Transformers Fan Forge - Official Fan Art Contest

Discussion in 'Transformers News and Rumors' started by Fc203, Sep 28, 2020.

  1. NecroTron77

    NecroTron77 Well-Known Member

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    After thoroughly reading the rules, hard pass. Fun in concept, horrendous in practicality. I agree with @GAUGE, and even when you do understand the rules, still best to let other fools be exploited for their art that the contest holders can't come up with on their own. Bad prize, bad reward. I went to college for graphic design, got a degree, work in IT... I couldn't square with corporate greed mongers profiting from my art. Art should an expression of one own self, and in the event the artist sells a piece, the artist should still retain the right to the creation to be used as the artist wishes for the remainder of said artist lifetime.

    here's a helpful link that is 101 level guide to copyright for art:
    A Beginner's Guide To Copyright Law For Artists

    This contract expects that you aren't aware of said laws, because it directly contradicts the portion on negotiable compensation with an undisclosed fixed "payment"

    This is a bad thing, and Hasbro should feel bad for endorsing it, I mean they won't, but they should.
     
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  2. Ikkstakk

    Ikkstakk Well-Known Member

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    They cover that bit fairly explicitly under "Don't plagiarize," for sure.

    Think this probably isn't for me, I can't draw a straight line, I could maybe try a Photoshop logo or something, the worst that could happen is they say it's not allowed.

    But I have unpopular opinions about art and art ownership in a work-for-hire situation so this is where I bow out.
     
  3. JomasterII

    JomasterII The Space Consultant from Jolo

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    Four of the 14 current merch designs up on the website are uhhhh... prospects for new figures and brand new characters.


    I don't think people read what you're supposed to do for this contest...
     
  4. Zappit

    Zappit Well-Known Member

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    Okay, here’s the really, really basic breakdown.

    They want original art of existing characters primarily to print on licensed merchandise. Don’t do original characters.

    They do not want different versions of the brand mixed together. Don’t mix Cybertron with G1 or mix RID with Beast Wars. If you’re going to do a “many faces of Optimus Prime,” design, for example, it wouldn’t qualify.

    Don’t use non-TF logos in your art. No car company logos on alt modes, for example.

    The prize package is vague, but appears to be the primary compensation. The royalties are not laid out with exact numbers. Factors like sales and production budgets can and will affect how much you are paid. Don’t expect much.

    They get the copyright to the art. That’s pretty normal.

    Basically, if they pick your design, don’t expect good compensation. If you’re okay with all that, go for it. If it’s not your cup of tea, don’t do it.
     
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  5. Shin Densetsu

    Shin Densetsu I WILL DESTROY YOU Content Contributor Veteran

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    Did the site list submission guidelines for file size/type/resolution? I didn’t see a link for it.
     
  6. Retroheavy

    Retroheavy Well-Known Member

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    Warm up sketches. Always struggled drawing transformers so regardless of the outcome of the contest or weather or not I actually end up submitting something, it makes for good practice.
    5D8D71E4-0409-4F09-80E0-462369E11AA1.jpeg
     
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  7. Zappit

    Zappit Well-Known Member

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    They wanted 1000 x 1000 pixels in jpeg or png. For resolution, 300 dpi is minimum for color images.
     
  8. Spekkio

    Spekkio Master of War

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    I don't think winners of one of the four prizes forfeit the ability to receive commissions (not royalties - I don't think those are synonyms). But otherwise you're spot on: FFBF's Fan Forge (even without a contest involved) is a way for IP holders to get artists to submit artwork for use on merchandise and get those artists to fork over their rights to said artwork. The voting feature helps the IP holders figure out what may actually sell and also motivates the artists to spend time promoting their work on social media in search of votes, which has the added benefit of bringing customers to FFBF. It's a clever setup, if you think about it.

    Is it totally unfair to artists? I don't know. Like I said before, the thing is that when you're talking about other people's IP, you're in their sandbox. If you use their IP elsewhere, and your work can't credibly be covered by Fair Use (parody exemption), it can come down with one DMCA letter. So artists get a chance (a chance) to make income from their work without any legal exposure.
     
  9. RKillian

    RKillian http://www.rktoyandhobby.com

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    Well some of the dos and donts are a bit conflicting. They don't want you to use characters from different generations...but you can't use anything copyrighted or current merchandise designs...but it also can't be a crossover because it has to be inspired by TransFormers lore. I'd like to dig out ye olde pen and paper but what would I even be allowed to draw for this?

    Edit: I know this contest isn't for me. I stopped being considered a fan artist the day Pat "cracked metal sHoUlDeRs HuRt squat thrust" Lee came on the scene :/
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2020
  10. Spekkio

    Spekkio Master of War

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    I believe the file types are JPEG, GIF, or PNG. Beyond that, they have templates at the bottom of the FAQ.
     
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  11. RKillian

    RKillian http://www.rktoyandhobby.com

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    So I decided to look at entries thus far and they've already put up somebody's traceover of Shockwave firing a mini version of his gun mode from In Search of Alpha Trion or Desertion of the Dinobots.

    13867.png-780x780.png
    fc9.gif
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2020
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  12. Spekkio

    Spekkio Master of War

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  13. Shin Densetsu

    Shin Densetsu I WILL DESTROY YOU Content Contributor Veteran

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  14. JomasterII

    JomasterII The Space Consultant from Jolo

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    It's not even well-traced. :v
     
  15. Sledgehammer

    Sledgehammer Ancient and knackered

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    "Draw something for us so we can sell it, and we might give you something for it! Or not."

    Yeaaahhhhhhno. Practically the equivalent of being 'paid' in exposure.

    And 1000x1000px at 300dpi is the real estate equivalent of bugger-all.

    Nope. :thumbdown 
     
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  16. JomasterII

    JomasterII The Space Consultant from Jolo

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    I mean you could literally just do what I did and draw at a higher resolution, then downsize it for the upload. :p 
     
  17. Berser Car

    Berser Car Cryptid member

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    I want to try. That would be the fourth drawing I do in the entire year.
    Can I submit multiples? I suppose even if I do, my chances of winning get lower because all votes I could receive are spread among several entries.
    Ok, I'll do one entry and have several ideas:
    Like this post for Rook, Alpha Bravo and Off Road
    Quote for the Raptoricons
    Get me something from my wishlist for Esmeral and Lyzack
    Give me your soul for Signal Lancer.
     
  18. MatrixOfWumbo

    MatrixOfWumbo I see you

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    I guess the only question I have left is, if I submit for this and don't win, can I throw it up on my Redbubble afterwards?
     
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  19. Grimwing

    Grimwing Scientist Supreme

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    Well its something to do. I haven\'t drawn in years, but I enjoy it. Be good to get the rust off.
    Nice that hasbro is engageing with the community this way, even if they will benefit from merchandise more than your royalties. 

    Would drawing a character like starscream in a new design, be more what their looking for? Like a new mecha design for an existing character in a dynamic pose.
    That\'s what I initially gathered from the wording.
     
     
  20. Maximus Danz

    Maximus Danz Trying to achieve something

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