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Commission Information - Terms and Pricing
17 years ago
TERMS
-Rights of Reproduction-
Unless the work is commercial or legally a "work for hire" piece, the artist retains the rights to the finished work. As such, I do request the right to display and/or reproduce a completed work. I am happy to negotiate alternate terms if the commissioner so chooses, prior to the start of the project. This may require the commissioner buying exclusive rights to the piece at going commercial rates to compensate for any potential income lost by keeping it exclusive.
-Payment-
Once the concept sketch is approved I ask for a partial down payment equal to 20% of the commission's total cost (see refund information below). Full payment is not required until a sample of the final copy has been approved. Once the full payment has been sent, the final image will be sent. I accept paypal (credit card accepted), personal checks, and money orders with all commissioned work. Currency should be in USD, please.
-Incomplete/Refunds-
If the commissioner is not happy with the progress of the piece and wishes to withdraw their commission request, I will retain a portion of the down payment equal to the stage of the piece. IE if I completed only a sketch, I expect to be paid the value of a sketch commission. This can be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will not be necessary should the close of the project be my own doing. This of course does not apply under all circumstances, and any termination caused by myself will be addressed with my assuming responsibility.
-Redraws-
I offer three full redraws of a commissioned work. After that time, $5 per redraw is required as insurance against fraudulent claims. Please be clear with your descriptions and any edits you would like made, and I will be happy to work with you. Please note this does NOT include minor edits throughout the production process, which never require a fee. The fee only applies to complete redraws.
-Timeline-
I am employed full time and am not regularly open to commissions for this reason. Therefore, larger works may take a more extended period. Payment is not due in full until completed, and any specific deadlines can be discussed at the start of the piece.
-Shipping and Handling-
I generally send first-class worldwide unless asked otherwise. Shipping in the US is approximately $4 on two-dimensional art 9"x12" and under in size. Also, be sure to state if you want any shipping extras, such as shipping insurance, expedient mail, etc.
-These are BASE prices-
The prices listed below are estimates and account only for one character and a simple background; The actual cost of a work may be higher or lower depending on size, number of characters/figures, medium, and overall complexity.
I am also happy to take on a project type not listed below, including comic pages, character sheets, etc. Simply contact me for a more accurate estimate.
PRICES
Sketch - $15
+$5 per additional character; Pencil on 8.5"x11"
Rendered Drawing - $20+
[Shaded]; +$10 per additional character; Detailed portrait or less detailed more figure based, no BG in base price. Total price depends on complexity and number of characters; Pencil on tinted 5" x 7"
Ink (outline) - $30
[Outline of character, some detail] +$10 per additional character
Ink (detailed) - $45+
[Shaded detail] +$15 per additional character; Total price depends on complexity and number of characters
Computer color (flats) - $40+
[Flat color with no rendering] +10 per additional character; Total price depends on complexity and number of characters
Computer color (cel) - $50+
[Shading is blocked, much like cartoon work] +$20 per additional character; Total price depends on complexity and number of characters
Digital Conbadge (/w clip) - $30
[Cel-shaded digital colored, approx 3.5"x5"]
Digital Icon - $15
[100x100 pixel icon, cel shaded, includes full version of image]
-Rights of Reproduction-
Unless the work is commercial or legally a "work for hire" piece, the artist retains the rights to the finished work. As such, I do request the right to display and/or reproduce a completed work. I am happy to negotiate alternate terms if the commissioner so chooses, prior to the start of the project. This may require the commissioner buying exclusive rights to the piece at going commercial rates to compensate for any potential income lost by keeping it exclusive.
-Payment-
Once the concept sketch is approved I ask for a partial down payment equal to 20% of the commission's total cost (see refund information below). Full payment is not required until a sample of the final copy has been approved. Once the full payment has been sent, the final image will be sent. I accept paypal (credit card accepted), personal checks, and money orders with all commissioned work. Currency should be in USD, please.
-Incomplete/Refunds-
If the commissioner is not happy with the progress of the piece and wishes to withdraw their commission request, I will retain a portion of the down payment equal to the stage of the piece. IE if I completed only a sketch, I expect to be paid the value of a sketch commission. This can be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will not be necessary should the close of the project be my own doing. This of course does not apply under all circumstances, and any termination caused by myself will be addressed with my assuming responsibility.
-Redraws-
I offer three full redraws of a commissioned work. After that time, $5 per redraw is required as insurance against fraudulent claims. Please be clear with your descriptions and any edits you would like made, and I will be happy to work with you. Please note this does NOT include minor edits throughout the production process, which never require a fee. The fee only applies to complete redraws.
-Timeline-
I am employed full time and am not regularly open to commissions for this reason. Therefore, larger works may take a more extended period. Payment is not due in full until completed, and any specific deadlines can be discussed at the start of the piece.
-Shipping and Handling-
I generally send first-class worldwide unless asked otherwise. Shipping in the US is approximately $4 on two-dimensional art 9"x12" and under in size. Also, be sure to state if you want any shipping extras, such as shipping insurance, expedient mail, etc.
-These are BASE prices-
The prices listed below are estimates and account only for one character and a simple background; The actual cost of a work may be higher or lower depending on size, number of characters/figures, medium, and overall complexity.
I am also happy to take on a project type not listed below, including comic pages, character sheets, etc. Simply contact me for a more accurate estimate.
PRICES
Sketch - $15
+$5 per additional character; Pencil on 8.5"x11"
Rendered Drawing - $20+
[Shaded]; +$10 per additional character; Detailed portrait or less detailed more figure based, no BG in base price. Total price depends on complexity and number of characters; Pencil on tinted 5" x 7"
Ink (outline) - $30
[Outline of character, some detail] +$10 per additional character
Ink (detailed) - $45+
[Shaded detail] +$15 per additional character; Total price depends on complexity and number of characters
Computer color (flats) - $40+
[Flat color with no rendering] +10 per additional character; Total price depends on complexity and number of characters
Computer color (cel) - $50+
[Shading is blocked, much like cartoon work] +$20 per additional character; Total price depends on complexity and number of characters
Digital Conbadge (/w clip) - $30
[Cel-shaded digital colored, approx 3.5"x5"]
Digital Icon - $15
[100x100 pixel icon, cel shaded, includes full version of image]
It seems that a commissioned work would be considered "Work for Hire" and as such under U.S. Copyright law the Employer would actually hold copyright over the produced works. You can read up on it here: http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ09.pdf
What I believe this means is that you would need prior agreement with the person paying you for your work before you could display, reproduce, sell, etc. it to another. So the wording you used for the Rights of Reproduction are a little fuzzy to me. From the way you are wording it, it would seem that we would be required to pay extra to be allowed to reproduce, sell, or display the work we purchased from you, but you would have full control to do what you wish with the work. But under the U.S. Copyright laws, it should be flipped the other way around...
I only bring this up because the wording you use is just a little fuzzy, and it makes people like me a little hesitant about commissioning work from you So if you can reword it, I think you would make everyone feel warm and fuzzy inside
Maybe something along the lines of "Under U.S. Copyright Law you hold all rights to Display, Reproduce, or Sell the work you commission from me; however by hiring me to provide you with a work I reserve the rights to Display, Reproduce, or Sell the work as I see fit, unless discussion otherwise is agreed upon prior to the creation of said works."
Why I wanted to ask you about it, I'm glad you will word it a little better so there is no confusion
No, I really appreciate it. I'm not here to scare away anyone, and have yet to have any problems at all with my commissioners, just want to make sure my needs out in the open so there's no confusion!
As an occasional commissioner, I typically ask the artist to let me:
* use details of the image as icons/avatars for my own online accounts
* if the artist publishes the image online, to redistribute that same image file with clear attribution and links to the original
Plus standard fair-use rights of course.
Thanks!