Question: Coloring Your Work?

[whitewashsunset.livejournal.com]

This is not a warning, just a question.

So, after hopping on to check my FA, I noticed I had a note from this user asking about an adult piece I had drawn. They asked if I planned on coloring it and if I minded if they colored it and posted it to their gallery while linking back to me. I went to his page and only saw one example of him having done this, but just as he said, he linked back to the original artists as he said he would do with mine.

My initial reaction was to just message him back and say sure, go right on ahead and ask him to link me when he was finished so I could see and to make sure I was given credit. Then my 'artists_beware sense' started tingling and I figured I should ask. I know this isn't an uncommon request, so I was wondering if anyone here had any positive/negative experiences with other people asking to color your work.

Thanks!

Comments

[idess.livejournal.com]

I recentlyhad someone do this with me on FA too. I didn't and don't mind at all, as long as credit was given. I did a sketch commission, and the person in question was friends of the commissioner. He asked me if he could color it for practice. I don't really see any harm done as long as they honestly link back to you. Most people on FA who do this mean no harm, at least in my experience :)

[tequilalcorbly.livejournal.com]

If it's someone who wants to work exclusively on coloring skills it shouldn't matter. I had someone do a colored version of my Guide Me O'er The River a few years ago (my coloring *yuck* (http://fireflyx.deviantart.com/art/Guide-Me-O-er-The-River-17518839), the lineart with information on crediting (http://fireflyx.deviantart.com/art/Charon-Lineart-17509705) [This image may be used as lineart for CG practice. Please credit me with a link back to my page / or just use : iconfireflyx : / : devfireflyx : without the spaces. Also leave me a note letting me know the link to see your finshed version.
Thanks.], their version (http://pua-pua.deviantart.com/art/Guide-Me-O-er-The-River-color-17575326)) and they credited it back properly.

I also belong to the dA color-me-club so there are a lot of people who enjoy seeing what others do with their lines.

[immortalpanda.livejournal.com]

The only way that would get my hackles up is if someone who isn't a good friend of mine asked me for a high-res file to color.

You should be fine as long as he is giving you the proper credit and you are comfortable with him coloring your pic

[minimalismo.livejournal.com]

I think it is a good idea as long as they link back to your original!

[cedarwolf22.livejournal.com]

I've been asked a couple of times and both times the person linked back to me and was very nice about it- I think so long as they do that it should be fine.

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

I generally, as a rule, don't allow colorings of my ink works. But thats mostly because they are commissioned or personal pictures. But if I ever had any that were open to it, I wouldn't mind as long as they linked back...I probably wouldn't give them a high res file tho =\ I'm paranoid about that.

[millilicious.livejournal.com]

Same here. I'm kind of anal about high res lineart pictures. I watermark everything like a prick

[aerotheacrobat.livejournal.com]

At least you were asked. I find MSpaint on my low res line work every now and then. I'm okay with some stuff colored if I'm asked first. Kind of rather my porn not be colored, though!

[stripedpony.livejournal.com]

I asked about coloring a picture of someones a couple years ago. His answer to me was, yes but there were stipulations (of which I has no problem with)
1. He wanted to review other items I had colored.
2. He wanted to see the piece after I colored it to see the quality.
3. I could not post it until he approved it.
4. On the piece I had I had to boldly mark it as his.
I was fine with all of this. the finished piece (http://savaaha.furtopia.org/copyrightedbyothers/_tn/500_Dpandarenrecolor.jpg) I understand he wanted a certain quality do be kept on his art and I was perfect with this.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

I've had somebody ask that. :) I might be wary if it was somebody who habitually sells prints, I'd make sure that they weren't going to try and sell prints of my work with their color job. But that's the only thing I'd have any problem with, really.

[starcharmer.livejournal.com]

I've only been asked once [that I remember] and it was by someone I consider a friend, so I had no problems. He linked to my gallery about 1000 times in the description of the picture and he did a really cool job colouring, so I didn't mind whatsoever. :) No bad experiences here.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

I've been on the other side of the story; I've coloured other people's work, with their permission and no ill intent. I just liked the art and thought it'd be good practice. I can't speak for others of course, but there's a good chance it's harmless.

[casteddreams.livejournal.com]

I've never had a problem. A few people have asked me and always credited me back if they indeed go through with coloring it. I just asked that they gave credit and colored the character in the colors it's supposed to be, though if it's not a specific character if any kind then they could color it however the wanted.
I guess the only time I'd say no is if the picture was a commission, since I was the one paid to color it and it's someone elses character. :P

[byakko-tsuki.livejournal.com]

Never have had an issue with this.

I'd do it. :)

[xianjaguar.livejournal.com]

I've been asked before by various people. It's never been an issue.. They've always given credit, and linked back to me. I fave their colored picture as well, since I'm always tickled to have my black/white stuff colored by others (as long as they ask/give credit/link back to me/let me know/etc)!! :)

[blackberrypie.livejournal.com]

I think it would be cool if it were a personal piece for you and not commissioned work for someone else unless they got their permission as well. I know I wouldn't be too happy if I paid someone for inks and then someone else colored them in all wrong and it was my personal character. All in all it is YOUR work either way. But I don't think it would hurt to ask whomever purchased the art as well. :)

[stormslegacy.livejournal.com]

For me it depends on the piece, if people ask. One thing I warn you though:

If you have free-use lineart in your gallery, there are ALWAYS going to be people that assume everything you do is free (especially if it's black and white). I recently had someone demand I make lineart of a certain species for them to use as adoptables....when I explain that

1. using my lineart for adoptables violates the rules explicitly written in the description of any of my free-use stuff,
2. the lineart they were commenting on was very much NOT free-use, and
3. I charge 40 dollars for a full set of adoptable lineart.

I totally don't mind putting up free-linearts (sometimes people do rad things with them), just keep in mind that it seems to be inviting to art-thieves no matter how explicit you make your rules. Most people are very respectful of rules though.

Before letting someone color a piece I'd work out a small set of rules to keep things clear. In my case, I explain how the piece can be used, that I must be linked back, and that it must be coloring only-no lineart editing. I also ask that they show me the piece.

Similarly...

[snobahr.livejournal.com]

I've taken inks/pencils done by other folks (either from my con sketchbooks or found online), and photoshopped the bejeebus out of them. I would then email the person who I did the colourwork from, ask if they'd be interested in seeing what I did and if they liked it, could I post it to my website? Out of about a half-dozen artists (who are all very capable colourists, themselves), I had only one problem, because what I interpretted as mountains in the distance were supposed to be trees in the foreground, over the central figure. He was still okay with me posting it, though - he got a good chuckle over the misinterpretation.

[megumi-kitten.livejournal.com]

I had someone on DA want to color my stuff. Flattered, I said yes, as long as they consulted me on what they were coloring and got the OC's I had colors right. Well...they went and COMPLETELY CHANGED MY ART, posted it, and then told me about it. I was honestly in tears. I find it really disrespective.

But it depends on the person...

[midnightfury.livejournal.com]

I've both had people do this with my art and I've done it with other people's art. As long as credit and permission is granted, I don't think there's any problem with it.

[razzek.livejournal.com]

Since I rarely color my work, people have a lot of fun coloring it, and everyone is always begging for colors, I let people do it on the condition that they credit me for the line work. Failure to credit results in the piece being reported as stolen, simple as that. It hasn't caused any trouble thus far, and most people who ask outright are more than happy to credit you and link back to where ever you want them to.