What is Graphic? Well, anything that was made in a graphic program such as Adobe Photoshop and Jasc Paintshop Pro. Usually this refers to anything that a person has made such as avatars, layout, banners, buttons, etc. And what is this guideline about? The Do's and Don'ts of using Graphics for sites. This has become an issue on the net and IS illegal so please read on.

Everything written belong are/can be applied to all sites that are on the internet (espeically the Don't section). No excuses but can vary depending on situation and company.

The Do's in Graphic
  • Make your own and be creative! This is the best part of Graphics. You have lots of enjoyment and accomplishment when making your own graphics and sharing with others while getting feedback can help improve your skill and your people skills.
  • Recommended to use Adobe Photoshop (bitmap), Adobe Illustrator (vector) and Jasc Paintshop for good quality. Photoshop is great for editing and Illustrator is the best for creating and re-creating images. Paintshop is useful (especially the html part).
  • This is more from my personal experience for Fansites and Graphic Sites. I highly recommend putting either your name or your site name/url somewhere on your graphics (perferable visible but doesn't distract the image). This is because of people commonly stealing from sites and claiming them. If your name/url is there you have complete proof and can claim your own work. Trust me, it's helpful.
  • Use RAW scans and screenshots. This means that you should be correcting the image yourself and not cutting it out form other people's work.
  • LASSO PEOPLE LASSO~! Magic wand is good to a certain degree. Lasso is much more effective when it comes to cutting images out and please zoom in at least 500% for better results.
  • If you ever need help with certain graphic effects (eg. How do you make your graphics shiny?) please ask NICELY to the webmaster/mistress. IF they choose to not help than please do not hassle them or yell at them. They have a life too, and they don't have to help just you. Please remember that the world does not revolve around just you. The number one best way is to go to a search engine and find a tutorial of it. Tutorials are made to HELP you so please use them instead of bugging people.
  • If you do have permission to use a site's graphics. You should/must link back to their site (the artist's sites or email) to tell everyone that you did not make this. This is for safety reasons like, you are not responsible if the graphic is illegal.


The Don'ts and NEVER DO in Graphics
  • Never take other people's work/graphics, the whole thing or even parts of it. By taking it you are stealing and that's illegal.
  • Never use other people's work/graphics as your base. Especially wallpapers!!
  • Claiming is VERY bad and can get you in serious trouble. So don't DO IT! If it's not yours than don't take it. If you didn't make it, than don't use it!
  • All images can be used for personal uses. MEANING you can make a gallery on your harddrive/computer but you CANNOT upload, repost, distribute, make, create, etc. with them. This is going against both copyright and the artist's rights/ownage. Basically saying, it's ILLEGAL.
  • This is common for not following, but their ARE rules for graphics, such as graphic sites, and if you don't follow them, technically you are breaking the artist's contract. Technically speaking, they have all the rights to come after you. *cough**Cough*flaming*cough*
  • Never trace another person's work because even if you did take effort into making it, techncially you just copied and it makes no difference from stealing. So be ORIGINAL!
  • Biggest, Biggest problem! NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER cut an image out from a graphic such as wallpapers and layout. It's not only offensive but chances are the original creator has done something to increase the quality of the work or has edited the work. Some really dedicated artists go through the trouble to vector (re-creating) the image on the computer for better quality. You can get into big trouble with the artist so don't do it. If you want to make something, use RAW scans and screenshots (credit the scanner/screenshotter).
  • Don't use Fanart. Doujinshi's are okay if YOU are the one who purchased it. Fanart are for viewing purposes only and are not meant to be used for graphic related material. So respect the Fanart artist by NOT using their work.


What do you do if you do find someone stealing work?
  • First, contact the artist/original creator and tell them about the site (with link).
  • If you are the artist/original creator of the graphic, you MUST email them first. There are lot of newbies who don't know what they are doing and as a webmaster/mistress, you should be helping them do the RIGHT thing. I believe this is the job of a webmaster/mistress.
  • When sending the email, DO NOT FLAME. Seriously. Be professional and polite while asking them to remove the graphic from the site. It's recommended to keep the site url so you can check the site back later on.
  • IF they co-operate, they will remove the graphic and apologize (nicely or rudely, just bare it ^^;;)
  • IF they choose to no co-operate, than your next option is to contact the host and explain to them what had happen. It's best to provide a link of proof especially if it's a freesite.
  • DON'T FLAME! Again, don't loose your temper. You'll only cause more trouble for yourself and truthfully, it's a WASTE of your time.
  • Alway, Always, Always keep your original file! Don't ever delete them. Most host will ask for proof and this is the only proof you've got. If you delete them than chances are the host won't believe you and allow that person to continue what they are doing.