#[megamind image] NO HOBBIES?

[aroacedavestrider]

Hi dave just wanted to pop in real quick to say you are cool and epic that anon wishes they had 1% of your swagger

AYO !! hi lep tysm for the nice words i am literally sharing my bagel with you right now

[csp-ethicaldilemma]

Part 4: Community Response

This is part of a school assignment on ethical dilemmas in business. It is for educational purposes only.

part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 5

The community response to both of Clip Studio Paint's announcements was unprecedented, exiting the social media sphere and entering artist and business spaces alike for debate.

Version 2.0 Pricing Announcement

The most common reaction to the Version 2.0 announcement was actually confusion. A lot of the software's customer base consists of casual users who make art as a hobby, and this includes young teenagers. Many of these users did not understand the complex new pricing model, how (or if) it would affect their ability to use the application, or what was even changing to begin with. Diagrams began popping up in online circles attempting to explain what was going to happen, especially since the chart on CSP's website was unclear in terms of what artists should do about the updates.

As explained in a Gizmodo article released the same day as the initial announcement,

"Existing users of version 1 can purchase a perpetual license for version 2, but they won’t have access to feature updates from 2.1 and onward. Developers will also discontinue support for the perpetual license users when they eventually release version 4. Those looking to keep receiving new features will have to buy a one-year update pass, but the company has not revealed what price points we could see from any of these options."

This model, once deciphered, caused considerable frustration among users, especially since the Version 2.0 perpetual/one-time purchase license for Clip Studio Paint EX (the same one that would be denied access to feature updates after Version 2.1) would cost over $200.

As confusion turned to anger mixed with genuine hurt at what was perceived as blatant disrespect from an otherwise reliable software, the response became overwhelming. Artists took to Twitter to vent their frustrations (in many instances to somewhat humorous effect), with this screencap from Megamind being a popular response comparing Clip Studio Paint's new pricing model to that of the Adobe suite:

Further responses take much the same tone, regardless of location. One user even posted a compilation of responses in different languages with the caption "I love how everyone united."

Artificial Intelligence

An article from The Verge delves a little deeper into the source of the AI controversy: "the Japanese art community has been especially hostile toward the concept of autonomous image generation—and Celsys is a Japanese company." In fact, the debate has been so intense that many artist spaces have banned the use of AI in its entirety, according to a blog post by Andy Baio. "Left unchecked, it’s not hard to imagine AI art crowding out illustrations that took days or weeks for someone to make," Baio said.

In September of 2022, Fur Affinity, an art site for fans of anthropomorphized drawings of animals known as "furries," banned AI-generated art on the grounds that it "lacked artistic merit." Also in late 2022, art and animation portal Newgrounds updated its guidelines for much the same reason: "We want to keep the focus on art made by people and not have the Art Portal flooded with computer-generated art."

While the ethics of AI generated art remain ambiguous, this marks a recent trend, in artists' spaces, at least, of banning AI art altogether. "We at Animé Los Angeles do not condone or accept an form of AI-generated art piece being used within our promotional materials nor being sold in our Exhibit Hall or Artist Alley," reads a statement by Animé Los Angeles. Anime NYC, another huge anime convention, has taken the same route, according to ARTnews.

Responses to Clip Studio Paint's announcement of the AI feature ranged from anger to disappointment (to triumph, largely from NFT shill accounts). As one user pointed out on Twitter, "When this releases and until it is shut down, the legitimacy of all art made with the program can be called into question." "Use Ibis paint x instead of this stinky little program," was a suggestion offered by another user. Others begged CSP to do better, pointing out the potential for future lawsuits and imploring the company to "listen to the community" (source).

The issue of legality is an important one, especially since generative AI art is such a new technology. One AI user even discovered photos from private personal medical records in an AI data training set. This alongside many instances of intellectual property theft in AI begs the question of where the line is drawn, and when AI data training becomes illegal or even dangerous.

Personal Thoughts

In the time between Clip Studio's announcement of these features and its amendments, many users suggested retracting financial support or moving on to other applications entirely. Free or "freemium" platforms such as Medibang Paint Pro, Ibis Paint X, and Krita were listed as options. This is, in my opinion, the best way to make a company listen to its users on ethical concerns such as these. The loss of financial support, and, more importantly, the possibility to regain that support, is a key motivator.

Others suggested pirating the software, which is, of course, another ethical matter entirely. In my opinion, it has the potential to be less effective in the long run, since many people don't know how to pirate, don't know how to pirate safely, or will decide it's more trouble than it is worth. Companies can also instate anti-piracy methods, especially when piracy websites are publicized online. Free and freemium alternatives are easily accessible, legal, and stands on solid ethical ground.

As an artist myself, I must admit a level of personal bias with regards to the AI issue. I am of the belief that AI generated art, when trained on non-public-domain works (that is, works protected by Copyright), is detrimental from a moral, legal, and ethical standpoint. Copyright as a whole was introduced to protect the artist's right to create, and I believe that using protected works to train and profit off of AI art spits in the face of why intellectual property exists. That said, I do believe that public domain works, royalty free images, and art that is used with consent and compensation can be used to train AI art ethically. The issue is that this is not how AI art is being used, and there are very few ways to regulate it.

For these reasons, I personally believe that the decision being made on many artists' platforms and in many artists' spaces to ban AI art altogether is the best course of action. Until these images can be regulated to where they are consistently created in a morally and ethically sound manner, I do not think it is safe or even advisable to host these images or allow them to be used for profit, especially if future legal issues arise.

Sources

[hapalopus]

Today I:

Took my meds

Wrote, edited, and posted two very difficult replies to kin discourse, as well as answered 4 asks. In hindsight I should've just posted Megamind No Hobbies at Jafira's anti-fictionkind rant. But that wouldn't've been very solution-minded of me, would it?

Talked to my counselor and figured out some stuff re: disability support and student support. I'm about 30 ECTS points behind, so I'll have to send an application with various doctors' notes and documentations to the State Education Support office to get more funds.

Picked up a new-in-box Silver Bella I bought a few months ago. So I'm only missing 21 Giochi Preziosi horses and 20 Jakks Pacific horses now :')

Planned to meet up with an old friend on Friday

Bought groceries

Changed my sheets

Did laundry

Folded landry

Watched several episodes of The Troop while editing images for the Bella Sara wiki and working on a commission

[wolfymj]

I am an artist. Although for several years I've been running empty creative wise - "creative anxiety" is what it's called. I've also heard it referred to as "Dark night of the soul". Whatever you wanna call it ...I hate it! I've turned out a few craft items and a couple of new original paintings the past few years but I'm far away from where I used to be. The one creative hobby that I've managed to continue with consistently is adult coloring . Recently I've discovered the variation styles known as Dots, Lines, Spirals and Waves. I discovered it completely by accident honestly. When I was researching private sellers, on Amazon, for my Art of Megamind book the coloring book popped up as a suggestion. I was just excited to find an Megamind themed adult coloring book. I've since purchased 2 more of these books. It's very relaxing, almost meditative. I highly recommend it. Upon viewing the images you may recognize me from Instagram. I use my legal name there.

[myshoeisonthewrongfoot]

Get to know me

I was tagged by @sarcastic-writes, and tbh i think it is the first one of these ive ever been tagged in 

Real Name: Angelica, like from the rugrats or hamilton, depending on the kind of person you are

Hair: like a medium brown currently, since i just got a very short hair cut and the dyed bits were all chopped off

Zodiac Sign: scorpio, babey

Height: 5′6′’ 

Hobbies:  Drawing, reading, playing D&D, and sending images to my friends that cause them to contemplate if I am really worth all the trouble

Favorite Color: purple is my favorite, tho i love every color

Favorite Book: i haven’t read a real book for fun in a while, though I did take a class called science and science fiction and we read Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson. If you’re into Sci-Fi its high up on my recommendation list 

Last Song: History Read by The Altogether (the band Brian David Gilbert is in) 

Things I love: my siblings, the smell of old and well loved books, the sound of a book being opened for the first time, the sound of the rain, warm blankets and tea, the act of putting on sunblock and reminding those I care about to apply it as well, the feeling of the static on the screen of old TVs, the list could go on

What brings me peace: Knowing that those I love are properly cared for

Last Film: I watched Megamind, it’s on Netflix now, and it’s just as good as I remember

Meaning behind my url: you know how after you try a bunch of urls and none of them are free, so in a blind fury you type in something random? well i did that and now it’s my brand

Tag people: asdfghjkl, you dont have to do this if you dont want to:

@mango-bee @dragonsareaces @gayliensofficial

[yuusuke02tsu]

Tag! You’re it!

Hi! I was tagged by @kiarikakawaiii and first, thank you so much for tagging and I think this is an opportunity to know about us and meet many more people with the same tastes and hobbies besides I can not pass up the opportunity to practice my English again thank you very much and without more to add start with this tag. Pd. I take the liberty of adding a few more questions to get to know me a bit more 

Rules: Tag 20 amazing followers you want to get to know better.  Tagged by: @kiarikakawaiii​ (nice to meet you) => Name: Berenice Castillo  => Country: Mexico, DF.  => Language: Spanish and English => Nicknames: Bere, Berenais, Yuu-chan, Yuusuke => Gender: Female => Star Sign and birthday: Taurus, May 15th => Height: 1′64 => Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual => Hogwarts House: Slytherin => Favourite color: Purple, Red and Dark Blue => Favourite fictional characters: It's a long list Inazuma Eleven: Afuro Terumi “Aphrodi”, Hiroto Kira (The true son of Seijirou Kira), Yuuichi Tsurugi and Bitway Ozrock Binan Koukou: Ibushi Arima, Gero Akoya, Akihiko and Haruhiko Beppu Yu-Gi-Oh: Marik Ishtar, Zigfried Von Schroider and Daichi Misawa   Mermaid Melody: Mikeru (Mikel), The Black Beauty Sisters and Lady Bat Beyblade: Kai Hiwatari, Yuriy Ivanov and Brooklyn  Princess Tutu: Princess Kraehe   Steven Universe: Lapis Lazuli and Jasper Gravity Falls: Ford and Bill Cipher  Curious fact: I love the villains, I find them much more interesting => Favourite OTP/ship: Endou x Aphrodi, Tsunami x Fudou, Haruya x Atsuishi, Tsurugincest, Saru x Gillis, Beppuncest, KinAtsu, Ijuuin x Misaki, Billford, Beast Boy x Terra and Robin x Raven  => Favourite Manhwa: Killing Stalking  => Favourite Movies: Pirates of the Caribbean, Corpse Bride, Megamind and Thor => Favourite Mythological creatures: Angels, demons, vampires, werewolf, kappa and yōkai  => Favourite animals: Cats and snakes => Favourite singer/band:  PXNDX, T-Pistonz + KMC, Big Bang, Gackt, Vocaloid (Gakupo and Senka)    => Favourite sport: Football and basketball      => Dream Job: Psychologist, I study the career in Psychology  => What made you decide to make a Tumblr? Because I was looking for a page to store my images and this appeared as the first option after I saw that more could be done and decided to stay here  => What are you talented at: Maybe doing online edits and renders

And I think that's all for my part, I hope you liked and tagged to @cutefujoshiyaoi and @d4ftka Thanks for reading greetings

[abelfletcher]

3 People I admire

Elena Ilicheva - ‘mireys’

I found Ilicheva on youtube first, where she posted several series of videos showing her work-through’s of concept paintings. I admire her because her art style is something that I wish I could replicate. She also has done concept pieces where she has gone away from the generic and taken a new look on something, in a way I never would have thought to, so I really admire her creativity in thinking outside of the box.

For example: her concept art of a Vampire character

Jonna Koskelo

I came across Koskelo on an online streaming site, where she was working on some of her commissions. Koskelo has a character species design that she has a world and ARPG created around. She makes a lot of money creating new characters of the species for people that want to join the ARPG, and gets commissioned a lot for art of people involved’s characters also. I admire how she has designed something and built it into this huge group thing that she also makes money from.

An example of the commissions she does

‘Bluumi’

Bluumi is an artist that I follow on a few different social media platforms. She isn’t studying art but architectural science, so her art is a hobby. However she also takes commissions and is working on a webcomic which will launch Fall 2018. I admire Bluu more for her style, and her interactions with her followers. She’s very open and friendly.

Example of Bluu’s work

Case Study

Dreamworks > How To Train Your Dragon > Devin Crane

Crane was a character designer on HTTYD, also worked on others such as ‘Megamind’ and ‘Kung Fu Panda’.

Went to his site, immediately disliked the front image. Gonna find a different artist.

Found Shane Prigmore. He hasn’t updated his blog since august 2014. Vice President Creative Affairs at Disney.  Lead character designer for The Grinch (2018).

Prigmore also worked on The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers, he animated Gollum and Treebeard.

His LinkedIn has a list of many of his major jobs through his career.

I really like some of his visual development work on the ‘Rise of the Guardians’