Designing Digital Kits

[Season_S]

Hello! As a new designer, I have some questions about copywriting etc...

I appreciate anyone who is willing to write answers!

1. I get that you can't take a paper from another designer, tweak one thing and call it your own. But, what about program presets? I use PS& and use the custom shapes tool to create flowers. Most of the time I erase part of the design, or add on to it to create my patterned papers. Do I have to get permission from Adobe to use that preset shape on a paper I am going to sell?

2. This question also goes for brushes. What about preset brushes? You can go to Adobe and download all kinds of brushes people have created and they have TOU, but what about those that come with Adobe? What about those people who just label their stuff Freeware with no TOU?

3. Fonts. I want to create word art in a kit. Do I have to get permission from every designer of every font I use to sell word art in a kit? What about altering alphabets for kits?

I know these are some pretty in depth questions, but I can't seem to find information on this, at least as it applies to digital kits. Any information is greatly appreciated and if you would rather PM me instead of posting that would be great too!

Thanks to all in advance!

Season

[katie pertiet]

okay... I'll tackle these

1. I get that you can't take a paper from another designer, tweak one thing and call it your own. But, what about program presets? I use PS& and use the custom shapes tool to create flowers. Most of the time I erase part of the design, or add on to it to create my patterned papers. Do I have to get permission from Adobe to use that preset shape on a paper I am going to sell?
Items have to be unique enough to be copyrighted. A star, for instance is generally not copyrightable because it would have to be extrordinarily unique. If you use protected art you have to change it 75%, so only 25% of the original design is remaining--grunging and erasing isn't enough.

2. This question also goes for brushes. What about preset brushes? You can go to Adobe and download all kinds of brushes people have created and they have TOU, but what about those that come with Adobe? What about those people who just label their stuff Freeware with no TOU?
I think this comes down to morals. There is freeware and brushes without TOU, but if you are creating items for commercial sale I think it's best to create your own brushes.

3. Fonts. I want to create word art in a kit. Do I have to get permission from every designer of every font I use to sell word art in a kit? What about altering alphabets for kits?
This always starts heated discussions [that I don't want to get into btw ] but... according to the copyright office, at this time, letterforms cannot be copyrighted.

Hope this helps to answer your questions!