Demanding Commissioner

[sakarataryn.livejournal.com]

The commissioner I am nearly done with now is quite well known within the fandom(Or he appears to be to me), however, on the occasions we've had to speak for business I have found him very...challenging, for me to personally work with. Now I will admit that I feel more stress due to anxiety problems(Basically my reaction to stress or nervousness is out of proportion), but I don't think I can work with this person.



Now this guy pays appropriately and on time, he also refrains from nagging about 'Is it done yet?'. He paid half in advance for a one character, basic background commission that was largely up to me for details and pose and was to be all digital without any kind of print. All he wanted was the .PSD file.

I have spent the last TWO HOURS tweaking this maddening document. 1) First he complained about the theme of the image and the static pose, after -he specifically- approved it. He said this out of the blue after noting that I was the third person to do it. 2) Then he tells me he's pleased with the image anyway(?). 3) Then he wants some parts of the image tweaked for brightness, which I oblige even though I do think at a certain point one should trust artists discretion, even if you would've chosen another color. Thankfully this is easy to change in photoshop... 4) When I mention that if the image appears dark, that he may wish to brighten his monitor. Mine is set brighter than some to match my printer and I do not currently know of a way to ensure an image looks the same on all monitors. He randomly implies that he has some monitor calibration device that fixes his monitor automatically. I'm not sure what this means, until I realize it implies his monitor is already perfect. He then mentions I should invest in this $150 device that I cannot afford, that I also wouldn't buy right now anyway since that could get me more immediately useful things. I find this rude as well. 5) After two hours, I note that I will continue our incredibly long attempts at transfering this PSD over the internet. I've cut down file sizes for him, tried zipping, several file transfer sites, his iDisk, none of which work. He doesn't want to let me go to bed despite me saying I will go back at the issue tomorrow(It's nearly ten for me) and he also will not accept a CD mailed at no cost to him. 6) About the 'I don't want a CD' thing...he had said that would be fine in the beginning, when I made note before taking his money that I did not know of any other good way to transfer PSDs. Oi.


Now, I'm not sure if any of these things are worth naming him to this community, it may just be that I don't handle that kind of customer well. I do not intend to ever take work from him again however due to the immense frustration I've experienced and the extremely minimal feedback. I'm not sure however what a polite way to turn down work from a single individual is, especially if they press the issue with 'But your commissions are open!' or 'You offered one to JoeSchmoe!'. Does this community have any tips for dealing with people like these or kindly turning them elsewhere?

EDIT: In light of enlightening and helpful discussion here, if this customer(Ksilebo) cannot be happy with a flattened PSD(He desires PSD over JPEG as they are lossless; I also agreed to giving him this full-resolution format), then I will kindly consider the work closed and that it will be his choice whether or not to pay the second half of his work. I don't depend on my art for a living and I can afford to cut this one loss and consider it a big learning experience. I think I have taken adequate measures for this customer(Obeying his detail rules, providing sketches and finalizing them before work starts, providing him with a full size and resolution JPEG) and I don't want to compromise myself for money that isn't worth it.

Thanks muchly for everyone's thoughts, especially the information about why not to give out PSDs. I feel better knowing better.

Comments

[rah-bop.livejournal.com]

I would love to know this commissioner's name, because I have had customers like this and as soon as I'm half-way through I think "I wish I had never taken this commission!" So, I would appreciate it if I knew in advance who to not bother with!

I'm looking forward to hearing from other people who have experience refusing customers, because I haven't had to do it so far.

[kiriska.livejournal.com]

"Though you may not have known or noticed, but I don't think our previous transaction went too well. I felt [1], [2], and [3]. I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to pass on this commission. I hope you understand."

I've been able to shove 800MB+ files over AIM, though I guess jittery connections will mess that up. Sites like yousendit and mediafire also work well. What kind of problems have you been having? D:

[sakarataryn.livejournal.com]

The main problem at first for me was jittery internet coupled with a bitchy router and firewall. Then I went from a wireless connection to a steady, wired cable connection and apparently HIS internet is now crap. I succeeded today in uploading it to senduit.com, but my commissioner apparently just doesn't have the stable connection to download it.

[maui-dolphin.livejournal.com]

Cram it into a 5 dollar USB flash drive and mail it :P

[taasla.livejournal.com]

At that point, I would be tempted to be firm but still polite. "Sir, it is becoming clear that your connection is keeping you from getting the full psd. I can understand if you may be weary about giving out your address, but at this point it seems like the only way to make sure you see the commission in a timely manner is to mail either a cd or a flash drive with the image."

[kiriska.livejournal.com]

Well, it isn't really your fault if his connection is crap. Have it uploaded somewhere and he can download it when his connection stops being crap. If the link expires, re-up it, but there isn't much else you can do if he doesn't want to give you his address. :/

[aerinl.livejournal.com]

Good lord why are you sending him the PSD?

I wouldn't recommend doing that unless your working freelance with a contract written up. It's... not a good idea o___o

[taasla.livejournal.com]

I agree with the above poster. You could easily send him the max resolution .jpg. It works just as well.

[immortalpanda.livejournal.com]

THIS

sending a .psd sends up big huge red flags.

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

Yeah about the PSP thing.. I would have been suspcious about that from the get go. Why does he want it in .psd format? Does he want to change it when he gets it? And what with all the difficulty with your connection and his, why wouldn't he just accept it in a high res JPG. I would ask him why he MUST have it in Psd.
But yeah 2 hours is nothing with a picky commissioner. I've had some that nitpick me about things that have taken me days. Hence the reason I'm adopting the "If I make x amount of changes, you have to pay me more" policy. I recommend doing the same

[sakarataryn.livejournal.com]

He is 'Ksilebo' and can be found on Deviantart. He's commissioned...an almost insane number of hexdragon themed images.

[tealizard.livejournal.com]

THIS. I only ever send high res jpgs; EVER

[sakarataryn.livejournal.com]

What makes you say this? The idea that he will reprint the image(Which I should think he could easily do as well with a full-size jpeg)? Or something else?

[vulturekisses.livejournal.com]

Echoing the people asking why he wants the PSD, I'd say make a separate file, flatten it, and THEN send it to him that way. ;) He gets the PSD he wants, but none of the layers or stuff that makes it easy for him to change. And the file size would be smaller as well, and sendable to him.

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

Cause he could rip off your images and work if he has the raw changable format a lot easier

[aerinl.livejournal.com]

Least of all, the file size, which seems to be your issue anyway.

-If you give him the .PSD file, then he can change, edit and mutilate as he likes, there by destroying your art in ways imaginable.
-By giving away your .PSDs your giving away how you work. If absolutely necessary flatten anything that doesn't need to be editable. This will also decrease the file size (ex. fore ground, middle ground, background).
-Also if he runs off with your design, you can prove copyright because you have the working files/detailed files that he will not.
-Usually if a client wants the .PSD file, they have to pay extra. You can add watermarks/stipulations to the layers but there are still ways around this.

Basically it's to protect your rights as an artist. Giving out the .PSD gives him, and anyone he gives the picture to free reign over your art.

[sakarataryn.livejournal.com]

Whew, I feel better that I did flatten the PSD before putting it up. Now the only layers are 1) Background, 2) Character Color, and 3) Lineart, none of which really give away how I work. And I have the original physical inks here in addition to the gigantic, unflattened file.

Thank you for your explanations and reasons, they were very helpful. I think the next time I am commissioned for digital -only- I'll have stipulations the customer must agree to.

[sakarataryn.livejournal.com]

I just found out his reasoning and I do think it's semi-sound. He thankfully is happy with a flattened out version of the image; the reason he wanted PSD instead of JPEG is because PSD files are lossless, whereas JPEGS always have some kind of noise or distortion.

...I STILL think it's picky as hell, but I already know not to work with him again.

[digivolution.livejournal.com]

....

That is definitely picky as hell, haha XD

[starlight-art.livejournal.com]

Ha ha oh wow... I have heard so much about this guy...

[aerinl.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Make sure you have a commission agreement, which by asking for a commission they are accepting that agreement. I'd make sure to have something about x amount of free changes before charging, also state somewhere that you retain the publishing rights (so they can't make prints and sell them). Also I'd state somewhere that you can cancel the commission at any time without explanation.

Sorry, I'm rambling a bit >___>

[sakarataryn.livejournal.com]

Oh really? Any stories or details to share?

(Man, I sure would've loved a warning about him.)

[aerinl.livejournal.com]

I got around that by giving him a .tiff, as they are also lossless :P .eps is also lossless from memory.

[starlight-art.livejournal.com]

Try saving it as a png.

[aerinl.livejournal.com]

Or that, yes >__>