copying or tracing, I'm talking about 'I want the light to look pink and blue, I'll take 3 different images with pink and blue light for reference. I want the pose to be dynamic like those two pictures, I might take them too' that's why moodboards exist, be it for concept art or fashion design : It's litteraly a big board with dozen of references.

Even for Snow white, the Disney movie, the director had actors dressed as the characters and act the scenes, and then used the footage as reference to do the animation. References are everywhere, and you are not less of an artist if you use them (to the contrary !)

The fact is : you need to know HOW to use them. Reference is only that : a reference, it is not a model or an image to copy. It's only here to give you ideas and help you stay on the path you had envisioned. So it doesn't matter if your reference is AI or not (even though as an artist I would prefer if it wasn't. But who am I to judge ? I use AI for my covers, to have the basic idea down, before actually drawing them)

However, if you are talking about copying or tracing, it is legal to credit the artist you based your work on. And if it's AI, it's full of artifacts and bad anatomy, I wouldn't recommend you to do it

 

[Nevafrost]

I was once looking for references in google as I failed to choose one from my collection. Then, I found one and just started doing the rough sketch on the canvas. I regretted it. It was AI generated and the whole thing didn’t align at all which I didn't notice at first. But, I continued the painting because I thought I could fix it. Didn't turn out quite well tho.