[wagurto]

How much should a render of this quality shoud cost? I have prospect client that wants something like this but I think he does not have a clue of what he is asking or should cost.
Any ideas?

[Hervé]

well it all depend... if you have to model everything in that room just for the client.. then a lot $..

[Bubbaloo]

I recognize most of those models as Interovisual models.

Just calculate how much you ask per hour, then multiply by the number of hours you would need to set up a scene like this.

[wagurto]

Bubba how many hours will you take to setup a scene like this. Of course your are assuming that all the objects are availible on your library and set for maxwell right?

[Bubbaloo]

Bubba how many hours will you take to setup a scene like this. Of course your are assuming that all the objects are availible on your library and set for maxwell right?

Yes, if all objects are ready, and I have to model the interior, set up lighting, and test, I'd say 8 -16 hours approx. Estimating time is a hard thing though! Something always goes wrong and makes you work longer than expected!! My advice is to overestimate slightly. Custom interior objects would add a great deal of time.

[wagurto]

In other words if I dont have the library ready for maxwell I should be working on something else right?

[macray]

or ask for a lot more money according to the time you might spend modelling it. (or the amount of money that needs to be spent to buy it and set up the materials).

[ivox3]

Don't just look at the 'whole' scene and guess at the pricing.

Break it down.

1. How many models do you have ?

2. Large Upholstered furniture -- have any, .. all need to be modeled ? Estimate the hours for modeling / texturing
separately.

3. Cabinets / bookshelves/ tables etc.. have any ? ...etc.. Same as above. Make a chart with columns of
things you need and the time it'll take. For texturing, .. indicate the item and your guess at how long
it'll take.

4. Accessories (lamps / pots / candleholdeers etc..) Same as above --- keep modeling /texturing separate.

5. Plants / foliage ...

6. Modeling of the room.

Realistically figure out how many hours for the above --- modeling / texturing.
Make a chart with columns of
things you need and the time it'll take. For texturing, .. indicate the item and your guess at how long
it'll take.
____________

LIghting --

1. HDR / outdoor backplate ( do you have it / need to create it ? ... how long ?

2. setting interior lights - how long ?

____________

Test rendering

1. how long to check all your materials are good (test renders) ? I know this is hard, ..but guess, then overstimate by 30% -- write it down.

2. testing the lighting -- same deal -- write the guesstimate down. Six hours ? a day ? WHAT?

3. Final renders -- how many ? I'd guess at least 2 days to get a nice handful of good renders.
Don't write the full render hours down -- just note a the few hours it'll take to save files/start new renders
etc... Call it 7 paid hours.

Now --- get all that done. Do some math ...

Make a new chart, based on your hours and multiply an hourly rate. Do a range from x to y, ..eg...
total hours (H) x $20, $25, $30 etc..

Settle on a figure you think you and the client can handle .. Present it, indicate the hours requireed on the
proposal. If they accept, ..then YOU KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY
HOURS YOU HAVE TO COMPLETE ANY GIVEN TASK. Stay on it, .. if you complete a task quicker then the estimate on your
chart, .. then your hourly rate just went up, .. if it takes too long, .. then you lose money and endanger
not meeting a deadline.

Don't tell the client your exact deadline --- give yourself some cushion.

If you don't do your homework here, .. then your just guessing and you'll lose, because human nature is to underestimate
everything. Ask anyone in this forum who's done professional work ...

Whatever your estimates of time on your chart are, .. you have to stick to it. Be a pro !

This is how it should be done -- the client is informed and you know what your actually making per hour. It provides a framework to work within ..

If the client didn't realize the effort / cost involved --- adios to them, unless your willing to work for a lesser dollar amount. Good luck W.

[wagurto]

Thanks Ivox It come out arund 10k... the client hung up on me!!

[Bubbaloo]

Thanks Ivox It come out arund 10k... the client hung up on me!!

Seriously, nice post Chris. Good advice.

wagurto: Give me their number. I need work.

[wagurto]

What I learned from this thread is that in order to come up with a competive price I need to be prepared with all the libraries, HDIRs, etc, etc. other wise my price would be unacceptable. To do so I have to invest a sustancial amount of time and money to be prepared and I need to charge for that too. Bubba the question is easy how low can you go to do something like that? How much would you, Maxwell professionals, would charged for that particulary job? can just give a number?

[ivox3]

Hard to get rich doing CG ...


Okay, .. let's say a grand/ $1000 , ..an arbitrary amount.

At $20/hour, ... we're talking 50 hours. 10 hour day - 5 days. Can you do it ? It'd be tough, ...no doubt.

Personally, .. I think anybody on his own and doing a substantial amount of modeling would be hard pressed to get it all done in 2 weeks.

So, ..that said, .. your at $10 bucks an hour for 100 hours. Or or or , ... you try and get $2K to remain at $20/hr.

Rough figures here, .. but I don't think I'm too off ...

Hard to get rich doing CG ..

___________


Your point about being setup is correct. Even though this whole process is pretty laborious/tedious, ... speed is still the key. Rapid modeling/texturing is the ONLY real way to gain a profit edge. Being extemely organized, vast libraries (models/textures, great book marks for resources etc.. is just the basis for being competitive.

Non-stop honing of your skills eventually pays off. At some point, ..difficult things become easy and when that happens, ...you can really start to make some headway. That is the difference between an amateur and pro. Pros will make quick work out of stuff that would make others cry.

[Bubbaloo]

$2000-$3000 for a photoreal interior such as that one.

[ivox3]

Yea .. I concur. Right in the middle maybe, .. $2500.00

Now to convince someone why they need to pay that for a few pics.

If you did 2 weeks(80 hours) and got it done ----- $31.25/hour. Not bad.

[ivox3]

I have to add this ... Not every client needs what 'we' think is great. Maybe they'd be open to a far inferior quality, .. if so, .. get what money you can, .. kill the job and move on.

Just a thought...

I'd say find out their criteria. Maybe they don't care about insane material development and would settle for a solid color ... Never know !