Artist Etiquitte & Integrity

Learning the Rules from the Respected Artists

Once I discovered cartoon dolls, it didn't take long to identify several amazing doll artists. Many have both outstanding talent and reputations. When I first started out as a dollmaker, I looked to the best of the best, like Verira, Ivy, Josie, and Innocents, (known the original creator of Palace Prep dolls). Soon I met Onyx, Manda, Jewels, Tanya, Curly Q, Dora, Chrissy, Tweety, some of the best doll artists at Delphiforums.

I learned early on as a Newbie Dollmaker that there are 'Rules' that need every dollmaker ought follow. I decided from the beginning that I wanted to be an artist with integrity and made a decision to respect the work of others and to educate myself about copyright laws.

There are many Newbies, trying out their talents with dollmaking. I think that's wonderful--it's a fun and addictive hobby! To those of you who are new, let me share with you some of the 'Rules' that all the Respected Doll Artists go by. If you want to develop a good reputation along with your skill, then I urge you to take heed and follow these rules too.

About Palace Dolls

First of all, here are some things I found out about Palace dolls. The first month I worked as a sigmaker, I e-mailed Verira and Innocents to seek their blessing on using Palace dolls for sigmaking. They have been around for over 10 years and are some of the most well known names associated with Palace Chat and Palace Dolls.

I asked if it was ok for Sigmakers to use Palace dolls to make signatures. They both said yes. They both also agreed that by nature of the edit rooms at the Palace, people are allowed to edit Palace dolls found at the palace. However, there are people who have taken dolls and heads from Artists websites without their consent and dropped them into Palace. So on occasion, you may be using stolen work, and not legitimate donated props.

About Signature Dolls

Many of the dolls you now see on the forums and groups are not Palace dolls. In Summer 2002, artists like Manda and Onyx and Dora became bored with the small selection of the 10 or so Prep bodies which were available on the Dollmaker sites. Being adventurous, they started making their own doll bodies. That was the beginning of the doll evolution at Delphi from simple Palace dolls, to the more lifelike dolls you now see.

Some dollmakers draw their own doll bodies, pixel by pixel. Other dollmakers use images of human models to make their dolls. These dolls are not Palace dolls, and are not free for people to take and edit without permission from the dollmaker/artist.

Do not ever assume that every 'Palace Style' doll head is from the Palace. Although many of the artists use Palace Prep style heads, you need to take note that many of the doll heads are NOT donated Palace props, but are Custom-edits or Original Hand-drawn hair on Palace doll faces. There are several Head-Artists now as well as dollmakers who do original work on their heads. If you just 'take' a head or doll you see, you may very well be infringing on copyright. Your best bet in being sure you are using donated Palace Prep head is to get the Palace Chat client software, collect your own props, and use those to make your collection.

The Rules about using a doll made by another artist are simple:

1. Always ask the artist for permission to use their work
2. Always give the artist credit for using their work
3. Never use or Edit a doll body, head, or signature without permission
4. If you do get permission to 'edit' another artist's work, do not claim it as your own. (You should still give credit to the original artist and make note that you edited their work). For example, when I edit a Palace head, I call it a Palace Head Edit. When I draw the hair 100%, I call it an original Custom hairstyle by Auburn Angel. When I draw both 100% original hair and head/face, I call it a Custom Head Portrait by Auburn Angel. If I use one of Onyx's doll bodies and she gives me permission to draw an arm in a different position, I still give her credit for that doll body. I do not claim that body as my creation simply because I drew a new arm.
5. You will find that if you ask, most artists are more than happy to share their work. All they ask in return is that you give them a thank you credit or linkwhen using their dolls/heads for sig-making.

If I see a head, doll, or Signature I like, can't I just take it?

Absolutely NOT!!! If you want to be an artist with Integrity
and a good reputation, Always, Always ask first.

It is a myth that anything you see on the internet is 'Public Domain'.
It simply is not true that you are 'free to take' what you see.

Artists may grant you permission to 'use' their work, according to their terms of use, but that does not give anyone the right to take or edit without permission. In fact, doing so is in direct violation of Copyright Laws. The Original creator has Legal Copyright to their work.

To read more about Copyright from a well educated source,
click on the link below.