Graphics: What is the going rate?

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#1

Im curious: how much would I expect to pay for about 30 48x48 icons, an app Icon in 4 sizes, and a Default.png splash screen?
Im using several of the icons from the onebit collection at the moment, and while I like them, there are functions I need to represent that they have no icons for. My artistic skills are not good enough to match them, so I either need another 12 icons that match the look , or a fresh batch which is consistent.

Advice? Links? Costs?
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#2

http://www.icojoy.com/articles/44/ [import]uid: 108660 topic_id: 19523 reply_id: 75352[/import]

#3

Well, it depends if it is made specifically for your app or if the artist can sell the work to more people.
I only had experiences with the first one, but if you think about it, usually an average artist goes at 20-30$/h. Even in the rare case in which he takes half an hour for one icon (so 10-15$ of work), 31 icons (30+the one in 4 sizes)*10, 310$, plus one hour for the default page, 330$. But I don’t know how easy it is to find someone who would charge 10$ for an icon, and 20$ for a default.png screen.
So yeah, I guess between 300$ and 500$, although some may ask for more than that d: [import]uid: 8486 topic_id: 19523 reply_id: 75360[/import]

#4

I guess it depends on the Designer you find (IMO what H4ch1 said) is beyond too high unless is a PROFESSIONAL designer then perhaps the rate would be pretty high. I have a designer who charged me $150 for 13 full pages drawing (very good drawings) for an E-Book which should be released in January. I found another designer that was just building a portfolio and wanted to be credit and did not charge me at all for an E-book she is currently working on. So it depends on the designer you find :wink:

Best of Luck [import]uid: 30314 topic_id: 19523 reply_id: 75441[/import]

#5

You really get what you pay for, and it depends on your expectations.
My rates are far above the ones that were mentioned and I don’t have any problem finding clients.
That’s because “being a pro” involves much more than delivering images, and professional clients know the price of reliability and experience.

So, you can even find some artists willing to work for free. I don’t blame them, if you search well you will find plenty and save some money.

$150 for 13 full pages drawing
-> Keep him under your wing, his rates are a joke.
Artists really don’t know how to price their services and appeal to big clients.

You can take advantage of that, Jeff (I say this while I am an artist, but I’m tired of telling people how to price their work well). [import]uid: 95346 topic_id: 19523 reply_id: 75459[/import]

#6

@ MrMells

Her art is amazingly good and yes she is charging me very cheap compare to what “Pros” would charge you. And she sends me the images in .psd which gives you more flexibility then receiving just a simple .png ect. She also sends them in both iPad and iPhone size Im really glad be working with her I came across many artist that their work is not even close to calling them self “Pro” and prices are ridiculous. But I have also bought some Art from websites such as Biffy Beebe, Graphic-Buffet.com, ect. And try come up with a good idea that can use a mixture of art work and that works great too. [import]uid: 30314 topic_id: 19523 reply_id: 75676[/import]

#7

LeivaGames
Well, yes I know there are a lot of talented people that are cheap.
But, does it mean it’s a good thing? Does it mean she deserves more praise than “pros” who charge more and are not as good as her?
From your point of view (the client), probably.
But you know that quality has a price and she should raise her rates if she is that good.

I would also love finding programmers who can sell me great sidescroller/rpg/puzzle game templates for Corona priced at 3$.
Especially if they can do it fast, if they can reply positively to any of my request, and if their code is beautiful compared to what “pro studio” charge.
I would love it. Or somebody who can make a game for me for $20 (code + art + sound).
That would be amazing. Much better than “pros”.
… You get my point.

I have no doubt that your designer is doing an amazing job. But she is lowering the prices of her industry.
The same happen with the price of games on the app Store (need to go free and monetize from there).
If she is as good as you say, you should pay her more. From what you say, she really deserves it.
But you won’t do it, because she will not ask you to.
I like it when people know how to price their work and they can make a living from their work.

If she is good, she has invested 10000 times more hours than anybody perfecting her art.
Her responsibility is to get her investment back.

“$150 for 13 full pages drawing” even if she is super fast it’s still to cheap to make a living and support her family (unless she is from a country where a lot of work is outsourced - ex india).

Anyway, you know that this just a discussion.
It was just the “talent + cheap price > pro with their ridiculous price” that needed to be discussed.
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#8

@ MrMells

Not sure if its just me or you sound pretty upset, first of all she does not draw for a living I happened to liked her art and got in touch with her and she decided to charge me that. She draws because she loves too and has done it for many years. The only problem so far has been the time it taken her to complete the E-Book but in the mean time she has done art for my other upcoming apps. Anyhow if your prices are high because you are a “Pro” well good for you and I hope you have many clients. The reason I brought up my designer and how much I was charged its because for people that are starting to learn programming or about to release first app or maybe do this for a hobby what a waste of money if you spend so much creating your game. I dont mean to sound rude but a very high % make so little from apps then there are those who strike gold in the first app or in the first few. All I was trying to do was save the poster of this thread money by letting him/her know how much I was being charged so people that call them self “Pro” would not Rip him off =P

@ jeff472

Back to your question: Did you manage get an artist to draw you the Icons? There are some good websites were you can get in touch with the artist and believe me a lot of them would do it for free as long as you credit them aka Creative Common License I believe its called. If not some do it for very fair prices but thats just my advice since you asked for it :wink:

Best of Luck,
Merry Christmas [import]uid: 30314 topic_id: 19523 reply_id: 75690[/import]

#9

@ MrMells

“I would also love finding programmers who can sell me great sidescroller/rpg/puzzle game templates for Corona priced at 3$.
Especially if they can do it fast, if they can reply positively to any of my request, and if their code is beautiful compared to what “pro studio” charge.
I would love it. Or somebody who can make a game for me for $20 (code + art + sound).
That would be amazing. Much better than “pros”.
… You get my point.”

“(unless she is from a country where a lot of work is outsourced - ex india).”

Base on what you said maybe you can get those game for $20 or less and those templates for $3 or less and you already know which country to find them in. And its not always a bad thing check out this link ill post below.

PS: My Designer Lives in USA im just trying to help you!

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MyYearbook
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#10

Hey Leivagames,

I wanted to contact you by PM to clear things up and not hijack that thread.
I was not upset, and I have not against you at all.
But you seem to have taken it personally.

First I could have said that I’m sorry if you misunderstood my intention.

But then I was also wondering what is the part in what I have said that makes you uncomfortable?

  1. Where I say that your designer is making a great job and should be paid more (quality work deserves money)?

  2. Where I say that you should pay her more (so she could do more amazing illustrations for you and you would release more apps - leading to more profits ) - even though I can understand that this part made you a bit on your nerves

  3. Where I say that we live in a global market - competition is good - but it all comes down to a choice?

  4. Where I say that you surprisingly forget the case of professionals who are not cheap but still can deliver quality without stealing developers - and maybe help them profit more?

  5. Where I said that more money for the artist = more time dedicated to listen to the developer’s requests , modify images, etc… if a pro charges more, maybe it’s because that’s the only way he can dedicate all his time for his client? Maybe?

  6. And you know, if I had the intention to buy cheap work from India, I wouldn’t even invest 1 hour in learning Corona.

So, I was just talking about the best way for both developers & artists to profit from their work.
Everybody deserves to be paid according to the value that he brings to the market.

You see, there is nothing aggressive in that. And I really tried to understand where I crossed the line.
I really wanted to say that I was sorry for the misunderstanding. Really.

But I won’t because it would burn my tongue.
Seeing your last answer, don’t you think you crossed the line of what is considered as a conversation between professionals.
Really? Is that where any serious discussion is leading us?
I am sure that you will agree that it was irrelevant, a bit childish and inappropriate.
Let’s forget about that discussion and move on.

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#11

Ok people, don’t loose your cool. ! :slight_smile:
Some useful answers here, and the example about how you can get stuff for free/next to nothing from people just starting out, vs ‘expensive’ for pros is very valid.
Certainly made me think.
The situation is the same everywhere, and its one reason why prices keep falling in every arena.
Its disheartening to try to sell something when someone else comes along and undercuts .
Especially when they undercut for free.
(See Internet Explorer versus NetScape, and millions of other examples)

I’m optimistically intending going for a chargeable app instead of using ad based monetisation. (We’ll see…)

Right now, I’ve made some home made icons using the one bit stuff as a starting point, and they aren’t looking too bad.

But Ive seen some shocking graphics in ‘free’ games out there, and I don’t want to look like that.
Mine is a utility app rather than a game, so Im not looking for cutesy stuff: just icons whose purpose can be guessed by someone of 8 years old or more.
I guess the answer to my original question is:
Anything from nothing to $500
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#12

Hey Jeff,
you might find some (great) icons on SmashingMagazine.

I hope it helps. [import]uid: 95346 topic_id: 19523 reply_id: 75702[/import]

#13

@ MrMells

Thanks for talking with my via email best of luck to you and your business.

Happy Holidays!

@ jeff472

Did you get someone complete the job for you? You can check out the website I posted below and you can PM any of the Artist and some do jobs for free or if you pay them with some monetary from the website which you buy very cheap or just offer them cash. A lot of talented people in this website I have met a few Best of Luck.

Website: http://www.deviantart.com/ [import]uid: 30314 topic_id: 19523 reply_id: 75767[/import]

#14

Hi Leiva Games,

I’m just starting on Corona and feel that for long term aspect, finding a couple of good (and affordable) app graphic designers is important.

While I’ll keep a look out at DeviantArt, would really appreciate if you can recommend me some of the good designers you’ve used? willtan71 [at] gmail [dot] com

Best Regards,
William [import]uid: 137310 topic_id: 19523 reply_id: 110382[/import]