While talking to some Elfwood moderators, I noticed that one of the most frequent reject reasons (especially in FanQuarter) was that the picture was a copy. I have to assume that most people who submit pictures that the moderators have to reject don't know how to draw the line between a copy or a picture created using references.

Definition:

In this text, I will use copy as "imitation" or "reproduction" of a picture.

In this text, I will use reference as "picture used as a guidance on how to solve a specific artistic problem".

Disclaimer

All the images used in this document are © by their respective owners and used for educational purposes only. Should you disagree with the use of your picture in this document, please tell me.

About Copies

Ellen Million's article in the May Woodworks issue deals with all of it, I won't repeat those here. Just a personal remark; I do think copies are a nice way to learn new techniques, but no one should claim a copy as original work. Just to make clear what level of copying is allowed at Elfwood. None at all! But I'm sure you know that. I just think it can't be said often enough.

About References

No serious artist works without references. Some of the better artists don't need to have some photos, drawings, etc. to look at because they do something like this often enough, but while learning, all of them made good use of references. The most important thing to understand now is that a copy resembles the original piece much more than an image done using (perhaps multiple) references resembles the reference. But how to tell the difference? This article will try to illustrate the differences with a couple of examples.

Examples

To reduce loading time, I created thumbnails of every picture. Click on the thumbnail to see the full-size image.

Original Image	Artist's Image	Copy or Reference
		Pose, expression and clothing are the same. This clearly is a copy Thanks to Anke Wehner for supplying this.
		This one is more tricky. If we look more closely, we recognize that neither shading nor pose are the same, and even the hair are a slightly different style. The original image was used as reference. Thanks to Anke Wehner again.
		This one uses a similar pose, but the additional details are different. Look at the clothes, placement of arms and the hair. The original image was used as a reference here. Thanks to Anke Wehner for supplying yet another image.
		Even though we have subtle style differences here, pose, hairstyle, clothing and even the flower detail are identical. This one is a copy. Thanks to Brie Alsbury for supplying this one.
		This one is pretty easy. Even though the general idea was certainly copied, enough details are changed. The pose is different (look at the way the legs are placed), the clothing is different, the hairstyle is different. The original image was used as inspiration and maybe as reference. Kudos to Brie Alsbury again.
		Another clear case. All the details are placed identical, even the scales texture. Doesn't it also yell "Copy!" at you? Much thanks to Brie Alsbury again.
		Now, what would you think? The torso of the elf clearly resembles the one on the photo. But then, the elf adds all those little extras, like a head and pants. Also, you might note that the belly-button is placed farther down than on the photo. The original image was a reference here. Thanks to Brie Alsbury again.
		And yet another copy. Pose, clothing, even the cell shading is in the artist's picture. I  regret having lost the artist's name. If it's your picture, please tell me.
		Would you be able to connect these two images if they were on the web on their own? I sure wouldn't. Hairstyle and lighting are pretty different. I  regret having lost the artist's name. If it's your picture, please tell me.
		Need I say much? The basic pose is similar, but clothing, proportions and the fact that the artist's version is a furry mark the original image as reference. Thanks to Emily Attwood for providing this picture.
		Another fine example of.... references. This time, the artist even compiled his image using two different references. Both times poses and lighting are diffrerent. Thanks to Eve Archambault for this one.

Summing It Up

From the examples, we have gathered (or so I hope) that a copy is identifyable by a couple of characteristics. Those include

• Pose. If it's totally the same, this is a strong hint it's a copy.
• Clothing. Especially combined with a similar/identical pose, this often proves you have a copy.
• Lighting. Usually the play of light and shadow is unique to a picture's setting. If a standalone picture uses the same shading, or even some shading that looks like cell shading, you have another warning sign that denotes a copy. (Compare the SailorPluto pictures)
  
• Details. Small details that are identical are giveaways, too. A flower, an ornament, small items like this.