CompuServe Messages

Angelo, I think everybody's different in the way they price things. I use several ways: 1) Amount per finished second. Assign a level of complexity to the project (say 1 to 10) and multiply it by $100. The result being $100 to $1000 per finished second layed to BetacamSP or Sony LVR. I don't own the video equipment but my sources charge about 25cents to 75cents per frame if I rendered the animation and have .tgas. I always do it this way but some people will render the animation for you at $1 to $1.50 per frame, I think. 2) Figure out your required hourly rate and then estimate how many hours you think it will take, taking into account client's reviews and such. The result would give you a fixed bid which you probably have to honour so get the parameters of what you will produce and how many review/modify cycles you allow the client. 3) Some clients, if they trust you and know your quality, will allow you to work on a time and materials basis. This means you charge an hourly rate for all your work and the client pays the cost of all materials regardless of how long it takes. I use all the above methods. Method 3 is the safest because you can't lose your shirt in any circumstances but at the same time you can't charge "what the market will bear" and have the potential of making a big profit as you could with methods 1 and 2. This is only applies if you bid correctly which I usually don't. Take your pick and good luck! Martin