Is using photographs as textures considered sinful?

[killerlotus]

I was making a panel, and instead of drawing the scenery (considering I'm not good at drawing backgrounds and etc.), i decided to take random field textures such as clouds, grass, tree leaves and other free sources.

Is it the ultimate sin to cut corners like this? I mean im not doing this for time's sake, just more on the sake of keeping things somewhat interesting.

however after looking at it further, it just looks like im compensating for my somewhat mediocre art skills.

i would like advice about this, and any technique about what could help me about making backgrounds. thank you

[starless]

Are you using Photoshop? Then try Filter - filter gallery - cutout. The grass will look more like a painting.

[killerlotus]

i have no idea how to use photoshop, i just use paint tool sai 2

[starless]

You can download it for free for one month trial. Watch Youtube tutorials and give it a shot.

[killerlotus]

ok, first, i do own photoshop, and second, ive done this already and i cant understand how it works regardless of tutorial. this is why im just asking for advice about techniques.

[IndigoShirtProd]

Is it the ultimate sin to cut corners like this? I mean im not doing this for time's sake, just more on the sake of keeping things somewhat interesting.

It's not a sin, per se, but you run the risk of background elements being distracting at best and unappealing at worst. Instead of using from life pictures, maybe consider looking into brush packs that include clouds, or grass, or bark for whatever drawing program you use. Some might cost money, but there are some free ones.

[Inspector_Spinda]

im the biggest sinner

[Kura]

Not a sin, but can be distracting to readers.

Also can be infringing on copywrites if you do not own the picture or don't use one with appropriate licencing.

[TedGravesArt]

"Sin" is a strong word. Personally I'm not a fan of the aesthetic of photo textures in drawings, but it's your art dude, there aren't really any rules. Except for copyright stuff as others have mentioned. If you like the look, that's what matters, do it!

[IndigoShirtProd]

That's a good point I didn't even think of!

[spadesart]

It's not, but it can be very distracting if the styles clash :^(

Also, like Kura pointed out, be careful about using photographs that aren't public domain/stock or the photographer can take action.

[pilot-obvious]

Not a sin in my opinion! Just be mindful of copyright issues. Only source photos from places where it explicitly states it's free for use... (not from Google Images!!!) or take photos of your own textures! Photo bashing is a common technique used in the concept art industry in order to produce more work in a shorter amount of time, and it can definitely apply to webcomics too! (I do it for my webcomic sometimes, but I try to source my own photos/textures)

Blending it with artwork is a different issue. Admittedly, I think it looks a little distracting in your example because my eye is drawn to the details of the photos rather than the subject of your drawing. In my personal opinion, photo textures lends itself better to more realistic styles rather than cartoony, but I think there are ways to experiment!

To better incorporate photos into art, I recommend either painting over it, using a brush to blend over it, or applying some of the filters that previous replies have mentioned. Honestly, in your case, I think researching how western animation styles tackle backgrounds and applying that knowledge to your art would be the best thing to do over time and would lead to more interesting results! Good luck!!

[samdenton952]

same like it is so easy

[thecrystalrook]

Yes and no. It can look good if done properly. Your sky background actually matches nicely with the rest of the art. The grass though needs some work to blend haha

[DokiDokiTsuna]

i would like advice about this, and any technique about what could help me about making backgrounds. thank you

I think it's fine, all things considered. Your art style is bold enough to make the photo textures to look like they fit in, in a whimsical way. Personally, I might've used a grass photo with a more even color, y'know? A little less contrast, since all the other colors are so smooth.

It also helps if you keep things to scale...like, those blades of grass in the photo are way too big considering where they are in the scene. If you want your textures to look less distracting, you should either pick photos that have the right scale, or resize them as needed.

Now, if you want suggestions for related techniques:

-Always adjust the colors to fit the scene. If you just throw together random photos without doing any color work on them, you can end up with a sort of 'fabricated', amateurish look, depending on your art style. In any case, it never hurts to put in the effort.
Example:

This was complicated to put together, but all the techniques are pretty basic: I increased the saturation of the ocean to make it 'bluer', and the flames are just on a transparent layer over the red/yellow gradient.
There's also a bit of a yellow blur over the edge of the ocean, just to help sell the illusion of distance.

-Make your own angles. It's very difficult to find photos with the right angle for any given scene, especially if you're limiting yourself to royalty-free images (which you should be doing), so you should learn and get used to rotating flat textures into the right angles to use for floors and walls.
Example:

Both the bricks and tile were originally flat textures, resized and rotated for this hallway shot. I assume Paint Tool Sai has the capability to do this (Paint.NET does, and it's basically freeware). If it doesn't, I think you really should find a program that can; it comes in handy a lot once you get the hang of it.

[killerlotus]

im appreciative of the help but right now im feeling drain, mentally and emotionally, because i cant do any of this stuff due to my lack of skills, technique and just plain not being able to learn anything new. i dont know what i need and i just made this because im just crying for help at this point.

i cant even create my first comic because of how terrible i am at doing this stuff and it's mentally killing me.

[Chiaroscuro]

Have you ever seen the cartoon, Adventure of Gumball on Cartoon Network? It's not a comic (or maybe somewhere there is a comic of it) but a lot of their backgrounds are pictures. It's just the way that they stylized it made it work for them. There's nothing wrong with using photos for your art so long as it goes with your flow and you don't run into any copyright issues with the original photographer.

[carloswebcomic]

Is it the ultimate sin to cut corners like this? I mean im not doing this for time's sake, just more on the sake of keeping things somewhat interesting.

Whatever works, mate. Whatever works.
The only sin you can commit making comics is making it boring.
There's no rulebook, just do whatever works.

[killerlotus]

well obviously the way im doing it is not working out. i am a terrible artist, and i cant learn any techniques because they're too complicated to understand to even practice. i dont even know how to use a shadowing effect in paint tool sai 2

[carloswebcomic]

well obviously the way im doing it is not working out. i am a terrible artist, and i cant learn any techniques because they're too complicated to understand to even practice. i dont even know how to use a shadowing effect in paint tool sai 2

Well, I'm probably the last person that should be giving advise as I'm hardly a good artist myself, but don't get too caught up in what you can't do. Identify what you're good at and build on it.
One thing at a time.
Make sure you learn the basic such as anatomy, perspective and inking.
The other stuff, like shading, you can leave for later.
Also, don't be afraid to copy other artists. It's the best way to learn.
And lastly, give yourself the time to experiment and try new things.