Photos on Merch Question
I've loved Marvel for many, many years. Throughout those years, I've noticed that merchandise does this specific thing where there is typically one photo used of a character that is plastered on EVERYTHING (shirts, hoodies, calenders, pins, you name it). The photo also doesn't look entirely like an actual photo but more like concept artwork or really edited versions of a photo. It just doesn't look really natural.
I don't think I'm explaining this properly, so I attached some photos of some examples. The Fantastic Four has that exact same photos across numerous merch items, all with varying brands and designs. The Scarlet Witch merch does the same thing. The designs are just so slightly off and feel more like concept art designs.
Is it a licensing thing to do with using real photos of actors? are these the cheapest options for mass production? is it marketability? I'm just very, very curious! thank you in advance :)
- photos of the calender from @suesattorney on twitter!! It's a baller calender, but it reminded me of this question.
I don't think I'm explaining this properly, so I attached some photos of some examples. The Fantastic Four has that exact same photos across numerous merch items, all with varying brands and designs. The Scarlet Witch merch does the same thing. The designs are just so slightly off and feel more like concept art designs.
Is it a licensing thing to do with using real photos of actors? are these the cheapest options for mass production? is it marketability? I'm just very, very curious! thank you in advance :)
- photos of the calender from @suesattorney on twitter!! It's a baller calender, but it reminded me of this question.
Commentaires
So then when one of these partners wants to make a website or merch or packaging or whatever, they all tend to use the same ones because that’s what they’ve been provided and are allowed to use
This doesn’t necessarily hold true for certain partners - stuff that’s more “official” (like a record or action figures or whatever) has access to better art and photos and all because of how they work more directly with the company
If instead they take an un-cleared shot of Pedro as Reed and slap it on a t-shirt, then the photographer could come back and claim rights and suddenly you are in a legal mess.
I know a designer who had their worst nightmare for a project with a major IP where it turns out one of the assets they were provided had not been cleared. It was in a bundle with a thousand other assets, and happened to fit the tone of the piece. When it was published, the original creator of the asset found out and was rightfully pissed off. Fortunately my friend was cleared, but they spent several months in fear of being blackballed.