Original Tail Designs and Copying

[Rogue Siren]

I've been browsing the threads a lot this morning (I'm bored before work. Lol), and I found a lot of people crying and complaining about people copying their designs, or making a tail that they had in mind and was sad their idea was no longer "original".

It just makes me think of something we talked about in philosophy: that NOTHING is original, and that everything comes from something.

There are only so many colors and only so many ways to put them together. Using another animal as inspiration? Don't be surprised if someone else, that you've never met or spoken to, has the same idea.

Just because someone has the design you wanted, doesn't mean you still can't have a similar design. It is the person in the tail that makes the mermaid!

Like another quote I've heard: "Its not where you take things from, but where you take them to."

I'm just a little tired of the whining. :(

[Coradion]

Seriously, I can't agree with you more. I just want to see more posts about people with beautiful things stuck in their heads that they had to unleash and make real.

[AniaR]

I have the splash tail. Nothing original there!!! Lol I do think its lame though for some of these factory style tail makers to mass produce someone else's tail. At least if you're going to mass produce try not to totally rip someone off in the process.

I think people pour their heart and soul into their designs and it sucks when someone makes a clear replica. I don't think there's anything abnormal about feeling upset or disappointed. After all we work our asses off to get tails. But I do find people go over board. I often see very little in common with some tails people complain about.

I think talented artists are always willing and able to put a spin on commonly requested designs so people can have unique pieces even if we all want splash or Ariel. Or green or blue tails etc.

I had like 10 messages telling me my new tail looks like something someone else designed but I picked splash colors again: very common, and raven designs and makes her own flukes. MVD and Jesse and mertailor all make splash tails and I think we all look different.

I don't blame people for getting upset though when they're performers who are known by their tail design. Its how they are recognized and I have watched fans get confused when someone totally copies another mer.

In the art field copying tends to be frowned upon in general. But I do agree with all your points. Ive seen people throw really unessasry fits.

I personally feel if you're inspired by someone else be inspired and make it your own
Why be a knock off? ;) coming from the girl with 4 splash tails lol

[Yulia]

There's like 4-5 tails out there based on the mandarin fish, and they are all unique. Tails can't be exactly the same. (unless you buy like a finfun och magictail)

[Shimmer Mermaid]

I think it gets ridiculous sometimes. And I agree that no design is "completely" original anymore. For instance, I took my favorite color combination, purple, yellow and green, and designed a tail with it, only to realize after I was completely done and thinking it was so unique and that I had never seen one like it, I realized it was similar to MM's green and purple tail that she has up on youtube. I didn't feel less about my design, because it had come straight out of my brain then onto the paper, and to me that's what makes a design original, not whether or not it looks like someone else's but if it came from your own imagination to start with.

[Coradion]

I think it gets ridiculous sometimes. And I agree that no design is "completely" original anymore. For instance, I took my favorite color combination, purple, yellow and green, and designed a tail with it, only to realize after I was completely done and thinking it was so unique and that I had never seen one like it, I realized it was similar to MM's green and purple tail that she has up on youtube. I didn't feel less about my design, because it had come straight out of my brain then onto the paper, and to me that's what makes a design original, not whether or not it looks like someone else's but if it came from your own imagination to start with.

The other thing too is that people who actually make their tails as opposed to just buying them know the details other people miss and the work that went into them. Generic design tails often miss the personal element. I like tails people made themselves a lot better than purchased tails. Even if you made a painted fabric tail, etc it's something you created and there's a lot to be said for people who work to make their own beautiful things.

[Miyu]

In my mind, it's like being upset that someone else has the same hair colour and style as you... Especially if you have "normal" hair, there's going to be A LOT of people with the same hair as you! Heck, I've done crazy things to my hair for over a decade, things I've thought no-one else would do... But there's been a few wacky style/colour combos that I've then seen on other people - and at first I got a little upset that my hair wasn't unique... then I was just happy that there were other people who thought that style/colour was cool!

If mermaids were real, I'm sure there would be quite a few mers whose tails looked extremely similar. So long as people aren't blatantly copying my exact tail, I don't care. I already know that my dream tail (which I've not talked about a lot) is a thought a few other people have had as well, so what I do is just try to keep up on the people who had a similar idea, and make sure I'm not doing it the same as theirs (though I've made some major modifications to my design, so it's going to end up being pretty unique anyways). Even if, when my tail is made and I get to wear it, people decide to copy my tail... Well yes, if they take all my specific, special idea and make an exact copy, I'll be upset... But as long as it's only similar, then it just reinforces my own personal mer-mythology in my head. Besides, without being able to see my tail up close, no-one is going to be able to exactly copy my dream tail!

ETA: Actually, Morticia even tried to get the same tail fabric as me, so that we could be matching mer-sisters for our pirating events this summer... But when she went to go get it, it had just sold out of the store (it was a clearance-rack fabric)! I actually had been hoping she could get it, I wasn't upset at all... Besides, have you seen my tail fabric? There's so many patterns on there that it would be really difficult to get the print exactly the same as mine :p

[Vrindavana Starfish]

Yeah, people find inspiration in all kinds of things. I know there's another mer on here who's color theme was from a peacock feather. When I get my tail made, a peacock feather is definitely the inspiration for my colors. That doesn't mean that my tail will look just like hers, or that we're the only people to have those colors. I know I want mine to be darker and more jewel-toned, for example, and there are specific markings that will be on it. We might have the same inspiration, but different ways to express it, and I'm not about to get mad at any one else who chooses those colors too.

Throughout childhood, I tied my ankles together with orange ribbon when I swam so I could be like Splash (poor kid's mermaid tail :P). Who DOESNT' want a Splash tail?

There is enough creativity in all of us to be inspired by each other, the same things, and still come out with something totally unique.

[Mermaid Freyja]

Currently, I have two tail designs at the top of my list as dream tails I want done in silicone.
One is after a fish found in nature, and I've seen a few other mers with tails inspired by it, too. Even so, theirs are still different from the version I have in my brain and in the sketch book.
The other one is a unique design, but again there may be versions of it swimming around somewhere in the mer world. Its color combination was inspired by a family heirloom item, and I'm still deciding on a physical tail design for it (scales, fluke,fins).
I might make it myself, using Pearlie's method since that might lend itself best to the color design. It would also make the use of my colors and markings truly unique. With that said, if I ever end up seeing something similar out there, Oh well. I'm safe in knowing that the design came from my brain and a cherished family object.

All of the frustration I see about having a unique tail and/or not ripping off someone's design, reminds me all too much about being part of the burlesque world. In any creative, artistic realm with a lot of unique performers, there will always be the issue of striving for ultimate uniqueness.
I had my own experiences with people whining about the same thing in burlesque, and yeah, it sucked.
A handful of crazy insane people, performers or not, once harassed me for wearing a corset and having black hair at the time *because it must've meant I was ripping off another well known performer with a similar look*. It was ridiculous, I was never once mistaken for this other performer. Even though I knew it was ridiculous, it still shook me up.
That was actually how I found out about this famous performer early in my burlesque career. At the time, I had no clue who she was. Maybe I'd seen a photo of her, thinking it was a vintage photo of a pin up, and not seeing a name? I was (am) a retro Goth, just doing my thing with burlesque, using some of my favorite things as inspirations, and bam; OMG someone else likes those things, too.
No matter how different I made my act/costumes, I continued to get harassed a little, but it became easier to ignore.
Especially after I met this other famous performer; we got along swimmingly and even worked together, and the gossip seemed to halt.
Since then, I've learned to take people who flip out about stuff like this with a grain of salt.
I've had acts and costume designs seemingly "ripped off" by other burlesque performers too, either by intention or purely by accident. I just use that to my advantage, move on, and just tweak mine to be more innovative.
I agree with Milieu; it's the person in the tail that makes the whole combination unique :)

[Mermaid Freyja]

The other thing too is that people who actually make their tails as opposed to just buying them know the details other people miss and the work that went into them. Generic design tails often miss the personal element. I like tails people made themselves a lot better than purchased tails. Even if you made a painted fabric tail, etc it's something you created and there's a lot to be said for people who work to make their own beautiful things.

Coradion; you hit the nail on the head.
I make all my own stage costumes. From head to toe, everything is sewn by me, all of those rhinestones are applied by hand, and all the details and accessories painstakingly created with my own hands.
That makes it hard to take anyone seriously when they try to tell me I copied another performer's costume, simply based on colors.

[Mermaid Galene]

I agree with everyone's sentiments here! To me it's not so much the costuming that makes each one of us unique, but what we do while we're wearing them. Now, I would have been very upset if, back in my puppetry days, someone had exactly copied my puppet designs and their costumes and then proceeded to steal my original performance bits. But it really doesn't bother me if someone wants a mermaid tail that looks similar to mine. I know that the details, the accessories, the total look, and what we do in performance will not be the same.

[Seatan]

Yeah, you have to get pretty crazy to have a tail that is NOTHING like anybody else's tail. The only time I have a problem is when people are stealing literal sculpts. After I finish my octopus tail I plan to man a Man O War tail, but it is going to look nothing like the Man O War tail I purchased from Finfolk, because while I loved what they did it didn't fit in my head what I wanted. So I agree that the easiest way to be unique is to design something yourself. Now I did see one picture where someone LITERALLY recreated Hannah's blue fabric tail down to the exact scale pattern, and that is obviously not cool. But just *having* a blue fabric tail INSPIRED by Hannah's doesn't make it a rip off.

[Mermaid Sirenia]

Would that be me? Mines inspired by a peacocks feather :p and there's so many ways to go about designing with the same color scheme! It would be quite difficult to copy someone's tail just based on colors. Originality doesn't come based on someone's choice of colors or even their tail shape, it's how they put together their colors and designs that make it unique and original. I honestly love seeing people with the same color scheme and inspiration as me because I love seeing what they come up with and how their tails come together!

[Vrindavana Starfish]

Would that be me? Mines inspired by a peacocks feather :p and there's so many ways to go about designing with the same color scheme! It would be quite difficult to copy someone's tail just based on colors. Originality doesn't come based on someone's choice of colors or even their tail shape, it's how they put together their colors and designs that make it unique and original. I honestly love seeing people with the same color scheme and inspiration as me because I love seeing what they come up with and how their tails come together!

Yep! It's you! Your tail is beautiful. :) The inspiration from my tail is a peacock feather and this image:
http://0.static.wix.com/media/a4e4a4_80c377b17fe91e8a0cbdc5a3000822fd.jpg_1024

This is an image of the divine couple in Vrindavana (where I got my name,) and see the peacock feather? Obviously, my mersona has deep spiritual inspiration, and I want my tail design to reflect that.

[Prince Calypso]

I base all my tail designs on the mermaid tails from On Stranger tides and try to get closer to the actual design as I can
i don't think i would be upset with anyone else who has a similar design or based their tail off the same concept or even if their design came out better than mine. i'll just bug them about how they did and try it out myself.
I think is a design is truly unique in and of itself a person has the right to be a bit miffed if someone copies it but there are only so many ways to make a silicone tail or fabric tail or sequin tail, only so many colors, only so many combination and only so many fish and marine mammals you can base it on.

[Talia]

Who DOESNT' want a Splash tail?

Eeeeeh, that would be me. I know many people love the design and the color, I know the people in the movie designed it to be as the one of a goldfish - fun fact, orange goldfish are man-bred. Original unmodified goldfish were grey and black.

Being a scientific/nerd mer IMHO an orange tail would be something a mermaid (talking as if mermaids were a real sea species) would never had - in the point of view of evolution is all problems. Orange is a very bright color, and she would have a hard time hiding from predators and humans (I am also of the opinion that just because she is a mermaid not all animals are her friends by default; sharks get hungry too); unless she lived in a coral reef, it would be quite inconvenient. Orange is a color that you simply don't see in animals living far of the continental platforms. As an example, all marine mammals have colors that range from different shades of gray, white, spotted, and black.

When/if I ever design a tail for myself, it will probably be blue, black and maybe, just maybe, white. Because it makes sense to me as something evolution would do.

I am not saying people cannot have the tail that makes them happy, of course! We all love our tails for our own reasons - mine just have to be "real" in the natural environment context.

I don't know if I am making any sense here, LOL! :p

[Vrindavana Starfish]

Eeeeeh, that would be me. I know many people love the design and the color, I know the people in the movie designed it to be as the one of a goldfish - fun fact, orange goldfish are man-bred. Original unmodified goldfish were grey and black.

Being a scientific/nerd mer IMHO an orange tail would be something a mermaid (talking as if mermaids were a real sea species) would never had - in the point of view of evolution is all problems. Orange is a very bright color, and she would have a hard time hiding from predators and humans (I am also of the opinion that just because she is a mermaid not all animals are her friends by default; sharks get hungry too); unless she lived in a coral reef, it would be quite inconvenient. Orange is a color that you simply don't see in animals living far of the continental platforms. As an example, all marine mammals have colors that range from different shades of gray, white, spotted, and black.

When/if I ever design a tail for myself, it will probably be blue, black and maybe, just maybe, white. Because it makes sense to me as something evolution would do.

I am not saying people cannot have the tail that makes them happy, of course! We all love our tails for our own reasons - mine just have to be "real" in the natural environment context.

I don't know if I am making any sense here, LOL! :p

I freaking love science. I didn't know that about orange goldfish. I was told that many nocturnal fish are red, because red on the color spectrum is the first to fade in low light, so they basically become "invisible" in the dark. Any red-tailed mers nocturnal?

[Coradion]

Eeeeeh, that would be me. I know many people love the design and the color, I know the people in the movie designed it to be as the one of a goldfish - fun fact, orange goldfish are man-bred. Original unmodified goldfish were grey and black.

Being a scientific/nerd mer IMHO an orange tail would be something a mermaid (talking as if mermaids were a real sea species) would never had - in the point of view of evolution is all problems. Orange is a very bright color, and she would have a hard time hiding from predators and humans (I am also of the opinion that just because she is a mermaid not all animals are her friends by default; sharks get hungry too); unless she lived in a coral reef, it would be quite inconvenient. Orange is a color that you simply don't see in animals living far of the continental platforms. As an example, all marine mammals have colors that range from different shades of gray, white, spotted, and black.

When/if I ever design a tail for myself, it will probably be blue, black and maybe, just maybe, white. Because it makes sense to me as something evolution would do.

I am not saying people cannot have the tail that makes them happy, of course! We all love our tails for our own reasons - mine just have to be "real" in the natural environment context.

I don't know if I am making any sense here, LOL! :p

Oranges and reds are actually common in deeper water species. They're the first colors to grey out as you go deep, fishes like the peppermint angelfish which is bright red and white in the light are actually grey and white at depth.

[Miyu]

Prince Calypso - I, too, favor the PotC tails! I just love the whole style, and I also love trying to see just how close to that style I can (realistically) make my tail :)

[AniaR]

there's actually a lot of science behind the red/orange. Personally for me, I enjoy it because it's an opposite colour to blue so when I am, in blue water like a pool or shallow beach, the colours REALLY pop and are eye catching. But on the behind the scenes of splash they talk a lot about being inspired by the koi fish. I am of the mind that a mermaid if they really did exist could look like any fish out there. So lots of orange and red ;)

[Coradion]

Eeeeeh, that would be me. I know many people love the design and the color, I know the people in the movie designed it to be as the one of a goldfish - fun fact, orange goldfish are man-bred. Original unmodified goldfish were grey and black.

Being a scientific/nerd mer IMHO an orange tail would be something a mermaid (talking as if mermaids were a real sea species) would never had - in the point of view of evolution is all problems. Orange is a very bright color, and she would have a hard time hiding from predators and humans (I am also of the opinion that just because she is a mermaid not all animals are her friends by default; sharks get hungry too); unless she lived in a coral reef, it would be quite inconvenient. Orange is a color that you simply don't see in animals living far of the continental platforms. As an example, all marine mammals have colors that range from different shades of gray, white, spotted, and black.

When/if I ever design a tail for myself, it will probably be blue, black and maybe, just maybe, white. Because it makes sense to me as something evolution would do.

I am not saying people cannot have the tail that makes them happy, of course! We all love our tails for our own reasons - mine just have to be "real" in the natural environment context.

I don't know if I am making any sense here, LOL! :p

Ugh right, the questions too of are you a temperate water mer? Or tropical, coastal, open ocean, maybe you're freshwater? All the context plays a huge role in the look and as a marine biologist I make myself crazy with it.

[Mermaid Leira]

Everyone takes in situation from nature, pop culture and uses processes that work in creation and practicality with mediums, so of course some projects may come out similar. If someone were to really rip off a design , they clearly must have no creative ability and would create a cheap and nasty replica likened to an obviously fake designer bag. Splash and Ariel tails and alike are cool though, don't see the issue if it's a costuming thing. As long as a tail maker didn't replicate someone's personal design they took to them to make for another client after without permission. I see how peoples tails are part of their individuality but it doesn't make up the whole mer. :)

[Talia]

Personally for me, I enjoy it because it's an opposite colour to blue so when I am, in blue water like a pool or shallow beach, the colours REALLY pop and are eye catching. But on the behind the scenes of splash they talk a lot about being inspired by the koi fish. I am of the mind that a mermaid if they really did exist could look like any fish out there. So lots of orange and red ;)

That's what I am saying. I would rather blend with the environment than pop out and be easy to see. But that's just me. Your Splash tails are gorgeous, Rania, and YOU make them pop out :)

Also, I have seen breath-taking tails inspired by koi fish, see this pic:

25621

The model and the tail are gorgeous. I just don't see a koi-mermaid at the beach. In a pond, in a lake, in a river, yes. Just not in a beach.

Also, Coradion, I am not a marine biologist, but my mind works with what I know. For example, regarding your question of tropical, coastal, open ocean, freshwater, I would also add: do you migrate? In my mind, flukes like the ones Raven makes are perfect if you migrate - they are stiff and big and can propel you with little effort. But the flukes of FinFolk, they look more to me like the ones of a beta fish - for decoration and mating. Not good to cover big distance with them (I am not talking about the actual monofins inside, just the look of the silicone design).

Anothe example, this tattered fluke of Eric:
25622

In my mind, this is the fluke of a sick fish. Why? When I had an aquarium, I had a breed whose tail would go like that if they were sick with bacterial infections. It was easy remedied, but they would need time to recover the normal shape of their fins. I would not like my tail looking like that. It's not ugly or wrong, it's just a personal perception.

[Coradion]

That's what I am saying. I would rather blend with the environment than pop out and be easy to see. But that's just me. Your Splash tails are gorgeous, Rania, and YOU make them pop out :)

Also, I have seen breath-taking tails inspired by koi fish, see this pic:

25621

The model and the tail are gorgeous. I just don't see a koi-mermaid at the beach. In a pond, in a lake, in a river, yes. Just not in a beach.

Also, Coradion, I am not a marine biologist, but my mind works with what I know. For example, regarding your question of tropical, coastal, open ocean, freshwater, I would also add: do you migrate? In my mind, flukes like the ones Raven makes are perfect if you migrate - they are stiff and big and can propel you with little effort. But the flukes of FinFolk, they look more to me like the ones of a beta fish - for decoration and mating. Not good to cover big distance with them (I am not talking about the actual monofins inside, just the look of the silicone design).

Anothe example, this tattered fluke of Eric:
25622

In my mind, this is the fluke of a sick fish. Why? When I had an aquarium, I had a breed whose tail would go like that if they were sick with bacterial infections. It was easy remedied, but they would need time to recover the normal shape of their fins. I would not like my tail looking like that. It's not ugly or wrong, it's just a personal perception.


Oh my gosh, I love you so much. I completely agree on tail shapes. Mermaid Harmony knows that my eye twitches when I see certain designs cause it makes me think that the mermaid has fin rot or is going septic, etc. I used to do Disease and Quarantine work on the fishes at Waikiki Aquarium and tails like some of the "tattered" edge ones look like they have fin rot to me. Also some of the scale designs where the scales stick up on the edges make me think "Oh god, that mermaid has a bacterial infection and is about to get dropsy."

As far as some of the tail shapes go if a fish spends any time in saltwater at all it's considered marine. Most of the migratory fishes though that we think of like Salmon are actually very old lineages of fishes. Their tails are generally slightly forked to somewhat lunate and are much broader than most of the completely marine species. The Fin Folk tails definitely look like freshwater tails to me just because of all the frillyness and drag they'd generate. Mers with those tails look to me like they'd be at home in a lake or river displaying their fins for hot potential mates :P I struggled so much with caudal fin design on my first tail, my custom monofin is severely forked with two distinct lobes because I was adamant on being a pelagic merman.

[Mermaid Sirenia]

Not gonna disagree with that statement, us finfolk mers do look like we belong in freshwater trying to find mates!;) lol but I agree about the tattered edges, definitely looks like fin rot!

[Talia]

Oh my gosh, I love you so much. I completely agree on tail shapes. Mermaid Harmony knows that my eye twitches when I see certain designs cause it makes me think that the mermaid has fin rot or is going septic, etc. I used to do Disease and Quarantine work on the fishes at Waikiki Aquarium and tails like some of the "tattered" edge ones look like they have fin rot to me. Also some of the scale designs where the scales stick up on the edges make me think "Oh god, that mermaid has a bacterial infection and is about to get dropsy."

As far as some of the tail shapes go if a fish spends any time in saltwater at all it's considered marine. Most of the migratory fishes though that we think of like Salmon are actually very old lineages of fishes. Their tails are generally slightly forked to somewhat lunate and are much broader than most of the completely marine species. The Fin Folk tails definitely look like freshwater tails to me just because of all the frillyness and drag they'd generate. Mers with those tails look to me like they'd be at home in a lake or river displaying their fins for hot potential mates :P I struggled so much with caudal fin design on my first tail, my custom monofin is severely forked with two distinct lobes because I was adamant on being a pelagic merman.

:highfive:

[Coradion]

I think a lot of the koi tails are pretty, but as someone who used to raise and breed show koi some of them make me cringe. Mostly in the way color is layered, etc. Like red pigments develop on top of whites and then black on top of the red and white. You don't see a red spot on the surface of a black one type of thing and most koi don't have spots on their fins unless it's black streaking "tejima" or black armpits "motoguro".

[Merman Chatfish]

Being a scientific/nerd mer IMHO an orange tail would be something a mermaid (talking as if mermaids were a real sea species) would never had - in the point of view of evolution is all problems. Orange is a very bright color, and she would have a hard time hiding from predators and humans (I am also of the opinion that just because she is a mermaid not all animals are her friends by default; sharks get hungry too); unless she lived in a coral reef, it would be quite inconvenient. Orange is a color that you simply don't see in animals living far of the continental platforms. As an example, all marine mammals have colors that range from different shades of gray, white, spotted, and black.

When/if I ever design a tail for myself, it will probably be blue, black and maybe, just maybe, white. Because it makes sense to me as something evolution would do.
I was thinking the same thing myself, in deep ocean near the surface I would think light blue and blue or black as you get deeper so you blend in. I would think even in a coral reef orange would not be common as I don't think anything is orange and that big.

[SirenaEma]

I think that we are a community as diverse as its members and alot of the outrage comes from direct plagiarism. Ive had work stolen in other communities, i get how frustrating it can be but also; not everyone is out to get us, great minds do think alike. I know that within other mediums of art, copying (or appropriating as almost every art teacher ive ever had endears the term) is natural and (as within music) often encouraged.Pop culture is all about reference, that's why Disney doesn't sue mermaids with green tails.
i put hearts on my first fluke because i loved barbie mermaids and pearlie's tail inspired me alot.Does this mean that i wanted to rip off Mattel or pearlie? no . Does this mean that i wanted to make a carbon copy of anyone elses design? NO!and i dont know if i did, what i know is that i followed my artistic instinct and created what felt right.
We are a community wit alot in common. Many of us love cosplay,corsets, Ariel, fantasy, glitter and we all like mermaids ^-^
I wanted to make a tail that would be part of her royal mer court as homage to her inspiring others and i at the time to kickstart our tails.
We all have similar inspirations, there is only so much you can find when you search "fish" on google images and we all have acsees to similar sources of inspiration online .Mermaid/man tails whether produced,ordered or hand made will have some overlap, its just math, an "original tail" might be hideous to our aesthetics. There are actually many designs ive scrape because i consider them to radical for the mer community at the moment. Alot of us like realism , i do too, id just like to acknowledge that as a community we do have a preference towards a hyper realistic style of tail.

[Kaila Mermaid]

I will say that personally I've been drawing a tail since I was little that was dark blue with dark purple blending up from the end of the fluke about six inches- and then I saw Iona's tail.

I'd never even HEARD of her before, let alone seen pictures of her tail. Of course, I've chosen a design that better suits me and can't wait to have it brought to life (eek!). But it brought to mind the copying topic. We evidently have similar taste in tails and it was freak coincidence I thought of a very similar if not identical color scheme.

[MermaidCelesteFL]

My first design for my tail was just inspired by my favorite colors- blue, gold, and purple. And after I sent in my design, I realized there are other mers that have the same idea as me!

My next tail will be inspired by the royal blue tang (aka: Dory), mainly because I love the look of that fish. No doubt there are probably other mers that have the exact same idea. I'm not bothered by it.

[AniaR]

my tail actually blends in extremely well with the local colour of sand here :D When I did a summer camp this past summer all the kids would point out it was perfect camouflage to hide in our brand of seaweed and sand! Very orange. ;)

[Miyu]

I do love the thought of freshwater mers, hanging out in lakes and rivers and ponds... I mean, I love the ocean and all for a visit, but it's a big, scary world in there, and I personally wouldn't want to live in the ocean ALL the time... Besides, I think my favorite fluke style (PotC/Disney) is definitely more of a freshwater/protected water type - the thin, flowy, diaphanous membrane-like fins suggest somewhere safe from strong currents and sharks, as opposed to, say, the strong, muscular flukes of marlins and the like.

Someday, I'd adore a betta-style fluke :swoon:

If anyone is ballsy enough to have a tail patterned/styled/even copied after my dream tails, well, I'd say that we should meet up and do some photoshoots, because my dream tails are pretty unique and I'm not likely to run into many mers who look like we could be from the same pod! One of these tails in particular I'd want to do some awesome underwater and dry videos with, because of the geek in me :p

[Vrindavana Starfish]

I've completely changed my intended tail design! I was in the shower and the new idea just popped into my head, and I had to draw it as soon as I got out. The fins/fluke contrast with the body of the tail, and there are different gradients/countershading. The fluke is definitely pelagic—the whale-tail shape I love, with only minor details that give it a bit of fantasy flow to it. I love it, and can't wait to make the first version in fabric. I'll probably start with a Mahina mono fin until I decide to upgrade.

[Coradion]

I guess I kinda have a mini issue with replica tails, like the 13th year, splash, aquamarine, and H2O tails are nice and I've seen lots of great ones but I don't get the point. Like they'll always be compared to the original they were copied from and unless it's like an amazing exact replica and you can look as good in it as the original actor/actress (let's be real it's hard to look better than Darryl Hannah) it seems like you only set yourself up to be a less awesome copy of the original. I'm all for people basing their design on a tail and making it their own but I definitely appreciate original work more than what seems to be largely uninspired mimics.

[Sherielle]

To me, mermaids are magical. Yes, there is the scientific part of me that screams 'Those colors and fins aren't found in nature!'. Then the artist in me goes 'Ooh, all the beautiful colors and flowy bits that can be done!' It's personal preference.

[MermaidBrandie]

For the tail I'm (tentatively) planning to make out of silicone, I've been inspired by the POTC tails, Finfolk, the Mertailor (even though I'm really put off by him after reading the reviews) and Pearlie. The colors are going to match the tattoo I already have, which means lots of green and blue, with a hint of purple and black. Inspiration is different than copying, and someone should be happy to have been someone's inspiration.


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[maressa]

My first design for my tail was just inspired by my favorite colors- blue, gold, and purple. And after I sent in my design, I realized there are other mers that have the same idea as me!

My next tail will be inspired by the royal blue tang (aka: Dory), mainly because I love the look of that fish. No doubt there are probably other mers that have the exact same idea. I'm not bothered by it. 25754 Haha, yup!

[MermaidCelesteFL]

25754 Haha, yup!

I actually already have this image as my background at work, so I know that the long hours I put in are going towards this tail.

So far, I haven't seen any mers with this particular tail, but I know that this one has already been made. And funny enough, I'm commissioning my next tail/bracers with Finfolk with this design but with a blended waist.

[Merman Chatfish]

I see tails like this and I want to put in some way of making the small fins move in and out.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

25754 Haha, yup!

This exact tail is an entry in the Magictail contest!!!

Are the black lines painted on? Or casted? Either way its beautiful!

[MermaidCelesteFL]

I see tails like this and I want to put in some way of making the small fins move in and out.

I might go without the pectoral fins and put those fins on my bracers. What do you think?

[Merman Chatfish]

I might go without the pectoral fins and put those fins on my bracers. What do you think?

umm...I wake up and go to work sometimes without changing out of my PJs, I might not be the best person to ask. Fish seem to have them as arms so I guess arm bracers.

[Merman Chatfish]

To those of you talking about Dory tails: http://pixartimes.com/2014/12/08/more-finding-dory-plot-details-revealed/

[Mermaid Jaffa]

To those of you talking about Dory tails: http://pixartimes.com/2014/12/08/more-finding-dory-plot-details-revealed/

I'll only watch it if Ellen does the voice again. She was so funny in the last movie.

On topic, my fins are so flowy! Last week I became obsessed with the patches of sunlight in the lap pool...

Hogged every bit of the lane just to see myself and shake my fins underwater!:$

The roof has these "windows", every 10 mins or so, they turn and let in sunlight...