Requesting a map? Please read me.

[Robulous]

I'd rather get paid in dollars, the pound is now worthless in our banana republic!

[Midgardsormr]

The basic formula is: My desired hourly rate / working hours in the year * hours this will take + cost of my materials

Personally, I prefer not to work for any less than I'd get working for The Man, so my desired rate is at least $40/hour, which is why I don't generally do freelance cartography!

There are some other considerations that go in there: How much does my software and computer cost? How much time do I spend using them for business vs pleasure? Do I really expect to work 2000 hours in the year? If not, I should raise the rate to account for a lower number of billable hours.

If you're not a full-time freelancer, value your free time honestly. Ask yourself this question: How much would I have to get paid in order to willingly give up this time to an employer?

If you decide to work for less than what you'd really like to earn, for whatever reason, spin it as a discount and put it on your invoice that way.

Generally people don't like to disclose their rates in order to prevent the "race to the bottom" that happens when artists try to low-ball. My opinion is that the secrecy has the opposite effect, particularly in a community that is composed primarily of amateurs and people just starting out—we tend to undervalue our own time and underestimate the effort required to get to a finished product. Anyway, discussion of price and rates is usually held privately rather than in the request threads.

[Wired]

If you're not a full-time freelancer, value you free time honestly. Ask yourself this question: How much would I have to get paid in order to willingly give up this time to an employer?

That's a rather sensible approach. I generally try to structure my rates along an hourly estimate, ie. a map of that type, size and level of detail tends to take me X hours times Y EUROs. Now, I'm flexible here, and getting money for drawing a map is naturally better than not getting paid money, but there's a certain level that I won't undercut. I'd rather work on my own projects then. If I do that Long enough I can hone my skills and make money that way as well. *shrugs*

[kimco]

Great thread, thank you.

[Kâ Lys]

Instead of a map, which I gather would take much more time, are we allowed to ask for pre-made assets/symbols/brushes? I have a list of specific brushes I'd like to commission an artist to create, but I'm not sure if your forum allows it. Thank you!

[ChickPea]

Instead of a map, which I gather would take much more time, are we allowed to ask for pre-made assets/symbols/brushes? I have a list of specific brushes I'd like to commission an artist to create, but I'm not sure if your forum allows it. Thank you!

I don't see any issue with posting a commission for that. Try to give as much info as you can in your description, with example pics if possible, so that people understand what you need.

I think a number of people here make brushes for their own use, so they might be quite happy to make some for a commission.

EDIT: I should mention (just in case you haven't discovered it) that we have a whole section for mapping assets here. Someone may have already made what you need.

[Tiana]

I take asset pack commissions as well as map commissions. Depending what you want I might already have assets.

[Kâ Lys]

Awesome! I will post the full list as soon as I have time to gather my thoughts and make sure everything is there. Thank you!

[eliovasa]

Think you for useful instructions.