How do I get commissions?

[HadrianVI]

Although I have not used any formal contracts (you don't really need a document with the word "contract" in the title to have a contract), I wrote a map documentation which I handed to the client in a separate PDF file.
It contains a smaller version of the map as well as any information I am legally required to hand over to the client (such as the reference to textures.com) plus the license info, which tells the client in an understandable language how he may use the map.

[Voolf]

Although I have not used any formal contracts (you don't really need a document with the word "contract" in the title to have a contract), I wrote a map documentation which I handed to the client in a separate PDF file.
It contains a smaller version of the map as well as any information I am legally required to hand over to the client (such as the reference to textures.com) plus the license info, which tells the client in an understandable language how he may use the map.

Yes, that is probably how most of us doing commissions without any contract document. It is different though when you sell SOME or ALL rights to the map. Up untill now i have been agreeing with clients to what he can do with the map, but i would actually like to know how to make a proper contract for more complex licensing.

[Mouse]

...such as the reference to textures.com...

That's interesting. You see - I have a problem interpreting the conditions of use laid down by people who make and give artwork away to use for private or commercial use (meaning that I get terribly confused about what is and is not required of me). Where my own home-made textures are concerned I don't expect people to get bogged down in long lists of what they've used of mine. If we all did that, then there would be more paperwork than map.

So if I were to sell The Hanging Gardens of Magrael, for instance, I would need to state that I "...created some of the forest fills using seamless textures that I generated using source images from Textures.com..." Would that be right, or would I need to actually identify which source images I used and go into even further detail - making an even longer list of credits?

[Voolf]

If the source images are completaly free for commercial use (and the author dosen't requite credit) you dont have to write anything like that. The map is entirely yours and you can do whatever you like with it. It is the others who have to ask for a permission if they want to do something with it.

I dont know the policy of CC though, they may have some clause about using premade stuff inside program.

[Mouse]

CC3 you mean?

There are no restrictions on using CC3 to make commercial maps that I am aware of. Its just that you can't sell or pass on the individual textures or symbols - whether they are as-is, or modified in some way. For example, I can make a regional map and sell it commercially, but I can't then include the individual png mountain symbol graphics that were used in the making of the map - or any of the mountains I modified myself to make them more snowy on top for the northern continent, or whatever.

Although it is more usual to sell the png or jpg export from the original CC3 file, there have been occasions when clients have wanted to be able to modify the map from time to time for themselves, but they can do this by purchasing the map's .fcw file (native CC3 file type), and CC3 itself (along with any separate symbol sets and what have you that the mapper may have used in the making of the map). Its a bit like a client having the unflattened PS file and renting PS to be able to modify it for themselves.

Going back to the credit question. Hadrian may well be right about the way Textures.com require credit. I just don't know, because I have a 'legalese blind spot' - the words get tangled up in my head as badly as if I'm trying to make sense of a Shakespeare sonnet, and I find it very difficult to interpret them properly for a true and clear meaning - as in; 'You can do this with my artwork, but you can't do that', where the words 'this' and 'that' are clearly and unambiguously well defined.

EDIT: most terms and conditions seem to read a bit like this to me:

You may cast your line in the water on my property, providing any fish that you catch that are over 6 inches in length, including the fins and the tail, are thrown back in undamaged. Penalties may be incurred for damaged fish of any size. Fish that are under 6 inches in length must not be caught or disturbed under any circumstances.

I mean - what a long winded and unnecessarily complicated way of saying "No Fishing"

[Voolf]

I just read thet terms and FAQ. Its a total mess !, but the most important are

1. May I use these textures for free? Do I need to pay royalties?

Yes, the textures may be used for free in 2D or 3D computer graphics, movies, printed media, computer games and 3D models. When bundled with a 3D model or scene you are allowed to sell it as a package.

No permission is granted to sell or redistribute the textures as a competing product, even when the images are modified. Please do not redistribute or sell textures by themselves, or as texture packs, or as clipart, or as material packs, or as scrapbooking packs.

You do not need to pay royalties or a usage fee. Textures may be downloaded and used free of charge.

2. Do I need to add credits or a link to this website (“copyright attribution”) when I use these textures?

Credits or a link are always appreciated, but they are not required (unless you are bundling our images with a 3D model or scene, see below).

Also found this

3. I have used some of the textures to create a map for a computer game. May I distribute this map?

Yes, provided the textures are used in the map. In that case, you are allowed to bundle them and distribute them as a package. Please add the following text to the documentation of the map:
"One or more textures on this map have been created with images from Textures.com. These images may not be redistributed by default. Please visit www.textures.com for more information."

Which is strange answer. The question is "I have used some of the textures May i distribute this map" and in the answer they say "Yes, provided the textures are used in the map". what a stupid answer is that? Of course they are used, its stated in the question, i would not asked otherwise. Also after that they point not to the map, but the textures which you can bundle and must credited. Very bizzare, but i guess you dont have to credit anything if you do not bundle raw textures along with the map.

Then there is an

ARTICLE 2. Use of Photos
You are allowed to use our photos for many kinds of projects and even sell them in combination with 3D models. However, you are not allowed to resell or give away our photos as 'textures', texture packs, materials, clipart or any other product that competes with our website.

which pretty much explains everyting more clearly. Considering all those i would say i can use textures in maps and sell map (flatten image) without any permission. I can credit the site, but i dont have to.

[Mouse]

I see

Thank you ever so much for reading through everything and breaking it down for me like that

Ummm.... how much do you charge for this kind of assistance if I need your help with something like this again in the future?

[HadrianVI]

I just read thet terms and FAQ. Its a total mess !

Haha, I have a Law Degree and I do not 100% understand what they are trying to say in their Terms and in the FAQ, because some of the explanations of the FAQ are a bit contradictory.
For this reason I add the above mentioned quote* to the map documentation, if I use any of their textures. This way I am on the save side and it generates the impression of professionalism

[Mouse]

Oh yes, I will probably credit them as well. I couldn't have done the last two maps without their textures and source images. Its just that I won't be getting myself tied up in knots and making myself feel ill with worry about getting all the details down correctly, or else....

From what you and Voolf have both said it seems to me that a simple credit to Textures.com generally is polite and respectful.



And sprutnums... my most sincere apologies for running off with your thread like this!

[Sprutnums]

Oh yes, I will probably credit them as well. I couldn't have done the last two maps without their textures and source images. Its just that I won't be getting myself tied up in knots and making myself feel ill with worry about getting all the details down correctly, or else....

From what you and Voolf have both said it seems to me that a simple credit to Textures.com generally is polite and respectful.



And sprutnums... my most sincere apologies for running off with your thread like this!

Well what can I do? It's yours mate