[Simon Roughan]

Thanks for that Mark. Lots of good ideas there as well.
I sort of shot myself in the foot as well. As I said above, I introduced this way of production to the firm.

[Simon Roughan]

Thanks Walter,
all good points to mull over.
Id love to get a crack at the customer at the selling point. My company is very compartment-alised(huh?) and Im told staight out that s not my job. Also, at work Im not speaking my first language.
I have in the last year produced a couple of big budget spots, with good results in respect of technical quality, storyline and customer satisfaction. But it is very hard for a company to measure any kind of bump in sales, without some kind of direct feedback like a phone number. One of these spots was for a well known local soft drink, another a Utility company. Both hard to measure in that respect.
Thanks again for your feedback.

[Simon Roughan]

Hi Richard, and thanks for your reply.
I do see your point. As I stated in my post, I understand the economics. But the fact is that there is no perspective on the cost vs. quality. I shudder at the thought of 2 of my customers meeting and one saying “I got a great spot, and it cost me 2500 to produce” and the next saying “mine cost 999, including air-time.” There are a hundred ways to give a customer a good, nay GREAT deal on TV advertising, without saying “We produce for free.” You will never ever get a cent more out of that customer for production again. And like I said, these are not crappy throw-away spots. They (customers and employer) understandably want a high standard of work. And this is my problem. The spots that cost quite a bit of money (relative to a small business) must look as good as a spot made for “air-time” money. Sometimes I get a clean PDF file, with good vectors that I can easily pull apart and do something with. 2 hours work, and theres your spot. Then next I get a CD full with 30 small low quality jpegs, and must redraw the logo from scratch etc etc, and it takes 2 days. Like I said before, they have no understanding of the process. And they want none.
Im certainly not being snarky, or not appreciating my job or salary. But really, what other business gives away work like this? Im being “Grinded” from my own sales dept.

[Simon Roughan]

Dude, you insult me!
The problem is, I do GOOD work for free. I always do my very best with what I have to work with. And thats the crux of the matter.
I feel like Im whoring myself. For free.

[Simon Roughan]

I work full time in Germany as a commercial producer, camera work, graphics, editing etc etc, for a TV station. With what little info you gave, i would say for a “Festanstellung” around 2500 euro brutto. And thats generous.

[Simon Roughan]

I thought it might be something like that. Thanks again.

[Simon Roughan]

Thanks again. Ill try these suggestions…

[Simon Roughan]

thanks again mate.

[Simon Roughan]

SO, it has something to do with the lighting. I had an daylight array, and when i turned it off, the label looks correct now.
BUT now a new hurdle…
Look at this pictur of the bottle im modelling
https://s887.photobucket.com/albums/ac72/SimonRoughan/?action=view&current=Pet_Classic_Flasche_weiss_mit.jpg
What would be the best way to get these wave indents in the plastc?
With a bump map? or by manipulating the polygons somehow? Im lost, please help.
thanks again
simon

[Simon Roughan]

I had the same thing too. You have to put the aec plug in the plug ins/format folder, then it works
hope this helps