Would you provide your layered files?

shellby · #1 10-08-2005, 11:47 PM

I have been asked to do a test retouch for a glossy Asian magazine. They have requested that the file be kept on layers. My first thought was to do the retouch, merge my work onto a new layer and call that RETOUCHED - then the other two layers would be ORIGINAL and BRIEF. I do not feel comfortable with providing my actual retouching layers raw. What are your thoughts on this?

Caitlin · #2 10-09-2005, 12:16 AM

I can see a valid reason for requesting the layered retouch once it is a paying job. But if the purpose of this is to judge your skill, then your layers should be immaterial to them. Are they providing the image to retouch, or are you?

shellby · #3 10-09-2005, 12:33 AM

They have provided me with an image to retouch. I would say it is a test of skill, yes.

Photo678 · #4 10-09-2005, 11:55 AM

sounds to me like the chumps are looking to get some work done for free.

Thank them for the opportunity and move on...i would be VERY surprised if they actually hired you for anything.

When samples are requested i always watermark the heck out of it and supply a lower res jpeg. Nobody is getting free work from me...they should know better then to ask for a usable file as a test, shame on them

shellby · #5 10-09-2005, 01:59 PM

They also said that they only pay £10 to £15 per image. Now this is a high-end fashion retouch that is about 3 or more hours worth of work! That is actaully under the min wage here (£5.05 per hour)

cricket1961 · #6 10-10-2005, 04:56 PM

Hi Shelby

I never ever turn over a layered file to a client. And when I do a retouching test for employment(when I had to) I never left a layered file for them to view either.
I always left them a flattened layer with the corrections combined so they could do a before and after though.

Chris

shellby · #7 10-10-2005, 05:35 PM

I have not provided my actual layers. I don't think that it would be worth my while anyway.

grafx · #8 10-11-2005, 07:10 AM

I NEVER give out my layered files unless I'm paid extra for them. I had a photographer once that wanted the layered so he could alter the images even more. I charged him more for the effort. Anyone not paying extra, I wouldn't give them the layered files - those are your work.

emarts · #9 10-11-2005, 11:53 AM

I have never charged extra for the layered PSD file. But then the only people asking for them are my commercial accounts (photographers and design firms). Technically (and I could be wrong here) they own the copyright to the photos anyway and it's no big deal for me to hand off the layered file. It's not unusual for them to make minor last minute changes (I know they aren't going to make any significant changes without me) to the images, and having the layered file makes that much easier for them. I see it as providing good customer service. And a good reason for them to continue to use my services. I am not interested in milking my customers for all I can get out of them.

For private work, I don't even tell my customers anything about layered files, and they never ask.

grafx · #10 10-11-2005, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emarts

I am not interested in milking my customers for all I can get out of them.

Are you saying by charging extra for cleaning up, clearly labeling layers and supplying a layered .PSD on disc is "milking" someone? I'd select some different wording.

goose443 · #11 10-11-2005, 01:47 PM

I would seriously think twice about handing over layered files. Where I work we are never allowed to hand over layered files or any native files for that matter... no matter who owns the copyrights to the materials. Clients are paying for the final product, not for the whole tool box.

Photo678 · #12 10-11-2005, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emarts

I have never charged extra for the layered PSD file. But then the only people asking for them are my commercial accounts (photographers and design firms). Technically (and I could be wrong here) they own the copyright to the photos anyway and it's no big deal for me to hand off the layered file. It's not unusual for them to make minor last minute changes (I know they aren't going to make any significant changes without me) to the images, and having the layered file makes that much easier for them. I see it as providing good customer service. And a good reason for them to continue to use my services. I am not interested in milking my customers for all I can get out of them.

For private work, I don't even tell my customers anything about layered files, and they never ask.

The original question had to do with sending layered files as a sample retouch for a possible job. I've also turned over layered files, as it is part of the biz

emarts · #13 10-12-2005, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grafx

Are you saying by charging extra for cleaning up, clearly labeling layers and supplying a layered .PSD on disc is "milking" someone? I'd select some different wording.

Whether or not the client asks for it, aren't you doing that anyway?

Just about every file I work on is layered and each layer has a name that makes sense. At the end of the day, the final artwork is flattened. Where's the extra work that I should charge for?

And just to be clear about copyrights. Depending on how you are hired (contractor vs. work-for-hire), everything you create, including the layered PSD file may belong to your client.

And no, I wouldn't hand over a layered PSD file just to get a job. But if I were to do a test job, I wouldn't watermark it either.

goose443 · #14 10-12-2005, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emarts

And just to be clear about copyrights. Depending on how you are hired (contractor vs. work-for-hire), everything you create, including the layered PSD file may belong to your client.

You may not have the right to use the layered files elsewhere because the client owns the copyright to the original material but if you contracted for the final retouched photograph, the client is entitled only to the photograph; not to the layered file used to create it. Of course other arrangements are possible and are often the case but you should not feel obligated to release native files unless specifically agreed upon in the contract.

emarts · #15 10-12-2005, 02:24 PM

That is true if you are hired as an independant contractor. If you are hired on a freelance basis (work-for-hire), which is generally paid by the hour, all your art belongs to your employer.

I suppose that if you are an independant contractor, you could argue that the layered files belong to you, but not the copyright. Unless you are the creator of the entire artwork. In which case you'd negotiate usage rights, not whether or not the client is entitled to the PSD files. That would be moot.