I'm also confused about tracing but is tracing copying a photo? or just tracing it but not copying the photo.
Okay lets use an official Nintendo art piece as an example
This is Shedinja, a bug and flying type pokemon.
Now if i were to trace, with the intention of practice, it would look like this
Do you see? I am not aiming for copying it one to one, I’m aiming to get the shape and body right, i have no intention to copy the piece outright. While yes, it’s still tracing, it is not copying.
Now this:
This is Tracing with the intention to copy. I am getting zero useful skills out of it, some of my line-weights are off entirely and the piece is shakey at best. Its not teaching me how to draw a Shedinja, it’s just teaching me how to trace a picture
And just to prove a point, here’s the traced freehand from above
It is not a perfect one to one, you can see where I exaggerated a few points and even where i missed some things such as the bottom legs or that one wing is shorter.
I hope this explains the difference and why Copying and tracing is not the same as tracing to trace
I still think tracing counts as copying
If you think that, you're under the belief that this isnt used as a practicing method.
So long as it's not posted and presented as you're own you're fine.
Do you really think people dont copy pictures to get proportions right? Or even try to get certain details correct?
Do you believe that using the another's art as a medium to grow is wrong?
You're throwing a blanket term over the tracing aspect when it's not right, and i dont blame you cause i was in the same boat once upon a time.
But do not think that Copying and Tracing are one and the same, cause its not in the community that we are in.