❓Character Etiquette❓

[ANETRA]

Hey!
Since I'm relatively new to the OC/Art scene, I had a couple questions regarding what is considered "acceptable" with characters.

1) If you receive a character through an art trade, is it acceptable to redesign/make tweaks? The base design would be preserved, but items would be added on (i.e. a pair of glasses, or a hat, etc.).

2) Is it acceptable to purchase art from a store and pay them in full, but not upload their art to the character's ToyHouse, or is that considered rude?

3) Sometimes characters come with art through a trade. Is it acceptable to remove some former art pieces? (for instance, if they oppose your visions for that particular character)

I truly apologize if these questions seem rude/ignorant. I'm just trying to learn! <3 Thank you to any responses!

[Burrito Bunny]

No worries, these are all valid questions! We're happy to help c:

1) Adding accessories or items is generally fine, I don't think I've seen anyone have an issue with this. Items or accessories are usually not included in a character's design to start, only their actual markings/body, so if you want to add items it should be fine. However, do note that you shouldn't draw the items onto the original artwork without the artist's permission. Artists often don't want other people to edit their work. So it's fine to request the item in future pieces, or write about it, but not edit items or accessories onto existing work (unless you have permission).

Changing the markings of a character is a little more tricky. Usually it's ok to make a "simplified" version for really complex characters, as it can be very expensive to commission to most intricate designs. However, the character's designer may not appreciate if you change too much with the design, so make sure to consult with them before making huge changes.

2) As long as you pay you are not obligated to upload the art anywhere. There are many reasons someone may not upload to their ToyHouse so I wouldn't say that it is rude at all. Sure, an artist may feel good if they happen to notice it, but it's not required and there shouldn't be any issues if you don't upload.

3) You are not required to use any existing artwork of a character, just as long as you give credit to the original creator for the actual design.

I hope this helps to clarify some things! Please let me know if you have more questions

[ANETRA]

Awesome, thank you so much! Your responses to my questions cleared things up very well <3

[ANETRA]

Another quick question: is it acceptable to rename characters received through trades?

[Celozon]

Generally yes its fine to make any changes you want to a character you now own, unless the original artist or person selling/trading it to you specifically put restrictions that you agreed to when you bought/traded for it, in which case you should consult them or the agreement made to see if it is ok to make those changes.

If you are still concerned however, you can always ask the user first before trading/buying if they would be ok if you chose to make any changes in the future, so you know it'll be fine to do so later if you want (perhaps leaving a note to yourself on the character's profile, or saving the messages so you can reference them later).

[ANETRA]

Okay, thank you for the swift and informative response! <3