FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Let's face it – artists can be flakey. Commissioning a portrait of a favorite character is an exciting experience, but you can't always count on the artist to finish a piece with clockwork precision. Sometimes the commission doesn't turn out as well as you'd hoped, and you wish you could have seen the end result before you bought the thing. Sometimes trying to get an artist to answer an email is like pulling teeth. How about a commission experience without the hassle, where you can see exactly what you're getting before you buy it? If that's what you've been looking for, welcome to Portrait Adoption.

About the Portraits What do I get when I "adopt" a portrait? What does it mean when a portrait says it is 'adopted' or 'claimed'? Why do I have to register to adopt or hold a portrait? What is a "standard" adoption? What is a "web" adoption? What is a single edition print? Are the prints high quality? Why don't I get the original? How can I be sure that a portrait isn't already in use by a hundred other people? Can I buy work if I don't want to use it for a character portrait? General Questions I saw a piece earlier and now it's gone. Where can I find it? Can I put a piece on hold while I make a decision? Are any of these portraits available free? Do any of these artists draw for free? I want to see a piece drawn of a comic book or anime character. Where is the fanart? Are there any "adult" themed portraits on Portrait Adoption? I've read the FAQ but I still have questions! I'm an artist – how do I get my work on Portrait Adoption? Making Special Requests I would rather purchase the original of a particular piece. Can you sell it to me? I like a certain artist, but they don't have anything that fits my character. Can I commission something from him/her? I can't find a piece that fits my character. Is there somewhere I can post a description and have it drawn by the artists here? I like a particular piece, but it doesn't quite fit my character. Can I have some changes done so it fits my character better? I want to buy a piece, but I think the price is too high. Can I haggle with someone? Artists Rights, Customer Rights, and Portrait Adoption If I buy a piece, can I make and sell prints from it? If I buy a piece, do I automatically get permission to use it in my personal projects, such as woodburning or graphics for my webpage? Can I get a tattoo with it? The artist is selling mousepads and cards with the portrait I bought on them. Are they allowed to do that? Can I use these portraits online at my club/as my avatar, etc? Reporting Problems I found one of the Portrait Adoption pieces displayed elsewhere without the watermark, or someone was using it as their portrait. What do I do? I bought a portrait here, only to find the original (or another print) being sold elsewhere. What can I do?

About the Portraits

What do I get when I "adopt" a portrait?

We currently have two adoption packages to chose from. There is a standard adoption, and a web adoption. The artist determines which package he or she wishes to offer, and many artists opt to offer both. Depending on which is available for you to choose, you may get a single edition, professional quality print of the piece, a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist, and/or a jpeg image of the piece suitable for posting online and/or creating custom avatars and signatures from. You also have the opportunity to name the piece after your character, or whatever you choose.

What does it mean when a portrait says it is 'adopted' or 'claimed'?

If a portrait is 'adopted,' someone else has already purchased it - it is no longer available. If it is 'claimed,' someone has filed a hold or an adoption claim, but their payment has not been fully processed. They have a little bit of time to work this out, but it is possible that the piece will be available again.

Why do I have to register to adopt or hold a portrait?

Previously, we have had a great deal of trouble with folks 'adopting' portraits with incomplete or incorrect information - which can be frustrating and time-consuming to deal with, and takes the portrait away from legitimate buyers in the meantime. Requiring registration gives us a little more control over who can removed portraits from availability. All of your information is held in complete confidentiality. I probably hate spam even more than you do, and would never subject you to it.

What is a "standard" adoption?

Our standard adoption package includes a single edition, professional quality print of the piece, a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist (an adoption certificate), and a larger jpeg image of the piece suitable for posting online and creating custom graphics from. The jpeg dimensions will be 1000 pixels on the longest side. (For comparison, the biggest images of the portraits on this site are only 500 pixels on the largest side.) The image does not have the watermarking found on the Portrait Adoption images. You can use this image to create personal avatars or to post online as a representation of your character. Because there is an actual print mailed with this adoption, you are charged a shipping fee of $5.50 (in the US, $10 internationally)! This is per order, not per adoption, so you can save money by adopting more than one portrait at a time.

What is a "web" adoption?

Our web adoption package features a quality jpeg image measuring 1000 pixels on the long side. This is large enough to print out a small, medium-quality image for your personal use. The image does not have the watermarking found on the Portrait Adoption images. You can use this image to create personal avatars, desktops, or to post online as a representation of your character. You get the jpeg image as well as the opportunity to name the piece. Since we ship the jpeg to you over the web and there is nothing physical to mail, there are no shipping or handling fees as long as you order just the web adoption. This is also the fastest way to receive a character portrait.

What is a single edition print?

A single edition print is a very limited edition print – only one will be created, ever. Our artists have agreed not to produce any more prints of a piece sold on Portrait Adoption, and they are also prohibited from selling the original themselves for a period of five years (unless they sell it to you). This means that a single edition print is something very special and rare – the only print of a particular piece in existence. In the case of a digital original, it will be the only hard-copy ever. (With the exception of existing in the artist's portfolio, but those may never be sold or given away.)

Are the prints high quality?

Of course! They are professional quality prints using a heavyweight rag matte paper in whatever size the artist chooses. The prints are rated to be archival under indoor lighting conditions and behind glass for about 100 years.

Why don't I get the original?

We don't sell originals for several reasons, the most important being the logistics of shipping and storing large quantities of original work. The second reason is that it's very difficult to guarantee the quality of an original. By their nature, originals are subject to smearing (depending on the media) and they may have other flaws, such as a torn corner, or unsightly corrections, or not being perfectly centered on a page, or not having margins enough for matting. When a person views an image online, he'd have no idea of these flaws, and he might be disappointed to get the original and find these imperfections. However, using a clean, high resolution scan of the piece to create a professional quality print can fix many of these problems. Also, many artists do not sell their originals as a general rule, so getting a print is not much different than what you would get from a standard commission. By selling a single edition print we can deliver consistent quality to customers while saving costs, and we keep our artists happy.

How can I be sure that a portrait isn't already in use by a hundred other people?

We do not accept work that has been publicly published. That is, if it's been displayed on an artist's website or gallery previously, it's not eligible to be sold on Portrait Adoption. Once we accept the work, we create the only images of the piece available online, which are clearly marked with our watermark and the artist's information. You will not find a bigger, non-watermarked image of any of the Portrait Adoption pieces anywhere. This discourages people from using the portraits without purchasing them, so it is very unlikely anyone will be using "your" portrait. In cases where low-quality, watermarked images are stolen from our webpage, I am prompt and vigilant about having the violations removed.

Can I buy work if I don't want to use it for a character portrait? I just think it's pretty and I want it.

Of course. You don't have to use it as a character portrait. You may not turn around and sell it in any fashion, and you are not buying any printing rights or publication rights. If you want a portrait for this kind of use, please contact the artist.

General Questions

I saw a piece earlier and now it's gone. Where can I find it?

More than likely, the piece has been adopted and is no longer available. Work is available on a first come, first served basis. If you like something, we encourage you to purchase it or hold it before someone else does.

Can I put a piece on hold while I make a decision?

You may put a piece on hold for 48 hours. If you do not let us know what your intentions are by the end of that time, the piece will go back up for adoption. You can only use this option once per piece. Your account will hold a log of which pieces you've held, and let you know if they're still available later.

Are any of these portraits available free?

Very simply, no.

Do any of these artists draw for free?

You would need to contact the artist individually to ask them, but most artists here do not accept requests. Check their websites.

I want to see a piece drawn of a comic book or anime character. Where is the fanart?

We do not sell fanart due to possible copyright infringement.

Are there any "adult" themed portraits on Portrait Adoption?

Not at this time. We only accept work that would fit a G – PG-13 rating. If this is something you would like to see, please give your input through my contact form.

I've read the FAQ but I still have questions!

Try our forum to get your questions answered, or send an email.

I'm an artist. How do I get my work on Portrait Adoption?

We're always on the lookout for new recruits! See the artist FAQ.

Making Special Requests

I would rather purchase the original of a particular piece. Can you sell it to me?

We do not sell originals; however you can contact the artist and inquire about purchasing the original from them. Once you contact the artist, the matter becomes a private business transaction and Portrait Adoption is not responsible for the quality or timely delivery of the piece.

I like a certain artist, but they don't have anything that fits my character. Can I commission something from him/her?

You can check an artist's commission status on their information page, or go to their website. You can always send him or her an email and ask.

I can't find a piece that fits my character. Is there somewhere I can post a description and have it drawn by the artists here?

Coming soon! We will be accepting character descriptions for the member artists to work on. For more information, go here. For updates on this project, be sure to sign up for the mailing list!

I like a particular piece, but it doesn't quite fit my character. Can I have some changes done so it fits my character better?

It depends. You will need to contact the artist about the piece and explain what you want, and see if he/she is willing to make your alterations. It may not be possible to make the changes you desire, or the artist may not wish to modify the piece. If the artist agrees to make your changes, it's likely that they will raise the cost of the portrait because of the extra work. We are working on integrating this option into the webpage for greater ease!

I want to buy a piece, but I think the price is too high. Can I haggle with someone?

Prices are set by the artist. You can contact him or her individually and see if he or she is willing to negotiate.

Artists Rights, Customer Rights, and Portrait Adoption

If I buy a piece, can I make and sell prints from it?

No. Print rights are not granted with the purchase of a piece and you will be in violation of copyright law if you make and sell prints from it. You are welcome to print out copies of the provided jpeg image for personal use, but you may not sell prints.

If I buy a piece, do I automatically get permission to use it in my personal projects, such as woodburning or graphics for my webpage? Can I publish it in my book? Can I get a tattoo with it?

The artist continues to hold all rights to the piece. If you wish to do something with the piece beyond displaying it on a webpage as your character, you will need to contact them and ask permission or possibly license the rights from them. If you buy the piece, most artists won't mind granting permission for a tattoo or other personal project, but you do need to ask them. (The exception to this is creating avatars for an online game or website - you have permission to create avatars from the web quality image you get when you purchase the piece.) Probably, if you will profit it from any way, you won't be allowed to use it without paying futher licensing rights, but each artist will have their own rules for this!

The artist is selling mousepads and cards with the portrait I bought on them. Are they allowed to do that?

Yes. The artist cannot produce more prints with a Portrait Adoption piece, but they still have the right to make and sell other items with the piece on it, or to license the image for use.

Can I use these portraits online at my club/as my avatar, etc?

If you have purchased the piece, yes. We provide you with a web quality image that you can post online or use to create avatars.

If you have not purchased the piece, then no.

Reporting Problems

I found one of the Portrait Adoption pieces displayed elsewhere without the watermark, or someone was using it as their portrait. What do I do?

Let us know, and be able to provide proof (such as a website address). Please go here for contact information.

I bought a portrait here, only to find the original (or another print) being sold elsewhere. What can I do?

Let us know, and be able to provide proof (such as a website address). Please go here for contact information.