The JUST A CARD guide to crediting artists when using their work
At JUST A CARD we love it when you spread the campaign message and the importance of shopping independent, by sharing our images. Thank you, but please take a look at our guide to crediting artists when using their work. It’s good to get it right and there are just three golden rules.
Sadly many images are posted across social media without credit. That can stop, but it starts with all of us. It’s easy to make mistakes, so a moment in thought helps.
1 - Art Is Not Free
Images don’t appear by magic. Artists, makers, photographers, illustrators will have spent many hours making them, so it’s right their work is recognised. It’s important to credit the originator of the work when you use it on social media, e.g. @justacard. Crediting helps our work to be seen: it’s supportive and respectful.
2 - Always Credit, Never Edit
When using someone’s image, remember it remains their idea, concept and design, so credit don’t edit! By that we mean don’t change their image - don’t crop, recolour, resize, embellish, substitute a maker’s logo with your own, or remove their name.
3 - Use the @ tag, Not the # tag
Make your credit count by doing it right. And here’s the really important bit – always use the @ tag. If you use a # tag, you are just inviting someone to be part of a conversation about an idea or a topic – useful maybe, but it won’t bring them to the originator’s door. Clicking on an @ tag provides a direct link to a specific account – a personal recommendation, if you like, for a business, an artist or a campaign! It’s important not to hide your @ tag credit at the end of your # tag list, otherwise it will just get lost in the ‘chat’. Choose a picture, write your caption, leave a gap, then give your credit following our helpful example here:
Great image by @justacard @jjillustrates
#just a card #wearethe makers #support the makers #smallbusiness #shoplocal #shopindependent
You’ll see from the above that sometimes more than one credit is required (here the artist who made our artwork gets a credit too!). Remember to leave a gap before and after the @ tag, but don’t leave a space between the @ tag and the credit name, or the link won’t work!
Got it? Good. Let’s get sharing!