whoa, that's amazing, i love the background and the way the dress moves in the wind <3

whoaa, the lacy texture used on the dress is similar to the one i used for the corset on this [link]
which is kinda freaky cos i scanned it in from a top i have

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my gallery: [link]

I really dig the lace effect you've put in her dress. Nice work my friend!

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Metroid Fan - Check out my Metroid Fanart

cheers

The sharp detail of the dress against the softness of the background add focus and some drama to the piece. As usual, your color palette is amazing. I am really glad you include some detail shots on some of your work, to show the facial expressions better, where the real power of your work shows.

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I have noticed that you are not affixing a copyright signature to you artwork. The following information may be of some in the future:

COPYRIGHT SIGNATURE

Under International Convention for Copyright Law (supposedly good in every country), there are simple rules you need to follow to be fully and legally protected. Some artists on DA simply add their copyright signature in the "Artists Comments" area under the image, but the signature must be affixed to the image for full legal protection, so that it travels with the image if someone takes and tries to use it without permission. They can use the argument that they did not know it was copyrighted and got it from someone else. But if your signature is on the image and it is removed, there will be evidence of that and then the person is guilty of a crime.

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YOUR COPYRIGHT SIGNATURE should be affixed to the image itself and must contain 3 elements, which can be in any order (spaces and punctuation do not matter). The three elements are:

1. Your legal name, or your Tradename (ideally registered).
2. The © symbol as shown, either drawn or typed (option and g keys pressed at the same time).
3. The year the image was created, followed by each year it was changed.

You can use fancy script fonts, handwriting fonts, and graphics. It can be placed anywhere on your image and in any size you wish.

EXAMPLES
©Joe Blow 2008, 2009
© Joe Blow 2008
Joe Blow 2008©
Joe Blow© 2008
Joe Blow © 2008
© 2008 Joe Blow
2008 © Joe Blow
ETC.

Some artists incorporate their signature into their artwork. See how this artist ran his signature along the shirt/neck line [link] .

Some Signatures actually look good with the art, like these:
[link] but it is missing the year
[link] also missing some info, but looks good.

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WATERMARKING YOUR PHOTOS EASILY AND IN BATCHES

WATERMARKING is the process of putting your Copyright Signature and Logo, etc, onto your Photos.

I usually add copyright signatures and watermarks manually, but it can be done in automatically and in batches using software.

iWatermark is an application for both PSs and MACs white will add your watermark (copyright Signature), at whatever transparency you want it, to your photos. What is great about it is that it will do it in batches, like an entire folder of your photos at a time. REMEMBER NOT TO DO THIS TO YOUR ORIGINAL PHOTOS.

IT COSTS $20. THEIR SITE IS [link]

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I worship at the altar of creativity.

That's a whole lot of VERY handy information!
Is a watermark a valid legal proof of art theft though? Doesn't a copyright need to be registered somewhere?

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Nightwatch: united against resource abuse.
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My art*Cat-in-the-mist

A copyright does not need to be registered. It is recommended for high value items. Technically, you do not even need a copyright signature on your photos. But without a copyright signature, it is extremely difficult to prosecute a thief or to recover damages in civil court.

Actually registering your work is your best protection, as far as legal action against pirates. BUT, Watermarks are best to PREVENT theft.

In the real world, it is very difficult to do anything about piracy, especially if it is done by someone from China, Russia, South American, Africa, etc. Legal action in other countries can be next to impossible. So it is best to PREVENT theft in the first place.

I have a photo of a vomiting pumpkin, which got out onto the internet when we email a copy of it to friends one Halloween. It has been plastered all of the internet for years. I really don't mind, in the sense that I would have donated it. What I mind about was never getting the choice. Tracking down who actually put it up on the internet first is probably impossible.

A pirate with some knowledge, experience, and a fair amount of time, can defeat Digimarc (invisible embedded copyright), watermarks, and copyright signatures. The GOOD NEWS is that most would-be thieves will not bother taking all of the time to erase signatures and watermarks, assuming they even know how.

Artists are torn. They want artists on DA to see their work. A huge watermark prevents that from happening. So every artist has to make their own choices. The bigger and more complex a watermark, and if it is covering the most intricate part of a photo, or if it in a smooth gradient, will be the hardest to defeat.

Some artists turn to Digimac, which embeds copyright info all over the photo. Sometimes your photo is stolen in pieces. Someone takes a piece of it to use in a digital composite. However, Digimark does effect the image. Granted it is not easily seen, but the image does not look as crisp in edge details, by my eye. Also, Digimarc has a fee for each photo it is used on.

CONCLUSION

If you have valuable work you really care about, registration is a good idea, in addition to Watermarking and adding a Signature. Otherwise, add a watermark (with copyright info) or a Copyright Signature.

This can be a bigger issue to digital artists who spend weeks paining an image. But Photographers can spend weeks getting the shot they want.

_____________________________________________________

REMINDERS

1. Always keep the original photos untouched.
2. Save copies for editing or manipulation.
3. Do NOT sharpen your images.
4a. Save another copy the image you want to use, when it is time to output the image, such as to a Lithographic print provider, Giclée print, newsprint, magazine, art book, post to DA or internet
4b. Then size the image as needed and set the resolution appropriately for the output device. For example, magazine for be 300 dpi (150 lpi).
4c. The very last thing to do is to sharpen the image based on the resolution. I can give you a guide for that if you wish.
5. NEVER ever use JPG unless desperate to reduce file size. It is a lossy compression. Every time you "Save" it, it throws more data away. One you save as Jpeg, never re-save it. I will only use it for DA posting, but PNG is better.
6. For Internet use, save your work in PNG, which is a lossless mode.
7. USE TIFF with LZW compression (Lossless compression algorithm) for all Print output or production.
8. Use RGB for Inkjet applications, and CMYK for Lithographic.
9. Sometimes Print Provider will ask for your work to be submitted in PDF workflow.
10. Do NOT save Grayscale images as RGB or CMYK. Save it in Grayscale Mode, which is a single channel.

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I worship at the altar of creativity.

Awesome info! thanks a lot

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Nightwatch: united against resource abuse.
Visit =What-lies-behind a club for background stockers and stock users!
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My art*Cat-in-the-mist

thank you! and thank you for the awesome advice! will really help ! i'll look into it

It was my pleasure.

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I worship at the altar of creativity.