This has been something I've been debating and weighing since pretty much last summer and the comp-death. And since I have thought about it for a while, and the idea hasnt gone away, I'm thinking I might very well just go through with it.
Odds are in the near future I will be auctioning off the original DMFA strips. Most likely I'll be doing so in batches based on arcs rather than individual strips. They will be for the most part the original unedited versions...in all their pre-scanned unglory. The only exception might be the pokemon arc which I might just add as a bonus to one of the other arcs being auctioned. (probably the Introduction)
My main reasons for doing so are:
A) At this time the archives just sit in a box at my house. And while I normally hoarde my art like some sort of hoarding critter, I don't hold the DMFA archives as fiercely since DMFA was ultimately a fun pet-project gone big. As such, I don't hold any notion or desire to rescan them all and attempt to rebolster a high-rez archive or book collections.
B) I've done and overdone the donation drives and incentives for now and would rather offer something more tangible. Even if they dont sell for a whole bunch, it seems like a feasable option.
Odds are I wont be auctioning off the most recent arc, and I wont be auctioning off Abel's Story. It'd be tacky to try selling something thats half incomplete.
I'm making a post about it now because I realize that some people who are fans might want to know in advance this is happening. Either to save up, or so they can lob their complaints and not be taken by suprise when I spring the news weeks later on my main page. I'm not entirely sure when I'll be doing it, but I would expect it sometime early April.
It's my hope that I can make enough to help cover what will likely be auto-costs when I take my car in for repairs, with maybe a little to help save up but that might be pushing it. I'll likely go through and make sure I have all the strips accounted for in the next week or so.
But thats all I got about the subject for now. Let the flambe'ing of me begin.
There is only one question.
Do you accept internal organs? I have a lovely pair of kidneys you might be interested in...
I got a gallbladder! And how bought a extra ring finger!...What really ment to say is...You dont need to give up that stuff..Really...What if you need it sometime later?
Amber needs those for references, recolors, and/or when she redoes all the old strips to be up to standard with her current art >.>
Someone better work on cloning, then, if those strips are to be redone within the next couple lifetimes...
Quote from: Aridas Soulfire on March 16, 2007, 09:36:58 PM
Amber needs those for references, recolors, and/or when she redoes all the old strips to be up to standard with her current art >.>
Not that I'm trying to justify anything, but wouldn't the low rez versions currently sitting in the archives and viewable by all be of sufficient quality for the purposes of reference pics?
The question is.. If I joined the auction... WHat page would I want! haha
Quote from: Aurawyn on March 17, 2007, 12:31:23 AM
The question is.. If I joined the auction... WHat page would I want! haha
All of them.
And you're willing to pay hundreds of dollars for sets of 10. :deal
Quote from: Reese Tora on March 17, 2007, 12:23:20 AM
Quote from: Aridas Soulfire on March 16, 2007, 09:36:58 PM
Amber needs those for references, recolors, and/or when she redoes all the old strips to be up to standard with her current art >.>
Not that I'm trying to justify anything, but wouldn't the low rez versions currently sitting in the archives and viewable by all be of sufficient quality for the purposes of reference pics?
NEVER! and shush, you'll make her sell them. D:
I think it's a viable option for any comic strip artist to offer the originals as collector's items. After all, they're obviously limited edition. And I'd honestly rather have them be in the possession of someone who will truly appreciate them and won't feel bad for buying them, rather than see them sit in a box in a closet for all eternity or get thrown out, lost, or mangled. (Not trying to imply that Amber doesn't appreciate them - just that doing something with them would be better than having them collect dust).
I'm sure I'd buy a comic or ten.
hmmm...which arc would i want? Probably the patches arc...always makes me laugh...especially Lorenda as an anime cat-girl and the Dan-mow! :mowhappy :giggle
Dibs on the Janus Bond arc.
It will be mine. Mine. Mi~ne!
Amber will you be selling arc's as a whole or individualy?
hehe tobad I don't have the money or else I would buy over the 10 pages :3
Oh dear. I can see I will be spending a lot of money in the near future. >:3
**EDIT**
Pal, the implication is it's entire arcs although that's for Amber to clarify. I'm hoping the SAIA arc goes as one unit.
Janus, I didn't really like the Bond arc too much, so I'm not gonna fight you over it :P
Quote from: Cogidubnus on March 16, 2007, 08:36:56 PM
There is only one question.
Do you accept internal organs? I have a lovely pair of kidneys you might be interested in...
Of course, just because once she has enough organs, she can build a mindless slave that will work for her and do her biddings :U
Tapewolf is correct in that I'll be doing things via entire arcs. It seems proper to keep particular storylines together. Granted once someone has them, if they want to resell and split them up it's their perogative.
The downside is if people just want a particular strip, they are going to have to compete against people who may want the entire arc. The upside is a lot less complications. (Really, having to sift through and mail individually 700 strips would be a horrible time for all.
----
Either way, I would like to remind that this isn't a decision I made lightly or on whimsical thought. Granted the first time I considered it, I was in desperation from the border/comp crash. However since then it's been something on the back of my mind and after a few months, I do think it is a feasable idea.
Quote from: Amber Williams on March 17, 2007, 02:27:19 PM
Tapewolf is correct in that I'll be doing things via entire arcs. It seems proper to keep particular storylines together. Granted once someone has them, if they want to resell and split them up it's their perogative.
The downside is if people just want a particular strip, they are going to have to compete against people who may want the entire arc. The upside is a lot less complications. (Really, having to sift through and mail individually 700 strips would be a horrible time for all.
----
Either way, I would like to remind that this isn't a decision I made lightly or on whimsical thought. Granted the first time I considered it, I was in desperation from the border/comp crash. However since then it's been something on the back of my mind and after a few months, I do think it is a feasable idea.
May I suggest high-quality prints as an alternative for those who just want a particular strip? I don't have the capabilities to do so myself, but I have seen these methods done for particular art auctions (on the JACK forums, mostly), and thought it be a idea to throw out there.
Good luck with this, as I'm sure that with your current workload as well as the auctioning crap, it's gonna be a hell of an endeavor... ;)
Quote from: Cogidubnus on March 16, 2007, 08:36:56 PM
There is only one question.
Do you accept internal organs? I have a lovely pair of kidneys you might be interested in...
I've got a pancreas that I'm not really using anymore. >_>
Seriously though, can you say Ka-Ching? I can scarcely imagine how much money is going to emerge from this little venture.
*Charles sighs* And just when I thought I'd be able to give up hiring myself out to the mob for contract killings... I'll need alot more money. *several more bodies are found in the Deleware River* No no... those are the people who tried swimming in the river. :yuck
I feed the bodies to the lab mice! >:3
Quote from: RushFox on March 17, 2007, 03:08:23 PM
May I suggest high-quality prints as an alternative for those who just want a particular strip? I don't have the capabilities to do so myself, but I have seen these methods done for particular art auctions (on the JACK forums, mostly), and thought it be a idea to throw out there.
I don't know what size the originals are, but I'd be happy to provide high-res scans of any I win. I still need to do that to the Librarian when I can find a copy shop with an A2 scanner...
**EDIT**
Also, I understand that the paper originals are done as scenes or frames rather than entire strips - the final strip assembly being done via compositing in photoshop.
I forsee auction snipers.
Quote from: Tapewolf on March 17, 2007, 03:33:03 PM
I don't know what size the originals are, but I'd be happy to provide high-res scans of any I win. I still need to do that to the Librarian when I can find a copy shop with an A2 scanner...
Providing copies of another artist's works ... I hope you get Amber's permission for that, seeing as how that can infringe on copyrights. Especially if you're making money on them.
Quote from: Azraelle on March 17, 2007, 04:28:03 PM
Quote from: Tapewolf on March 17, 2007, 03:33:03 PM
I don't know what size the originals are, but I'd be happy to provide high-res scans of any I win. I still need to do that to the Librarian when I can find a copy shop with an A2 scanner...
Providing copies of another artist's works ... I hope you get Amber's permission for that, seeing as how that can infringe on copyrights. Especially if you're making money on them.
Money? With due respect, what on earth are you talking about? I'm going to scan the librarian in for archival purposes and also for Amber, seeing as she no longer has it herself.
As for the copyright of the erm, masters, I'm not sure Amber would be disseminating them in the first place if she was
that concerned, although you're right, it would be worth checking first.
I'll likely be providing arch-samples in each auction. While the strips are lacking colour/text/borders, there is a general strip composition so it isn't just figures scattered across a page.
The biggest yeek factor is probably people can see how strips look before I make edits. Or some of the really wierd scribbles I drew underneath them or on the side.
I dont hold any standard to people who buy the strips because once they are won, they are ultimately up to the new owner to decide. While I would expect the person not to make xerox copies to sell, if they want to split the archives and sell individual strips that is their choice. Or if they want to colour them, or scan them all and attempt to bog me with high-res. Or whatever. Outside of them taking the strips and claiming that they drew it(that's just common courtesy though), people are free to do what they want with their purchase.
@Tapewolf: from the way you described it, it sounded like you would happily provide others with copies of the strips that you won in the auction. Did I misunderstand your intent? (I am pretty bad at things like that, so if I did, I apologize). I wasn't sure if you were planning on just giving them away or selling them, but either way, it is something that you'd need the original artist's permission to do, whether there was profit involved or not.
Sorry for sounding all legal and technical, but I take artistic copyright very seriously, and just want to make sure no one is getting hurt.
Quote from: Azraelle on March 17, 2007, 06:57:25 PM
@Tapewolf: from the way you described it, it sounded like you would happily provide others with copies of the strips that you won in the auction. Did I misunderstand your intent?
No, but you got the
motive way distorted. Selling them is absolutely out of the question. Privately giving digital copies of them away to other fans upon request
as a courtesy is something I have no problems with - assuming Amber does not object. And one reason I post it here was so that Amber
could object if she wanted to.
Remember, this is still hypothetical until I'm in a position to actually do it.
QuoteSorry for sounding all legal and technical, but I take artistic copyright very seriously, and just want to make sure no one is getting hurt.
It strikes me that you may be taking it
too seriously, particularly given that Amber has published the entire series for nothing in the first place.
When you reply to this, take a good look at the emoticons which appear - the last one which appears is a case in point, although I suspect many of the smileys are iffy, copyright-wise. Would that make you using them an accomplice to copyright infringement? (Come to that, what about quoting my reply?)
Anyway, specifically I'm referring to
:shapeshifters
Did I ask permission before creating it? No. Would I have taken it down if Amber asked or objected in any way? Hell yes.
Here's a few more:
http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php?topic=1213.0
http://s89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/dmfa/
http://www.jpmorris.force9.co.uk/stuff/conversions/
...JSR's current Avatar.
Oh, and 'Princes of the Dreams'. I didn't ask Xss about that either, and he thought it was fantastic. I'm going to double-check with him before including it on the album, though.
Granted, some of these would fall under 'fair use' or 'parody', but it strikes me that taking such a strict view of copyright would (A) prevent anything from getting done and (B) make the world a much more boring place.
Perhaps part of this is self-projection - I am very permissive when it comes to copyright myself, at least where non-profit is concerned... it's a form of promotion. And to some extent I expect others to behave the same way. Thank you for reminding me that not everyone does.
If I found some of my music being used in a YouTube video, I'd be overjoyed. If it was used in a TV commercial, I'd be asking for my cut.
Anyway, Amber's own comment appears to have made this a moot point >:3
Well some of those examples are a tad flawed. Amber choosing to post her comic on the Internet is obviously done with her own consent, so there's no issues. Quoting someone's response on a forum falls under fair use. Fan art is usually fair use/parody until it is copied and/or sold. Forum smilies and emoticons are being used for their specific purpose - to be used by the members of a forum. However, WHICH forum is technically covered by the copyright. Obviously, they were created for this forum so therefore, there's no issue. But if I copied them and made them available for use on my forum, I'd need permission from their creator first.
I didn't mean to sound like I was accusing anyone of anything, just wanting to clear up the intent. Thank you for going along with my rabid sense of overprotection. :)
Hmmm, Amber, you may want to contemplate auctioning signed, limited edition prints made of the edited strips and arcs before selling off the originals. It might be harder to do after the originals are sold off.
Mr. Whitefurr, I have to agree that Janus Bond is the series that I would be most likely to bid on, plain, simple, non-canon fun! :)
The Auld Grump
Quote from: Azraelle on March 17, 2007, 11:01:16 PMFan art is usually fair use/parody until it is copied and/or sold.
Ever hear of
The Wind Done Gone?
Quote from: TheAuldGrump on March 17, 2007, 11:13:34 PM
Mr. Whitefurr, I have to agree that Janus Bond is the series that I would be most likely to bid on, plain, simple, non-canon fun! :)
Plus I was the star of the arc, which gives me the extra incentive to want it all to myself.... along with Doctor Jy, the Paragator... heehee.
Keep in mind people that what I'm intending to sell is the black and white originals. They are ultimately un-worded, uncoloured, and without borders. Complete with blue pencil markings and unedited inking. These are not limited-edition print quality. They are not the finished product that people see on the website. And even if I wanted to make prints of the colour website versions, I lack any high-rez of 90% of the archives finished products to make a decent quality print.
What people are basically going to be bidding on (though I hope to make it very very clear in the auction itself to avoid confusion) is the pre-scanned form of the comics. The black and white on-paper originals. Which really is why, other than the DMFA-owning part, that I don't expect them to sell all that amazingly high. Outside of people who like DMFA or would want to collect and/or archive the hard-copy originals, most people I cant imagine would have an interest in the unfinished B&W since they are without words, borders, colour or in some ways...some of the defining features of the comic itself.
In all honesty, thats my biggest regret in regards to auctioning the strips. They really don't lend themselves to being all that useful or show-worthy IMO. They lack the finished-product feel that would allow them to be framed and put on display. Some of them even have odd notes or scribbles underneath them.
-------
That said, as I mentioned before I don't expect anyone to buy the archives to follow any particular rules save for the most common of courtesy. I think it goes without saying that I'd rather not have people make copies of the original for the purpose of selling, or to use the originals and claim they are me and that they are the ones who drew them. And while I would prefer people don't toss around hi-rez versions like it is candy...I can understand some of the more archivial members wanting to group together to make hi-rez backups amongst them.
All I really ask is people ask "is what I'm doing going to hurt or put Amber in a particularly bad spot" and follow general kindness.
Quote from: Amber Williams on March 18, 2007, 03:57:10 AM
Some of them even have odd notes or scribbles underneath them.
Me thinks the odd scribble or note will make owning the originals well worth it.
Of course, I'm well out of the bidding, though I'd be interested in seeing scans of the various notes and doodles.
On the contrary, Amber, I think the eccentric form that the originals are in would make them even more valuable. I remember Scott Ramsoomair of VG Cats recently auctioned off an original comic sketch that looked nothing like the finished comic, and it had different notes and such for dialog that didn't make it into the final version. I don't know exactly how much it was sold for, but the price indeed went very high. And that was just one.
I'm fairly certain that, with the sheer size of DMFA's following, coupled with the number that you'd be willing to sell, it would be a very good thing.
How are the Questions from the Readers considered? Are they a grouping of their own or part of the arc that they occurred in?
-C
This is my first post. Would you believe it? =þ
all i've got on offer are the souls of my own readers, problem is that they've got this green stuff growing on 'em and it makes unpleasant squeaking noises when i poke it with a stick..
i could never figure out how folks scribble on their comic pages, i never do.. which strikes me as odd... (well the fact that i find it odd strikes me as odd.. if you catch my meaning), my notepad is my mind, and although it might fetch a fair bit, i'm kinda using it. :p
to be quite honest, i'm something of a hoarder, i couldn't bear to part with my stuff... particularly my old-old stuff which were relegated to one page per panel, and were uglier than a bucket full of blowflies, and will never see the light of day again, much like the ark from 'raiders of the lost ark' open it up and it'll melt your face off.. :U
Quote from: Turnsky on March 18, 2007, 01:37:20 PM
all i've got on offer are the souls of my own readers, problem is that they've got this green stuff growing on 'em and it makes unpleasant squeaking noises when i poke it with a stick..
Hey! I read your comic! >:O
Quote from: Turnsky on March 18, 2007, 01:37:20 PM
i could never figure out how folks scribble on their comic pages, i never do.. which strikes me as odd... (well the fact that i find it odd strikes me as odd.. if you catch my meaning), my notepad is my mind, and although it might fetch a fair bit, i'm kinda using it. :p
I don't even scribble out dialog myself, but all my older work from '97 has notes and dialog which is actually still Re-usable. I keep all my old artwork in a footlocker anyway and I have half a decade's worth of really bad artwork I plan on doing over again once I've gone through my stock of usable images and comics.
Quote from: Turnsky on March 18, 2007, 01:37:20 PM
all i've got on offer are the souls of my own readers, problem is that they've got this green stuff growing on 'em and it makes unpleasant squeaking noises when i poke it with a stick..
Dammit. I thought I'd trained it to make unpleasant squishing noises, instead...
Quote from: ITOS on March 18, 2007, 01:45:48 PM
Quote from: Turnsky on March 18, 2007, 01:37:20 PM
all i've got on offer are the souls of my own readers, problem is that they've got this green stuff growing on 'em and it makes unpleasant squeaking noises when i poke it with a stick..
Hey! I read your comic! >:O
You had a soul to begin with? :erk
What?
Oh god. Stop giving it money, it's going to want more!
I probably wouldn't be able to afford a full story arc... but I would give my entire life savings for this comic (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_584.php) o_o
...of course, I still need a way to send the money... >_<
Damn I wish I have the fundage for this right now I'm flat broke. If I scrape something together I want the Lorenda Art in her bikini *WOOT*. I will pay top dollar for that alone.
Quote from: BillBuckner on March 18, 2007, 08:26:22 PM
Quote from: ITOS on March 18, 2007, 01:45:48 PM
Quote from: Turnsky on March 18, 2007, 01:37:20 PM
all i've got on offer are the souls of my own readers, problem is that they've got this green stuff growing on 'em and it makes unpleasant squeaking noises when i poke it with a stick..
Hey! I read your comic! >:O
You had a soul to begin with? :erk
No, that's why I'm offended. ;)
Out of curiosity, Amber, will you be selling the Abel's Story pages? Just asking.
I have no money to offer, unfortunately. Only this gall bladder I stole off of my neighbor. He wasn't using it. If you need a more appealing organ, check with me later. :P
~Keaton the Black Jackal
*Charles frowns* Charline ate my soul, so I can't even offer that. On the other hand, the lack of a soul makes it much easier for me to hire myself out for contract hits for the mob! I'll be able to afford to bid now! :boogie
*is taken down by FBI snipers who are watching EVERYONE who even looks at a furry site... you know they're watching us* :shifty
Quote from: Alondro on March 19, 2007, 12:36:35 PM
*is taken down by FBI snipers who are watching EVERYONE who even looks at a furry site... you know they're watching us* :shifty
*gives FBI snipers the "finger"*
I thought I saw Amber mention that she would not be selling Abel's Story originals (at least not right away) due to it feeling unfinished.
Yeah. I wont be selling Abel's Story or the most recent arc in progress. Abel's Story I admit I do have a possible intent of rescanning and remaking the hi-rez archives of. And I figure if I am going to sell the arcs in chunks, selling an incomplete arc would be lame of me.
I have a question.. are you going to be selling the wallpaper wars? Im not sure if you drew them by hand, so that's why i wanted to know so I could possibly bid on some chibi-goodness...
Quote from: Faux_Pas on March 19, 2007, 07:14:05 PM
I have a question.. are you going to be selling the wallpaper wars? Im not sure if you drew them by hand, so that's why i wanted to know so I could possibly bid on some chibi-goodness...
Speaking of which, I believe I have some lost frames from the Abel-Regina war that aren't in the archive, if anyone is interested.
Probably, yes. Unless they're lurking around at home anyway, which is entirely possible. Yay for automated systems. :-]
I don't think anyone's asked this yet:
Will this be on eBay, or something else?
Everything I might wish to obtain should be fairly safe, mostly.
Quote from: modelincard on March 19, 2007, 10:24:21 PM
I don't think anyone's asked this yet:
Will this be on eBay, or something else?
The Librarian and the prodigiously expensive 'Book of Cute' were on FurBid.