Hello everyone, I would like to ask those who are experts in the sector for clarification on two topics regarding work carried out at the customer’s request.
How is the cost calculated for the models performed. I’m not asking to know how much it might cost to make a certain type of model, but on what its price is calculated. Such as the number of polygons? The presence or absence of UV mapping, textures, materials, etc… Or is it based on a fixed hourly cost?
In short, what starting point do you start from, and the method for calculating the cost of work done on request.
Do the copyrights relating to the aforementioned 3D works belong to the artist who created them, or to the customer who purchases them?
Can the creator use them on his own?
Depends on the contract, though the majority of contacts I’ve worked with require full and exclusive transfer of copyright to the client (the only allowable exception being using it as portfolio content, but even that might not be allowed if there is an NDA). You almost certainly cannot use them, just display them, but again, that depends on what the contract says. If you don’t have a contract, you’re about to get screwed, so sign one.
I have a feeling that is a bit like asking how long a polygon is.
I mean, how experienced are you, how fast can you do the work, at what level of quality is your work or the type of work that is required. Where do you live and likely other things I can’t think of right now.
You’re right, there are a lot of variables, but there will be something to start with. In the sense that one must “hold on” somewhere. Otherwise, how do you determine whether a model costs $5 or $500?
Depends on the artist, where they live, and what they’re willing to work for. It’s like asking how much someone would charge to put a roof on your house. Are you in Beverly Hills, CA or Cordele, GA?
Depending on where you do actually live, many countries have ‘award rates’ for all types of industries. As such, you could look to see if under something like Arts and Entertainment there should be a whole list of job titles in film/TV/gaming and like one for 3D Modeller, with then junior/senior etc type minimum and range of hourly rates.
Again, depending on the country, there could be a union for the arts industry and they should have a web site, which very likely would have that sort of information. At least as a starting point.
I did a quick search and found that hourly rates can range from around $15 to around $50, but then as you said, they also vary based on several factors, such as experience, specific skills and the complexity of the job. project.
Well, it’s rare that clients asks for just a model, generally they want a more finished product unless they are into 3D themselves…
once you discussed with your client and know what kind of quality they expect you should estimate how long it will take you + some extras for addressing client’s feedback, your own expenses maybe for computer or other stuff… Then this is directly related to how much money you need each months…
it’s always a bit tricky to correctly estimate, and generally the first time people tend to under-charge and eventually they get a better feel of the right invoice.
Well, that depends , say you sell a model of your own online, if someone buy it you transfer to them the right to use it…
Say I’m marvel and I ask you to model Iron Man, it’s basically their IP, you have some rights like showing it on artstation, but you can’t do personal work with it, or distribute it on say CG-Trader…
But that really depends on the case, sometime I reuses some bits of older projects here and there like maybe you build a kitbask that you like to use on each projects. Generally that’s fine unless it touches a particular design for a particular project…
I think that the intellectual property belongs to the author of the model(s), but it cannot be used for other purposes because it was commissioned by the customer.
And should the author of the works always be indicated?
Not necessarily, it’s generally the case when working on say a movie, but say when you watch a commercial on TV or watch an ads in the street it doesn’t tell who made it and even more where some 3D models it contains comes from…
May I ask you what exactly you’re planning to do ? who is going to be your clients exactly ?
For now I limit myself to selling my models on some online portals. I was just asking for information, to better understand how working on customer request works.
IDK exactly how that works if you’re only selling models on platform, about how you go from general models that you sell on everyone to something
tailored to a particular client…
Generally you start to work in some areas of CG for a company and eventually you start to do freelancing. That could be like advertising, or arch viz. Basically in the company you learn about clients and specifics of the craft.
In my case I started my career doing corporate videos and stuff that are similar to advertising in a company. Eventually I started to do more and more freelancing working from home for various clients.
My clients where basically production companies that didn’t had some 3D departments, or didn’t have dedicated workstation to hire people to work in their office for their projects. As in my country you are generally hired for a project that might last a few weeks. Then you basically move on to another project generally in another company.
This is an example of my regular freelance work :
A production company contact me, they do some filming / video editing / 2D motion stuff but they don’t do 3D.
Now they need a ~1mn30 video to present a product and look for someone that can do everything except some 2D title that would be done at the end in after-effect…
Generally they have some kind of a fixed envelope, they can afford only a part of their global budget, and unless there have really not enough for what they ask you’ll have to work within their budgetary constraints…
You get a brief from their clients , what they want to insist on for their product and from there you evaluate how long it would take to make what they want, and hopefully it’s aligned with their budget.
then you start to work , which might consist of basically touching many aspect of video creation. You do some basic directing and art directing, modeling , editing , lighting, compositing…
This is a typical example of the projects I did back then :
Some of them where better, some other where cheaper, when they want more complex stuff they generally ask a specialized company instead of freelancers so they can find a whole team from art director to specialized artists…
Anyway, hopes that helps you to better see how that works, I think there is basically the same stuff when you do arch-viz. Some friends of mine are specialized in product rendering like cosmetics stuff like that and it works very similarly…
The work you do is very demanding I imagine.
I don’t like working as an employee, being bossed around by others or by the company owner.
I would prefer to work as a freelancer, which gives you the opportunity to be a little more free, even if you always have to do what the client requests.
Instead, the nice thing about selling your models on dedicated portals is that you can do as you like (within certain limits). On the downside, you have to create several hundred models in order to earn something substantial.
This is going to depend on a lot of factors:
Is the model for an existing IP?
Is the client subcontracting the work from an IP owner?
Is the project under strict NDA?
Is it a game or film or for physical production?
Etc.
Basically the most important thing is who owns the IP, and how strict is the usage?
Is you provide models for a client with a well-known and established IP then the NDA and IP rights will be VERY strict. I’ve created models for well-known IPs and I’m still waiting years later to be allowed to put them on Artstation.
Well-known IPs are very preciously guarded.
I’ve also created models where the client has no problem with showing the work publicly even before the product is released.
Yes, the spectrum is that broad so there’s no easy answer.
If you are hired then you should receive a brief and contract/NDA - this again will vary in terms of guidelines and NDA rules depending on the company - and this should all be explained in there.
Basically, you are being hired to create a model based on the client’s concept art/IP, so in most cases you will not have any rights to the model beyond personal portfolio display. They are hiring your services to create their product.