Well, I've been considering doing some commissions however I've had some questions regarding price points, particularly doing 3D work, mainly on how to come up with a fair pricing system. Say, if a client only wanted a still-shot image of a low-res model with say just a toon shader slapped on, what would be an appropriate charge? Likewise, what about a fully rigged transformable high-res model with actual textures to show the wear and tear and have an animation? Also, to all the modelers out there, how do you go about handling deadlines? and also, do you do one commission at a time, or a say two or three? Oh, yeah, forgot one thing. Have there been instances where clients want the actual model and texture files? Thanks for your feedback! P.S. I hope to have a "grand unveiling" sometime hopefully around Christmas time regarding 3D Transformers. I hope to "wow" you all.
I considered doin commission stuff at one point(as you can see by my outdated sig), but I had the same questions you had and never had so much as a nibble anyway. Itll take some serious time to get a good pricing layout setup. Theres quite a bit of time involved in these pieces, more than most probably realize. I would imagine you wont run across too many people who want the model and texture files. Some of em may, but most people willing to commission someone to do a piece wouldnt have the program needed to make the model file any use to them.
Sorry, Magnus, unfortunately, I (or make that the US Dept. of Education) needs something in hard currency to pay off college loans.
Whatever YOU think your time, talent and effort are worth. Remember, don't sell yourself short but be prepared to negotiate. Also, be prepared to never hear from people again; I have had quite a few people PM me about commissions, only to never contact me again. It's probably the prices I charge; but then again I like to think I do some damn good work, and I don't ever compromise on a model to keep costs down. I know I'm not cheap, but the client gets a LOT for their money. More than a bog standard cel shaded piece; you are putting in a lot more work there. Personally, I always include a transforming animation if the client wanted a transforming model. You can't rush what we do, man. Believe me, if a client digs your work enough to want to pay you for a piece, they will be prepared to wait as long as it takes. If someone needs a piece by a certain date, however, that's a different matter. Not yet. I always offer it though, just in case (although only if it is an original model I am building FOR the commission).
I'd definatly charge by the hour. I don't do 3D work, but I freelance a lot of Photoshop work, and there'd really be no other way to do it. I mean, what would the alternative be, charge by the polygon?
Hehe... I wish! If that were the case, my Megatron model alone would earn me over half a million US dollars easily. I'll have to think about this one for a while. I don't want to overcharge, but at the same I don't want to get gipped either. I know at CG Society, there was a thread for freelancers and one common trend I noticed was that everything was usually contract-based as in. I'll give you $****.** for this job, no more, no less. I think an hourly rate would be better in some circumstances, however, depending on how long projects take, that could become very expensive. I mean the best example I found of TF models available for purchace on the net was through Turbosquid or another online vendor that serves as a middleman. I think I saw some of elgoodo's stuff from Iaconcity.com go for around $65.00 a model. I don't remember if his models come with the transform animation sequence, but I'm pretty sure they're rigged (at least for transformation), and have a basic shader thrown on to get the color down. I know his texturing leans more on the basic/clean side as opposed to complex battle damaged parts with panel rivets and bolts galore. Anywho, I'll see about setting up a price guide system for Saturday or so. Thanks to everyone for their feedback!
