6 replies to this topic

[screentex]

I noticed some posts about how much you pay for vector art. I posted some suggestions on using more high end type clipart on another thread and thought I would go into a litle more detail here.

To start with, in vectorized art, you get what you pay for.

If you are copying a corporate logo, using someplace like nittany is fine. They do a good job re-drawing logos and are economical, usually costing around $10.

The other end of that spectrum, is something like you would see on a concert shirt or at a Harley shop. Art for some of these designs run into thousands of $$$. Here is a great link to some VERY high end art that can get into that kind of cost. These guys are freakin' increadible.
http://www.teedesign.com/

Now the question is, how do I not pay an arm and a leg and still get some art that will blow my customers socks off.

A great way that I get started sometimes is to use istock.com. They have your basic clipart that you see all over the place, but the also have some high end vectors. They have artists post there designs on their sight that you can buy. Which allows you to have a starting place to create something that can seperate you from the competion.

I've attached a before and after I did for my dart team. It consists of a image I got from istock on the left, which was $14. I moved around and changed some colors on the istock design. Then I added the text, which was very simple and pulled the dart boards off of clipart. I then created the dart from a JPEG and made the hand wrap around it. The hand was probably the hardest part. This was all done in Corel.

I'm sure alot of you don't have Corel and the ones that have it, might be not be able to do some of the things I did. But, just being able to give someone who is doing your art, that istock template will save money.

To give you an idea, a GOOD artist usually charges somewhere in the $40 - $50 per hour range. If you asked me to create something like the istock design, by just telling me what you were thinking about and it be that detailed, you would be looking at a minimum of $80. You just saved $68. That is the backbone of your design, which we as artists have to imagine what you have in your mind and re-create it. Think about how many times you have told somebody what your want and when you get it you say, that's not really what I was thinking. By using something like istock, you have given your artist exactly the direction you are going and in vector format.

So, if you had given me that istock image and told me the other things you wanted in the design, the finished art would probably run around $80, including the $14 you spent on istock. It would have been around $60, but I had to re-creat a specific dart.

I was going to post some more, but ironically I have to be at my teams dart game in 30 minutes. LOL I'll drink a few for you guys.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

SELL SELL SELL

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[robinr21]

Thanks for sharing! Great tips, plus you did a great job on your 'before and after'.

[screentex]

OK, first of all, I think I drank one for everybody on this board last night. It was my last time going out for awhile, I'm having back surgery in 2 weeks, and I had a LARGE time.

In reference to the art job above, costs for you can be cut even more with a little more work on your end.

First, if you were able to provide the specific dart board clipart in the corrrect format to use and the specific dart. Then you have given them everything they need minus the text.

If I had all of those things, I would have to make the boards fit in where the speakers are , make the hand wrap around the dart, personalize the dart and add the text.

By doing this you have cut down the time your artist will have to spend searching for these things. Think about how long you browse through clipart untill you find just what you want. If you don't provide these specifics, that is something the designer is doing and charging you for.

Lastly, when describing what you want to the artist be VERY specific.

It is a good idea to have a standard art form to send with your order. Some artists might have their own form and already require it. This helps to keep some of your salespeople from sending incomplete instuctions to the designer, thus costing you more money in revisions. It also is a record of what you sent to the designer and can reference if the job was not done as requested and thus not be charged for those diferences.

On this design, if I was to send it off with all the pieces except the text, this is how my form would look.

Order Name: Trippin' Pimps
Art Due: 3/3
Item Color: Black
Item Description: Short Sleeve T

Adult Print: Yes
Youth Print:

_Full Front_
Ink Colors: Dark Gray, White and Red

Art Description:
I have attached the background, a dart board and dart clipart to use in the design.

The dart boards need to go in place of the inside part of the speakers with the speaker frame around them. The boards needs to be positioned where the number 20 is on top.

The dart needs to have the fist gripping it with the point of the dart on the left side of the hand as you are looking at it. I know the dart won't be proportional to an actual dart. Make it as big as you need to so it will work with the rest of the design.

Add flames to the flight of the dart and the letters TP.

It needs to say Trippin' Pimps in a font that fits with the design. This is the team name, so it needs to be prominent. Use your judgement for best placement and style.

I also want it to say Chillin' the Most! in the banner at the bottom

Feel free to manipilate the background effects and colos as you see fit to make this thing pop. I know what you can do. I've seen some of your projects and they are awsome. I can't wait to see how this turns out.

Imprint Size: 12" X 12"
I want it to be big, so if the design is taller than it is wide or vice versa, make it 12" max on whichever is bigger and the rest however it measures will be fine. I do want it to be at least within and inch of square if possible.

If you have any quesiotns, please give me a call.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I know this may seem like alot, but you have just cut the time your artist would charge EASILY in half.

You'll notice, I stroked the artist ego a bit. We all like to hear good things about ourself and artists are a quirky bunch. You want this person on your side. The better the relationship with your artist the more likely they will help you out when you are in a crunch and will try to keep your costs to a minimum.

You don't want this person rolling their eyes when they see it's you on the phone because every one of your jobs is a rush or you don't give good instructions. You want them wishing their other customers were like you. This makes a BIG difference.

EX.- I have two very big contract customers.

Customer #1 has rush jobs every day and is constantly complaining about rush charges. Their salespeople don't write up orders good and we have to call and ask questions all the time. They actually call us sometimes to see where there order is, when they already have it at there location.

Customer #2 Sends me a schedule every day of what is coming up with due dates, quantities and details on the type of print. They send me finished correctly sized art that includes an order form we collaborated on that even has the price included and a JPEG of the art to make sure we didn't lose anything via email transmission.

Now of these two customers which one am I more likey to wave the rush charge on if they have a big order that fell through the cracks.

We all want good customer service from the companies we get merchandise and services from, but some customer service and compliments on our end towards them goes a long way too.

Just sell it!!!!!!!

[liz]

Yes, great information. We also use istock photo for our DTG printing. This is a great site with fantastic art / photos.

[screentex]

Hey Liz, your right down I35 from me. I used to live in Temple. That's actually where I got started in screen printing.

Keep them soldiers happy!!!! They put it on the line every day.

[liz]

Hi Jack! Yes, I just opened my 2nd location here.....I hope to do the soldiers good with our digital printing. Seeing your in Waco, I may need to visit and talk screen printing. Possible wholesale?

[screentex]

Hey Liz,

Congrats on the second location.

I'd love to talk with you about contract screen printing. Give me a call or shoot me an email and maybe we can do some business. We also offer contract embroidery.

Have a great weekend!!!

Jack