• Registered: 2011-09-15

Topic: Artwork credits

Great to see we finally have a cover art archive, thanks to everyone who made it happen.

Now we have it, the question has arisen as to how/where to add artwork credits. It looks to me as if the only places are in the RG annotation (which I've taken to doing), in the release annotation (if the artwork is not the same for all versions) or in the file comments box. Which is the right place?

Also, will we be seeing a 'has artwork by' relationship type any time soon? Would be a nice feature and would allow us to properly credit the artists.

  • From: Tartu, EE
  • Registered: 2010-11-24

Re: Artwork credits

We do have "illustration/design" and "graphic design" and "photography" at the release level (have been there for years). Sadly, it means there's no really good choice for an "artwork" credit - I guess the least bad is "illustration/design"

  • Registered: 2011-09-15

Re: Artwork credits

reosarevok wrote:

We do have "illustration/design" and "graphic design" and "photography" at the release level (have been there for years). Sadly, it means there's no really good choice for an "artwork" credit - I guess the least bad is "illustration/design"

I think 'graphic design' works, I'll use that.

  • Registered: 2011-06-06

Re: Artwork credits

Erm, isn't 'illustration' what you're looking for if it's an 'artwork'?
Between the three options you have there, it should really cover everything. Perhaps 'typography' or some other relationships could be useful in very rare cases.
But not too sure how the current three wouldn't cover 'artwork'? Could someone please explain?

  • From: Tartu, EE
  • Registered: 2010-11-24

Re: Artwork credits

Well, the current ones have several issues. One is the "graphic design" vs. "design" difference - it might make sense to a native, but it definitely doesn't to me, and means I am supposed to guess every time I get a design credit if it wants to mean graphic design or not. And "artwork" can mean illustration, it can mean design, it can mean collage or even photography - assuming it's illustration is not necessarily good, especially because I'd swear I've seen that credit in stuff that didn't even have illustrations :/

  • Registered: 2011-09-15

Re: Artwork credits

aerozol wrote:

Erm, isn't 'illustration' what you're looking for if it's an 'artwork'?
Between the three options you have there, it should really cover everything. Perhaps 'typography' or some other relationships could be useful in very rare cases.
But not too sure how the current three wouldn't cover 'artwork'? Could someone please explain?

I didn't know these actually existed until I posted. Yes, they do cover artwork.

To me the distinction is unnecessary for artwork done by one person/group. But where there artwork gets more complex (multi-page booklets etc.) I can see how it's useful to have different credits. I read 'graphic design' to mean the overall arrangement, although simply 'design' might be more useful. 'Illustration' would make sense on it's own, i.e. drawn pictures, etchings etc.. Photography is self-explanatory.

  • From: Bush country
  • Registered: 2011-12-10

Re: Artwork credits

I brought something like this up a while back. I know of releases where there was a person pictured on the cover art but there was nowhere to credit that person. My understanding is the "photography" credit is for the photographer who took the picture, not the subject of the picture.

Lixobix wrote:
reosarevok wrote:

We do have "illustration/design" and "graphic design" and "photography" at the release level (have been there for years). Sadly, it means there's no really good choice for an "artwork" credit - I guess the least bad is "illustration/design"

I think 'graphic design' works, I'll use that.

I don't think it works that well. Graphic design refers to putting all the images and text together for the package, not just the cover. Typically someone other than the original illustrator or photographer will piece together and edit the images in the final product.

  • From: Tartu, EE
  • Registered: 2010-11-24

Re: Artwork credits

Hibiscus: http://tickets.musicbrainz.org/browse/MBS-4654 ;)

  • Registered: 2011-09-15

Re: Artwork credits

Seems the relationships need defining, or perhaps improving. A quick google search brought up this:

http://wiki.musicbrainz.org/Talk:Miscel … pe/Artwork

Which seems to discuss some of the issues. Not sure what it's linked to though.


On a side note, can anyone point t me to a guide/give me a description of the whole proposal/ticket/discussion/resolution process? I've a few ideas that I'm not sure what to do with beyond discussion on the forums. I've looked around the mailing list and http://tickets.musicbrainz.org/ but I'm unsure what the process is and what the different formal levels of discussion are.

  • From: Tartu, EE
  • Registered: 2010-11-24

Re: Artwork credits

It depends. For relationships and style stuff, http://musicbrainz.org/doc/Proposals - for smaller visual changes and the like, or new features, just adding a ticket works (although of course that doesn't mean it will be done soon, since we have two devs and a thousand tickets :D).

  • Registered: 2011-09-15

Re: Artwork credits

reosarevok wrote:

It depends. For relationships and style stuff, http://musicbrainz.org/doc/Proposals - for smaller visual changes and the like, or new features, just adding a ticket works (although of course that doesn't mean it will be done soon, since we have two devs and a thousand tickets :D).

Thanks, just what I was looking for :D Would you recommend discussing non-style issues in the users mailing list?

  • From: Tartu, EE
  • Registered: 2010-11-24

Re: Artwork credits

Why not :)