Your view on tracing...

[alonesomesoul]

Well recently, I've been seeing some people being attacked for tracing images. What I'd like to know, is if you would consider this acceptable, since I'm thinking about doing it:
Basically, using a pre-existing image and then creating an animation on top of that. So I'd use the traced image (or perhaps even the original) and then just have to animate the boobs growing or whatever. I'd obviously state that the original image was not mine, but my question is this: would you guys see it as kosher? Is it acceptable to do something like that?
The main reasons for this would be twofold: to save time and to increase the overall quality of the picture, while perhaps learning a bit about drawing in the process.

[Nihtgenga]

I'd say as long as you got the original artist's permission, nowt would be wrong with that.

[CK01]

As long as you get permission and credit the original and your being upfront and honest that you traced as a learning exercise, then you should avoid most of the fire.

[TF-Viewer]

Get permission first.

[resiz3d]

Originally Posted by alonesomesoul

while perhaps learning a bit about drawing in the process.

IMHO this is a bad way to learn to draw. You end up with very flat looking art this way because you're focusing on a flat image and not thinking about the subject as a being fully 3-Dimensional. But that's just me, mileage varies. www.idrawgirls.com has many excellent free (and even more awesome yet low-priced) videos to get you started.

As for the rest.. credit the original artist/model/photographer and get permission if possible.

[PrBlahBlahtson]

Permission is great, but at the very LEAST give credit to the original artist, and throw in a link, would ya? They need some exposure, and it's honest.

[Clickme]

I started out in a similar position, though I would eyeball some anime artwork I liked (Fullmetal Alchemist, Tenjou Tenge, Please Teacher) and more or less recreate it free hand as a way of learning to space things out and basic positioning by working from various poses and angles. I only did a few though, and started more trying to learn from my own work and move up from there. there are still a few times I go back to using general references, and figures or dolls, but mostly I work on my own now, and I think it helped to start with something to shoot for, which was one day being able to create art like that without the eyeballing part ^_^

And I'm glad you're lookign to improve yourself and not jsut trace forever lol. I look forward to seeing what you can do later down the road ^_^ Keep drawing!

[Dane]

I agree, get permission and give credit, but don't ALWAYS trace, practice your own form.

[Darkborn]

Tracing..meh.

If someone just traces one of my images just to be an idiot, then that's stupid.

Other than that, I don't mind traces as long as it's creditied.

[LOD]

Like everyone said, with permission and credit no one will be mad.

[no-name]

Give credit where credit is due, and if it helps you out to the point that you can do your own in the long run, more power to you!

[supermikeman]

[Banky is strangling the Collector]
Collector: You're mucking with a G, you fuckin' tracer.
Banky Edwards: I'll trace a chalk line around your dead fucking body, you fuck!
Holden McNeil: [to Security Guards] Will you get him out of here!
Collector: [as he's being dragged away by Security Guard] Hey wait a second! He jumped me, you fucking tracer!
Banky Edwards: YOUR MOTHER'S A TRACER!

Little quote I found from Chasing Amy. He's not an inker, just a tracer. lol