Free Vector packs are there to be used by designers BUT designers should be careful not all vector packs are OK to use for financial gain or commercial use. We ran into this issue once before and now we try to screen all artwork for problem graphics. However ultimately it is the responsibility of the designer. If in doubt draw it yourself. Some designers frown on free vector packs while others encourage new designers to use them. Just be careful.

Hi,

Jwerdy – I am going to be really honest and say that skull designs like this are all over the web, I have seen many many variations on this idea. We have one here at the site by collisiontheory called Chaos Theory Artists often have similar ideas and occasionally if artists have seen a design before, many years prior they may subconsciously store that and then it pops back into their head and they think its a fresh idea. I’ve seen that happen with some very high profile artists.

TeeSizzle – Stock images are there to be used, IF the rights are free. How they are used is a whole different ball game. If they are used well and combined with some very creative hand drawn elements like Studio8worx and Ingkong do then of course they stand a good chance of winning. If you slap a guy in bowler hat on a tee and add nothing but more free stock images your likely to not get picked up.

Personally I am not a fan of stock art and honestly most artists are talented enough to redraw the image themselves. Alnavasord came under some fire recently for his design close in time, which I thought was unfair. Even if he did use a stock image for the man, he added highlights and small touches to make it something elevated and better. That’s the beauty of a talented artists, they know which elements work together.