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He wants the scene files from an old project so a competitor can render an animation for him "cheap", it's my understanding that he was paying me for rendered images not for a model, what do i do here? I'm cutting my own throat if I say no should I charge him for the model?

Brett

It depends from your contract... if not specified otherwise, the 3D model is yours even if you are not allowed to use it for personal use or to show the renderings without permission, but maybe it is different in your country

Mattia, I don't really have a contract I just sent him a quote for 3 renderings, I had to model and design a scene around his product.

Brett

Well, first of all, it depends on what you've agreed with a client.
But if it was a regular render job and there where no extra agreements I would definitely say 'no'.
If he wants a 'cheap' animation, why won't he pay him for a 'cheap' modeling?
You know, when you buy a car you don't get it's production materials (blueprints, models, etc.) It's a property of of car maker; you only pay for a final product, in your case render.
So, if he wants those models, first of all he should pay for it. But in this case it should be up to you, whether you'll sell them or not.

I remember we had a client who didn't want to pay for the job and we said we're going to halt a project until he pays. So he came with a 'great' idea:
"Just burn me all the blueprints on a CD; I'll find another architect who'll do it cheaper"
...

m-Que wrote:I remember we had a client who didn't want to pay for the job and we said we're going to halt a project until he pays. So he came with a 'great' idea:
"Just burn me all the blueprints on a CD; I'll find another architect who'll do it cheaper"
...

That's funny, it says on the quote and invoice "rendered images", its just a bit of a slap in the face, anyway everything is in maxwell format so I dont think I'll be giving my work away.

Thanks guys

Brett

why not send him the data in a format he can't use?
If somebody is doing "cheap" animations, then I don't suppose he'll use maxwell. So why not send him the mxs? (of course without textures)

I explained that couldnt really be bothered uploading 1Gb worth of files though LOL

Brett

Charge him a ridiculous amount for the models to offset the "cheap" animation cost.

When i worked in a studio and didn't have control on relations with clients, my principal decided he would have given the models to the client, a complex building...i still wonder how they used a completely tripled model, merged in a single layer, single part and single material

Mattia Sullini wrote:When i worked in a studio and didn't have control on relations with clients, my principal decided he would have given the models to the client, a complex building...i still wonder how they used a completely tripled model, merged in a single layer, single part and single material

oh! thats evil ^^ ... but a cool idea anyway. I don't even wanna imagine the poor student who has to devide the model for 150$ on a weekend

We used to collapse everything to a single mesh too.. and of course flip some normals..

Neil Evans wrote:We used to collapse everything to a single mesh too.. and of course flip some normals..

Many moons ago [as an innocent employee] I was at the recieving end of that & it ain't fun....... .....glad to hear it raises a smile at the other end of the sh*t-pipe.
what goes around comes around.......just try and remember it isn't the amoral account-handler that's gonna have to unravel the mess, but a modeller just like you....

Well these guys were a total nightmare... if the client asks nicely and is willing to pay, then I would give them the file, and have done on many occasions.

I always have a condition in my quotes that is then signed and accepted prior to commencing works!

"All 2d/3d digital working files contain proprietary information, images and meshes that are sourced under separate user agreements and therefore all files remain the sole property of this office and may not be released or circulated publically."

Mind you this is also the actual legal case that you need to consider should you release the models! If your model contains any images or meshes not directly created by you and you pass them on to someone else, you are infringing on copyright!

Neil Evans wrote:Well these guys were a total nightmare... if the client asks nicely and is willing to pay, then I would give them the file, and have done on many occasions.

I have no quarms if they pay for the privilege, not sure how one would charge for that, it seems my quote for a 10 second animation was too expensive, I'm thinking if I have my machine rendering full boar for 3 weeks I should be compensated as much, I just thought it was a bit cheeky to ask for the scene file so it could be done on the cheap, the model is a mess anyways as it was modeled in modo before we had a plugin, bits and pieces everywhere

Brett