Is it cheating to trace a drawing then redraw what you traced with the trace as a reference?

[JoshRaed]

I’d just google it but I couldn’t find the answer.

[BlairFujin]

Why not... just use the initial picture as a reference? What's tracing here for?

[NickRowler]

Are you using the image purely as a reference, like understanding how to draw a hand? Or is it copying someone else's work? Like if you did this to Goku from DBZ, people are going to know you are just copying someone's art even if it's not traced. And while larger properties you can probably get away with it, smaller artists don't really like when people do that with their art.

[BoomerZ]

That sounds like reference with extra steps.

[TheLemmaLlama]

A trace of a trace would still be plagiarism, yeah :] (If you don't disclose the fact that it's a trace of a trace of an preexisting image :P)

If you're just referencing and not publishing it as your own work, primary sources are better; tracing it first would just give you a worse reference

[Shanny8]

It depends on the "trace"...

When I first started drawing again, I would trace an initial pose...make adjustments until I was satisfied with what I had, and then create the piece.

[morganicfoods]

Not at all! I actually used to do the same haha. It's really great for learning, but after a certain point in your art journey it becomes redundant.

[Lensing]

Cheating is the wrong word.
There are people who say drawing from reference is cheating and
that´s just really weird to say that because you can´t draw anything
when you never saw it.

There is stealing, plagiarism and there are many ways that tracing is
used in art.

It depends on the example again and please don´t get passive aggressive
about it

[JoshRaed]

please don´t get passive aggressiveabout it

Huh? What does this mean?

[LostKelp]

No, this is a method you can use. I've seen it floating around and it can help you figure out the important parts of an image. I just wouldn't post it anywhere. Good for practice though.

[moontokkym]

It's an Ethan Becker method he uses to simplify and understand shapes for practice which I think may be what you're referring to.

• the "trace" is done using only straight lines, forcing you to simplify the shape

• the freehand version uses both the simplified blocky sketch from the "trace" and the original image as reference because both are giving you different aspects to help you understand how to use references

• this is used strictly for practice and explaining things to his students, not for finished pieces that he sells or claims as fully his own.

It isn't a case of whether it's cheating or not, it's whether you are transparent about your methods and whether you even understand why you'd be using this method in the first place.

Edit: I assumed OP was talking about tracing over other artist's drawings which makes it more morally dubious. Tracing over free-to-use photos is basically always fine for practice.

[Legendofgenii]

What are you tracing?

[JoshRaed]

[Lensing]

Just a quick example, traced over it, copied the trace, drew a new version based on the trace.
It´s not stealing, it´s not plagiarism, it´s just another easy way to use reference and study reference

I still don´t understand the use of the term "cheating". Cheating who?

[thepenmonster]

If by "cheating" you mean...

Everyone will be able to tell I traced something because my normal skills do not match up in any way and they'll mock me much to my humiliation.

Absolutely

If you mean...

I used an image as a basis for something new. Much like how Daft Punk took samples of old songs and made a new song out of them

You're good because everyone does that.

[harlan]

My daughter uses this method sometimes. I think it's good for developing skills.

[redfish]

tracing is good practice, you can trace free stock photos & models if you have access to it. There's nothing wrong with that. Some people may say it's 'cheating' but it helps you figure out anatomy and people underestimate how many professional comic artists do this to help speed up the process.

If you trace/heavily reference other people's art - just make sure you keep it to yourself as practice. It's a no-no to then show it off as your own work.

[BoomerZ]

tracing is good practice

No, tracing is not good practice.

All you are doing is moving a pencil around without understanding the method to draw the figure. You won't get into the practice of seeing the body as shapes and how they interact. Even worst is tracing another artist. Now you are just copying his mistakes/shortcuts/style. I see way too many people tracing 3d models and the like. The people look dead and motionless. Comics are about pushing poses. Just like an actor using over-acting on stage to get the point across, you have to do the same thing with drawing. Some call it the "marvel way" or whatever, but unless you understand the relation to parts, you will not learn. Take a life drawing course, either online, on youtube, or better yet as a college level class. No art class will tell you to trace. It teaches you nothing.

[morganicfoods]

I disagree. It's not the best way to practice, and most especially not if you're just mindlessly drawing over it. But if you pay attention to the details or the shapes the pose/drawing makes, it can be incredibly useful. It's how I learned how to draw hands, which (so long as I'm not rushing lol) I can accurately draw in any pose without any sort of reference. There's not one set-in way to learn, what might not work for most people can work for someone else.

[SereinChoo]

I try to avoid tracing so I can learn to draw it. I felt like if I trace, I will forever be copy and pasting instead of learning.