Lesson #4 How To Give Credit
 
© 2005 - 2012 by Cru aka Tori Beveridge All Rights Reserved
 
 
We've established that artists want their copyright on EVERYTHING we make with their art. This includes, not only tags and tubes, but previews of tubes, brushes, masks, stationery etc. In short, everything that the artist gave you permission to make MUST be credited to them and have their copyright on it.

One thing to note and it's very important, is that you may NOT combine two artists works in the same tag or stationery... so if you have a lovely background scene by Artist A, you can't put one of Artist B's romantic women on top of it. You may use one or the other but not both, because both require a copyright and the artists have not given you permission to combine their art with any other artists' art.


There may only be ONE artist's copyright on your finished project.

There is an exception to the use of only one artist on a tag, and that is with artists who make accent tubes or prop tubes, or scrapbooking kits, to be used in the making of tags etc. and do not require their copyright to be on the finished tag. These you may use with your artists' copyright tubes and do not require that you credit them.

When adding the artist's copyright to your finished work, remember you must use the copyright symbol. It is not acceptable to use the @ symbol as this does not indicate copyright. Also avoid using (c).

To make the copyright symbol, hold down the ALT key and on your numerical pad type 0169 and you will get the © symbol.

Make sure you credit the artist exactly as they specified in their Terms of Use, which can be found either on their site, or in the letter of permission they sent to you.

It is also important to remember that you may not use the copyright symbol in front of your own name when you put your mark on stationery, tubes, tags etc. You may put "Tagged by" or "Your name Designs" or something similar, but you may not claim that you own the copyrights to the finished project. There may be only one copyright.. the artist's.

The only time you may put the copyright in front of your own name is if you totally created the finished product from scratch... such as if you pixeled a cute cat, did a fabulous sketch, or took a wonderful photograph you had taken, and made a tag out of it..that would be your creation and it's copyright to you.

What about if you quote a poem or song lyrics, or a quote? How do we credit the author/songwriter? The best way to do this is to include the writer's name and the name of the poem or song on the next line below the quote when typing it in.

such as...

What a grand thing, to be loved!
What a grander thing still, to love!
- Victor Hugo

You may make the credit line smaller than the quoted verse or quote. In the case of a song or poem, you would put something like "Taken from "Song or Poem Name" by "Author/Writer"

It is a good rule of thumb not to use poems or songs in their entirety, because, like with art, you would need the writer's permission to use the work. Use only a few lines.

Adding credit to a tag does not have to take away from the beauty of your work.. it can enhance it and become part of the artistic vision. You do not have to make the credit big and ugly.. it shouldn't be.. it should compliment the artists' work. It may be in any font or color you like, so long as it follows the artists' terms of use and has the information that the artist wants on the tag, in the way they want it there. If the artist makes no specifications about it being in a certain place on the tag, then you may put it to the side, top, bottom or even on a curve. Be creative. Always read the artists terms of use before you use their art to refresh your memory about it. The credit to the artist must always be legible. If it is not, rework it so that it is.

About brushes and masks:

If you create a brush or a mask with an artist's work, it should be for your own personal use, only, and you should use it only on a tag or stationery credited to that artist. Do not share brushes or masks made with an artist's work.  Know the artist's terms of use.  Some artists will not permit brushes or masks to be made.

Always use your license number for purchased tubes, on your tags, along with your name and the artist's copyright.

Questions to Ask Yourself and Things to Do With Your New Copyright Knowledge
 
1 - What does @ mean? Can you use it instead of a copyright symbol?

2 - Find an artist or site that allows you to use their art without crediting them, when it is NOT used as the focal point of the tag. Perhaps a scrapbook kit design site.

3 - Make a new watermark for yourself to use on your tags. There are many tutorials for making watermarks. If you need one, simply do a search on Google. Feel free to share with your group if you find a good one.

4 - Make a tag, where your credit to the artist does not detract from the tag, but adds to the overall design of the tag, complimenting it. The copyright credit is legible.

5 - Why should you not share brushes or masks made with an artist's work?

6 - Who should be credited on a tube, tag or stationery? Include all who should be. Who does not need to be credited?
 

 

 

You may link to this lesson, but please do not copy it and place it on any other website, or claim it as your own.

© 2005 - 2012 by Cru aka Tori Beveridge All Rights Reserved