Quote - OT, saw this and wanted to see what others here thought. I rarely use backgrounds as I want a full 3D environment, but saw a new set of 2D images that are being marketed for use as image backgrounds from a vendor called Melkor. I checked out their store and that is pretty much all they market, 2d backgrounds. Now the issue I have with it, they are mostly done using existing 3D sets from people like Stonemason and such which seems wrong IMO.

If I was to create a 3D city landscape for sale, the last thing I would want/allow is someone to sell images done using it for background purposes as it would take away from what my product is mainly used for, background. Basically that person would be making profit off of me in using their product to compete with mine, kinda like rendering high res images of an existing character and using those renders to make a new character to sell.

I very much agree with your thoughts on this, but unfortunately it's not the first I've heard of it. On the legality side, it isn't much different than if you were to make prints with your own characters and say a stonemason set is in the background. It's still covered under the commerical use aspect.

Personally, I much prefer a 3D set as well, and to have control over the lighting of said set and its environment. With a background, you're stuck (aside from photo filters in post) with however it was rendered by the marketer, so for as far as people who just want a quick background, most serious folks won't have much interest. Again in my opinion, it's really marketed to people who want the quick and easy preset style of image.

My 2 pennies. Thanks for the comment by the way! 

On the TOS, they frown on images where harm is currently being caused to another 'person' or entity, but if the event has passed, apparently that's kosher. Not sure where that one of Brad's would fall into, but I liked it so I'm guilty too. 

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