Im using a texture that I got from freestuff for my "ogre" character, however, i modified it a little by changing the color in photoshop. im wanting to know if I can do that, just as long as i use it for non-commercial use. but if im wrong plz tell me!

In the eyes of the law, its very difficult to charge someone for infringment of copyright when a.) you obtained the material from "freestuff" and b.) you've changed it. Yes, unless its a signature piece which i doubt it is, there aren't any problems. The complication arises when you use someone elses art work or picture without express permission.

Actually, Just because it is in the free stuff, for either commercial or non commercial use, doesn't mean it is free to use in any way you want. Quite possibly, it is only free if you use it the way that it is proscribed by the author. Any changes or alteration may require a for-pay license. I'm not saying thats the case, only that it MAY be. Best contact the author and ask his permission, or re-read the license that came with the texture to make sure your use falls within the guidlinese the author intended.

runwolf13 is right...you have to use the texture the way that the author allows you to use it in. Any other use could be copyright infringement

But seriously guys if you've got a texture, you like it, but it doesn't quite work for what you're doing without a little tweaking then I don't see how there could be a problem with it. It's not as if woodhurst is going to put the new texture up as something he created himself he's just using it in an image he's making which he also says is for non-comercial use. Catlin

Usually...it is okay. BUT, the best thing to do is conatct the author of the texture, ask/tell them what you are doing/want to do, and that it is still just for personal use. Most of the time, they will be fine with it. I would also suggest still giving a credit to them when posting the pic. But, best suggestion, contact the author. AgentSmith

This is George washintons axe. The handle has been replaced five times and the head has bee replaced three times. The old joke about George Washinton's axe may or may not apply here. If you take someone's work and modify it, it is still their work. You may not get caught at it but even so, there is an implicit moral issue which should lead you to the right conclusion. If you have their permission to modify the work then the moral issue is only partially resolved. It is still their work you are modifying. If it is part of a learning process then perhaps it can be justified morally on those grounds, but before you show it to someone you should either get permission from the artist or make sure the license says it's ok to do from a copyright standpoint. But then at some point we've probably all done this - perhaps without even realizing it.

Yes, but there is no problem at all in modifying the texture for your own use. You can't distribute the modified texture without permission, but you can change it as much as you like for the purpose of your own renders, commercial or otherwise, without infringing copyright.

I disagree, A good example is poser meshes. If you make morphs the morphs themselves are yours but as the original mesh is used to create the morph, you cannot even give the morph away to someone that doesn't own the original mesh without violating copyright unless you get permission. Textures - if you put a different texture on a mesh you can give away thar texture but still not the mesh. If you were to paint a mushstashe on a rendering of the Mona Lisa and filter it so it looked blue you would still be technically in voilation although You're probably safe from the wrath of da Vinci. Again; it's a good idea get permission.

Yes but this isn't Poser and textures are not like meshes or morphs, and I still say that if it's for personal use and not for profit there is no problem. Although I do agree that if the license is unclear then contacting the owner is wise just to be on the safe side. Catlin