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I'd like to point out that when someone commissions an artist to draw a picture, they can't have their way and get their money back if they don't like it. Requesting art is an investment, a high-stakes commitment that can't be reneged without good cause.
On Negotiating with a Commission:
- A set of requirements for the tag should be established. Each request should be made via a request form of some sort, either a universal form (example provided below) or a modified version thereof as determined by the commissioned artist;
- The requirements for the tag should be made completely clear unless in cases where ambiguity is acceptable (e.g. "a tech font" as opposed to "Halo 2 font");
- If a requirement on the request form is not filled out, the requester agrees to give the commissioned artist full autonomy over the decision of what is/is not used for that section of the tag;
- All requirements on the request form should be confirmed by the commissioned artist, and any objections should be noted and accompanied with reasons by the artist;
- The price for the requested tag should be negotiated after the completion of the request form and before the acceptance of the request by the artist;
- The price for the requested tag should be first proposed by the artist, who should explain clearly the reason for the high/low price; this price may then be contested by the requester, who must provide reason for his/her proposed new price;
- The price for the tag should include a "deposit" of sorts - if the tag does not meet the requester's desires, s/he can choose to receive a refund of all money EXCEPT FOR the deposit;
- The full cost of the tag, including the deposit, should be paid to the commissioned artist before work on the tag begins.
On Receiving a Finished Commission:
- When giving the commissioner his/her finished request, the commissioned artist should include notice that the tag may be sent back either for changes made that can be reasonably accomplished without extraordinary measures, or for a refund of all money except for the deposit as agreed upon before acceptance of the request;
- If the requester believes that the quality of the finished tag is not honoring the original contract of the commission, s/he may petition to a Moderator to have the entirety of the price refunded to him/her;
On Wearing a Commissioned Tag:
- Whether or not the tag has the creator's name explicitly shown in the art, anyone wearing the tag in his/her signature space must have the phrase "Tag created by {insert artist's name here}" directly underneath the commissioned tag;
- All commissioned tags are, unless otherwise agreed to in the original request, for wearing rights only.
Example Request Form
Type of Art: (tag, avatar, other [banner/userbar/etc.])
Dimensions: Length x Height (all dimensions in pixels, all dimensions subject to negotiation by artist)
Render/Stock/Focal: (link(s) should be posted to images directly, not to webpages)
Text and Font: (include Font type, color, placement)
Style of tag: ("Grunge", "Vector", etc; terms like "dark", "funny", etc. denote ambiguity)
Permissions/Rights: (Wearing, Learning, Distribution, Full [and any/all combinations available])
Other: (other specifications that do not fit into the above categories)
Definitions of "Rights" of Tag Holders
Wearing Rights [Only]: One may use the tag in his/her signature space, may not claim ownership of the art, may not edit/alter the art without the original artist's permission, and may not distribute the art to another without the original artist's permission.
Learning Rights [Only]: One may use the tag only for purposes of learning from the creation of the tag, may not wear the tag in his/her signature space, may not edit/alter the art without the original artist's permission, and may not distribute the art to another without the original artist's permission, may NOT claim ownership of the art.
Distributing Rights [Only]: One may not wear the tag in his/her signature space, may not edit/alter the art without the original artist's permission, may distribute the art without the original artist's permission, may NOT claim ownership of the art.
Full Rights: One may use the tag in his/her signature space, may use the tag for purposes of learning from the creation of the tag, may edit/alter the art without the original artist's permission, may distribution the art without the original artist's permission, may NOT claim ownership of the art.
Process for Commissioning
- Requester contacts the artist, either via PM or his/her "shop" thread, with a completed Request form
- The artist reviews the Request form and replies to the requester with confirmation, as well as any objections
- The requester responds to any objections raised by the artist
- The commissioned artist gives the requester a tentative price, along with reasoning for the price
- The requester either confirms the price or offers objection(s)
- The price is finalized and the artist completes the commissioned art
- The artist shows the requester the completed commission
- The requester may (A.) accept the commission as-is; (B.) ask for some reasonable changes to be made; (C.) ask for a refund of all money EXCEPT FOR the deposit
- The artist honors any reasonable requests for change or for refund
Written by RS*_Depression, all credit to him