I was approached by a software company to purchase a number of architectural plan 'symbols' for use in their design software geared toward homeowners and contractors.
I want to sell the symbols, but have no idea what to charge. When the art is handed over it becomes their 'copyrighted' material.
I was thinking I would just charge my hourly rate (65-75). Each symbol takes me approx. 1/2 hour to create on avg. So 10 symbols would be about $350, which seems kind of low to have your artwork forever copyrighted by someone else.
First of all congrats! Sounds like a fun little project.
You are grossly overestimating how long it takes to make a symbol. Sure if you sat down right now, it would take you half an hour to make one. But if you sad down for 8 hours and only had 16 symbols at the end of the day, I'd fire your ass.
Are any of the symbols interactive? ie. can user input change the values inside the symbols? If not, this seems like a very simple 'design' exercise. If they commission you to do 50-100 symbols that's easily worth a grand or two.
seems kind of low to have your artwork forever copyrighted by someone else.
Well, you are not exactly writing a symphony here. Your job is to re-interpret industry standards in such way that this company doesn't have to pay royalties to anyone else.
I dont want to share too much, but these are not cad/vector 'symbols.' Theyre 'hand painted' in photoshop using a wacom tablet and there is certainly some artistc interpretation involved, ie color, texture, size, etc. I have to sort of design them as I go, which usually involves me doodling and layering texture/color.
So half an hour on avrage I think is a reasonable estimate,especially when you consider saving, organizing, etc on top of the creative work. Add in time for file prep and delivery and you have 8 hours in ten symbols. Regardless, if my rate were say 80/hr X 8= $640..is that fair to ave your work copyrighted indefinitely?
I'm surprised you've even shared this much. A friend of mine recently did a commission for artsy icons as part of a video game. Same deal as you, a tablet, photoshop, even hand-drawings and inking. The non-disclosure agreement they had him sign made him fearful for his life. He couldn't say a thing about the project (even to me) until the game was released.
Now here's the trick. Don't quote them a flat rate. There WILL be revisions and client feedback. Establish a fee that includes first draft and perhaps a second pass. Anything beyond that is billed an an hourly rate. $80/h may or may not be reasonable. It depends on client's perception of your value. A lesser client would make an observation that his nephew could do this job at $5/h. Your sales pitch is that the added value of a professional doing this work will not be lost on their intended audience (home-owners and contractors)
Just don't sign any contracts that assume your client will not be a pain in the ass... (anticipate the overtime)
If you land this gig, it may open doors to more work of such nature, and I always get excited to see fellow architects branch out.
Don't get too hung up on copyright. If need be, you can always outdo yourself and create an even better set in the future.
Anyone ever get commissioned to create arch symbols??
I was approached by a software company to purchase a number of architectural plan 'symbols' for use in their design software geared toward homeowners and contractors.
I want to sell the symbols, but have no idea what to charge. When the art is handed over it becomes their 'copyrighted' material.
I was thinking I would just charge my hourly rate (65-75). Each symbol takes me approx. 1/2 hour to create on avg. So 10 symbols would be about $350, which seems kind of low to have your artwork forever copyrighted by someone else.
Thoughts?
First of all congrats! Sounds like a fun little project.
You are grossly overestimating how long it takes to make a symbol. Sure if you sat down right now, it would take you half an hour to make one. But if you sad down for 8 hours and only had 16 symbols at the end of the day, I'd fire your ass.
Are any of the symbols interactive? ie. can user input change the values inside the symbols? If not, this seems like a very simple 'design' exercise. If they commission you to do 50-100 symbols that's easily worth a grand or two.
seems kind of low to have your artwork forever copyrighted by someone else.
Well, you are not exactly writing a symphony here. Your job is to re-interpret industry standards in such way that this company doesn't have to pay royalties to anyone else.
I dont want to share too much, but these are not cad/vector 'symbols.' Theyre 'hand painted' in photoshop using a wacom tablet and there is certainly some artistc interpretation involved, ie color, texture, size, etc. I have to sort of design them as I go, which usually involves me doodling and layering texture/color.
So half an hour on avrage I think is a reasonable estimate,especially when you consider saving, organizing, etc on top of the creative work. Add in time for file prep and delivery and you have 8 hours in ten symbols. Regardless, if my rate were say 80/hr X 8= $640..is that fair to ave your work copyrighted indefinitely?
I'm surprised you've even shared this much. A friend of mine recently did a commission for artsy icons as part of a video game. Same deal as you, a tablet, photoshop, even hand-drawings and inking. The non-disclosure agreement they had him sign made him fearful for his life. He couldn't say a thing about the project (even to me) until the game was released.
Now here's the trick. Don't quote them a flat rate. There WILL be revisions and client feedback. Establish a fee that includes first draft and perhaps a second pass. Anything beyond that is billed an an hourly rate. $80/h may or may not be reasonable. It depends on client's perception of your value. A lesser client would make an observation that his nephew could do this job at $5/h. Your sales pitch is that the added value of a professional doing this work will not be lost on their intended audience (home-owners and contractors)
Just don't sign any contracts that assume your client will not be a pain in the ass... (anticipate the overtime)
If you land this gig, it may open doors to more work of such nature, and I always get excited to see fellow architects branch out.
Don't get too hung up on copyright. If need be, you can always outdo yourself and create an even better set in the future.
Right on, that sounds like good advice.
I think you're eating your young.
just be sure you are not stealing someones copyrighted...symbols...or you will loose your
ass... and then some.
just be sure you are not stealing someones copyrighted...symbols...or you will loose your
ass... and then some.
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