first graphic experience

[mayaone]

I read Michelle tea's "Rent girl" and I had an idea. My boyfriend is an illustrator and I wanted to know if you are allowed to ink your own rendition of a photo. I am writng my second book which will be a graphic memoir. I want my bf to illustrate my novel from my photo album giving a real comic book effect. Aloha in advance

[Axler]

You could scan in the photos, run them through various Photoshop filters to make them look "comic-booky."

That requires a certain level of expertise, though.

[elae]

You mean copyright-wise? If they're your own photographs and you took them, you can trace/reference them.

[mayaone]

No they are not my photos, can an illustrater make a cartoon like renditon. not me, a real artist

[Freelancer]

Yes. As an artist I can tell you, yes it can be done, but the effect is not the best in many cases. Only expert artists can achieve a really good effect (Usually concept artists are the best as they used to work with photos or pre-rendered objects.).

The best example is the webcomics, Romantically Apocalyptic.
http://www.romanticallyapocalyptic.com

These panels are using various layers on the photos, but to achieve this the artist must be really good, just as Vitaly, the creator of RA.

Many people using Photoshop actions to achieve this or similar effect, but this method is not the best at all in my opinion as every photo is using different light setup, has different atmosphere, while the PS actions are calibrated only for one, predetermined light setup and atmosphere.

[abrenner]

Generally, using photos as a reference is acceptable - checking how many stories a building has, how colors are arranged on animals, etc. But if you intend for the illustrations to be a direct recreation of a photograph, you should only use photographs that:

- You personally took.
- You have gotten permission from the photographer to recreate as illustrations.
- Are in the public domain.

Directly recreating photographs you don't have permission to use could land you in serious trouble with the photographer, or anyone else who owns the rights to use that photograph.

[mayaone]

Thank you, what about characture drawings of a photo, exaggerating the likenesses?

[Wolvel]

Thank you, what about characture drawings of a photo, exaggerating the likenesses?


Well if it is close enough to tell who it is you can still be in trouble for using someones likeness without their permission.

Like said before the photographer has the rights to the photo, but if your using the people inside its still a trouble area.

My advise is either use your own photos or just use made up photos with fictional images.

[Candra H]

Maya. If you don't mind me asking, whats wrong with drawing the characters as cartoons freely without using photos as bases? If your artist did that, you wouldnt have to worry about ownership issues.


The best example is the webcomics, Romantically Apocalyptic.
http://www.romanticallyapocalyptic.com


Just wanted to say thanks for posting the link to this. Saw a snippet over on Concept Art ages ago but lost track of it. Soon as I saw it, I loved it. The art and the story are crazy cool. Right up my street. Have now got it in my favourites and wont lose track of it again.

[mayaone]

"Thank you Candra, my book has personal, illustrations and istock photos in almost every chapter. why not a cartoon?

[Ken]

... when I used to draw editorial cartoons my own technique was to sketch from a few photos featuring a character, e.g. George Bush, and then to put the photos aside and create a drawing entirely from memory in my own style. What I wound up with was quite different from the photos and individual enough for me to call it my own. What I took from the photos were the details of the faces, themselves, not the execution of the photos. Probably doesn't sound too different though, lol.

[mayaone]

Thanks Ken, it does make sense in that you were not copying but using your unique talent to create something brand new. an original piece of art. sounds good. Maya