Design Files 1111 Responses

Last post: 3 months, 2 weeks ago | Thread started: Jan 25, 13, 1:33 p.m.

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• summs

  I designed a brochure for an old high school friend about a year ago at a very generous rate. Now, she is asking for the indesign files so she can make changes as she will need to make updates.
  What are your thoughts, and should I be charging extra for the files, or at least for the retrieval of files from an archive?

  Jan 25, 13, 1:33 p.m. – Permalink

• monospaced

  Ugh, this has happened to me before and nearly ruined my friendship after I explained there was no way I would hand over my working files for free. Eventually we all agreed on a flat rate to purchase them outright from me, which was actually around 3X what I charged for the original deliverables, but it made sense because they weren't using my time anymore.

  I am really curious to see what advice people here give you.

  • Makes perfect sense to me. Thanks.– summs1/5

    I tried to explain that it was the same as me asking for the formula and chemicals for their product so that I could make it at home.– monospaced2/5

    I think this sounds right, I went through the same deal once and similar resolution– Miguex3/5

    make it from home and not pay them. They HATED being told this, but it did get the point across.– monospaced4/5

    yup– moldero5/5

  

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  Dog-earJan 25, 13, 1:39 p.m. – Permalink

• monospaced

  This video is funny and kind of captures the situation.

  • yup sums it up– utopian1/2

    yup– moldero2/2

  

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  Dog-earJan 25, 13, 1:40 p.m. – Permalink

• JG_LB

  first of all, educate your friend about how your business works.
  depending on how good a friend they will understand. if it's a brochure for a charity or fundraiser don't charge, if it's for their business tell them you'd be happy to do the work at your current rate or charge them fairly to buy the files from you.

  

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  Dog-earJan 25, 13, 1:42 p.m. – Permalink

• sureshot

  I once gave him the .FLA files to a close friend for free. He emailed me the same day asking me what the fuck he's supposed to do with the SWV.

  • Also I had empty movieclips all over the fucking place!– sureshot1/5

    he was lost.– sureshot2/5

    ps he actually wrote SWV.– sureshot3/5

    ha haa– dbloc4/5

    ROFL– ohhhhhsnap5/5

  

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  Dog-earJan 25, 13, 2:02 p.m. – Permalink

• whhipp

  ^ lol I had the same experience, designed and developed a dynamic flash site for trade with a wedding photographer/family friend. After a year or so he wanted to expand the site and I told him that I would charge a certain amount. A few weeks later... he says he has a friend that can do it for free as long as I send the working files... I grappled with the nerve, but I just sent it–knowing that there was some advanced code the other guy would need to understand. In the end, he emailed asking if I could teach the files and code to both him and his buddy. SMH I just said I couldn't. Left it at that.

  

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  Dog-earJan 25, 13, 2:38 p.m. – Permalink

• pressplay

  you made two initial mistakes: a) old highschool friend and b) generous rate... just hand over the files and call it a day– you won’t get much money out of this job anyway, better keep the friendship

  • my initial thoughts too. just give it to her.– sine

  

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  Dog-earJan 25, 13, 2:49 p.m. – Permalink

• trooperbill

  10 print Never work for friends or family
  20 goto 10
  run

  • spectrum basic booyah– trooperbill1/2

    < This– Continuity2/2

  

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  Dog-earJan 26, 13, 2:37 a.m. – Permalink

• fredddddd

  You say a brochure = Did the initial job take you a long time? Was it really nice?

  Be happy you got paid the first time and have them buy you dinner or something.

  In a perfect world, how much do you think you'd ask for anyways?

  

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  Dog-earJan 26, 13, 3:05 a.m. – Permalink

• summs

  Yeah, decided I'm just going to give it to her. Wash my hands of it.

  • Let them know it's no common practice though, You did a solid for a friend.– ETM1/2

    no = not– ETM2/2

  

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  Dog-earJan 28, 13, 12:08 p.m. – Permalink

• doesnotexist

  when clients ask this, you could get ready to see your design ripped later on (and by ripped, i mean horrendously so), or you could just send them the files and let them fuck it up with your originals.

  the latter sounds better, imo.

  you should consider these kinds of things when you do your rate, imo.

  

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  Dog-earJan 28, 13, 2:52 p.m. – Permalink

• ETM

  I am always happy to provide PSDs and EPS files. It's a shame they are always flattened though...

  • ha : |
    – mikotondria31/2

    LOL– nikdaum2/2

  

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  Dog-earJan 28, 13, 6:03 p.m. – Permalink