looking for prices, for a rpg wolrd map

[Jaxilon]

In my limited experience it seems almost better if you can give an idea of what your budget for the work is. Artists are, as far as I can tell, pretty terrible at getting paid what they are worth...as evidenced by how much more valuable they become once they are dead and someone else takes over pricing their work. However, if you had say 10 bucks to give for something that will determine what you are going to get in most cases. The experienced artists will not likely want to bother with a 10 dollar commission unless it's something that they feel strongly about or have idle time and cabin fever. Sometimes a person is just in a great mood and will do such things but chances are you will get someone who is up and coming.

If you did get an established artist to do it for 10 dollars you will likely get a 10 dollar map. In other words, if he or she usually gets 20 bucks an hour you should expect a 30 minute map.

On the other hand if say you had hundreds of dollars for the budget you might find out just how detailed your artist can get.

Once again, you have to remember it's art and art prices are all over the place. Are there exceptions? You bet. Post your budget and see how much response you get.

Personally, I can't help it, if you want me to do something I can barely stand I want more money for it. If it's something I'm totally into I will stay up all night for peanuts (I am trying to get over this though).

[jfrazierjr]

Ok... so here is what I would tell your friend based solely on my observations. Map commissions can cost you anywhere from "gratis"(free) to several hundred dollars(300, 400, perhaps even more, perhaps even much more) depending on a variety of factors(don't consider this list exclusive!!!!!!!):

• Required size
• For print or web only(affects size)
• Artist skill level and/or reputation
• BW or Color
• level of detail(this is kind of abstract... it incorporates many elements from other items such as size, print or web format, artist skill, color or not, placing cities/roads/text and amount of these elements, etc)
• Delivery deadlines (rush jobs cost more, "whenever" jobs might get a discount)
• Is this for a commercial product(typically if you are going to sell a map(meaning include in something you make money from) the artist gets more commission)
• License (many times affected by "is commercial" Note that unless specifically stated in a contract, art is LISENSED to the buyee and the artist can provide any specific limitations to how the artwork may be used. The artist still "owns" the copyright and the art. Of course, you agree on that in the contract details as to if the copyright is transferred(not unless explicitly stated) to the buyee. If the copyright is NOT transferred to the buyee, then both parties agree on the terms of the license as to what each party is and is not allowed to do with the map. )
  

Again... this is just a quick list off the top of my head. Given that, if "I" could make a map like that one(which I can't) at that size(ie, print at roughly 8x10 book size) and with that detail level, I would likely charge $75-150(USD). To bad I can't do a map that well(yet)