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Art Changes - Too Much?
Topic Started: Mar 11 2013, 10:17 PM (1,153 Views)
Lucille
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Colorist
Hello everyone!

I have been sitting on a small crisis for a couple of weeks now and have finally decided (now that there is a light at the end of the tunnel) to share it with everyone and get your opinions/thoughts on the matter.

Stalit, the artist who lined and shaded the original pony sketch (the base sketch was done by Cryptic) has decided that she no longer wants her art associated with DDW. I am not sure what reasons she has for this, she hasn't really given me any straight answers and my attempts to convince her otherwise (even so far as begging and pleading) were unsuccessful in changing her mind.

I had spoken with Brettney, who has told me that Stalit shouldn't legally be able to tell me what I can and cannot do with the art. It was never hers, it always belonged to Brettney who then sold it to me. However, there is no proof of who owned rights to what and from what I've gleaned of copyright laws without that proof, ownership is granted to the original creator. In this case, Stalit.

We are capable of continuing to distributing ponies on UF, but as you all should know, we are swiftly outgrowing what can be done there! I even have an amazing coder working on our new website! Staying on UF is simply NOT an option so that leaves me with re-doing the artwork.

How much of the artwork you ask? ALL of the artwork.

The only thing I can use is the base sketch and of course the Markings done by Pyro and Kalinushka. Everything else was done by Stalit and must be removed before we move to the new website.

This is what I have:
Posted Image

Now, I am NOT looking for artists. I have two amazing artists who are going to help me fix this problem and even provide new items and new species to DDW. But, this is a huge change and as I have observed in the past, there are many people who don't take changes well. I have always been touched by the continued support through our last art crisis and through font changes, site changes, and reformatting. But I am curious, does that support extend even further?

I have been debating changing the ponies entirely. The artists I have are going to do some sketches for me of possible poses that are more dynamic. (Oh it'd be nice to have a 400x400 image instead of a 440x350 lol) The quality would remain and the spirit of it would remain. I will do my best to remain true to what the ponies are and represent, but this is a huge change and even though I feel there's no other choice, I am afraid to take it without consulting everyone.

The only other option I have is to close DDW. I don't see it going backward and if there isn't enough support to move forward, then all I can do is end it entirely. I have seen websites fade and I don't want that for DDW. Please don't let that taint your responses, I want honesty and if you truly feel that entirely changing the artwork is destroying DDW already, then I want to hear that!

Thanks so much everyone, I look forward to your feedback!

UPDATE

I am correcting myself. I am debating redoing the old ponies on the new lines. If this was done the old ponies would still be available to you via Photobucket. However, they would NOT be used on the website. It would be FREE to swap them over, but of course you wouldn't have to. (You would have to opt in and submit your ponies to be redone on the new lines - Or perhaps signing up to the new website would automatically submit your ponies to be redone?)

Also note: The OLD ponies that have been done and reformatted for the website would be fixed so that they have a BG/Cert attached.

CYO pony owners would be given vouchers so that they could redo the ponies at their leisure and then submit them when finished. Resubmitting them would be free.

I am open to thoughts and suggestions on this.
Edited by Lucille, Mar 12 2013, 01:37 PM.
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May the Force be with You! | My Pony Stable!
~Formerly IcySerpent! You may still call me Icy or Luci or Lucille!~
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Replies:
Blackruby
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I absolutely agree with everything said above!
I so HATE to see the DDW go, and as much as I love the original pose (it looks so peaceful), I almost can't wait to see possible new posses. I support You and the Team in everything you need to do. Though changes aren't always nice, sometimes they are must to keep things going. :)
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Blackruby's Stables
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ml1201
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I just have one question, if the older ponies do need to be redone, what will happen with the CYO ponies? Will we be refunded a coupon for each one for making a new one when another such event comes up, or will the artists try to remake each pony? I know some of them can be kind of complicated (such as Arcane Grove) and I'd hate for more stress on the artists/colorist that's not needed.

That aside, you're not getting rid of me anytime soon. :P
§Moonglow Meadow§
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Kiran
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If it needs to be done, it needs to be done. I'll tag along to the new website anyway :)
Kiran's Stable
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Mama_D

I'm sorry to hear of this. Do what you have to do. From what I hear, you have some amazing people backing you on this with coding, art and the like. Move forward. I'm curious and excited to see what you come up with!
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Angelcat

I'm all for this! I think it would be fresh and interesting for the ponies, as long as the art stays the same high quality. I would hate to see DDW close, and who knows this may even improve it? Whatever you decide, I will support you Icy. I love the old ponies, but I am sure the new ones will be stunning as well :)
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Lucille
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I'm overwhelmed with all the support. As I have said in the past I am paranoid and always afraid I'll just make people mad, but I appreciate all of your words so much! ♥

@falling_kisses - That is what we are lacking. It was discussed on Pony Island and they purge their PMs/transactions so information from 2011 no longer exists. Brettney and I talked at length and did a ton of searching looking for anything we could use and came up empty-handed.

@Blackruby - Existing ponies will not be changing.

Update on the art... After talking extensively last night with Flare and Starlie, we are going to have a male and female pose! When combined the male/female will form one fluid picture! I'll see about some spoilers later. ;)
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May the Force be with You! | My Pony Stable!
~Formerly IcySerpent! You may still call me Icy or Luci or Lucille!~
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Lady_Iusta
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Icy, first off I just want to say that I agree with all the others who've stated their support for your new artwork plans and keeping DDW alive. You do have a great group of artists and the new art you've already produced has been fantastic. I would rather adjust to some changes than lose DDW altogether.
~Fairlea Run~
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ml1201
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IcySerpent
Mar 12 2013, 10:36 AM
Update on the art... After talking extensively last night with Flare and Starlie, we are going to have a male and female pose! When combined the male/female will form one fluid picture! I'll see about some spoilers later. ;)
OMG! We're getting Mated images now too!? OWO
§Moonglow Meadow§
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falling_kisses

IcySerpent
Mar 12 2013, 10:36 AM
I'm overwhelmed with all the support. As I have said in the past I am paranoid and always afraid I'll just make people mad, but I appreciate all of your words so much! ♥

@falling_kisses - That is what we are lacking. It was discussed on Pony Island and they purge their PMs/transactions so information from 2011 no longer exists. Brettney and I talked at length and did a ton of searching looking for anything we could use and came up empty-handed.
Ah ... not so good then ...

Looking forward to the new look though!
Falling's Stables
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Lucille
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UPDATE

I am correcting myself. I am debating redoing the old ponies on the new lines. If this was done the old ponies would still be available to you via Photobucket. However, they would NOT be used on the website. It would be FREE to swap them over, but of course you wouldn't have to. (You would have to opt in and submit your ponies to be redone on the new lines - Or perhaps signing up to the new website would automatically submit your ponies to be redone?)

Also note: The OLD ponies that have been done and reformatted for the website would be fixed so that they have a BG/Cert attached.

CYO pony owners would be given vouchers so that they could redo the ponies at their leisure and then submit them when finished. Resubmitting them would be free.

I am open to thoughts and suggestions on this.
Posted Image
May the Force be with You! | My Pony Stable!
~Formerly IcySerpent! You may still call me Icy or Luci or Lucille!~
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