client is asking for copies of their art files

[ericheartsu]

We had  client that asked us to make some things for them, (hats, tees, and stickers). Client was a NIGHTMARE to work with. Several of the files were not print ready, and we charged them for our time to make them print ready.

Now they are asking for us to send these files over. I don't think we should have to send them files that we worked on, as they are our artwork, but i didn't know what standard protocol is with this type of situation.

what would you all do?

[GraphicDisorder]

We had  client that asked us to make some things for them, (hats, tees, and stickers). Client was a NIGHTMARE to work with. Several of the files were not print ready, and we charged them for our time to make them print ready.

Now they are asking for us to send these files over. I don't think we should have to send them files that we worked on, as they are our artwork, but i didn't know what standard protocol is with this type of situation.

what would you all do?

If you bills them for art they own it in my opinion.  If you did not.....then I would not send it. 

[Frog]

I have a disclaimer on some of my invoices that addresses this issue (sorry I don't have access to it right now)
It essentially states something like " fees paid for the art work on this job do not include a license for use and/or reproduction elsewhere"

I generally do make that available to them for a price both reasonable, and often based on somewhat intangible considerations such as actual time spent rather than time estimated and charged.

[sweetts]

Um if they paid you for art give them the art, if they paid for your time to make their art usable for you and it was not stated that way give them the art. Shoot them a PDF of it and move on.



Roger
RT screen designs
Www.rtscreendesigns. Com

[Dottonedan]

We had  client that asked us to make some things for them, (hats, tees, and stickers). Client was a NIGHTMARE to work with. Several of the files were not print ready, and we charged them for our time to make them print ready.

Now they are asking for us to send these files over. I don't think we should have to send them files that we worked on, as they are our artwork, but i didn't know what standard protocol is with this type of situation.

what would you all do?

If you bills them for art they own it in my opinion.  If you did not.....then I would not send it.

Each can do what they all want individually,  but the lay states that what (you) do in house, what you create,  plates, screens, enhanced technical files, etc, are all (yours).  When someone pays fora service, they are paying for your skilled service. To give that away, is like a Mechanic who had the best tools and experience to have to hand over his tools because they paid for his service.


Art fees, screen fees, are all actually "labor fees" not fees for the customer to own the actual item and you should indicate those (as such) on your invoices.


Again tho, each can do what they want.

[Dottonedan]

The law actually states that what (you) do in house asa business providing a service, what you create, such as plates, screens, films, engravings, enhanced technical files, etc, are all (yours). You "technically, do not even need to explain this, as it's "the law".  As we know, not everyone knows every inch of the law, so it's common to assist your customer with a definition or explanation explaining what they are buying and what they are paying for.


Think about this,  when they pay a screen fee, and they asked for the screens, would you give it to them because they paid a screen fee?  What about films,  what about any balance of unused PMS mach mixed up that they paid an extra fee for? Do you give them that?


When someone pays for a service, they are paying for your skilled service not your materials that carry your skills along with it... to another shop.  I'm sure you all also build in to account for the phone time, office paper under day to day exp. but this thinking would also then require you to hand over all paper materials to take the order (since somewhere, they are paying for them) right?  Kinda ridiculous when you look at it deeper.


Art fees, screen fees, etc. all micl. fees are all actually "labor fees" or fees for making the materials needed to produce their order. They are not fees for the customer to own the actual item and to assist you in educating your customer, you should indicate those (as such) on your order forms.


As always, Each individual can and will do what they want in the end.


Dan

[Homer]

send them the original files back that they sent you. they paid you for your time to work on the files, they don't own it...

or...if you were me...

send the films down the dryer and mail them out..free of charge!

[mk162]

i had something very similar recently, PITA customer, wasn;t happy with the tiny text on a pique knit shirt, but we weren't allowed to change the layout.

hi company had paid for one logo, but not the one he didn't like.  So when he asked for his logo, I sent him the one that wad paid for and explained that the other was never paid for and he didn't like it, so we wouldn't be sending it to him. 

He didn't take it well...but if he didn't like the final product, so why would he even ask for the file.

[screenxpress]

or...if you were me...

send the films down the dryer and mail them out..free of charge!

You are EVIL! 

I knew there was a good reason I liked you.   

[Sbrem]

I'm with Dan. You do have to state things clearly, because people suck, and you can't assume anything. Them paying  you for your labor you have to do in order to make their art come out on a shirt does not entitle them to the files. As Homer said, send them back the original files they sent you. Now, with that being said, you can work with them if you choose, but I don't think you actually owe them anything technically.


Steve

[jvanick]

just export them out as 72dpi jpeg files and send them those

[mooseman]

they are  going to take the business away from you , YOU KNOW THIS.
The fee you charged was to make their art suitable for your work and they paid you for your time and effort on that issue.
I would send them a  quality jpeg of the art image you created along side the low quality original art they supplied and thank them for their business.
When they ask for the vector art or films tell them that production ready work product is available at added cost and price the snot out of the files you already have.
let us know what shakes out.
mooseman

[ericheartsu]

all this is very helpful. thank you so much!

 I've sent them the digitized file, but nothing else.

of course this customer ordered 24 shirts. Always the smallest orders, biggest pains

[Frog]

In defense of some of these custys, let me talk about one of mine from just a week or two back.
Plumbing company, ordered a variety of shirt colors, two different design styles, as well as hats for their crew.

They only came to me because their previous printer had closed his operation. No art, just old shirts with designs going back more than than forty years for one!
This time around, they specified that they would like copies of their new art files to not once again be left in a lurch when their new supplier, me, is gone in a few years.
I spelled out the whole thing, even how transfer of licence is not automatic in the industry, upped my art prep fee a bit, and gave them both usable files as well as peace of mind.
They warned me that they only order every two or so years, but I'm pretty sure that they will be back (if I am still pushing ink)

[MrBreeze]

When we charge to work with a customer's bad art we list the charge on the invoice as "Convert customer art for screenprinting"  We do not charge sales tax because it is clearly labor.  In addition when we charge contract print customers for screens we list it as "Setup Charge" and again do not charge sales tax because it is labor.  All of our proof sheets clearly state that all artwork prepared for the order remains our property.  If you are consistent and handle this in advance you will avoid future problems.  If we have a customer that wants to take there art and go elsewhere we offer to sell them the files.