Pricing Question

[Randy Johnson]

Pricing is always difficult. I count my my hours pretty closely and I am ALWAYS 20-30% slower than I plan to be.
I would guess that piece took half a day maybe a little more with tweaks. It looks like the animation was done in After effects and used 3d elements, and that is a faster way to do it and easier to make changes. The speed really comes down to how well planned it is and if you need to make changes…and what the changes are.

As for modeling your own or using stock its really a matter of time. I always model my own stuff if time allows but sometimes you need to get done in a hurry. Since you still need to texture and light the scene buying a model is a great step up in the process…. unless the client wants a different variation and you need to fix it while they sit there.

In my opinion these types of animations are so simple that if they are not done well they look awful and when done well they are very effective. That said its a great place to start and I don’t think you need to send it to a “pro”

Hope this helped,
/Randy

[Chris Holland]

Wow. A half day ? That seems so quick. I figured something like that would take me at least a couple days. If I did it with flat text just in 3d space in Aftereffects it would still take me half a day. Does that half day include the entire spot with renders or just to create it ?

Can you give any type of estimate on what you would charge for something like this ?

So do you think this was done with Pro Animator then instead of Cinema 4d or Maya or are you saying you think the elements were created in Cinema 4d and animated in there with an alpha then brought into Aftereffects ?

Thanks for the help.

Chris Holland
Editor/Animation/Design
hollandedit.com

[Matt Gerard]

I look at that and say give me a day and a half. Unless you have someone else doing the design. The design and “Look” of it is the part that always eats up my time.

Buuuuuut, this would be totally possible from within AE using Zaxworks or Boris 3D text. I don’t have Zaxworks on my machine, but my boss does, and he does stuff like this all the time. As long as the models aren’t too complex, and the textures are simple you could be in AE with this the whole way. I love C4D, but most motion graphics stuff like this is still easier in AE for me.

Matt

Its more fun to ride a slow motorcycle fast than a fast motorcycle slow…

[Randy Johnson]

Things go really quick when you are working off voice over. It pretty much blocks out the timing for you and limits what you can have on screen. So you can tinker with the details. And as mentioned above there is really very little 3d work so most of it is setting up the design.

As for how much would you charge…. thats different everywhere. I am in sweden and everything is expensive here. I charge by the hour and adjust my rate for longer or shorter projects. Shorter the project, higher the rate.

/Randy

[Chris Holland]

Thanks for all the input everyone. It makes me feel like it’s not that far of a reach.

As far as pricing I realize it’s going to adjust depending on your market and whatnot. I am just trying to get something to at least ballpark it. I know people in general don’t like to give out what they’d charge. I guess my thought on that is your not bidding on this to actually do the work. I feel like people are afraid to say what they would charge because they don’t want to get locked in without more details as if they are doing the work. I know that any numbers anyone tells me are just that numbers. The other thing is with the internet location almost doesn’t matter anymore. I know tons of people who have their rate and if someone doesn’t want to pay it they move on. I generally go low to get more work but I have done that in the past too, moved on I mean.

Randy, how much more does things like this cost in Sweden as compared to the US ? Just looking at it how much would you charge to do a spot like this, realizing you don’t have all the info you might need ? Just a guess is all I am looking for. Same question for you Matt. I mean my general day rate is $300 for editing w/limited graphics, $400 for Animation and Editing and $500 if I have to do all the design but those numbers are fluid based on the client, project, etc. as I prefer to do project rates. My initial thought is that I would charge 2k to do the animation and edit. Maybe that is way to high. I have tons of editing and animation experience and know the market price for my level of work, generally I get less than my desired rate, but I have no clue where to start for 3D animation. It seems like it should be at a premium because it is more difficult to do but if you can just do it all in Pro Animator then it can seem less difficult possibly to a client. Like I said I am not looking for a binding number just trying to get a range.

It looks like most people are thinking probably around a day to a day and a half to complete if you design everything and a less if it’s just following a storyboard and Vo timewise.

Thanks again for the help.

Chris Holland
Editor/Animation/Design
hollandedit.com

[Matt Gerard]

My room books for $175 per hour. That includes all editing, graphics, DVD authoring, and anything else that is needed to be done in my room to complete the project.

With that said, that is a baseline. I think its been years since I did a project on time/materials basis. All my projects are done on an estimate/bid system. I tell them how much I will do the job for, and if it takes longer, my rate goes down. If I figure out how to get it done wicker, my rate goes up. It all balances out. As I get more efficient, I make more money, and I pass some savings to the client.

But there are jobs that I do (such as the one I’m on right now) where I know the client can’t pay for what it would really take, so I take a hit on those jobs to keep the client happy. But they KNOW that I’m giving them more than what they can afford, and that is why they are loyal to my business. I bid $2500 for an 3d animation that I’m working on. That works out to about 14 hours. I know i have about 35 into already and I’m not done yet. But my calendar is a little thin right now, and I’m also using this project to learn and try some new things.

FYI.

Matt

Its more fun to ride a slow motorcycle fast than a fast motorcycle slow…

[Randy Johnson]

I dont have any problem sharing my rates.
My rates are really low for a swedish standard at $85 us. per hour. I am cheap since I am just starting out as a freelance animator and am still finding my way around.
That price does not include anything away from my computer though. Camera, sound thats all extra.

Like matt I am fexible to an extent as well. I do often send in a quote per project but thats based on how long I think it will take. If the customer changes what they want half way through and I finish early they pay less… or I quoted wrong and negotiate with the customer about more money or less product.
I like to put extra effeot into projects too and thats my choice and so I don’t charge for it.

/randy