Standing freaking ovation sir. Arguably the clearest and most descriptive explanation of past, present, (and potential) use case examples for this murky topic. AND, the ending comments about intentionally vague language corps use to cover their asses if (i.e., WHEN) the proverbial winds shift are equally valuable. Point? Significantly modify the freaking designs before using ... even if/when they say you don't have too. Easy! hahaha 😄 Many thanks for taking the time to create this valuable vid (and others). Saves lots of time and grief. --Frank ☮🙇
Thank you so much! I froze my project because of the confusion. I thought I understood, but yes the wording confused me. Not wanting to spend my time putting together something amazing only to find out I can't use it was very concerning. I do feel more confident now to move forward. Thank you so much for taking the time to share with us. Happy New Year!
WOW! I’ve spent hours abd hours searching for this exact info. Thank you so much for spelling this out. Just subscribed and I’m headed to watch your other CF tutorials.
Knowing how to draw definitely does help Shirley. I'll be starting a new playlist in the very near future that will teach how to draw (doodle style), and it will begin with very simple drawings and over time work up to more complex ones.
Great idea@@CraigBabin would be useful to include how to then transfer your drawings to Illustrator or Gimp etc for those who don't know how to. (you may be planning this already?) PS: Awesomely useful video above 💯
@@clintbadlam4157I draw in Abobe Illustrator, but you can draw in any software that you want. And as for transferring the drawings to other software, just export them out as .PNG files. If you want to keep them as working files, then save them out as .EPS files.
Craig, thank you for putting in the time and research for this video. I think it’s a timely topic. I’d like to throw a question at you, to see what you think! Ok! How can you ‘prove’ copyright on your own images? So… say, you draw a cute mouse on a piece of paper, scan it, place it in Adobe Illustrator, ink it, color it, create a coloring page with it, save it as a PNG file, and then put it into a book with other images you’ve created, upload it to KDP. They then request proof of copyright! How do you do it? How do you prove it?
You own the copyright to a drawing as soon as you save it in some sort of file format. In 99% of the cases, your copyrights will not be disputed unless someone files a copyright claim against you, and then it's up to them to prove that your image is a derivative of their image and that their image was created first. So this isn't really an issue in most cases for human artists who are creating original art. I was reading a few months ago that there is software that can detect whether an image has been created by AI or not. And this is where the copyright issues arise. From my understanding, what companies like Amazon are concerned about is whether or not an AI image was generated by using a copyrighted piece of artwork to create an image prompt. Because copyright laws for AI art have not been ironed out yet, if they determine that using copyright protected artwork to generate image prompts is illegal, then every image that was created doing this, will have to be pulled from commercial use. And because AI is a computer, it keeps records of every prompt generated and which art work was used to generate it. The courts are also looking at the legality of copyright protected art work being used to train AI generators. Which is why companies like Adobe are intentionally only using creative common art to train their AI generator (Firefly) with, so that they can avoid potential lawsuits in the future. If a law is passed that states copyright protected art cannot be used to train AI algorithms, then the databases of AI generators like MidJourney, may have to be striped and forced to retrain their generators using only creative common art. And this is why platforms like Amazon are being so cautious with AI artwork.
"The word 'should' is used for actions/responsibilities/duties that one thinks are best for the concerned subject. The word 'must' is used for actions/responsibilities/duties that are considered compulsory/necessary."
Where do you get the other images to add to the picture. For example there is a small fish next to the octopus. Where did that fish come from ? Creative fabrics ? Canva ?
Thank you for all the useful information Craig. I have a question,if you can answer it otherwise I will also contact Creative Fabrica: if I wanted to create any kind of a log book using Creative Fabrica templates, must I modify these templates too? Like, changing the fonts or adding some new small unique element on them so they would differ from the Creative Fabrica download?
For stuff like log books and journals you don't really have to, but it's not a bad idea to do it anyway, just to make your book stand out from any others using those same templates.
I really hope I can get an answer to my question! I am a subscriber to CF. I downloaded a bundle of clip art and made a design using some of the pieces. I added a line of text to the design. I know I can sell the shirts I make with this but what I need to know is this...Can I sell ready to press sublimation prints of my png? I'm not intending to post and sell online, just through the mail if and when someone asks.
No. You can't create a piece of artwork using an illustration from CF and then sell that illustration to a third party so that they can create a POD product, that could possibly be resold to other customers. That would make your design direct competition for the original piece of artwork that you used from CF. The same way that none of the designs that you create using CF artwork can be resold in a digital format, anything that you do create must be printed on a final end product. That's all that CF's POD commercial license allows you to do.
@@CraigBabin I wasn't going to sell a file, just a paper copy ready to print sublimation print. Is that not ok? I just want to be sure. Thank you for replying
@@shirleepoole This is a grey area, you may want to contact CF to make sure that it's okay. Try to look at it this way, CF clearly states that you cannot be competition for the artist that you bought the artwork from, in any way. The artist is selling artwork that can be used for POD, and you're selling artwork that can also be used for print on demand ... therefore you are competition for them. Customers can buy their artwork, or buy your design which is made up of their artwork, plus some added text. and use it to make money. It you were selling a t-shirt or mug with your design on it, then you would be selling something entirely different from what they are.
@@CraigBabin I just thought I'd let you know that I messaged CF and heard back today from "Amy" and she said physical items are ok to sell under the license agreement and this includes ready to press sublimation prints. Just as long as I'm not sharing the digital file.
I've never used Canva and I only create videos for products that I use. But there are a lot of Canva videos out there, I'm sure you can find one similar to this one.
Hello sir, thank you for this great video! So, I have a shop on creative Fabrica and I uploaded a product which is alphabet coloring pages. I sell in other sites as well, I searched on one of the sites Alphabet coloring pages and I found the same exact product as the one I uploaded to CF. I checked to see the details and I found that this person didn't change anything in those coloring pages she put them as they are. She even put the same description as I did on CF. What do you think about this??? Is it normal?
Did you create the product yourself, or did you use a commercially available font? If you created the product yourself, then no it's not normal, it's copyright infringement. What ever site that seller is selling on, you should flag the content and let the website know that those illustrations are being used illegally. If you used a commercially available font to create your prints, then you're actually violating the copyright of the person you licensed the font from by selling the alphabet prints. And you shouldn't be doing that, because you're risking losing your Creative Fabrica seller account.
Great video! I've just recently created a few book covers that I haven't uploaded to KDP yet. One of them I'm a little hesitant to upload because I used a watercolor image I downloaded from CF using my subscription. It's a painted picture of 2 animals running through a field. Adding or changing it would make it so it doesn't look very good. I did put a border around it in a shape that breaks up the square shape. Do you think that's enough altering? I'm debating whether to just not use the picture.
If it's a cover and you don't see any other covers on Amazon using that image, you should be fine. The problem arises when interior contents are duplicated, because you really have no way of seeing if any other book's interior is identical to yours. The look inside feature only shows about 20% of the books content.
My attitude is: if in doubt, throw it out! Your KDP account is far more valuable to you than one image. Once lost, you’ll regret forever, not listening to your gut feeling.
@@mrc7593 It's a slippery slope no matter how you approach it, which is why drawing the art yourself is always the best option. It takes longer, but it's worth it!
When in doubt, throw it out is a good way to think about it. I got my account back after they temporarily closed it from me using that AI image. If I could draw, I would.
Very informative I love that. So it then means that any duplicate content on Amazon the first upload in amazon Kdp database is being perceived as the original and others are flagged as duplicate content.
In cases of duplicate content, the first published is usually considered to be the original. But KDP and Amazons copyright policies are so strict that even using an image that appears somewhere else on the internet (not even in the Amazon marketplace), could be rejected.
Question, if you buy the subscription, can you print the sublimation designs as they are and press them on cups and shirts or wind spinners, to sell the cups, shirts or wind spinners, at a flee market or yard sale. I don’t sell anything online. I am new to sublimation.
If you read CF guidelines, there is a section that discusses using art as is. The problem is, you could still be violating the guidelines of the platform you're selling on for using duplicate content. But if you're not going to be selling online, and you have the commercial license to use the artwork from CF, then in your situation you should be fine. It's always a grey area when it comes to using designs as is, but if you're in doubt and your offline business is going to be fairly large, then I would recommend consulting a lawyer just to be on the safe side.
My concern is not just altering existing images to satisfy license agreements, it's also KDP's requirement that an author confirms that they hold actual copyright that needs some clarification. Is it applicable to each image or design element used or to the overall product?
You don't need to own the copyright to an image to be able to use it commercially, just as long as you have a commercial license to due so. Disney licenses their artwork to 1,000's of apparel companies worldwide for commercial use, but they still own the copyrights to all of those images.
@@CraigBabin I understand that as a general rule. I was a little confused about KDP publishing rights but I think I'm understanding what KDP is asking for now.
Super useful video, thank you! Especially for us non native English's speakers 😅 One more newby question for subscribers; most products say 'Commercial & Full POD usage allowed' on their product page straight below the download button. Does this mean you CAN actually use these specific products for pod without editing them first? Seems strange to me so maybe i'm misunderstanding the text on their site. Hope someone can confirm, thanks
The "Full POD Usage" agreement states that you can "Create and upload designs to POD sites that are the same or similar to the original." Meaning that you don't have to edit them. That being said, just because Creative Fabrica is giving you permission to do that, doesn't mean that Amazon, Etsy, Redbubble or any other platform, will as well. No selling platform wants to see duplicate content on their site. So really, the only place that the "use it as it is" comes in to play, is when you're selling your books, t-shirts, and any other POD merch, from your own website or a platform like Shopify, instead of marketplaces like Amazon. So if you're someone who sells t-shirts from your Shopify store, or at a boutique in a mall, then using a design as is from Creative Fabrica really doesn't matter, because you have no other competition and your store isn't governed by anyone else's rules. When you purchase art work from Creative Fabrica, you're granted the rights to use it commercially, as for how you can use it, depends on where you're selling your products. I hope that makes sense. Creative Fabrica Terms of Use: www.creativefabrica.com/subscription-license/
Thank you so much for this video! This clarification was long overdue. I have emailed CF in the past asking the same question, and got a vague response! Could I ask your opinion on something... I bought a set of coloured graphic elements from CF, changed their colour to 'mono' in Canva, then adjusted the contrast so they are now line artwork elements. I have then combined these modified elements with some Pro elements from Canva to create a new composition on the page. Do you think this sounds acceptable? Thank you 🙏
Many of the coloring (patterns, landscape, flowers etc) pages on creative fabrica are AI generated. Does that mean I can’t use the images on it’s own or do I have to include words to make it my own? Also, when Kdp ask if we own the copyright to our coloring books (using creative fabrica free downloads) , do we ?
AI images are not copyright protected (at this time), that being said, Amazon can still reject your book because you're using images that someone else has already used in a book on Amazon. So try not to use images as they are and modify them. I have two videos on that subject here: th-cam.com/video/ax7nVKQjBTk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=U6WRXDRb5Q4FINiy Never use free downloads, you're risking losing you KDP account. It's not worth it. When it comes to using 3rd party images, only use images that you have a license for.
@@CraigBabin okay, and yes I saw that video. Great content! I would love to also see you create another video focused on Mandalas adult coloring pages and etc . Thank you
A baby memory book would be a low or medium content book, but it doesn't really matter, these Commercial Licensing Rules apply to "all" books created with artwork from Creative Fabrica and that are published using POD services like KDP.
Hello. I would like to ask you, if the free files of Creative Fabrica, word search and sudokus, should be modified or can they be uploaded directly as CF indicates, to KDP? Thank you. I used the translator because I don't speak English well.
You can use them as is, but you'd be better off generating your own puzzles using a service like Book Bolt. Try watching the following two videos: Word Search: th-cam.com/video/U4D04_AOMP4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=iOJTHH-CcLzbo57R Sudoku: th-cam.com/video/F67S8K41dKM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ykcSkkMu4diN0hk2
@@CraigBabin OK. The problem is that, at the moment, I don't have a lot of money to invest in it and that's why I tried to do it the way I indicated. Thank you very much for your reply
Remember that just because Creative Fabrica gives you permission to use their files as is, doesn't mean that Amazon will as well. If someone else has already uploaded a book to the Amazon platform using the same files that you're using from Creative Fabrica, Amazon may deem your book to be duplicated content which could result in your book being taken down, or worse, your account being terminated for violating KDP's terms of use.
Hi Craig, thanks so much for this clarification. How about colourful finished pattern pictures, is it okay to combine different ones from different designers and put them in one pod book? Also I have noticed that Amazon is purging so many coloring books that are actually legitimately drawn by authors without using AI. Do you have any info why they are also removing those, who actually drawn line work. Thanks
The link I gave in the video description gives you an example of how to use patterns in your work. And if you look at the digital art section of Creative Fabrica's commercial license, they give an example there as well. Just because the illustrations are drawn doesn't mean they're not infringing on another artist's copyrights. It comes down to how original your artwork is. But I would have to see the book to get a better idea of why it was being removed.
@@CraigBabin thanks. This companies actually were able to retrieve their accounts. Still unfair from Amazon side, just to randomly purge accounts without any investigation first.
I have a couple of videos on how to use artwork from Creative Fabrica for coloring books. Part 1: th-cam.com/video/ax7nVKQjBTk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=D_SL9ErMjdtj-YCa Part 2: th-cam.com/video/a_TCT2gKpCQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=IF5v5qFS-iqQGlym
Thank you very much for your useful information! What about Licensing? what about KD P? If Creative Fabrica accepts these terms it doesn't mean that KDP will accept the image/part of the image...
Thanks for the videos regarding this subject. I still have doubts about the way I am using graphics and this is preventing me from publishing. I have been a member of Creative Fabrica for a long time and the hesitation doesn't go away. It seems as though you can't add specific elements to a lined journal without making big modifications because lined paper isn't considered content so nothing unique is added. I'm creating a tracing book where I have designed the layout myself yet it is similar to many others still. I have chosen a font that I think is good for tracing but all the elements I have added to decorate these pages are basically unchanged. The layout of my pages is my design made up of many Creative Fabrica elements. I still can't determine if it is allowed and yet I see many people do this on Amazon. I am not a fan of just following the crowd. Any clarity on this would be appreciated. Your videos are very clear and still I have many questions.
I'm not sure what you mean by "tracing" book. If you're referring to a children's writing practice book; as long as you are using a legal font for your example letters, you should be fine. Even if you're adding a tiny illustration to accent the page that you downloaded from Creative Fabrica, you should still be okay. Now if you are using a completed tracing page from Creative Fabrica with the lines and letters already on it, and you're just adding an illustration to that, you may have an issue. Just try to make your interior pages as unique as you possibly can. There's only so much you can do to customize a book filled with lined paper.
@@CraigBabin Thank you very much for responding. It is a letter and number tracing book. My download was a complete book which I modified by changing the line spacing and using my own font which is licensed for commercial use that I downloaded outside of Creative Fabrica. I swapped out some graphics on some pages and left others as is. The spacing of my page and the fonts I chose are pretty basic modifications that give the pages a different look. I think I am probably okay with this book. So many times I spend time making something and won't upload it to KDP out of nervousness.
Hi - just a quick question. I have a CF yearly subscription. When I click on a coloring page, it states the following in the product description: "You can use it in printed paperback or hardcover coloring books. This Template is ready for you to upload to Amazon KDP." Are they distinguishing it by using the word "Template"? At first glance, it appears that it can be downloaded as is to upload to Amazon. But I'm assuming this is not the case? Thank you!
Under the terms of CF Full Print on Demand Usage agreement you can use the images in KDP books as is, without modifying. But that doesn't mean that Amazon is going to let you do it. If there's already a coloring book on Amazon with those exact same illustrations in it, then yours will probably be rejected or taken down at a later date, for violating Amazons terms of use as they pertain to recycling images and duplicate content.
If it is your own artwork, then you shouldn't be asked by Amazon to prove it. It's only if someone files a copyright claim against your book, claiming that the artwork in your book is theirs, or Amazon finds the exact same artwork in another book that's already on Amazon. If neither of those things happen, then you won't have to prove anything to Amazon.
Amazon REQUIRES Copyright ownership. You have to click the button when you upload the book. Oftentimes, this overrides all third-party sites that give you commercial release rights. KDP requires copyright ownership and that's completely different than commercial licenses and subscriptions. Amazon Merch DOES NOT require copyright ownership, yet KDP does require it. I used Canva and CF images and after hitting 11K in January, my account was suspended and 150 books blocked. I DID NOT OWN THE COPYRIGHT. I showed them and they never unblocked the books. After working with an attorney to copyright my books, (which I share on my channel) I will not use Canva Pro elements or any CF elements for KDP. I will only upload elements I can actually own the copyright on. If you have a growing business and brand, you can do great with these sites outside of KDP as well.
You're the first person that I've heard of to have that many books taken down all at once, that's crazy. I agree with everything you're saying and that's the reason that I say in the video that the ONLY way to avoid copyright issues is to draw the illustrations yourself (or hire an artist and obtain the copyrights for the work). Amazon is by far the strictest when it comes to copyright and with AI generated images, it's only going to get worse in the future. And you're right, if you're someone who has no other option (financially), but to use third party artwork from sites like CF, there are far better (and safer) ways of making money from that artwork other than self published coloring books. I plan on doing videos on that in the near future. My channel was always meant to be a drawing channel; and I've always found that the best way to motivate people to learn how to draw is to show them that they can make money from it. So I decided to focus on the monetization process first. Unfortunately, the only way I could teach them how to monetize for coloring books, was to use 3rd party artwork, because I haven't taught them how to draw yet. Most of my KDP videos revolve around the creation of puzzle books which don't contain any 3rd party artwork. I try to make my videos more about the creative process and the laying out of books, rather than where to get the artwork from. But after reading your comment, I think it's time to get those drawing tutorials uploaded, and start focusing my attention on alternative ways to make money with CF artwork. Thanks for the comment Jenny, best of luck with your channel.
One question, if I create an image made with artificial intelligence, for which I have a subscription and then modify it a little, could it be said that the product has my copyright? or wouldn't it be like that?
At the moment there is no copyright protection on any images created with AI. You would have to modify the image extensively to even come close to copyright, and even then you would still have to declare to Amazon that you used AI to create your images.
I bought some coloring pages on creative fabrica but in the details there are some very weird lines and I think the artist used AI to make them. I’m not sure what that means for me (or telling Amazon if it’s AI!). I’m modifying the images a lot and taking those odd bits out but I’m a bit upset to have purchased ai art 😢
You could always contact the seller and ask them if the images were created using AI. It sucks, but the day is going to come when you will only want to buy from reputable artists who show their art process on their social media accounts, so you know for sure no AI was involved.
Unfortunately yes. People with absolutely no artistic talent can completely screw over real artists trying to earn a living on Creative Fabrica ... for now! But with all of the lawsuits that are going on over the use of AI, many of those AI art sellers may find their accounts being terminated in the very near future.
Simple basic concept before anything else, before getting into the details: if a person cannot draw or is not good in arts, then that person must honestly exercise self restraint from dabbling in serious stuff in that line, but instead go hire somebody else who is actually good in arts or drawing, if he/she still insists in being a player in the industry, it's just like building a house or repairing a car!
True. But remember, most great mechanics started off their careers as inexperienced people who just dabbled. That's why this channel is not only teaching people how to self publish, it's also encouraging them to learn how to draw.
@@CraigBabin Thank you for your response! I have the Subscription Plan - All Access 100 from Creative Fabrica. I use Bible verses to create quotes, so there are no copyright issues. However, my main concern is whether I can use any font I download from Creative Fabrica that says 'Commercial Usage Allowed' for my designs. Should I be concerned if it should really say 'POD' (Print on Demand)?
@@ricsass2757 You're fine to use the fonts that you've purchased the commercial rights to in your KDP books. KDP publishing is considered to be "Commercial Use".
Standing freaking ovation sir. Arguably the clearest and most descriptive explanation of past, present, (and potential) use case examples for this murky topic. AND, the ending comments about intentionally vague language corps use to cover their asses if (i.e., WHEN) the proverbial winds shift are equally valuable.
Point? Significantly modify the freaking designs before using ... even if/when they say you don't have too. Easy! hahaha 😄
Many thanks for taking the time to create this valuable vid (and others). Saves lots of time and grief.
--Frank ☮🙇
I'm glad you liked it Frank.
Wow, man, I bet it took LONG to completely unravel this word salad. Thanks for this very well made video. It's very helpful !
You're welcome Jon.
Thanks so much for this Craig, I've really been looking for this video for a long time.
My pleasure!
Thank you so much! I froze my project because of the confusion. I thought I understood, but yes the wording confused me. Not wanting to spend my time putting together something amazing only to find out I can't use it was very concerning. I do feel more confident now to move forward. Thank you so much for taking the time to share with us. Happy New Year!
You're very welcome! Happy New Year!
TOP MARKS! Truly a fine line (pun intended) between line, shape and space ... perfect info for where I am right now. Prudent! BB
I'm glad you liked it.
Thanks for taking the time to compile this assessment. I found it informative
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks sir Craig for taking the time to explain this video to our understanding!
I'm glad it helped.
You are bringing so much value!!! Thank you
I'm glad you feel that way Ines.
@@CraigBabin ❤️❤️
WOW! I’ve spent hours abd hours searching for this exact info. Thank you so much for spelling this out. Just subscribed and I’m headed to watch your other CF tutorials.
I'm glad it was helpful Jess.
Best explanation I have found. Great job in explaining this so thoroughly.
Glad you think so!
Excellent information as always, thanks Craig.
I really need to learn to draw and save a lot of the concern on needing to buy and alter images!
Knowing how to draw definitely does help Shirley. I'll be starting a new playlist in the very near future that will teach how to draw (doodle style), and it will begin with very simple drawings and over time work up to more complex ones.
@@CraigBabin That is fabulous news Craig. Definitely looking forward to that, and once again, thank you for such informative content. Cheers.
Great idea@@CraigBabin would be useful to include how to then transfer your drawings to Illustrator or Gimp etc for those who don't know how to. (you may be planning this already?) PS: Awesomely useful video above 💯
@@clintbadlam4157I draw in Abobe Illustrator, but you can draw in any software that you want. And as for transferring the drawings to other software, just export them out as .PNG files. If you want to keep them as working files, then save them out as .EPS files.
Sure am glad that I found your channel!! Thank you for the very helpful information!
You're welcome.
Craig, thank you for putting in the time and research for this video. I think it’s a timely topic. I’d like to throw a question at you, to see what you think! Ok! How can you ‘prove’ copyright on your own images? So… say, you draw a cute mouse on a piece of paper, scan it, place it in Adobe Illustrator, ink it, color it, create a coloring page with it, save it as a PNG file, and then put it into a book with other images you’ve created, upload it to KDP. They then request proof of copyright! How do you do it? How do you prove it?
You own the copyright to a drawing as soon as you save it in some sort of file format. In 99% of the cases, your copyrights will not be disputed unless someone files a copyright claim against you, and then it's up to them to prove that your image is a derivative of their image and that their image was created first. So this isn't really an issue in most cases for human artists who are creating original art.
I was reading a few months ago that there is software that can detect whether an image has been created by AI or not. And this is where the copyright issues arise. From my understanding, what companies like Amazon are concerned about is whether or not an AI image was generated by using a copyrighted piece of artwork to create an image prompt.
Because copyright laws for AI art have not been ironed out yet, if they determine that using copyright protected artwork to generate image prompts is illegal, then every image that was created doing this, will have to be pulled from commercial use. And because AI is a computer, it keeps records of every prompt generated and which art work was used to generate it.
The courts are also looking at the legality of copyright protected art work being used to train AI generators. Which is why companies like Adobe are intentionally only using creative common art to train their AI generator (Firefly) with, so that they can avoid potential lawsuits in the future.
If a law is passed that states copyright protected art cannot be used to train AI algorithms, then the databases of AI generators like MidJourney, may have to be striped and forced to retrain their generators using only creative common art. And this is why platforms like Amazon are being so cautious with AI artwork.
Thank you so much! This is very informative and helpful!
Glad it was helpful!
This video is a master class. I am new to the channel, with this video being my first inception. I subscribed 8 minutes in. ;->
Welcome to the channel!
Wow, you are awesome!!
Thanks Dianoza.
Should is the same as must. 20:45
"The word 'should' is used for actions/responsibilities/duties that one thinks are best for the concerned subject. The word 'must' is used for actions/responsibilities/duties that are considered compulsory/necessary."
Where do you get the other images to add to the picture. For example there is a small fish next to the octopus. Where did that fish come from ? Creative fabrics ? Canva ?
It all came from Creative Fabrica.
Thank you for all the useful information Craig. I have a question,if you can answer it otherwise I will also contact Creative Fabrica: if I wanted to create any kind of a log book using Creative Fabrica templates, must I modify these templates too? Like, changing the fonts or adding some new small unique element on them so they would differ from the Creative Fabrica download?
For stuff like log books and journals you don't really have to, but it's not a bad idea to do it anyway, just to make your book stand out from any others using those same templates.
Thank you Craig@@CraigBabin
I really hope I can get an answer to my question! I am a subscriber to CF. I downloaded a bundle of clip art and made a design using some of the pieces. I added a line of text to the design. I know I can sell the shirts I make with this but what I need to know is this...Can I sell ready to press sublimation prints of my png? I'm not intending to post and sell online, just through the mail if and when someone asks.
No. You can't create a piece of artwork using an illustration from CF and then sell that illustration to a third party so that they can create a POD product, that could possibly be resold to other customers. That would make your design direct competition for the original piece of artwork that you used from CF.
The same way that none of the designs that you create using CF artwork can be resold in a digital format, anything that you do create must be printed on a final end product. That's all that CF's POD commercial license allows you to do.
@@CraigBabin I wasn't going to sell a file, just a paper copy ready to print sublimation print. Is that not ok? I just want to be sure. Thank you for replying
@@shirleepoole This is a grey area, you may want to contact CF to make sure that it's okay.
Try to look at it this way, CF clearly states that you cannot be competition for the artist that you bought the artwork from, in any way. The artist is selling artwork that can be used for POD, and you're selling artwork that can also be used for print on demand ... therefore you are competition for them.
Customers can buy their artwork, or buy your design which is made up of their artwork, plus some added text. and use it to make money.
It you were selling a t-shirt or mug with your design on it, then you would be selling something entirely different from what they are.
@@CraigBabin Thank you! I think I'll just not do it at all...just to be safe!
@@CraigBabin I just thought I'd let you know that I messaged CF and heard back today from "Amy" and she said physical items are ok to sell under the license agreement and this includes ready to press sublimation prints. Just as long as I'm not sharing the digital file.
Thank you for a great video. I always have a hard time understanding these things. Can you do a similar video about Canva too?
I've never used Canva and I only create videos for products that I use. But there are a lot of Canva videos out there, I'm sure you can find one similar to this one.
Hello sir, thank you for this great video! So, I have a shop on creative Fabrica and I uploaded a product which is alphabet coloring pages. I sell in other sites as well, I searched on one of the sites Alphabet coloring pages and I found the same exact product as the one I uploaded to CF. I checked to see the details and I found that this person didn't change anything in those coloring pages she put them as they are. She even put the same description as I did on CF. What do you think about this??? Is it normal?
Did you create the product yourself, or did you use a commercially available font? If you created the product yourself, then no it's not normal, it's copyright infringement. What ever site that seller is selling on, you should flag the content and let the website know that those illustrations are being used illegally.
If you used a commercially available font to create your prints, then you're actually violating the copyright of the person you licensed the font from by selling the alphabet prints. And you shouldn't be doing that, because you're risking losing your Creative Fabrica seller account.
@@CraigBabin Thank you for your response , yes I created the images myself.
Great video! I've just recently created a few book covers that I haven't uploaded to KDP yet. One of them I'm a little hesitant to upload because I used a watercolor image I downloaded from CF using my subscription. It's a painted picture of 2 animals running through a field. Adding or changing it would make it so it doesn't look very good. I did put a border around it in a shape that breaks up the square shape. Do you think that's enough altering? I'm debating whether to just not use the picture.
If it's a cover and you don't see any other covers on Amazon using that image, you should be fine. The problem arises when interior contents are duplicated, because you really have no way of seeing if any other book's interior is identical to yours. The look inside feature only shows about 20% of the books content.
My attitude is: if in doubt, throw it out! Your KDP account is far more valuable to you than one image. Once lost, you’ll regret forever, not listening to your gut feeling.
@@mrc7593 It's a slippery slope no matter how you approach it, which is why drawing the art yourself is always the best option. It takes longer, but it's worth it!
When in doubt, throw it out is a good way to think about it. I got my account back after they temporarily closed it from me using that AI image. If I could draw, I would.
@@CraigBabin it is always the best approach.
Very informative I love that. So it then means that any duplicate content on Amazon the first upload in amazon Kdp database is being perceived as the original and others are flagged as duplicate content.
In cases of duplicate content, the first published is usually considered to be the original. But KDP and Amazons copyright policies are so strict that even using an image that appears somewhere else on the internet (not even in the Amazon marketplace), could be rejected.
Question, if you buy the subscription, can you print the sublimation designs as they are and press them on cups and shirts or wind spinners, to sell the cups, shirts or wind spinners, at a flee market or yard sale. I don’t sell anything online. I am new to sublimation.
If you read CF guidelines, there is a section that discusses using art as is. The problem is, you could still be violating the guidelines of the platform you're selling on for using duplicate content. But if you're not going to be selling online, and you have the commercial license to use the artwork from CF, then in your situation you should be fine.
It's always a grey area when it comes to using designs as is, but if you're in doubt and your offline business is going to be fairly large, then I would recommend consulting a lawyer just to be on the safe side.
My concern is not just altering existing images to satisfy license agreements, it's also KDP's requirement that an author confirms that they hold actual copyright that needs some clarification. Is it applicable to each image or design element used or to the overall product?
You don't need to own the copyright to an image to be able to use it commercially, just as long as you have a commercial license to due so. Disney licenses their artwork to 1,000's of apparel companies worldwide for commercial use, but they still own the copyrights to all of those images.
@@CraigBabin I understand that as a general rule. I was a little confused about KDP publishing rights but I think I'm understanding what KDP is asking for now.
I can use borders from this website in my books? I'm looking for some good borders for my books.
Yes.
nice. @@CraigBabin
Super useful video, thank you! Especially for us non native English's speakers 😅
One more newby question for subscribers; most products say 'Commercial & Full POD usage allowed' on their product page straight below the download button.
Does this mean you CAN actually use these specific products for pod without editing them first? Seems strange to me so maybe i'm misunderstanding the text on their site. Hope someone can confirm, thanks
The "Full POD Usage" agreement states that you can "Create and upload designs to POD sites that are the same or similar to the original." Meaning that you don't have to edit them. That being said, just because Creative Fabrica is giving you permission to do that, doesn't mean that Amazon, Etsy, Redbubble or any other platform, will as well. No selling platform wants to see duplicate content on their site.
So really, the only place that the "use it as it is" comes in to play, is when you're selling your books, t-shirts, and any other POD merch, from your own website or a platform like Shopify, instead of marketplaces like Amazon. So if you're someone who sells t-shirts from your Shopify store, or at a boutique in a mall, then using a design as is from Creative Fabrica really doesn't matter, because you have no other competition and your store isn't governed by anyone else's rules.
When you purchase art work from Creative Fabrica, you're granted the rights to use it commercially, as for how you can use it, depends on where you're selling your products.
I hope that makes sense.
Creative Fabrica Terms of Use: www.creativefabrica.com/subscription-license/
Thank you so much for this video! This clarification was long overdue. I have emailed CF in the past asking the same question, and got a vague response! Could I ask your opinion on something... I bought a set of coloured graphic elements from CF, changed their colour to 'mono' in Canva, then adjusted the contrast so they are now line artwork elements. I have then combined these modified elements with some Pro elements from Canva to create a new composition on the page. Do you think this sounds acceptable? Thank you 🙏
You should be fine.
@@CraigBabin Thank you 🙏
Many of the coloring (patterns, landscape, flowers etc) pages on creative fabrica are AI generated. Does that mean I can’t use the images on it’s own or do I have to include words to make it my own? Also, when Kdp ask if we own the copyright to our coloring books (using creative fabrica free downloads) , do we ?
AI images are not copyright protected (at this time), that being said, Amazon can still reject your book because you're using images that someone else has already used in a book on Amazon. So try not to use images as they are and modify them. I have two videos on that subject here: th-cam.com/video/ax7nVKQjBTk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=U6WRXDRb5Q4FINiy
Never use free downloads, you're risking losing you KDP account. It's not worth it. When it comes to using 3rd party images, only use images that you have a license for.
@@CraigBabin okay, and yes I saw that video. Great content! I would love to also see you create another video focused on Mandalas adult coloring pages and etc . Thank you
I do baby memory books. Is it low content or content book? Quite confusing for me.
A baby memory book would be a low or medium content book, but it doesn't really matter, these Commercial Licensing Rules apply to "all" books created with artwork from Creative Fabrica and that are published using POD services like KDP.
low content is more to do with journals or notebooks, were the customer has to enter text. I believe your books are more medium content.
@@gamerzparadise2355 thanks
Hello. I would like to ask you, if the free files of Creative Fabrica, word search and sudokus, should be modified or can they be uploaded directly as CF indicates, to KDP? Thank you. I used the translator because I don't speak English well.
You can use them as is, but you'd be better off generating your own puzzles using a service like Book Bolt. Try watching the following two videos:
Word Search: th-cam.com/video/U4D04_AOMP4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=iOJTHH-CcLzbo57R
Sudoku: th-cam.com/video/F67S8K41dKM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ykcSkkMu4diN0hk2
@@CraigBabin OK. The problem is that, at the moment, I don't have a lot of money to invest in it and that's why I tried to do it the way I indicated. Thank you very much for your reply
Remember that just because Creative Fabrica gives you permission to use their files as is, doesn't mean that Amazon will as well. If someone else has already uploaded a book to the Amazon platform using the same files that you're using from Creative Fabrica, Amazon may deem your book to be duplicated content which could result in your book being taken down, or worse, your account being terminated for violating KDP's terms of use.
Hi Craig, thanks so much for this clarification. How about colourful finished pattern pictures, is it okay to combine different ones from different designers and put them in one pod book? Also I have noticed that Amazon is purging so many coloring books that are actually legitimately drawn by authors without using AI. Do you have any info why they are also removing those, who actually drawn line work. Thanks
The link I gave in the video description gives you an example of how to use patterns in your work. And if you look at the digital art section of Creative Fabrica's commercial license, they give an example there as well.
Just because the illustrations are drawn doesn't mean they're not infringing on another artist's copyrights. It comes down to how original your artwork is. But I would have to see the book to get a better idea of why it was being removed.
@@CraigBabin thanks. This companies actually were able to retrieve their accounts. Still unfair from Amazon side, just to randomly purge accounts without any investigation first.
@@Lotus_Stateless True.
👍Thanks you 🎉🎉🎉🎉
You're welcome.
Can we modify images in illustrator or photoshop and convert them into an outline artwork for creating a coloring book for an Amamzon KDP
??
I have a couple of videos on how to use artwork from Creative Fabrica for coloring books.
Part 1: th-cam.com/video/ax7nVKQjBTk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=D_SL9ErMjdtj-YCa
Part 2: th-cam.com/video/a_TCT2gKpCQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=IF5v5qFS-iqQGlym
@@CraigBabin will try it for sure .thanks for taking the time to reply
Thank you very much for your useful information! What about Licensing? what about KD P? If Creative Fabrica accepts these terms it doesn't mean that KDP will accept the image/part of the image...
I go further into the use of 3rd party artwork with KDP in this video here: th-cam.com/video/7-zzTAHpTl8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=kM8r_LgjYRNDVSys
Thanks for the videos regarding this subject. I still have doubts about the way I am using graphics and this is preventing me from publishing. I have been a member of Creative Fabrica for a long time and the hesitation doesn't go away. It seems as though you can't add specific elements to a lined journal without making big modifications because lined paper isn't considered content so nothing unique is added. I'm creating a tracing book where I have designed the layout myself yet it is similar to many others still. I have chosen a font that I think is good for tracing but all the elements I have added to decorate these pages are basically unchanged. The layout of my pages is my design made up of many Creative Fabrica elements. I still can't determine if it is allowed and yet I see many people do this on Amazon. I am not a fan of just following the crowd. Any clarity on this would be appreciated. Your videos are very clear and still I have many questions.
I'm not sure what you mean by "tracing" book. If you're referring to a children's writing practice book; as long as you are using a legal font for your example letters, you should be fine. Even if you're adding a tiny illustration to accent the page that you downloaded from Creative Fabrica, you should still be okay.
Now if you are using a completed tracing page from Creative Fabrica with the lines and letters already on it, and you're just adding an illustration to that, you may have an issue. Just try to make your interior pages as unique as you possibly can. There's only so much you can do to customize a book filled with lined paper.
@@CraigBabin Thank you very much for responding. It is a letter and number tracing book. My download was a complete book which I modified by changing the line spacing and using my own font which is licensed for commercial use that I downloaded outside of Creative Fabrica. I swapped out some graphics on some pages and left others as is. The spacing of my page and the fonts I chose are pretty basic modifications that give the pages a different look. I think I am probably okay with this book. So many times I spend time making something and won't upload it to KDP out of nervousness.
@@skins3738 From what you're saying you did, I don't think you have anything to worry about, just publish it.
@@CraigBabin Thanks for your help. :)
Hi - just a quick question. I have a CF yearly subscription. When I click on a coloring page, it states the following in the product description: "You can use it in printed paperback or hardcover coloring books. This Template is ready for you to upload to Amazon KDP." Are they distinguishing it by using the word "Template"? At first glance, it appears that it can be downloaded as is to upload to Amazon. But I'm assuming this is not the case? Thank you!
Under the terms of CF Full Print on Demand Usage agreement you can use the images in KDP books as is, without modifying. But that doesn't mean that Amazon is going to let you do it. If there's already a coloring book on Amazon with those exact same illustrations in it, then yours will probably be rejected or taken down at a later date, for violating Amazons terms of use as they pertain to recycling images and duplicate content.
@@CraigBabin Gotcha! Thank you so much :)
@@CraigBabin ps: I just found your channel and I'm binge watching! Love it!
@@violetsky5357 I appreciate that.
Thank you
You're welcome.
Hello, how do I prove to Amazon that the artwork is my own?
If it is your own artwork, then you shouldn't be asked by Amazon to prove it. It's only if someone files a copyright claim against your book, claiming that the artwork in your book is theirs, or Amazon finds the exact same artwork in another book that's already on Amazon. If neither of those things happen, then you won't have to prove anything to Amazon.
@@CraigBabin OK. Thank you!
I always use midjourney for my colouring book pages. CF is ok for graphics or covers but I would stay away from using interiors from the site.
As long as you modify them you're fine.
Amazon REQUIRES Copyright ownership.
You have to click the button when you upload the book.
Oftentimes, this overrides all third-party sites that give you commercial release rights.
KDP requires copyright ownership and that's completely different than commercial licenses and subscriptions.
Amazon Merch DOES NOT require copyright ownership, yet KDP does require it.
I used Canva and CF images and after hitting 11K in January, my account was suspended and 150 books blocked.
I DID NOT OWN THE COPYRIGHT.
I showed them and they never unblocked the books.
After working with an attorney to copyright my books, (which I share on my channel) I will not use Canva Pro elements or any CF elements for KDP.
I will only upload elements I can actually own the copyright on.
If you have a growing business and brand, you can do great with these sites outside of KDP as well.
You're the first person that I've heard of to have that many books taken down all at once, that's crazy. I agree with everything you're saying and that's the reason that I say in the video that the ONLY way to avoid copyright issues is to draw the illustrations yourself (or hire an artist and obtain the copyrights for the work).
Amazon is by far the strictest when it comes to copyright and with AI generated images, it's only going to get worse in the future. And you're right, if you're someone who has no other option (financially), but to use third party artwork from sites like CF, there are far better (and safer) ways of making money from that artwork other than self published coloring books. I plan on doing videos on that in the near future.
My channel was always meant to be a drawing channel; and I've always found that the best way to motivate people to learn how to draw is to show them that they can make money from it. So I decided to focus on the monetization process first. Unfortunately, the only way I could teach them how to monetize for coloring books, was to use 3rd party artwork, because I haven't taught them how to draw yet.
Most of my KDP videos revolve around the creation of puzzle books which don't contain any 3rd party artwork. I try to make my videos more about the creative process and the laying out of books, rather than where to get the artwork from. But after reading your comment, I think it's time to get those drawing tutorials uploaded, and start focusing my attention on alternative ways to make money with CF artwork.
Thanks for the comment Jenny, best of luck with your channel.
One question, if I create an image made with artificial intelligence, for which I have a subscription and then modify it a little, could it be said that the product has my copyright? or wouldn't it be like that?
At the moment there is no copyright protection on any images created with AI. You would have to modify the image extensively to even come close to copyright, and even then you would still have to declare to Amazon that you used AI to create your images.
I bought some coloring pages on creative fabrica but in the details there are some very weird lines and I think the artist used AI to make them. I’m not sure what that means for me (or telling Amazon if it’s AI!). I’m modifying the images a lot and taking those odd bits out but I’m a bit upset to have purchased ai art 😢
You could always contact the seller and ask them if the images were created using AI. It sucks, but the day is going to come when you will only want to buy from reputable artists who show their art process on their social media accounts, so you know for sure no AI was involved.
First comment, thank you
You're welcome Louda.
How about using the fonts for running text, headings, and the book title? That's not design.
You can use the fonts anywhere in your book, you just can't resell or giveaway the fonts that you purchased.
@@CraigBabin Got it. Thanks!
Can we sell AI art on creative fabrica?
Unfortunately yes. People with absolutely no artistic talent can completely screw over real artists trying to earn a living on Creative Fabrica ... for now! But with all of the lawsuits that are going on over the use of AI, many of those AI art sellers may find their accounts being terminated in the very near future.
@@CraigBabin It will be good
@@noorulain8020 Your art? Or the eradication of human creativity?! lol
Midjourney artists
@@noorulain8020 Only time will tell. And I think you mean MidJourney customers; Midjourney is the artist. lol
The interpretation and what they will sue over depends on thr mood of the lawyer
And whether or not it's financially worth suing over.
Simple basic concept before anything else, before getting into the details: if a person cannot draw or is not good in arts, then that person must honestly exercise self restraint from dabbling in serious stuff in that line, but instead go hire somebody else who is actually good in arts or drawing, if he/she still insists in being a player in the industry, it's just like building a house or repairing a car!
True. But remember, most great mechanics started off their careers as inexperienced people who just dabbled. That's why this channel is not only teaching people how to self publish, it's also encouraging them to learn how to draw.
I don't like these gray licensing terms
Nobody does.
HI! Can fonts from Creative Fabrica, specifically those with a 'commercial usage allowed' license, be used to create quotes for Amazon KDP books?
Yes. You just can't resell the fonts to others for commercial use. Just be careful with quotes, some quotes are copyrighted.
@@CraigBabin Thank you for your response! I have the Subscription Plan - All Access 100 from Creative Fabrica. I use Bible verses to create quotes, so there are no copyright issues. However, my main concern is whether I can use any font I download from Creative Fabrica that says 'Commercial Usage Allowed' for my designs. Should I be concerned if it should really say 'POD' (Print on Demand)?
@@ricsass2757 You're fine to use the fonts that you've purchased the commercial rights to in your KDP books. KDP publishing is considered to be "Commercial Use".
@@CraigBabin thanks!!