Vector Images From photographs? Image Rights

[ecovergeeks]

Hi this is my first post and looking forward to posting here and helping people If I can.

I am looking at creating some vector images (characters) from photographs and was wondering if there are any images out there which I can use, then once I create my vector image I would look to sell them.

I dont want to get in trouble with copyright. does anyone know a way around this?

here is an image I'm working on which is just for fun, its not finished yet but you should be able to see what I'm doing

http://ecovergeeks.com/woman2blonde.jpg

Thanks
Andy Eaton

[zumojuice]

well basically copyright of images lasts only 50 years - so anything dated before 1957 is free to use - unless there are additional restrictions on it. I am not sure how manipulation counts on images, but I think at the point you've created vectors, you're far enough away.

[cre8]

i studyid copywhright in highscool, i can tell yoy that the thing above is tru...about the 50 years..
But i can tell you, changing the image to a vector is not enough!!!

You can opnly use pictures, when you change it and when the original picture is no longer recognizable.

so only changing to a vector isn't enough.

:)

[zumojuice]

I am not sure about editorial pictures. Some are copyrighted. In fact I think most are, but there might be a link around that?

[Arkady]

First of all, the copyright expiry period for images/graphics, varies from country to country. Secondly, in most countries including the UK it's seventy years not fifty years (fifty years for music.) And lastly just to pick up on a common misconception, there is no such thing as a non-copyright image unless the copyright has expired. What does happen if copyright holder wishes to make an image freely available is, they will publish it with some kind of rights issue license. It may seem to be essentially the same thing, but this is in fact an important distinction, and you should always check the limitations of the rights issue before deciding to use an image.

p.s. Again in most countries; the expiry period commences after the author has died.

[behavelittleboy]

If you're just starting out and refining your skills, a good place for free stock images is stock.xchng - the leading free stock photography site. You have to sign up as a member, it's free, and then you have access to download images. Note that there are different types of licenses provided by the photographers: there's the basic license that's free for personal and commercial use, and then there are some that ask that you notify the artist if it's being used somewhere, others require permission upfront. I found this to be a great resource when I was a student and needed access to photos for projects. License Terms

[Cwilk]

Tony Stone lawsuit against Corel from J. Trant, Manager, Getty AHIP Imaging Initiative on 1994-11-24 (CNI-COPYRIGHT)

The lawsuit in this article is old, but it's a great way to see how many problems you can have with using an image that you don't own. BTW....I wish the artwork was available to see from this lawsuit. The Indian that the person created in vector is amazing!

[Cwilk]

Editorial Photographers UK | Visual plagiarism: when does inspiration become imitation ? (page 2 of 2)

This article is great! You'll read about things you've never thought of.

[flick]

why don't you just take your own photos are vectorize them?

[john247]

I have thousands of images including photos on my site that anyone can use for almost any purpose whatsover.Just can't give them away or sell them like I do.

If you or anyone wants to draw them , trace them or whatever you are completely ok to do so.

I cannot give anyone the copyright of the original images because that always remains with me as the creator of the images. But I guarantee that you are completely ok to use without clearance from me in any way.

I won't post the web site herr as I have already got in trouble for promoting my site

So just look at one of the other posts from me and you will see the site there.