Jeff Palmer Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 Since my freelancing is still in the works im trying to streamline my workflow so that once I do get some clients I will know what to expect. I will be using Softimage|XSI, Mentalray, Photoshop, Open Canvas, After Effects and Illustrator. I’m curious as to what kind of files you usually receive from a client (if any) and what you usually do with them. I will be using Softimage|XSI mainly because of the easy workflow and flexibility and of course with a startup company I don’t feel the need to buy any Discreet product. If anyone could share their workflow so that I can understand what products I may have to get or what things I will need to tweak. Thanks for the help. Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manta Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 Well I think you're going to run into a number of obstacles using XSI, the last I heard it has poor DWG import problems, which will most likely be the format you will be recieving from clients, I did find this by doing a search of the forums: http://www.redmotion.com/html/downloads.html which might help alittle, I had thought about swithing to XSI, but after doing some research, I found that the workflow was going to be sort of complicated. Basically in order of ease of use, when your talking about Arch/viz: 3D Max/Viz C4D Lightwave Maya XSI in my opinion anyway... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Palmer Posted November 20, 2005 Author Share Posted November 20, 2005 Thanks for the links, I understand the .dwg support, and have heard of an Illustrator work around. I’m more concerned with what type of other files and troubles that may pop up. How much disk space do you usually use per project, how often do you do print projects, is it better to work 10 minutes from the client or be cross country. Basically I guess everything you have learned that may be different from hobbyist work. Also, are there any .dwg files out there that people know of that I can check with compatibility with XSI and compare them to Max? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjornkn Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 Almost all files I get in are 2D DWG, but sometimes I also get 3D DWG, 3ds or SketchUp. Sometimes I also get pdf files, which unfortunately no longer opens in Corel Draw (guess I need an upgrade?), but opening them in Photoshop CS2 works pretty well, keeping the correct scale too. I do most of my modelling in SketchUp, which reads dwg files very well. It is also very useful to have some utility programs, like AcmeCadConverter for viewing/converting dwg/dxf files, and Deep Exploration for converting and fixing a lot of formats. Very useful! I export from SketchUp in either 3ds or obj format, open them in DE, often change some hierarchy connections, merge points or do other things before I export as Lightwave scene. In LightWave I do some surfacing, set lights and cameras, add trees and other stuff, and sometimes work further on the topography if needed. I use FPrime in LW, which is a really big timesaver (just like SketchUp is I almost never print anything. Many of my clients I have never met, although they are (almost) all in Norway, only 5 of them are local. Some of them prefer to have a local visualizer. Project sizes usually range between 200MB and 2GB, but then I very rarely do any animation/video. And make sure you have backup of your files all the time! I use SecondCopy 2000, which works very well, backing up project files every 5 minutes to another disk, and every second hour to another PC on my LAN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Denby Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 I receive DWGs and or prints (often useful to have a hard copy nect to you). Import into 3D program. Build model, texture and light it. Render it. Photoshop it. email a draft to client. make any neccessary amendments. Print A3 if required. email and/or send high res version on CD with invoice! Wait 30 days for payment. Day 31 call client to chase payment. Receive payment after 36 days. Bank it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the.3dsmax.blogger Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 We receive DWGs ( by email usually ) We send a quotation ( by email usually ) We recieve a confirmation ( by email usually ) We recieve 50% advance payment ( by cheque / cash) We start Work ... First the Layers & Data in AutoCAD are re-organised / edited/ purged / cleaned to the bare minimum required. Import into 3dsMax Build model, texture and light it. Render it. Photoshop it. email a draft to client. make any neccessary amendments. Get Client Approval. Send Bill. Get Balance 50% Payments Print A3 Photo Prints. Send high res version on CD. No waiting for payments. No chasing for payment. ------------------- This is our work flow, more or less Dibbers: Much like yours with some exceptions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecastillor Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 I would say the exact same as samir... No way around dwgs in th arch vis world I guess... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Palmer Posted November 21, 2005 Author Share Posted November 21, 2005 Samir: thank you for your input and the others, I think I will actually do this since clients have stiffed me in the past. As far as the files, I know I wont have a problem if I start experimenting now with all the different types I may encounter again to streamline the process. This is asking allot, but can anyone supply me with say a plan for something they just did and what they charged for it and what they went through to get there? I’m not asking for some raw files, but just saw a low unworkable jpeg and what they charged and how long it took. It would be great to see some examples of size of projects and how much time is expected to be put into them. Also, what kinds of timelines do you guys normally work with? Thanks again Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Pete* Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 It would be great to see some examples of size of projects and how much time is expected to be put into them. Also, what kinds of timelines do you guys normally work with? i'd also be highly intrested in that, same as you, i am also about to take the step into professionalism...a bit blindfolded, but i have a small idea of what it will be like tho... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRAT Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 Wait 30 days for payment. Day 31 call client to chase payment. Receive payment after 36 days. Bank it! heck m8, what planet are you living on??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Denby Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 heck m8, what planet are you living on??? Why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRAT Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 in my experience uk architects have a 90 day waiting period (60 at least) even then, you'll be lucky for a payment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Denby Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 in my experience uk architects have a 90 day waiting period (60 at least) even then, you'll be lucky for a payment B******* to that! My terms are 30 days. In the last 5 years, I have had probably 5 occasions when I still hadn't been paid after 60 days (not bad considering that's out of about 400 jobs). A Solicitors letter does the trick at that point. What period the architect has to wait for their payment is between them and their client...nothing to do with me. Business is a form of exchange, and it p***** me off when clients think that just because their part of the exchange is handing over money, that somehow they have the upper hand! I'm getting wound up just thinking about it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRAT Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 fair doos. i probably should be a bit firmer. i freelance for fun not a living, so 30 days to me is a luxury but yeah, time to stamp down i think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juan Altieri Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 usually they pay the jobs when they need to start another one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjornkn Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 Maybe you're giving too long time? I usually have 7 days on my invoices, as I can see no reason why they should pay later. Very rarely do they get paid later than after 8 days. But then I never get advance payment, and I have never written a contract for a project, if that matters.. Maybe I'm just lucky with my clients? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRAT Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 Maybe you're giving too long time? I usually have 7 days on my invoices, as I can see no reason why they should pay later. Very rarely do they get paid later than after 8 days. But then I never get advance payment, and I have never written a contract for a project, if that matters.. Maybe I'm just lucky with my clients? could be, or it could be where you're living. in the uk it's quite normal for firms to write cheques out and pay their consultants at the end of the month or end of the 2nd month. also it's wise asking for say a 30-40% advance before you proceed with the job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernest Burden III Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 Maybe you're giving too long time? I usually have 7 days on my invoices My contract read 'balance upon delivery on a COD basis' I rarely enforce that, meaning they really have 30 days, since that's when interest starts adding on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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