For illustrators
Proof of creation for illustrators
Copyright in an illustration usually exists automatically once you create it, but that doesn’t give you a dated record you can point to later. A TimeBind gives you that record. TimeBinder® makes a fingerprint of your sketch, layered file or final artwork on your own device and records the fingerprint on the Bitcoin blockchain. The file itself is never uploaded. Later, you and anyone you share the file and certificate with can check that the file existed no later than the recorded time and still matches its fingerprint. A TimeBind doesn’t show who created the file, that it’s original, whether AI was used, or how a court will treat it.
That record helps when a client, a print-on-demand copy or an accusation of AI use questions your timeline.
How proof of creation for illustrators works with TimeBinder
There are three steps.
- Choose the file. A layered PSD, a Procreate or CLIP STUDIO file, a PNG export, or a scan of a pencil sketch.
- TimeBind it. TimeBinder makes a fingerprint (a SHA-256 hash) of the file on your device and records that fingerprint on the Bitcoin blockchain. You get a Proof of Time Certificate.
- Keep the file and the certificate together. Don’t edit or re-save the file you TimeBound.
The fingerprint is calculated from the file’s exact contents. Change one pixel and the fingerprint changes. So keep the exact file you timestamped. A re-export, even one that looks the same, is a new file with a new fingerprint.
To check later, use the same file and the certificate to check the file still matches its fingerprint. See how TimeBinder works.
When illustrators need a dated record
Commissions and client WIPs. Timestamp sketches and roughs before you send previews, so you have a dated record of your own files. Read how to protect your design before sending it to a client, and what to gather as evidence when a client used your design without paying. To tell clients up front which stage files you keep, the free Commission Process Promise writes a short process clause for your terms.
Portfolio and social posts. Timestamp the full-resolution master before you post a smaller version online.
Print-on-demand and merch copies. If your art turns up on a shirt or a mug, your dated master file is one piece of your timeline. It doesn’t show that the seller copied you. Takedowns and claims go through the platform, an agreement or legal advice.
AI-art accusations. A series of dated sketches, layered files and process exports helps you show how a piece developed. A TimeBind doesn’t show AI wasn’t used. If you’re facing this now, read what to do if you’re falsely accused of using AI art.
Contests and publisher submissions. Timestamp the exact version you submit, so you have a dated record of what you sent.
What to timestamp, and when
A simple habit covers most work:
- Thumbnails and sketches, when the idea is first down.
- The layered working file, at key milestones such as line art, flats and render.
- The final master, before it goes to a client, a printer or a platform.
- Process files, such as timelapse videos or step exports.
For app-specific steps, see dating a Procreate illustration and dating a PSD file. For other ways artists keep a timeline, see how artists show when they made something.
Name the files clearly and store them with backups. Without the original file, a match can’t be checked.
Copyright, registration and a timestamp
- Australia. The Attorney-General’s Department says: “Copyright protection is free and automatic in Australia. There is no formal registration system” (source).
- United Kingdom. GOV.UK says: “You get copyright protection automatically – you do not have to apply or pay a fee. There is not a register of copyright works in the UK.” It lists works “including illustration and photography” (source).
- United States. The US Copyright Office says “Copyright exists from the moment the work is created.” Registration is voluntary, but “You will have to register, however, if you wish to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a U.S. work.” It adds that “Registered works may be eligible for statutory damages and attorney’s fees in successful litigation” (source).
| Copyright (automatic) | US copyright registration | A TimeBind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A legal right that exists when the work is created | A public record with the US Copyright Office | A dated record of a file’s fingerprint on the Bitcoin blockchain |
| Who it is for | Everyone | Not covered here | Anyone who wants a checkable date for a file |
| Shows when a file existed | No record by itself | Records the registration facts | Yes: existed no later than the recorded time |
| Shows who made it | No | Records the claim made by the applicant | No |
| Covers drafts and WIPs | n/a | Some group options exist for multiple visual art works (Compendium ch. 900) | Each file you choose has its own fingerprint |
| Your file is uploaded | n/a | A deposit copy is sent | No, only the fingerprint is recorded |
For more detail, compare copyright registration vs a timestamp, or read about showing copyright ownership without registration.
This is general information, not legal advice.
What a TimeBind does not show
- It doesn’t show who created the file, that the art is original, whether AI was used, or how a court will treat it.
- It isn’t copyright registration and gives no legal rights.
- It can’t be backdated. It records the time the TimeBind was made, not the day you drew the work.
When TimeBinder isn’t the right tool
- You need to sue for infringement of a US work. That needs US copyright registration. A TimeBind isn’t a substitute.
- You want a copy taken down. Use the platform’s reporting process or get legal advice.
- You no longer have the original file. A TimeBind can only record files you have now.
FAQ
Do I need to register copyright for my illustrations?
In Australia and the UK there is no copyright register, and protection is automatic. In the US, protection is also automatic, but registration is needed before suing for infringement of a US work and can affect some remedies. Check the official pages linked above. This is general information, not legal advice.
Should I timestamp sketches or only finished art?
Both, if your timeline might matter. A series of dated sketches, working files and the final master shows how the piece developed over time. Each file has its own fingerprint.
Can a TimeBind show I did not use AI?
No. A TimeBind shows that a file existed no later than the recorded time and still matches its fingerprint. A dated series of sketches and layered files can support your account of your process, but it doesn’t show whether AI was used.
Does TimeBinder upload my artwork?
No. Your file is fingerprinted on your own device. Only the fingerprint is recorded on the Bitcoin blockchain, and TimeBinder doesn’t store your file.
Will a timestamp stop someone copying my art?
No. It gives you a dated record to point to if a copy appears. Stopping or removing copies is done through platforms, agreements or legal action.
What should I keep alongside a TimeBind?
The exact file you timestamped, the certificate, and your other records: drafts, client emails, invoices and posting dates. A match can only be checked against the original file.
Start with your current work
Start by timestamping the pieces you’re working on now. The Free plan is $0 and includes 1 Token a month.
See plans and pricing