History Main / GISSyndrome

* This trope is an oft occurring one within' the Website/BZPower Comics community, especially in [[Webcomic/InternationalComicContinuity Nuparurocks' Comics]] most often are these pictures blended in well due to the Sprite nature of said comics. But there are [[SpecialEffectsFailure times when it's used less successfully]].

* ''Website/GoAnimate'': It's not uncommon for users to insert familiar characters into the [=GoAnimate=]/Vyond setting via stock images of them from off the internet. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk6tYqjj83g Here's one such example of this]].

* Early episodes of ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' used a lot of stock photos as background elements.

A common shortcut that creators use is to collect pictures from [[http://images.google.com/ Google Image Search]] and use them as a background. These images are usually run through a filter (almost always some type of blur) on Photoshop, either to lessen focus or to make the image more congruent with the art style. This is often utilized for complex designs (book and video game covers are common examples), but can be seen as a sign of laziness if the artist comes to depend on it.

Not to be confused with a PhotoComic, which uses photographs as the art instead of an embellishment. See also RealPlaceBackground. Contrast MatteShot, where real people stand in front of a painted background. Compare TracedArtwork, when a creator copies existing art by hand.

** On the [=FeedBurner=] page, the entry about donating to the [[TheWikiRule Homestar Runner Wiki]] is accompanied by an edited image of a telethon.

** On the [=FeedBurner=] page, the entry about donating to the Wiki/HomestarRunnerWiki is accompanied by an edited image of a telethon.

* In contrast to the usual VisualNovel use of GIS for backgrounds, ''{{VisualNovel/Hatoful Boyfriend}}'' uses stock photos for all the bird characters, and for loading screens between chapters. [[ShownTheirWork Stock photo resources are cited and thanked in the credits]].

%%* ''ComicStrip/BetweenTheLines'' has been a horrible offender in the 2014 strips.

* Some KoreanWebtoons use a variant; a photo with a filter put over it to make it look like a drawing. ''Webcomic/WeakHero'' does this a lot, both with backgrounds and bizarrely with ''food.''

[[folder:WebAnimation]]

[[folder:WebComics]]

Note that GIS Syndrome isn't limited to Google Images as lazy creators also use Bing Image Search and [=DuckDuckGo=] Image search.

* PlayedForLaughs in ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}''. The explosion effects used are a stock image rather than proper pixel art. Additionally, the mini-boss enemies in Chapter 1 and 2 use a pixelated stock image of a carton of almond milk to heal themselves.

* PlayedForLaughs in ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}'', in which a mini-boss enemy uses a pixellated stock image of a carton of almond milk to heal itself.
--> ''"K-ROUND practiced self-care!"''

* Some earlier ''ComicStrip/{{Nodwick}}'' strips did this.

* Political cartoonist Gordon Campbell uses this CONSTANTLY.

* The Montreal Gazette's cartoonist, Aislin, has done this.
* ''ComicStrip/BetweenTheLines'' has been a horrible offender in the 2014 strips.

* ''Webcomic/HowIBecameYours''
* ''[[https://web.archive.org/web/20150311030415/http://www.piratejesus.com/ Pirate Jesus]]''
* ''Webcomic/MistakesOfYouth''

** Lampshaded in this [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/ACT6ACT6.php?s=6&p=008162 page]].

* ''WesternAnimation/DotAndTheKangaroo'' (and every other Dot film) is a pure Aussie example of this trope.

Not to be confused with a PhotoComic, which uses photographs as the art instead of an embellishment. See also RealPlaceBackground. Contrast MatteShot, where real people stand in front of a painted background.