I hail from another virtual pet site that has pretty strict regulations on how your pet overlay looks compared to the official pet artwork. Both the color and the species of the pet should be reflected in the artwork. However, I have some pet designs that don't really have a Subeta pet equivalent, and I'd like to have creative freedom to draw my overlays however I'd want.

I'm surprised that Subeta doesn't seem to have any official commentary on this, apart from some old posts which may or may not be relevant now. The actual upload page doesn't directly address this issue either:

"Quads and anthros only please - no humans, kemonomimi/gijinka, or inanimate objects ...

No images that represent pets from other pet sites ...

Style choice is completely up to you. Overlays do not need to be Subeta quality and detail, but these pets are still in some way representing the site so we reserve the right to deny an overlay for any reason not listed above. Any similarities between your design and future Subeta designs for pets are purely coincidental..."

Nowhere is there any mention of how the overlay should actually conform to the official color and species of your pet. Could someone clarify on this point? Are we allowed complete freedom, given we follow the rules above? Or are there unlisted constraints? If the overlay needs to reflect the official color and species, just how far can we "push" the design before it would be rejected?

Thanks in advance!

Have you looked at the art forum yet? Maybe peek there for works artists have had approved and see if that can help?

The custom overlay rules page is the only list of rules we have. As long as you're not misrepresenting your pet's color (like an overlay of a Cream pet when the pet itself is Dusk) and have its color listed on the profile itself, you should be fine on that front. A recent spotlight winner has an overlay that's just a dog (and they're far from the only winner with a similar overlay, just the first one I saw)

Not a bad idea. Was definitely surprised to see some "alien" designs thrown in there.

I guess it's "capture the gist of the color" and you're good? I've seen overlays pushed really far and some that are straight up human (but those are many years old, and probably before stricter rules). I'm just gonna pick a color and pray, aha.

I'd actually seen that rule earlier but merely glanced at it. It actually does clear up my confusion, so thank you!