Graphics

[DesertRose]

Hello again UKBF

I need some basic graphics for my new business and I have no idea where to go to find someone who can do these for me. I now regret having not studied art at school, all those years ago Can anyone tell me where they go for their basic (cheapish) graphics which are for a website and for a small test run of printed products - tees, totes, and the like? I know that I could pay several hundred £'s and get someone to produce some work for me but my miniscule budget doesn't even contain that. Thanks

 

[chalkie99]

How much is your basic budget and how does it work for you at Tesco?

 

[DesertRose]

How much is your basic budget and how does it work for you at Tesco?

Lol, I shop at all the supermarkets (Aldi-Waitrose, not fussy ), depending on what I can get for my money. My budget for graphics is so see-through, it's almost not there... Once I get some momentum going, sure, I can up that. Right now though...phewie...it's tough out there, so it's cheapy cheap for me if poss. Thanks

 

[chalkie99]

There's your answer then. Companies like Waitrose have plenty of money so next time you fill your trolley tell them you you don't have the budget to pay for the contents.

When they tell you not to worry and have it for free you can use the money you have saved to pay for your design work.

.Simples.

 

[DesertRose]

There's your answer then. Companies like Waitrose have plenty of money so next time you fill your trolley tell them you you don't have the budget to pay for the contents.

When they tell you not to worry and have it for free you can use the money you have saved to pay for your design work.

.Simples.

'Design work'? I'd hardly call what I'm after design work. Is THIS why the price of graphics is loaded up??!?

No seriously, it's a black and white situation, not an emotional situation - I need a couple of very basic black graphics for not a lot of money. In the future, I may need something more complex. Thanks

 

[DesertRose]

There's your answer then. Companies like Waitrose have plenty of money so next time you fill your trolley tell them you you don't have the budget to pay for the contents.

When they tell you not to worry and have it for free you can use the money you have saved to pay for your design work.

.Simples.

Fill my trolley...? In Waitrose? I don't think so I'm in there for the '50% off' deals on 1/2 items and those fruit and veg reductions where they let things go for 10p, just as they're turning rancid. Thanks

 

[Dbennett006]

Try fiverr.com that's going to be your best bet...

 

[DesertRose]

Try fiverr.com that's going to be your best bet...

£5 would be too cheap, even for me. Very touchy and emotional on the subject of graphics then?!! There are plenty of people asking for accounts help who don't want to pay an accountant, and similar. Graphics is different then? Oh yeah, I forgot, it's *art*. Just kiddin.. Thanks

 

[FIZIX Agency]

To add another place; Deviant Art (http://www.deviantart.com) has a big community, their forum has a looking to hire forum for commissions.

In fact, any decent size digital art community can source you art for lower budgets.

If you don't have much money and want security (as in the risk of getting results your not happy with - that risk always increases with lower budgets as your in newbie and student territory if its super low). Then you can use stock art, pleanty of that about.

 

[DesertRose]

Thanks so much for the info. I'll give those places a try. Yep, all points about cheap vs quality taken on board. I'd love to have a massive budget, but right not, it ain't so. When it is...there'll be no stopping me Thanks

 

[FIZIX Agency]

No problem.

Its also worth checking out:

www.sitepoint.com (they have a marketplace with a jobs board)
www.webdesignerforum.co.uk (gotten a bit spammy of late due to admin jumping ship but a good community) you can ask for help on the main board, you won't get moderated asking outside of the jobs board; namely due to the recent state of no admin.

Don't use it much but a site called Digital Point has a lot of artists on it.

Eta:
Another trick is to use twitter; post a tweet asking for a reasonably priced graphics designer. You will more than likely get replies.

 

[Alan]

fiverr.com is you best bet. At $5 (about £3.50) it is worth a go. You won't get anything wonderful, but it will be serviceable.

 

[FIZIX Agency]

Not discounting fiverr but at that kind of price; which is basically short change, I'd probably just use stock as you will know what you're getting.

And call me cyncical but often at pocket change, its often just stock you end up with. Not all the time but frequently, seen that happen a lot.

 

[DesertRose]

Try fiverr that's going to be your best bet...

Thanks for the link. I thought you were being sarc-y actually, lol... My bad as the kids say. Shows me not to jump immediately to negative conclusions!!:redface:

 

[DesertRose]

Not discounting fiverr but at that kind of price; which is basically short change, I'd probably just use stock as you will know what you're getting.

And call me cyncical but often at pocket change, its often just stock you end up with. Not all the time but frequently, seen that happen a lot.

I'm looking for the use of something at around..£30/40.. I know nothing of graphics or their pricing really...although I do have a clear vision of what I'm after...so I have some homework to do in seeing what I can actually get for that. Thanks

 

[FIZIX Agency]

I'm looking for the use of something at around..£30/40.. I know nothing of graphics or their pricing really...although I do have a clear vision of what I'm after...so I have some homework to do in seeing what I can actually get for that. Thanks

I don't know exactly what graphics you want and to be frank, prices vary wildly between providers. Artists especially fall into the category of charging what they can command; as its talent based. A really talented artist who can command a high rate will charge a high rate for even simple stuff.

Personally, I would advise getting some quotes from various places; not revealing your budget to see whether they match, and to see if anyone you like respond.

If your budget is well below the average, its probably best not to commission but to use stock. I know that's probably obvious but a lot of people get stung by going as cheap as possible.

One of the reasons I'm cyncical of pocket change designers is because of legal issues. Copyright theft and stock theft are rife, and there are a lot of people who will happy take a few quid and pass you some stock or rip something off.

That's one reason to be very careful. It doesn't mean every cheap designer is bad, its just that you leave yourself open.

Someone paying hundreds or thousands of pounds will do a lot more due diligence than someone paying spare change, so the bottom market is easier pickings for the bad guys.

 

[killerdog]

The uk version of fiverr is fivesquids.

 

[BusinessDeli]

As a matter of interest, what do you want?

 

[DesertRose]

I don't know exactly what graphics you want and to be frank, prices vary wildly between providers. Artists especially fall into the category of charging what they can command; as its talent based. A really talented artist who can command a high rate will charge a high rate for even simple stuff.

Personally, I would advise getting some quotes from various places; not revealing your budget to see whether they match, and to see if anyone you like respond.

If your budget is well below the average, its probably best not to commission but to use stock. I know that's probably obvious but a lot of people get stung by going as cheap as possible.

One of the reasons I'm cyncical of pocket change designers is because of legal issues. Copyright theft and stock theft are rife, and there are a lot of people who will happy take a few quid and pass you some stock or rip something off.

That's one reason to be very careful. It doesn't mean every cheap designer is bad, its just that you leave yourself open.

Someone paying hundreds or thousands of pounds will do a lot more due diligence than someone paying spare change, so the bottom market is easier pickings for the bad guys.

All points taken onboard there. Thanks so much for the advice. For someone like me (unexperienced), it's pretty much invaluable..

 

[DesertRose]

The uk version of fiverr is fivesquids.

Hahaa, oh that's brill!! Ta for the info.

 

[killerdog]

Hahaa, oh that's brill!! Ta for the info.

 

[DesertRose]

Defo thankful, no sarcasm I've already got someone from the fiverr site doing a little something for me. I didn't realise there was a UK version. Being an old bugger, I had no idea places like that existed!! It might be that what I get from fiverr doesn't end up being of much use, but...yeah....very interesting concept!!

 

[killerdog]

let us know if the work is any good yeah.

 

[Ronnieuk47]

Getting graphics done can be a costly procedure, I cannot fathom out why though. I used to work as a self-employed graphics designer, but gave it up due to the fact it didn't interest me. I used to charged a set amount for "airbrushing" model photoshoots and was laughing the whole way, not one client deemed it too much to pay. For me, I was earning probably £100 an hour to slightly modify these pictures using the same effects time and time again. Fact is, graphic "design" is expensive for some reason I never figured out, probably to cover the expensive fee's of starting out - a fully fledged photoshop suite is downright expensive, let alone the computer to go with it. Budget graphics aren't that bad at all, it just tends to be people who do it as a passion and side venture rather than full on pros.

 

[woodss]

Well you're not just paying for the end product as such are you - you're paying for someone with professional expertise to deliver what it is you think you know you say you want, and perhaps using their experience to push you in a direction you didn't know about that may work better for your business. That's why it costs so much - the designer doesn't just push something out in an hour, they may spend ages coming up with an excellent concept that can be expanded into other materials / marketing etc etc.

Or you can get a monkey to draw you a picture that looks cool but has very little thought and you shoehorn it into your business as "good enough" to get going.

Swings and roundabouts really isn't it. Not saying all of the premium graphic designer fees are justified, but there's a difference between hiring a decent designer and hiring someone who earns some beer money by banging out a logo a couple of hours before bedtime.

Also, and with all due respect, airbrushing photos of models isn't graphic design so I'm not sure why you're comparing them...

 

[DesertRose]

Getting graphics done can be a costly procedure, I cannot fathom out why though. I used to work as a self-employed graphics designer, but gave it up due to the fact it didn't interest me. I used to charged a set amount for "airbrushing" model photoshoots and was laughing the whole way, not one client deemed it too much to pay. For me, I was earning probably £100 an hour to slightly modify these pictures using the same effects time and time again. Fact is, graphic "design" is expensive for some reason I never figured out, probably to cover the expensive fee's of starting out - a fully fledged photoshop suite is downright expensive, let alone the computer to go with it. Budget graphics aren't that bad at all, it just tends to be people who do it as a passion and side venture rather than full on pros.

Well, the more I gather info about this area (graphic design) the more I realise that...almost everything is about how well you can present yourself - for personal stuff etc - and for your business. And being proficient with graphics, and like you say, the photoshop thing...it's pretty much becoming more and more vital - which is disconcerting for someone like me who has no experience. I don't feel as though I have the time or inclination to learn how to become a whizz in photoshop...but might bloody well have to, to some level...otherwise, I can't really present stuff how I'd like to, which means I can't compete for attention with all the other online folks out there. Point being, it's incredible how useful those skills have become, imo..

 

[Ronnieuk47]

Also, and with all due respect, airbrushing photos of models isn't graphic design so I'm not sure why you're comparing them...

It's not, but its comparable in the sense that your using the same or similiar software to enhance/create an image. Alot of techniques used during that are used all across the board.

Not to mention I stated I worked as a graphic designer not just airbrushing model pictures, that was merely one line of work during the job I was using as a comparative to the debate on justifying the pricing of graphics work.

Quick Edit: DesertRose - Fully agree, I started learning on CS3 and it had saved me a lot of money up until recently, even earning me a few bob on the side. But as its ever improving and growing and I've stopped doing it, its now something I'd prefer shell out for than attempt myself.