>>46297598For a photo reference you're just looking at the photo as you draw.
Tracing a photo is when you're directly drawing over the photo.
Tracing is much easier and does not require unique artistic input. However, it's not morally wrong unless you're tracing over other peoples work. This includes other people's photographs, because photography is an art and photographers do have ownership of the photo's they take.
Everything from the pose to the line work to the light angles require artistic input from photographers and artist, and when you trace you are profiting from those photographers and artists hard work without their consent. You'r effectively stealing their intellectual property.
I have no problem with people tracing over their own photographs or tracing over photographs they have bought, but stealing the work of other without even notifying them is bullshit.