I know I've save images to my computer to set as wall papers just because of how awesome they are. I also know it's probably something I shouldn't do ><;

people who think downloading images from dA is a copyright violation have to, in their own logic, consider themselves as well as any visitor of dA copyright violators too because anybody who loads up any page containing any sort of deviation images downloads them onto their computer simply by loading the page.

what you see in your browser resides on your computer. it's been downloaded and is stored.

it doesn't matter how it's done, be it automatically or by clocking a button. downloading and storing is downloading and storing.

the notion that downloading and storing an image is a copyright violation is just completely wrong.

I think it's fine as long as you don't sell it or say "ITS MINE!!"

I think it's like going to an art museum and taking photos of the images. As long as it's only for your veiwing, and as long as you don't try to distribute or sell, I think it's ok.

It's comparable to music files. If an artist makes a low-quality version available on their myspace page, and people download it for their own listening, that's fine. It's when you get into the illegal distribution of CD-quality files that it's bad. It's even worse if someone, say, makes a film and uses that music without permission.
As someone pointed out, your computer already stores images on your hard drive in the cache. I don't see a problem as long as it isn't re-uploaded, or in any other way re-distributed free or commercially, even if adapted or modified.

Just saving a copy isn't an issue, but use or redistribution without the artist's explicit permission is a huge issue in my opinion.

Aw, damn. I misread the question and voted wrong >_>

No, I don't think there's anything wrong with storing pictures from dA and using them as reference or inspiration.

No, this isn't infringement as long as people do not use the work and claim it as their own. The image storing can however be considered 'piracy' because you're taking an image and not paying for it (for example: a watermarked version viewable on dA may also be available without the watermark when purchased).

Save images on your computer if you really would like to collect. (That is, if you are not willing to put them back out online. That's the issue.)

I use dA for hosting images, honestly, but not often- once in three months? I mean, if copyrighted devIDs are allowed, hosting should be.