Dave Graffam Models

I'm always interested in working with games publishers and product developers. My schedule is usually open, and I'm happy to have a chat about licensing my artwork or whatever else you have in mind. This page should let you know a lot about the kind of work I do and some sense of my pay rates. If you don't find an answer here, feel free to contact me at the email address listed at the bottom of his page and let's talk.

I've designed more than 150 card model kits offered in digital formats that customers can download, print, and assemble themselves. If you're interested in offering card model kits in a pre-printed physical format, you can license almost any of my card model kits for that purpose. My terms are pretty simple: For a one-time up-front licensing fee, you'll get my permission to print and sell as many copies of the licensed model as you desire. You won't be asked to report any sales numbers to me or pay me any sort of ongoing royalties. You would be permitted to offer that model in any physical format you like, whether it's cardstock, chipboard, bouncy houses, whatever. You would not be able to offer the model in any digital format, regardless of cost.

Before finalizing any licensing deals, you would be welcome to inspect my source files for any models you're interested in. I've lost a lot of my original Photoshop source files over the years, so many of my model kits are in the form of PDFs only, but in any case you'll get whatever I have, and you can decide if it's right for you.

These terms also apply to my game mat designs. If your game mat printing operation is set up to pay out art royalties on a per-sale basis, I'm happy to participate in those sorts of programs as an alternative to my one-time licensing fee.

My licensing fees for each model design are about 10 times the cost of the digital version. For example, if one of my digital model's download price is $2.95, I would charge a one-time up-front fee of about $30 for the license to offer that model in physical formats.

If you're interested in custom RPG maps, battle mats, card model designs or something else, here are some things you should know.

I use the Adobe Creative Suite of software to create my artwork and documents, specifically Photoshop, InDesign, and Acrobat Pro. All of my digital artwork is created within the bitmap / pixel art format. I don't work in Illustrator and don't produce vector graphics, but for the right project I would be willing to give myself a crash course.

I'm most comfortable working in fantasy / medieval, western, and science fiction genres. Other genres may be possible upon request.

I prefer to figure out the geometry of my models in my head and draw them as 2D patterns as my starting point. I tend to avoid fiddly pieces in my models, such as very tiny components or curved sections, preferring to design models that can be completed by papercrafting novices. These days I don't use 3D modeling software of any kind to create my card models, although I have some experience with SketchUp and Pepakura. Keep this in mind when requesting models with complex shapes.

So what's it going to cost you? (All prices are in US dollars, and can be paid by business check or PayPal.)

For RPG maps and battle mats, my basic design rate starts at around $80 per page, or about $100 per square foot (12x12 inches / 30x30 centimeters). A 'page' means one US Letter or A4 size sheet.

For card models, my basic design rate starts at around $100 per page. Model accessories (carts, crates, furniture, wood piles) will range from $10 to $50 each, depending on complexity.

I will arrange model components or small maps to make the best use of the available space on each page. Generally speaking, large untextured areas will carry a lower fee per page, while extensive texture coverage will carry a higher fee. I will provide illustrated assembly instructions for card models, and the instructions will not count toward the model page count.

When requesting a design, please provide at least one example image similar to what you are interested in. If I'm amenable to the project, I'll create some preliminary concepts to see if I'm on the right track. In the case of card models, I will work out the cut-and-fold patterns (geometry) at no cost to determine the number of pages that will be required, and will also build a white-paper test model. I will then respond with the total page count and photos of the test model for your approval.

If you wish to go ahead with the project, we can then work out other details necessary to continue. If you do not wish to proceed for whatever reason, any rough concepts and model patterns will remain my property and I will do whatever I wish with them.

In all instances, model cut-and-fold patterns (geometry) will remain my property for use elsewhere if I see fit. Only the copyrights to the unique final combination of geometry and textures on the model (or the unique final arrangements of graphic elements on maps) will become your property once the project is complete. Under no circumstances will you obtain copyrights to my basic texture elements or other graphic elements, even if those graphics were created anew for the commissioned work.

I pioneered the use of PDF layers to add optional color schemes and variable configurations to card models, and I believe these add an element of fun and creativity that many hobbyists appreciate. I can create layered PDFs for you, or alternate versions as separate files if you prefer.

Color variations will cost around $10 to $20 per page (or square foot). Color variations are alternate hue/saturation versions of textures or other graphics. For example, red brick textures can be offered as gray bricks as a separate layer on a card model PDF, brown wood textures can be offered as moss-infused green wood as a separate layer, and so on.

Texture variations will cost around $30 to $50 per page per texture (or square foot) depending on coverage. Texture variations involve distinctly new textures over the same model sections. For example, a brick wall texture can be offered as a stucco, stone, or half-timbered wall texture as separate layers on a card model PDF. Similarly, roof textures can be offered in different styles. Alternate map configurations are charged similarly.

Alternate configurations will cost around $10 to $30 per page depending on complexity. These could be alternate positions of windows, doors, dormers, chimneys, and so on. Generally, alternate positions for 2D graphic elements will carry a lower fee, while alternate positions or versions of 3D elements will carry a higher fee.

Now that you know what you can expect from working with me, go ahead and email me at the address below with your commission request. To make sure I don't miss your message, please include something like "Licensing" or "Commission" in your email subject line.

luminousbeings@gmail.com