I'm thinking about trying to make a Custom Apparel eventually, however, there's something I don't quite understand about the rules.

There's a rule that states this:

"1.4. Artwork may not alter the base art in any way. This includes altering the base lineart or shadows."

But then later on there are these categories:

"Anatomy: For submissions modifying the shape or anatomy of the wolf in any way, such as extra parts (like horns or tails), eye types, and altering (?) expressions.

Markings: For submissions altering the fur/texture of the wolf in any way, such as tattoos, paint splatter, scars, and fake patterns."

I must be misunderstanding something, because it feels like these two things contradict each other. If anatomy alterations and markings are allowed, then what does it mean by not able to alter the base? Aren't these two things altering the base? I don't understand. I've also seen quite a number of CAs in the shop that have these things, whether markings or different anatomy. So, what does this rule even mean? Can anyone clarify? I'm very confused by this...

Thank you for your time.

Also, it won't let me actually post the word that I've substituted in the (?) despite the fact that I'm actually directly quoting the CA rules here, so that... seems kind of strange to me, and I don't understand why this word is censored on the forums...?

@TmstrBlmstr

Pretty much what Husky said.

If you add another layer and draw markings/anatomy, then you're adding it instead of altering the base art.

But if you don't add any new layers, then you're altering the base layer.

I'd definitely recommend downloading the templates and playing around with them - I was a little confused when I first started making CA too but messing around with the layers helped a lot.

@Husky @TmstrBlmstr

Another way you can look at it is that all apparel is layered on top of the default wolf. If you want part of the apparel to look like it's behind the wolf, you'll have to erase those parts, if that makes sense? At the end of the day you're always working on layers above the template. I'm not very familiar with how clipping works so I can't answer that specific part.

When you upload the apparel, you only upload the transparent .png of the new layer(s) you create. The template layers don't get included in the upload; they're just there for your reference when you're making the apparel. So your apparel image will 'float' over the default wolf.

@Husky

Ah, so it doesn't layer dynamically through coding output then, I'm guessing. Hm... I'm... still a little confused but I appreciate you taking the time to try and reply regardless, ah.

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EDIT: Just saw your edit - I do understand that about the .png files! I was asking about clipping the lineart to the finished product of a marking to ensure that it actually layers correctly on the wolf instead of just going overtop of said lineart shenanigans.

No worries, you're not being obnoxious at all!

So the way the CA works is you have to upload just the CA to submit it. So you'll have to make a new blank layer for your art above all the other layers, then hide the wolf layers when you download the image.

Unfortunately you can't add any layers in-between the already existing lineart - all layers will have to be completely on top.

So the rule is pretty much saying you can't change the base layers - can't alter the lineart, shadows, whatever else there is. But you can alter whatever layer you yourself create. So if you make horns like the example says, as long as the horns were on their own separate layer, it'd be fine. Same thing with markings. But if you drew these on the existing wolf layers, you'd get denied.

To answer your specific question about the markings, the markings will always be on top of the wolf without shading unless you yourself do manual shading. Any CA submitted will be on top of the wolf, so you have to consider that when drawing :)

Edit to add: Just read Husky's reply and they actually explain it really well in a lot less words than I did lol, sorry for the word wall!

@TmstrBlmstr

@TmstrBlmstr is that what this rule officially means? because 1.3 (the 80% rule) also covers hiding the wolf layers...

i've been assuming it's just been mindlessly copied over from flight rising skins or something, and actually just means that stuff intended to be markings need to have the original shadow/lineart shape