Pricing
[Graphic Designer Referral Needed] -
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209 Posts
That's the $200 question.
Should a printer charge for artwork?
The answer is, well it depends.
I don't charge for artwork on large orders, and if it's easy and quick.
I use a lot of clipart, and fix the clipart so it doesn't look like clipart.
I've been doing art for screen printing for 28 years and am really fast at it.
I am always fixing art, but if the art takes longer than the print job, it does not make sense to give it away free.
Also, the client makes a big difference. A novice client, one that's never done shirts before, and wants a one time project, have pity, but for someone making money on the finished project, making 40 to 60 an hour is about right.
Should a printer charge for artwork?
The answer is, well it depends.
I don't charge for artwork on large orders, and if it's easy and quick.
I use a lot of clipart, and fix the clipart so it doesn't look like clipart.
I've been doing art for screen printing for 28 years and am really fast at it.
I am always fixing art, but if the art takes longer than the print job, it does not make sense to give it away free.
Also, the client makes a big difference. A novice client, one that's never done shirts before, and wants a one time project, have pity, but for someone making money on the finished project, making 40 to 60 an hour is about right.
Joined
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139 Posts
Glad you asked that question Shid ... there is no average. Design work rates are based on so many factors, that it varies from designer to designer. Some of those factors are: skill, job difficulty, time required, shop overhead, materials, Intellectual property releases, etc, etc, etc. Now, without seeing what you are talking about ... I'm going to say anywhere from $15-1500 depending on what the artwork you are trying to get done, looks like and what you need for the job.
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209 Posts
Brian is right.
"there is no average. Design work rates are based on so many factors, that it varies from designer to designer. Some of those factors are: skill, job difficulty, time required, shop overhead, materials, Intellectual property releases, etc, etc, etc."
There is another issue, "what the market will bear"
If the whole job is $200 and you want to charge $200 more in art, the client will go elsewhere.
But an extra $30 - $50 for art should not be a show stopper.
I will do a little artwork without charging, type layout, clipart fixing, cleanup the client's art, but there is a limit to how much free art.
If the art takes longer than the job, that does not make sense to do art for free.
I live a cheap town, frugal? So extra charges will loose the jobs, so I try to have great quality and low prices.
"there is no average. Design work rates are based on so many factors, that it varies from designer to designer. Some of those factors are: skill, job difficulty, time required, shop overhead, materials, Intellectual property releases, etc, etc, etc."
There is another issue, "what the market will bear"
If the whole job is $200 and you want to charge $200 more in art, the client will go elsewhere.
But an extra $30 - $50 for art should not be a show stopper.
I will do a little artwork without charging, type layout, clipart fixing, cleanup the client's art, but there is a limit to how much free art.
If the art takes longer than the job, that does not make sense to do art for free.
I live a cheap town, frugal? So extra charges will loose the jobs, so I try to have great quality and low prices.
Joined
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245 Posts
For us, the pricing varies depending on what exactly it is you're needing.
If you already have the hand-drawn artwork and just need it converted to vector form, we do that for a flat rate, depending on the complexity of the image.
However, when asked to design artwork for customers, we charge an hourly rate.
If you already have the hand-drawn artwork and just need it converted to vector form, we do that for a flat rate, depending on the complexity of the image.
However, when asked to design artwork for customers, we charge an hourly rate.
Joined
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215 Posts
Expect about $50-$60 per hour from any serious professional, it could be higher. Ask to see a portfolio.
Based on other posts you have made Shid, it looks to me like you want to start a sports apparel business. I suspect that you are wanting to purchase the rights to the designs as well? You did talk about a hand drawn sketch, ( I am assuming it is done by you) turned into vector ready artwork? You can go one of a few different routes.
Purchasing the rights to any artwork is always going to be a bit more expensive than not. Make sure you get a "transfer or ownership" contract with any designs you want to own. Like it or not, any artwork a designer makes is their property, even if it's your idea.
1) Hire a college kid. Put up a flyer at a local college saying you will pay for your sketches to be vectorized. Put up a price you think is fair. If you get no responses, up the price. A kid in school will work for less, and can use the design for their portfolio.
2) Post a "Graphic designer wanted" thread here (specifically here in the referral/recommendation section). There are a bunch of talented designers that check this section daily and will contact you. Ask them questions, tell them exactly what you want, find out what they charge. Go with the one you think is best for your needs, not the cheapest, the one you think that is the best fit.
3) use a service online like these guys
4) use an online competition site. You post a job, describe it and a bunch of artists do the work, you pick the winner. site 1 site 2 site 3 There are many many more of these kinds of sites out there.
5) purchase clip art and get really good at putting designs together.
These are a few options for you that may work. Keep in mind, like everyone else said, there really is no "standard price" for design work. The simple reality is, a design that takes 3 hours to do will cost less than a design that takes 18 hours to do. I do not recommend going with "cheap solutions" if you are planning on starting your own sports line brand. It's very important to remember, tshirts are a heavy design based product.
Hope this all helps.
Based on other posts you have made Shid, it looks to me like you want to start a sports apparel business. I suspect that you are wanting to purchase the rights to the designs as well? You did talk about a hand drawn sketch, ( I am assuming it is done by you) turned into vector ready artwork? You can go one of a few different routes.
Purchasing the rights to any artwork is always going to be a bit more expensive than not. Make sure you get a "transfer or ownership" contract with any designs you want to own. Like it or not, any artwork a designer makes is their property, even if it's your idea.
1) Hire a college kid. Put up a flyer at a local college saying you will pay for your sketches to be vectorized. Put up a price you think is fair. If you get no responses, up the price. A kid in school will work for less, and can use the design for their portfolio.
2) Post a "Graphic designer wanted" thread here (specifically here in the referral/recommendation section). There are a bunch of talented designers that check this section daily and will contact you. Ask them questions, tell them exactly what you want, find out what they charge. Go with the one you think is best for your needs, not the cheapest, the one you think that is the best fit.
3) use a service online like these guys
4) use an online competition site. You post a job, describe it and a bunch of artists do the work, you pick the winner. site 1 site 2 site 3 There are many many more of these kinds of sites out there.
5) purchase clip art and get really good at putting designs together.
These are a few options for you that may work. Keep in mind, like everyone else said, there really is no "standard price" for design work. The simple reality is, a design that takes 3 hours to do will cost less than a design that takes 18 hours to do. I do not recommend going with "cheap solutions" if you are planning on starting your own sports line brand. It's very important to remember, tshirts are a heavy design based product.
Hope this all helps.
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773 Posts
I like to think I am one of the better vector artists out there and I work in the $25.00 per hour range.. You can see some of my past work at www.art4tees.com.. I can draw, I can create and of course I can vector.. give me a chance and you will be thrilled..
dlac
dlac
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