Copying another persons work.

[jophus14]

Have any of you had a client that asked you to basically copy an image style or animation that one of their competitors has on their website? I'm talking, "Go to this website, do what they did but switch some of the items." If so, how did you feel about doing the work?

[RyderSK]

This used to be pretty common in art and craft for past thousand years, and only the modern era turned it around for more original work. It is odd though, atleast if it is to such degree that you mentioned. Same way people go to Taiwan to make tailored suits made identical to Tom Ford.

 

As for me, I would politely refuse. I doubt they would pay good for it, since then they could afford the original in first place.

[Scott Schroeder]

It depends on what you mean by copy. Are you talking emulate the mood, color, lighting, camera placement, etc to be used on the client's unique project? Such as, "I love the work done by (insert artist/photographer), can you make our project look like?" If that's the case, I have zero problem with it as it's a style guide and I'm already aware of what the client is looking for and their expectations. You get this a lot as some clients will have a favorite architectural photographer or style and they'll want you to match that. You even run into this with a new client who may want your images to match past images done by another artist, just so they can have some continuity between the various sets.

 

Unless you are asked to directly steal another person's scene, there's very little issue here in my opinion. Yes, I have my own style I tend to use but if a client is willing to let me in on what is going on in their head, I'm all ears. It helps the process and avoids the round and round design by render phase. Plus it's paying work, so my own personal "I'm a unique artist who must be unleashed!" stand takes a back seat to getting paying projects about 99% of the time. Besides, you can always add your own flair in here and there in subtle ways to still make the work your own true style.

 

Some food for thought, we all copy another person's style to some extent. How many Alex Roman like images of the house in the woods have we seen? How many concrete houses at dusk have we seen? How many MIR like images are there?

[jophus14]

I hear what you are saying Scott. I guess my issue with this project is that someone else put in the time and effort to come up with a creative way of representing what their client has asked for and then a competitor comes along and want someone else to duplicate exactly what has been done. I understand that a paying client should get what they ask for, but this isn't a personal project so I don't have a say in the cost nor am I able to persuade the client to take a different approach. They like what they see and they want it for their site.

 

As far as people duplicating a distinct style such as Alex Roman, I don't consider these people artists. It is good to get inspired by his work since it is truly amazing, but to blatantly come out and say, "I based this image off of what I have seen (name artist here) do" is kind of sad....especially when there is a "Making Of" for the project. There are many artists on this site as well as others that I look up to for inspiration and those are the artists that make this field fun to be in. They are the ones pushing ideas and techniques that allow for advances in this over-saturated field that we are all a part of.

[migelle]

Let's put false conscience aside. ALL great maters started with copying other people's work. It's not a matter if someone would copy someone else's work or not, get payed well or not.. It's a matter if one would take credit for it, or even cause damage to artist who's work is copied. When people make prints of Rembrandt and sell them, they make good money without causing damage to Rembrandt's legacy neither they claim it's their own work.

 

I agree with Mr. Schroeder up to a point.

Copying cans of campbell's soup can be art too... and pays well...

[Speaker]

I usually even ask for any reference images if there is a particular style the client would like to see. Why should you feel guilty if it makes your work easier and the client happier? Besides, it's better to know up front if the clients expectations are a bit out of your league or plain unreasonable.

 

An awesome quote that pretty much sums up this matter in my view:

 

''Do not forget the issue of addition. Plagiarism does not add to the whole by its cut and paste approach - creative production does. "Steal like an artist" some have said. Develop an eye for modifications that bring value and you will not plagiarise.

 

Be careful of substituting "authentic" for "original" and do not confuse either for "unique." Plagiarism can be the authentic production of a plagiarist, but it is not original. An adapted image, let's say, or a quote put to creative use is certainly not original - but taken within its context, it may very well be unique.

 

The line stands at that addition. By bringing about something different, whether that be through a novel approach or unique application of circumstances, derivative work stands above plagiarism as a valuable method of contribution to culture, to society, and to the world. Plagiarism is a deceitful substitute for creation.''

[Mario De Achadinha]

Copying mood, light, style to a point is fine and part of the industry we in and part of learning. But to copy a scene exactly and replace the props in an attempt to push boundaries and be creative, I think is not very original and will not do you any favors as an artist, especially if its a popular work that many people have seen. But in a tough industry, you need to look after your clients.... so tough one:) I would review how good your relationship with this particular client is?

[Jonathan]

Interesting thread and, as always, interesting debate. The term artist is difficult (or perhaps impossible) to define. As soon as a client defines project parameters we essentially become designers. Maybe pure art is therefore void of and beyond commercial intent? However, everybody needs to eat, and my dad, a pro artist for over 45 years (you know, real paint!) still has to conform to the market requirement. I would say a true artist can put 'their art' within that commercial system as a marketable product AND still be a piece of art, but it isn't easy and doesn't happen every time.