Of course, it could eventually come to nuking my entire SVG library from sta.sh. (more on that later)

In my effort to avoid seeing things that might, well, rethink my purpose as a vector artist, I was able to avoid this for a couple months, but that couple months ended fairly recently.  Basically, the inevitable happened.

Curiosity killed the cat.

You can thank Rusty-SparkTheTinker for single-handedly making this happen.

If reading depressing text isn't your thing and you just want to look at vectors, I have a treat for you:

 

   

 

 

 

    

   

 

 

 

   

I know I'm not the only one whose stuff features in this gallery, so it isn't just about me, but that should be enough to make my point.  There's other stuff by other people that I don't immediately recognize, but that doesn't change my stance in the matter.  I'm well-aware there's more I haven't found, so these are just from one user.  That, and I posted a few others in my last journal two weeks ago.  It's probably better off I don't find any more, for my own safety.  But really, I only bring this up now because I only just noticed that my things are part of and used as examples in a commission journal.  Of course, you might notice some copypasted text here and there from this journal, for instance.

As I've previously noted, everything should be fine as long as you credit me, even if I might not even think the finished product is all that great, because that at least tells me that you liked something I made, used it, and appreciated it or me enough to continue to attribute me to it.  Unfortunately, there aren't enough of you that do it.

Of all the people who see my vectors, some actually look at them on deviantART (as I do post my vectors in other places), some download the exported PNG images, some use those PNGs in their personal wallpapers, and a very small handful actually make use of the SVG resources; be it reusing them for personal use, for recoloring them into their OCs, fulfilling requests, and recently, for fulfilling commissions. The rest are maybe an even smaller bunch using them to learn how my vectors are built and my techniques.

Furthermore, this only affects my SVG files, and whether I'll ever post any more for future vectors.  This does not affect me posting my usual PNG images, nor does it affect my vectoring overall, at least somewhat.  It might be hard to gather inspiration to work on more, but that's all.  For those who might have used my SVG files for a purpose such as learning or study, then you can ask me for the SVG file of any future things I post so long as I at least know you enough to trust you with them.  Because I can't really trust anyone new who comes out of nowhere at the moment.  For those of you I communicate with frequently outside of deviantART and share my SVG files with, this does not affect you.

For those of you who used my SVG files for personal use, fulfilling requests from friends, or may or may not have uploaded anything, this may affect you, unless you can show and convince me why my resources might matter to you.  As it stands now, I don't feel like they do.

I asked this in my last journal, basically;

Or specifically, what are my SVG files to you?

Whenever I get around to updating the files after I notice errors months later I look at the download counts, and most of them are ignored save for a couple that have upwards of 50 to 60+ last I checked.  More importantly, if you ever recolor them or reuse them in whatever project you make, do you credit me?  For a couple of you, you already tell me you enjoy using them and where you do, and thus probably don't feel the need to credit me in them, as I'm already well aware of you using them, which is fine, but only applies to two of you at most.  Or are they material for your OCs to use to fulfill requests and commissions that you take full credit for, and you don't actually like me for my attention to apathetic ponies?  (Pff...who am I kidding, having an OC is worlds more popular than most of the ponies I've vectored.)

Right now, it doesn't seem like people really care about them, other than to use them to recolor into their OCs for themselves or for others.  They just like the pose, and don't actually care about the underrated pony it is of, which I guess makes sense.  Furthermore, I notice no links or mentions to the original, where it says so to credit me in basically every deviation this applies to.  So, as it stands, unless I can be convinced on good examples of reuse or importance to people, preferably by people other than those I frequently communicate with, they will be removed from my sta.sh the night after the new episode on Saturday.  Of course for most of you, they probably don't matter, in fact, I'd appreciate if you just say that the SVG files, and by extension I, don't matter to you, because then I'll know for sure.

Initially, I was going to remove each vector from the MLP-VectorClub since attaching an SVG source to traced images was required.  However, I've been informed that I can withhold my SVG files from the public so long as I privately provide the SVG for the vector inspectors solely for critiquing purposes, allowing them to remain in the group gallery.  With this, I see no reason to keep my SVGs up, at least publicly, since it's not like anyone really used them for anything other than the usual maneswap and recolor edit before taking credit, as there aren't really many other common uses that I've seen.  People who did were typically people I kept in close contact with and already trusted, anyway.

 Art theft happens.  Get over it.

I know it does.  And frankly I'd rather make it harder to be a victim by not leaving anything I make open to anyone who can just download them and easily edit them.  If someone will want an SVG of something I uploaded, they'll either have to vector over it themselves, or find another vector artist to do it.  In the world of vectoring, where people are used to substituting manes or other parts on a complete vector, it feels like too much work to do this, that people who want the easy way out won't bother.  I'd rather quit than continue being a victim of it, or to stop making it so easy, the only way being to stop.

I was led to believe that MLP-VectorClub would allow no recolors or edits of other existing vectors as OCs per its rules, and that if another user's vector was used, you must link the source and credit the author.  I felt safe, too safe.   Foolishly safe.  I wasn't sure if this was the case for canon ponies.  After seeing several edits of my stuff accepted into the group, I sent a query or two about my concerns, them saying there's nothing they can do, despite the rules, and then a third one when I was reassured there was discussion amongst the admins and there'd be a poll on the subject in the coming days.  That was over a month ago, and since then there've been more submissions that were edits of my stuff, with no credit.  It's taken me that long to realize that the group does not care, so removing my vectors from it as a consequence for removing my SVG files is a step I'm willing to take if necessary and one that I have no problem or regret doing as it is.  After all, I don't do the mainstream characters that everyone cares about and associates with, despite it'd be over a hundred vectors disappearing from their gallery, so it's not like anyone'll notice nor care.

 Vectoring off the show is art theft in itself.  Hypocrite.

I vector from the show part because I like the style, part because lots of other people do and recognize it, part because people find vectors useful, and part because staff sometimes come on here and see them and appreciate that others like it enough to vector from.  It isn't like this with other TV shows, furthermore, it's explained here.  I don't make money doing this, even for the hours I might have spent doing it, and do it because I enjoy it and it's fun.  I do not claim the show's style as my own.  The most I get is usually satisfaction and appreciation from grateful friends, which is enough for me, but apparently too much for others.  Are you one of them?  It can't be too much to say that other people shouldn't benefit in material wealth out of work done by me; if they want to, they can do that by tracing off the show themselves, instead of ripping off someone else who did it for no monetary gain.  Then again, this might be good news to you if you hate vector artists to begin with.

 These other people who fall victim to it can just blow it off and move on.

Because they either don't know, managed to not care, or I'm too prideful or not prideful enough.  I didn't spend hours doing something for fun and for no real material reward for someone else to blatantly benefit off it, whether it be monetary gain or credit and admiration.  Short story, I can't, after I've seen it.  Shorter story, I'm not them.

 Whatever, take them all down.  See if I care.  I use your raster PNGs anyway.

I'm glad for two reasons, one, that we've come to agreeable terms, and two, that my hunch was right.

 lol wat a baby

At least now I know I'm making the right decision.  Thanks for openly showing you don't care and for reinforcing my thoughts!

 tl;dr

[see above]

 Will you at least continue vectoring?

Yes, I will.  I still have something about as big as the Christmas vector planned for #200, as well as a couple Brollys, a Snowflake, and a Doctor Whooves vector after that.  Outside of deviantART, something for Arteses-Canvas that I was supposed to start yesterday.  However as it is right now, they won't have SVG files linked and I won't have a full-res download, like some of my previous works, and thus, probably won't be submitted to that group.  In the meantime, I'll probably be working on other stuff that I'll be posting to a generic Facebook page I made for Crescent Moon.

 You okay, Ryan?  Anything I can do to help?

You tell me.  Did you read the whole journal or skip to the bottom to get here?

In all seriousness...

 Show you care, or show you don't care.  If you don't like the choices I'm making, suggest something else for me to do and give a good reason.

...Well, that happened.  It's nice to get that off my chest finally.

For those of you in classes, have a good semester/quarter, and for the rest of you, have a great 2014!

Hopefully the rest of the pony season is enjoyable for both you and I.