Freelance
From polycount
Revision as of 14:03, 21 June 2014 by EricChadwick (Talk)
Contents
Freelance
When working by yourself it is generally more difficult to keep a steady income, but the flexibility can be very rewarding.
- Vertex #1 free game art e-book, with articles and workflows by professionals, plus an excellent freelancing how-to by longtime freelancer Ben 'b1ll' Regimbal.
- Can you really be a freelancer? Polycount forum thread
- Horror Freelance Stories Polycount forum thread
- Tips for doing freelance work... Polycount forum thread with great advice from working freelancers.
Questions for the Client
Get the information you need when you start a project.
- Software (i.e. Maya 2012, 3DSMAX 2013)
- Polycount (i.e. 1500 tris)
- Texture count, sizes, and type (i.e. 3 512x512 textures, head+upper body+lower body, diff+norm+spec)
- Sculpt required, or is Crazybump\nDo okay?
- Target engine ( UDK, Unity, etc.)
- Target screen resolution (in general but especially for mobile)
- Player perspective (FPS, third person, top-down iso)
- Timeframe (2wks, 4wks, ?)
- Concept or reference given?
- Sample asset provided? (art style, quality level, tech specs)
- Complexity? (complex rig, animatable parts, per-pixel painting, etc. can increase the time needed)
- Deliverables? (i.e. finished .MA file with texture flats in TGA format, plus layered PSDs)
Don't forget to use a contract!
Art Tests
Advice on art tests:
Freelance Rates
- Info: going rate for 1,500 tri model+texture Polycount forum thread
- Freelance rates query Polycount forum thread has info about how to calculate your freelance rate.
- How much should I charge for freelance 3D modeling work? article on KatsBits.com with advice and sample rates.
- FreelanceSwitch Hourly Rate Calculator
The following numbers are averages, posted by Polycount members. All numbers are in USD unless stated otherwise.
| Freelancer Type | US Day Rate | US Hourly | Overseas Day Rate | Overseas Hourly |
| Individual contractor | $300/day * | $37.50/hr * | $250 - 375/day | $31.25 - 47/hr |
| Low-end art studio | $350/day | $43.75/hr | $140 - 180/day | $17.50 - 22.50/hr |
| Average art studio | $500/day | $62.50/hr | $200/day | $25/hr |
| High-end art studio | $800/day ** | $100/hr ** | $300/day | $37.50/hr |
<<Anchor(IndividualContractor)>>* Individual contractors in the US range from $275 - 500/day ($34.50 - 62.50/hr).<
>
<<Anchor(HighEndArtStudio)>>** These rates are for rare high-end boutique studios.
Time Estimates
From the Polycount forum thread Info: going rate for 1,500 tri model+texture.
Payment
Legal & Taxes
- Freelancing - worth creating an LLC to protect yourself? Any disadvantages? Polycount Forum thread
- Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines is an excellent resource for freelancers (and salarymen too). Pricing guidelines, legal info, copyright law, sample contracts, how to negotiate, and more. Highly recommended!
- Useful Legal Documents For Designers (PDF/DOC) free example contracts you can customize to your needs. Non-disclosure agreement, work for hire, illustration, web design, intellectual property, etc.
