How to quote on an illustration project?

[matt_lorenzi]

Another thread started by me, but this could be an informative subject.

How do the freelancers on this forum go forward with quoting on a job?

What are the questions that need to be asked?
Does it come down to the level of detail required?
What about availability of samples or photos?

I am fairly new to freelancing. I am in a program for technical writing; one course is on budgeting. We start our budget by calculating hours/per page. We then add multipliers to take account for risk, administration, etc... I know the exact same model can't be used for illustrations, but are there methods for calculating "unknowns" other than just tacking on hours to the job?

[JamesProvost]

I'm sure you've read the guide to pricing technical illustration, so here's my new project checklist:

What needs to be illustrated? (Generally, in one sentence)
What reference material is available?
What style & level of detail? (Complexity)
What size?
When do you need it?
What rights do you need? (This one's more for magazines/ad agencies)

When I started out, I made my computer wallpaper into a checklist so I'd always have it handy if the phone rang. It's committed to memory now, but most people use email anyway.

[matt_lorenzi]

Thanks for the link to the article James. I had not found it before.

[TedFilon]

When I was a novice on freelancing I also had those questions since pricing is very tricky, I came up with my own calculation. What I usually do is that I create a list of quotes with corresponding services that I can offer then I have a different list for additional works. And usually the client ask for an hourly rate which is also fair. Just go with what you are comfortable with.

[matt_lorenzi]

Hey James,
I imagine "level of detail" is a key factor when quoting a project. In your practice, do you have a complexity scale or is it not that simple? I imagine the demand for detail would hover around the complex end of things, why otherwise would one hire a technical illustrator? Would it be safe to say the level of detail hinges on the detail of the source material?

[JamesProvost]

@matt
You're right, complexity/level of detail is a huge factor when quoting a project.

The final size of the illustration is usually a good measure to go by. If you can't draw a detail with a 0.125 PT stroke, it'll end up as visual noise and it's probably better omitted.

If I'm still not sure how complex of an image the client wants, I refer them to my portfolio and ask which image is most like what they're looking to create.

Most of my work is actually pretty low complexity. Clarity = simplicity, especially in instructional and informational illustrations, which are my bread & butter. I think the super complex stuff in my portfolio helps reassure clients though. If I can draw a boat, I can draw a bolt, right?