The Dangers of “Cut and Paste”

Back in the day, a “cut” required a knife or scissor blade where the artist extracted information usually from a paper sheet to “paste” to another surface…all done manually…blades, glue, rulers and all the rest.

To make this physically real, your’s truly was in the midst of a publishing company graphic project, and during the “cut” phase the Exacto knife (razor sharp blade) decided to roll off the table toward me. In my haste and respect for the instrument, I tried to catch it and accidentally jabbed it even harder on the down stroke into my leg. After several stitches (and a near bleed out), my paradigm shift and appreciation of “cut and paste” was completely reversed.

Today, “cut and paste” does not represent a physical threat, but it may represent other cautions that could be far worse. Software developers have kept the iconic title, but they have also opened a whole new world of transference of information.

Just think about it.

There are several alternative forms of cut and paste in that they represent moving digital information, verbal or graphic, from one place to another. Depending on the application, the temptation occurs in the need or want to alter or enhance the information.

Photoshop
There are literally thousands of “tweaks” that can be applied to a given subject. Yes, there is the simple straight up “cut and paste” app that can be applied, but with all those other goodies, e.g. “let’s see how this looks,” the danger comes when the artist (or other authority) decides to take these liberties of alteration without gaining the original owner’s approval. Then come the lawyers.

Using line extension, this dilemma applies to countless other software apps, and countless more lawyers. The message here is relatively simple. The original application of manual “cut and paste” had some physical risks, but the digital apps are now wrought with land mines of a different sort.

In the old days, the artist needed the time, patience and diligence to transact the alteration, while today a zillion apps are only a nano click away. And, as faster and more savvy hardware and software is developed, the greater the risk evolves.

Along with the decision to “cut and paste,” will come the increasing responsibility and diligence to keep from using unauthorized techniques and technologies.

As always…you decide.