Tracing cheating?
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- i3i2and0n
when creating those snazy vector graphics all the kids are crazy about nowadays, would you say tracing an image is cheating?
- Jnr_Madison0
Not really if use your own photography imho.
- unknown0
fuck yes. even if you're "editing" it, which we all know is just smoothing out the edges.
- unknown0
well i guess if you're using your own photograph its fine. but how many people do that anyways!
- unknown0
may i remind you guys that once photography wasn't seen as art itself. it was just making a copy of reality. and in those days painting was the bomb. it's very possible that they though that photographing was cheating as well.
there will be always new technologies. some may be easy, some don't. but eaziness isn't a criteria for something to be real or not. is it cheating? i don't think so. it's just a new way for a graphic result.
i can pretty much understand what the problem is regarding tracing. but it has nothing to do with cheating (my guess) but more a fact that it's a trend and people make money on it and above all people take em seriously. could that be the reason?
- unknown0
I think the real question is
are you an illustrator if you trace a photograph?
I don't understand why people say it's cheating if you trace an image unless it's your own photograph?!?
Reason?
- unknown0
good question.
illustrator is a very stretchable term so it depends on what one defines as an illustrator. and does an illustrator always has to do it freehand (no pun intended)? is it also a matter of making life easier? why do it the hard way when it can be done easy? e.g. instead of using a model, tracing a photograph of that model?
- peanuts0
that was a great post by rabattski. ** yeah
- nz30
Doesn't the Camera Obscura predate the Renaissance
- 0711830
I don't think it's cheating.
A lot of famous artists of yesteryear traced photos before doing woodcuts, paintings, drawings, and more.
I fail to see how today is any different.
- quamb0
the kid with the digital snap shots and illustrator crack will die anyway.
know the real deal when you see it.
- Jnr_Madison0
"I don't understand why people say it's cheating if you trace an image unless it's your own photograph?!?"
...because then it's totally your own work. I mean, two designers could take fancy to an imge on getty and then trace it... do you really want someone else having an illy exactly the same as yours in their portfolio?
- i3i2and0n0
i've just started getting into this whole image tracing vector deal.
i must agree that if you use your own image. who cares. its just an extension of the photograph. i'd even say you are considered an "illustrator" if you took the time to take the photos and then go back and interpret it with vectors.
it may be easy to people that know how to work the software, but im sure glass blowing isnt too difficult to someone else?? (you get the idea)
- JazX0
nope
- pepe0
some of the best illustrators i know trace photos that arent theres, yet are praised as really talented artists... if it looks good and you pull it off well i think thats all that matters, art/design/technique is so subjective to begin with.....
- brooke0
I cheat!
- mitsu0
when you call tracing cheating are you saying that the work produced isn't good because you used an image to create the outlines as opposed to just looking at a picture and trying to see the lines yourself?
or are you saying it's cheating because you are using a photograph, which may be someone elses work?
based on the replies, it seem that you could have impied either...
- pepe0
seriously its like saying a dj cheats because he uses samples of other tracks....
- magicspoon0
i like to make it a distinction of vector 'rendering' as opposed to vector illustration.
I know a bunch of really talented traditional illustrators, and to me i think it seems unfair to them to classify tracing a picture as illustration. hence the 'rendering' part.
it'd be the same as some dude using all the predefined behaviors in director and calling himself an interactive designer.
- Abby_Someone0
Tracing is cheating.
tracing - A reproduction made by superimposing a transparent sheet and copying the lines of the original on it.
This reminds me of the movie Chasing Amy and Jason Lee's character trying to justify his role as the "Inker"
Hell, an Inker uses more skills than these tracer kids.
- JazX0
h ah aaaaa go get em abby