Understanding Licensing and Commercial Use of Artwork

Understanding licensing and copyright is important if you plan to sell artwork derived from photos. This guide covers the basics, but it is not legal advice — consult a qualified professional for specific situations.

Your Source Photos Matter

Paint Craft converts your photos into paint-by-numbers canvases. The resulting artwork is a derivative work based on the original photo. This means:

• Photos you took yourself: You generally own the copyright and can use the resulting artwork commercially.
• Stock photos: Check the licence. Many stock photo licences allow derivative works for personal use but restrict commercial use. Some licences (like Unsplash) are more permissive.
• Other people's photos: Using someone else's photo without permission for commercial purposes could constitute copyright infringement, even if the paint-by-numbers version looks quite different.
• Photos of recognisable people: Even if you own the photo, selling artwork featuring a recognisable person may require a model release.

What About the Artwork Itself?

When you use Paint Craft to create a design from your own photo:

• You retain ownership of both the source photo and the resulting artwork
• Paint Craft does not claim any rights over your creations
• You are free to sell, share, or distribute the resulting designs

Sample Images on This Site

The artwork displayed on the Paint Craft website (including before/after showcases and gallery examples) consists of original samples created for demonstration purposes. These are not user submissions. The example canvases (portrait, dog, landscape) on the homepage were generated by the same engine available to all users.

Important Caveats

• Copyright law varies by country — what applies in one jurisdiction may not apply in another
• "Fair use" or "fair dealing" exceptions are complex and fact-specific
• When in doubt about whether you can use a particular source image commercially, either use your own photos or choose stock photos with explicit commercial licences
• This guide is general information, not legal advice

Best Practices

• Use your own photos or properly licensed stock images as source material
• Keep records of your photo sources and any licences
• Be transparent with customers about what they are buying (a digital file, not a physical product, unless stated otherwise)
• If selling on a marketplace, review their specific policies on digital art and derivatives