Questions about my dolls? Please see my FAQ before asking. [link]I figured it was time to update my FAQ since I've been getting a lot more questions lately and I want to make sure I cover as much as possible. Getting the same questions over and over again gets really old.
FIRST OFF if you have an in depth question or need a tutorial or something, go check out Den of Angels.
[link] It's got tons of info, and it's where I dug up a lot of what I know.
Image Usage FAQ1. Can I repost your art somewhere else?
No. These characters are very personal to me and are the way they are because that is how I want them. I do not want to find them posted as representations of some emo goth kid or God knows what else.
2. Can I use your art for avatars/signatures/LJ layouts/etc?
Short answer: No
Long answer: I used to let people but it got too complicated. I don't want people using my art to represent their RP characters because they are my characters. I don't want people altering the image so my character has different hair/eye colors because these are the colors I picked for them. The exception to this is if I post my own LJ icons here, in which case you can use them as long as you credit me.
3. Can I use your photos for my stories? I.e. either as reference for my own characters or stories based off the photo?
No. Again, my dolls are my characters and I do not want them represented as anything but my characters.
4. Can I use your photos for drawing references?
This is probably one of the weirdest things I've ever had to clarify. Yes you can, but you must credit the source image, you must let me know (I mean, I want to see it anyway) and you are not allowed to use it for any commercial purposes without first working it out with me. This does not apply to dA prints however. I do give permission for art referenced from my images to be sold on deviantArt through their Prints program.
This seems like an odd thing to have to be so in depth over, but due to recent events it's apprently become necessary. I wasn't involved in these events and odds are my images would never be used in that way, but I like covering my bases. For clarification as to why this isn't a simple yes see this site: [link]
5. Can I draw you fanart?
I never thought I'd have to include this but I actually get this question every now and then. O_O Of course you can! I adore art of my dolls! Fanart seriously makes my day. ^^
Another clarification: Though not nearly as serious as the Mijn Schatje issue (see #4 for that) I did have an "artist" take my pictures, run them through Photoshop and claim them as her own drawings. This was obviously crap because the "artist" didn't even remove my watermarks. This is not fanart. I do not allow this kind of "art" to be created using my drawings. Vector art is another animal altogether, and goes by the same rules in #4 which is credit, let me know, and don't sell it without talking to me first unless it's just here on dA. Who knows, I may buy one. 
I hope that all of these long clarifications won't stop people who would want to draw art based on my dolls. You have no idea how happy it makes me to see art based on my crew.Doll FAQ1. What kind of dolls are those?
They're asian balljoint dolls or abjds (or just bjds) for the many of us who are too lazy to type all that out all the time. They originated in Japan but a lot of the currently popular ones come from Korea and China.
2. Did you make them? Did you paint them yourself?
Nope! I do not have the skill to do either I'm afraid. Some of my dolls have default faceups, others are by faceup artists such as *Nezumi-chuu, ~teruhisa, ~Lei-Xing, kittymaru from Den of Angels and Buff from buffdolls.net.
3. Where did you get them?
These are just some of the websites. If you want to know where I got a specific doll that I currently have, see my shoutboard.
Yan, Leo, Kishi, Kà, Mir, Key, Donovan and Marisol's heads are from Luts - eluts.com
Kitten is from Custom House - ainai.com
Layla and O'Malley are from FairyLand - [link]
Daniel is only available via Volks FCS. For more info see - [link]
Elias is from Angel Region - angelregion.com
Frank is from Soom - dollsoom.com
There are many many companies you can buy from. See here for an ever growing list - [link]
4. How much do they cost?
It varies by doll. Right now my cheapest cost me about $130, while my most expensive cost me a little over $800.
5. Why would you spend so much on a doll?
Because they make me happy. Why would you spend so much on a computer or a car? Because they make you happy. To each their own, right?
6. Where do you buy your clothes for them?
Usually on the marketplace on Den of Angels or on ebay. I very rarely buy straight from actual companies. =Angie-Chan070707 makes me a lot of my doll clothes.
7. How fragile are the dolls?
Well they aren't made of glass but they aren't made of iron either. They aren't extremely breakable, if one accidentally falls there's a good bet you'll be okay. But that's not always the case. My former BF Jerome fell face first into black ashphalt and it messed up his nose a little bit. Fingers also can break easily since they're thinner. So be careful with the doll, don't treat it like some $10 baby doll, but you don't have to treat it like porcelin either.
8. Do you know where I can get a cheap doll?
No. Rather than go on a long tirade the answer is just no. This is not a cheap hobby, if you're jumping into it looking for the cheapest doll you can find only because it's cheap this is not the hobby for you.
9. Why did you sell [insert doll name here]?
Because I no longer enjoyed having them around. The reasons beyond that vary but that's the long and short of every doll sale I've ever made. Please don't ask me why I sold my dolls.These things. Do not say them.1. There are no way those are boys.
This one gets old very fast. If I say they are boys then they are boys. Do not try to tell me the gender of the doll I have in my posession. They are anatomically correct and I assure you that if I say a doll is a boy then he has a little resin penis between his shapely feminine legs.
2. Doll photography isn't art.
That is one of the most ridiculous statements I've ever heard/read. There is no specific form of photography that isn't art. I could rant and rave about this but I honestly don't even see the point. Doll photography is art just as much as photographs of bowls of fruit or naked ladies on bicycles is art.
Technical FAQ1. What kind of camera do you use?
Currently I'm using a Canon Digital Rebel XSi. Before that I was using a Sony Cybershot DSC-T100 (which I still love), and before that I was using a Canon Powershot S50. I recommend all of these cameras.
2. What other things do you use for photos?
Indoors I use my light tent or a tri fold display board (like for science fairs) with fabric draped over it or scrapbooking paper and metal clamp lamps (cheap at Walmart!) for lighting. I also use Adobe Photoshop CS to edit my pictures. I try to use natural light whenever possible however.
3. What do you use to make your photostories?
Adobe Photoshop CS. I briefly used a program called Comic Life but ended up deciding not to use it. You can pretty much do everything that program does for you in Photoshop with a little work. I am a Photoshop Hero.
Epic Doll FAQ *Updated 6/3/09* 
Random awesome artist spotlight 
Excited
Key Niccals 
Devious Comments
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" Go scare it away. It's a BUNNY."
"Haven't you seen Monty Python?!"
My sister and my father in responce to the fuzzy little bunny eating our grass.
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"...I'm one of a kind. Mass produced, found to be defective, recalled by the manufacterer and then discontinued and banned from sales.
" - (a convo about who I am as a person with ~somnambulist-x) A quote from myself
Wait, I said in my last entry I was getting two new ones.
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For doll questions please see my FAQ before asking. [link]
Watermark your images. Don't give art thieves a chance.
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"I ain't drawing Jon"
"you are the caterpillar to my steven"
Personally I really want this boy head for my female character... It's seriously her. But at the moment I don't really have the funds to get a head or body of anything. Pity, there's an event going on too with that company. Ugh, I can continue to dream until I get out of college. I wouldn't really have time to mess with any dolls with my college workload anyway.
I'm also refusing to go into this whole hobby until I read through as much as I can about it... Mostly because I just have this urge to learn how to do faceups... Research time!
... Um... rambling, sorry. >.o Um... I love everyone and I seriously can't wait to see all the new people/faceups/everything. So exciting. XD One of these days I swear I'm drawing your dolls. Ugh, need time...
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"It's all fun and games until Isis messes wit' yo lettuce." ~putti-plush
*Corrupted-Hearts
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Note to the dim (and I mean this in a loving way)--the Viking disco inferno dance goes stamp, stamp to the left, left leg kick, kick, arm up, stab, stab to the left, and HOOOOOOORN!
(Sorry I didn't reply to that note, I've been getting alot = 3=;. But it really did help, so I think you!!
But yeah... I think I'm going to go with a cheaper one because I really like the face and body. :3
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♥Love is in the air tonight, so just breathe.♥
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For doll questions please see my FAQ before asking. [link]
Watermark your images. Don't give art thieves a chance.
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.... see what tomorrow brings,
2otaku
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For doll questions please see my FAQ before asking. [link]
Watermark your images. Don't give art thieves a chance.
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