How It Works
1) Send an email, say hi!
If I’m open for commission, please introduce yourself and your project. I’d love a general summary of the story you are trying to tell. Please tell me what style and tone you are looking for. In addition, the general scope/scale of your story is also helpful. Roughly how many assets (Characters & CGs) do you estimate you will need? What pixel size are you working in / do you need your images to be? Feel free to use the Contact form or just message me directly.
2) Quote & Estimate
Based off your needs, I’ll let you know whether this is a project I can take on and if so, what the estimated time-frame and cost will be. If it’s fine with you, we will then start with one character first to get used to working with each other.
3) Descriptions & References
Please now send over your detailed character descriptions, including any visual references or text descriptions you may have. I may ask more details, if I don’t think I’ve grasped the essence of the character. If you love your character, don’t be shy- tell me who they are, so I can better express them. Personality descriptors are very helpful for conveying body language. Images of other characters, photographs of people, or art styles from other games— Anything you want me to know, send me now.
4) Concept Sketch
Once I’ve read over your descriptions, I will provide 2-3 complimentary, starter character concept sketches. Please refer to the Rules & Policy page for more details about Concept Sketches.
5) Feedback & Sketch Revisions
Once you receive the sketch, let me know if there is anything you would like changed. Make your big changes now, such as framing / posing, during the sketch phase and not later. If you feel the entire direction is off and want to restart from scratch, that is fine as well— Now is the time to speak up!
( Edits are typically capped at three rounds. )
6) First Half Due
Before we continue any further, the first half of payment is now due.
7) Ink & Flats - Work In Progress
I’ll send you an update as I’m working on the image, once the lines have been drawn and the flat colors laid down.
8) Inks + Flats Revisions
Once you receive the work in progress, let me know if you want adjustments. The image can be revised up to three times, before I will charge for additional revisions. Generally, there shouldn’t be any drastic changes made at this point.
9) Shading & Colors
I’ll finish up the image and send a small, watermarked preview your way.
10) Final Revisions
If you see any color or shading tweaks, let me know. This is your last chance to make changes before receiving a high-resolution file.
11) Second Half of Payment Due
If you see any color or shading tweaks, let me know. This is your last chance to make changes before receiving a high-resolution file.
12) Receive Final .psds & .pngs
Once I receive payment, I will send over the high resolution .psd for character sprites and .psds or .pngs for CGs.
For sprites, expressions will be inside layer folders in the .psd files, divided into fx, brows, eyes and mouths. It will be up to you to export and mix & match your own customized expressions. Use the batch export function in photoshop to make life easier. Or if you don’t have photoshop, there are also free alternatives online like photopea.com
13) Rest of Game Development
After the first character is done, we’ll move on to finish the rest of the assets in the same way. Once trust is established, we can begin to work in batches to create more assets and do revisions faster.
Once all of the character and CG art is done, it will be time for you to find (if you haven’t already) the Logo/UI, background artists, as well as… sound and programming. Good luck!
14) Promotional Image(s) + Leave a Review (optional)
Decide on which pictures/CGs you want to use to market the game and please let me know, so that I don’t accidentally put out anything you haven’t revealed yet. This also goes for Sprite Images as well— I won’t put anything on my portfolio / website, until after you’ve already revealed it.
If you want to showcase your project on the Projects section of the website, let me know your Working Title, Name/Alias/Company, link (optional) and short story summary — I can put down a temporary placeholder until your project is finished. Or, if you’d rather not be listed until later, that’s cool too.
If you’d like to, you can also send me a short review, and I can add that to the website.
15) Finish Line & Game Launch!
Whoohoo!! You’ve made it. Bringing any project to completion is worth celebrating. It’s not easy. Less than half of people who commission me manage to finish their projects, so if you have— congratulations!
Please message me to let me know once you’re done and when you plan to launch. I’ll give you a shoutout with what reach I have~
Wish you all the best!