Client Has Asked For Model - What To Do?

[carlotristan3d]

Nowadays, it is very rare for a visualizer to start from scratch. Architects usually provides the model. So rather than to get the visualizer to redo something over and over again which he won't be compensated anyway, Isn't it better to give the architect the setup and they can do all the changes to their hearts content? If there is any secret it's in the workflow. If they get your setup and hit the render button, it doesn't mean they get the final image. A lot of the magic happens in Post-processing. I don't have a problem giving away my setup, but I draw the line on .psd files.

[renderingdesigner]

Hi Max, the answer is NO. You can explain your client, that he have paid for a set of images, rather than the Tools for obtain it. the 3d models are the tools or the ingredients to produce a still image or a video. Many clients ask for the model to learn how to do it or to give the info to their "3d art" suplliers. Try to explain that being very polite.

 

B.R

http://3dcontents.blogspot.com/

[Justin Hunt]

On the flip side, there have been quite a few times where we have requested a model, not to determine all the little secretes, rather to save us having to rebuild parts of projects.

 

With BIM sharing the model is expected regardless the software used to create it. Sure there are elements you cant share, but in a collaborative environment it does sometimes benefit to pass a model on.

 

Jhv

[harryhirsch]

"Would I give them my files so they can figure it out? Heck no!"

Architects have other problems, believe me! It is a rendering after all, not government secrets.

"Clients are not paying for a model, they are paying for an image and the amount of work required to create that image through whatever means the artist sees fit to use."

Clients pay and get whatever the contract says. If you have plenty of clients you can say simply NO or only the Volume-model or XXXX USD for a complete fileset. No big deal.

[renderingdesigner]

Some years ago, a client asked to me for the files for a project, i didn't see nothing bad, finally...the client itself couldn't do many things whit the info, a few days after, i checked their website, and i found a similar project published...In fact, they gave those file to another rendering company to save time and money developing the image set for a similar project thay they needed at the same time. Client needed quick results (on war anything goes?), how about the another company rendering? (¿Playing unfair?). Fotunately there is a lot of job for all good players.

Finally, the real problem is to reduce the time wasted on the process, many clients extend de develop time of the project in order to get the best final result.

[M V]

It think its clear that if a client is asking for your model file, there is a good chance they want it so they can reuse it for other purposes or send it off to another (and cheaper) rendering company. This is entirely up to you as a business owner if you want to take on this risk. As for me, I clearly state my deliverable is a JPEG image. If a client wants a model and we have agreed upon that in the beginning, then fine, my pricing will reflect that. If a client comes in right before the deadline and demands that they get the model file, that's where I draw the line. I would also send them a final invoice and make sure they pay it before you send them finals.

 

I ask one question, would you charge the same fee for 5 renders as you would for 1? If you give the client your model, fully textured, will all of your lighting and render settings, this is essentially what you will be doing.

[ludnid]

If they are going to beat you up about it, take out your stock models, blow the thing up into a textureless, settingsless file and give them that. I think one trick is to export as an OBJ with no textures and import back in. Here's your model! Legally, you cannot give them those textures and models you have purchased. The licensing doesn't allow it.

 

 

Thats just plain wicked. I LOVE IT!!!! hahaha

Edited November 5, 2012 by ludnid

[Karl Larsen]

I am new to this visualization game, but I've been in the architectural business for nearly 30-years, and I am sorry to say but the clients you can trust to be honest and not cut-your-throat to save $0.05 are severely outnumbered buy that ones that do. The last craze was when all the architects tried outsourcing the construction document work to India and China - before they realized they couldn't communicate effectively, and despite the lower hourly fee quoted the project took 6-times longer that promised and was still wrong.

 

When a client hires an architect to design a home, does the client get all the CAD files??? Not here where I live, or anywhere that I have lived...

 

A better alternative would be to let them hire you for an hourly rate to come to their office, use their computers and software, and model and render what they want - that'll scare em plenty!

 

I'm all for being good to a client, but I'm not giving anything away free anymore.

Edited August 18, 2013 by karlar

[Umesh Raut]

I am new to this visualization game, but I've been in the architectural business for nearly 30-years, and I am sorry to say but the clients you can trust to be honest and not cut-your-throat to save $0.05 are severely outnumbered buy that ones that do. The last craze was when all the architects tried outsourcing the construction document work to India and China - before they realized they couldn't communicate effectively, and despite the lower hourly fee quoted the project took 6-times longer that promised and was still wrong.

 

When a client hires an architect to design a home, does the client get all the CAD files??? Not here where I live, or anywhere that I have lived...

 

A better alternative would be to let them hire you for an hourly rate to come to their office, use their computers and software, and model and render what they want - that'll scare em plenty!

 

I'm all for being good to a client, but I'm not giving anything away free anymore.

 

Respected Karl,

Though all the other points you made above are good and true, I beg to differ on one that is not. I am an Indian 3D arch viz specialist having 18+ years of experience living in Mumbai, India and hence beg to differ and clear the air about that (smells like) superiority complex laden statement about outsourcing work/s to Indians.

 

We Indians are the said to be most correct English speaking community and the most highly educated and technically skilled workforce recognised in the world. That's how and why there are many thousands of Indians in places of your high skilled work-lines. If someone has cheated you on the fees and duration of the project, you must bring it to everyone's notice, with substantiated fact sheet/s. But to say that all are guilty of communication lapses and time overruns is just like blaming all white skinned people to be racists.

 

I have never compromised on the cost and time schedules just to grab some work. If someone chooses to go to a roadside cart to eat and then complains of low quality of food and hygiene then s/he needs to be firmly reminded of the choice made in favour of so called 'cost savings' neglecting other, certainly more important, issues like quality.

 

I have only tried to clear some doubt regarding artists from India, don't know anything about China, though.

 

Umesh Raut

http://www.umeshraut.com

[Karl Larsen]

Sir,

 

With respect, I don't care what version of English you believe you speak - if an architect in the US, that speaks US English, has to reiterate him or herself 5 or 6-times over to convey an intent, there is a communication problem, period.

 

This doesn't even begin to address the construction technology gaps that exist.

 

This has nothing, whatsoever, to do with anything other than those facts. Heck, within the US, there are different dialects of English - someone from New York City certainly does NOT sound or speak like someone from New Orleans...

 

When people have difficulty communicating, efficiently and completely, to a guy sitting in the same office that speaks the same language, how to you propose he or she communicate, efficiently and completely, to a guy on the opposite side of the world that is culturally different, and can misinterpret even small idiosyncrasies in communications?

 

I had a company from India beg me to work for them to act as intermediary because of this very problem. Not going to happen - I will never sell out a job my own countrymen should be doing, for any corporate greed, ever. Period. Has nothing to do with race or culture - that is just a baseless red herring argument.

 

If a company cannot remain financially solvent paying a livable wage to it's own countrymen, then that company is doing something radically wrong, and should go out of business, not undercut its own countrymen and outsource its workforce. The argument that American workers are unwilling to work, is propaganda - we're just unwilling to work for minimum wage while the boss flies around in a Gulfstream...

 

Third-world workers enable that. No disrespect to people trying to improve their own lives by the means available to them - I do not blame the 'people' for trying to have better lives, at all.

 

Respected Karl,

Though all the other points you made above are good and true, I beg to differ on one that is not. I am an Indian 3D arch viz specialist having 18+ years of experience living in Mumbai, India and hence beg to differ and clear the air about that (smells like) superiority complex laden statement about outsourcing work/s to Indians.

 

We Indians are the said to be most correct English speaking community and the most highly educated and technically skilled workforce recognised in the world. That's how and why there are many thousands of Indians in places of your high skilled work-lines. If someone has cheated you on the fees and duration of the project, you must bring it to everyone's notice, with substantiated fact sheet/s. But to say that all are guilty of communication lapses and time overruns is just like blaming all white skinned people to be racists.

 

I have never compromised on the cost and time schedules just to grab some work. If someone chooses to go to a roadside cart to eat and then complains of low quality of food and hygiene then s/he needs to be firmly reminded of the choice made in favour of so called 'cost savings' neglecting other, certainly more important, issues like quality.

 

I have only tried to clear some doubt regarding artists from India, don't know anything about China, though.

 

Umesh Raut

www.umeshraut.com

Edited August 18, 2013 by karlar

[Reitveld]

My contract is for final illustration images only. I do allow a client to purchase the working files (without licensed elements or textures), but the price is 3-5 times the contracted price. I'm also an Architect and I understand that some firms want the asset for their files... but most want it to do additional study of the building (different angles, sun/shadow, etc.). The model is a valuable piece of information, and if a client wants to purchase the information, then I am happy to help them out.