Cost of Producing a Book

[Reynard]

I finally have a script for a 22 page one shot -- which I plan to use as a sample to send/give to editors. As I start to look for artists, I want to have an idea of what to expect to have to budget to get it pencilled and inked, and maybe lettered (my wife is a graphic designer, so depending on cost I may have her do it).

Does anyone have a good guideline for what to pay a talented, if unknown, artist for pencils and/or inks? lettering cost? Colors (not likely, but I might as well know)?

Thanks in advance.

[Tom-El]

I have a coupleof friends who are comics artists. I'd be happy to ask them what their page rate is. Send me a private message and I'll let you know there.

Good luck!

Tom

[MartinRedmond]

Why don't you post your story undrawn first so people can approach you or not. Since you've "published" it first it saves you from debating later if someone steals your ideas.

[Reynard]

Why don't you post your story undrawn first so people can approach you or not. Since you've "published" it first it saves you from debating later if someone steals your ideas.

Not to be snarky, but -- the what now? How is posting a finished script on a public message board going to protect me from being the victim of plagiarism, especially as opposed to hiring out a professional/semi-pro?

[LewMoxinsghost]

That is a very good question. I see what he is saying, that it definitely ties you to the work without question- you have all these witnesses. But then, I see what you are saying, that you have all these witnesses, any one of whom could easily steal the heart of it and just change a few things to say it is originally theirs and that you were the one who copied it.

Man, I hope there are some experts out there who can answer this because I have been wondering the same thing. I've actually spoken with an attorney who basicly told me that it is only an issue legally when the intellectual property becomes valuable. But how that determination of value is made who knows. He stressed that the threshold of originality is really low, or was really low with whatever we were talking about. By that I mean I can copy a copyrighted picture, change it very slightly, and wallah! An original creation. Granted, if I did this, or made a habit of doing this, I would pretty much have no credibility whatsoever among my peers, but I could still say the creation was "mine." Like Dali painting a mustache on the Mona Lisa- most pieces by Dali are not like that- he was paying an homage to DuChamp (I think)- everyone know Salvador Dali did not paint the Mona Lisa. He was making an inside joke which also happened to become art.

[NOD]

I finally have a script for a 22 page one shot -- which I plan to use as a sample to send/give to editors. As I start to look for artists, I want to have an idea of what to expect to have to budget to get it pencilled and inked, and maybe lettered (my wife is a graphic designer, so depending on cost I may have her do it).

Does anyone have a good guideline for what to pay a talented, if unknown, artist for pencils and/or inks? lettering cost? Colors (not likely, but I might as well know)?

Thanks in advance.

I don't know if you're really going to find one right answer here.
If you're looking for a pro/semi-pro with a body of work to just hire, do the job, and be done with the project then you should probably expect to pay $150-300 per pencilled and inked page. Obviously less for just pencils, and probably something like $60-120 for colouring. Lettering I don't have a clue.

If you're happy with a complete unknown then you're obviously going to be paying alot less, if they're also looking to have something to show editors then maybe they'd just be happy with a number of prints of the final product.
Although as an artist (even a completely unknown one) I wouldn't agree to that last option unless the script was something I was completely engaged by and really showed the sort of work you wanted to do.

My main point would be the less an artist can prove his ability/worth the less you'll be paying. Which isn't to say that you'll get bad work.

I'd suggest mailing a copy of your script to yourself and then leaving the envelope sealed if you're worried about parts of it being lifted. Someone correct me if that's no longer a valid way of legally proving the date something was created.

Neil

[DanielSchenstrom]

You should also put the money you're willing to spend in relation to the time it will take/the time you want it finished by. A pro will be more expensive but faster, especially if the alternative is someone who does this in his free time.

I usually count on one page per week from someone who does comic books "on the side" if they get paid. If they do it for free I don't count on anything at all.

[Netley]

I'd suggest mailing a copy of your script to yourself and then leaving the envelope sealed if you're worried about parts of it being lifted. Someone correct me if that's no longer a valid way of legally proving the date something was created.
Neil

That's exactly what I was going to suggest. It doesn't legally hold the same amount of water as a copyright, but if it comes down to it in court (Heaven forbid), you will at least be able to prove it was yours on the date you mailed it (which could ultimately win you the suit).

I'm excited for you, Reynard! I have a lot of respect for the fact you are taking your script to this level, and I wish you the best of luck!

[Reynard]

I'd suggest mailing a copy of your script to yourself and then leaving the envelope sealed if you're worried about parts of it being lifted. Someone correct me if that's no longer a valid way of legally proving the date something was created.

Neil

Just to be clear -- I'm not worried. I just thought the idea of public posting was a wierd way to ensure the idea doesn't get "stolen".

Anyway, I am hoping to spend about $100 a page at the top end, with a 3 month turn around once I select an artist. Am I aiming too high?

[Reynard]

I'm excited for you, Reynard! I have a lot of respect for the fact you are taking your script to this level, and I wish you the best of luck!

Since it is essentially impossible to get a proposal or submission looked at unless you know "someone", I figure it is the only way to get any closer to the ultimate goal.

[LewMoxinsghost]

I hear that. Good luck to you!

[KWW]

This always seems to be a touchy subject with most people. Most small publishers pay $45 to $100 a page for an artist. This of course depends on the publisher and what they feel might be the return on the sales of the book. If you have some type of name you should expect to get the higher end and in some cases you can negotiate for more. If you are good and they (the publisher) know it, but are new in the business you will probably get the lower rate. Some artist might take $25 a page and a set amount of copies of the book. Inkers get $30 to $45 a page for small press and again deals can be worked out much like the artist. If you are an artist that can ink your own work price will of course go up per page. A lot of people are skipping inkers (which I think is wrong) all together and just going from pencils to color. This of course means two things IMO. You need to have good clean finished pencils and a really good colorist. Colorist can make $25 to $50 a page on a small press book.Bigger names and bigger publishers are a whole different story. So on the low end you are looking at about $3000.00 (not counting a writer and lettering) and this does not count printing and advertising. Hope this helps you.

[Shade23]

Regarding self mailing your script, it IS a valid way to protect your original property, however, if you hope to pursue for damages from a plagiarist then you must file with the copyright office.

I was reading a little about it. you can always check out www.copyright.gov


SJ