How would you price these covers?

[vapidink]

Thinking of selling some covers, but I dunno how much to charge. I'm hoping you all can help out, so how much would you charge/pay for something like this mock-up cover? I also do character art/sketches, but those are easier to figure out, lol. And I just bought a better art program too, so covers would probably be neater.

For further reference, I also do my own covers. (Second one is just the base art.)

[DarkChibiShadow]

I think the price should def depend on if the person you're selling to will be selling the novel too. (Aka, selling a product where your art is the first thing someone sees) Most indie folks can't afford to pay out royalties, so if you take out a little bit more ahead of time, I think that'd be a good decision.

Ball parking it, if you didn't do anything more complicated than this, $70 might be a good starting point, and if you the person you're selling to is gonna be selling their novel somewhere else, bump that up to $140. And then, go from there.

If you think that pricing is too low-- then raise it! You at least now have a point that you know/feel is too low for you. Hope this helps!

[Kaydreamer]

How many hours do they take you? You want to be earning at least minimum wage for your time, though given that art is a specialised and sought-after skill, it ought to be much higher.

Generally, a real low-ball price for a novel cover is around $250, and they go up from there.

[vapidink]

Yeah, I figured I should ask for more when it's for commercial use, though I doubt I'd get a request like that, lol. I also do really simple covers for those that like a cleaner look, so those would be cheaper because they don't take as long. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

@Kaydreamer That's what I wanted to go with initially, but I'm not sure I can do that because it depends on how well thought out the idea is and the details. Sometimes I'll finish a cover in an hour or two and other times it takes me a lot longer even though they're around the same difficulty. It'll be faster once I get a display tablet, and hopefully that'll make the time it takes me more consistent. Maybe I should wait until then.

[Ordinaryaverageguy]

I've mentioned this before where people insisted that hourly min wage was the way to set prices... min wage is for buying a person's labor, their time at a job but a piece of art is a product not labor. Apples & oranges, kinda, see?

A buyer probably isn't interested much in how long I work to make a cover. Just wants a nice looking one at an affordable price. If I'm not fast & efficient, & charge $15/hr or more, I may very well chase the buyer to someone else. I have to consider what others ask for the same sort of work, too.

Also, using min wage, we end up with the fast, efficient workers selling the same piece cheaper than other artists. Or artists who live where hourly min wage is different. Different prices but the same product, so the slower workers get edged out.

If I really want to sell, I may not be able to insist on the hourly min wage. If I don't really need the cash, then I can ask whatever I want.

I know this isn't a popular view. I know that pricing by the piece competitively can mean I'd have been better off economically working cashier at the grocery store instead of drawing.

Thoughts?

[tapiyokastudios]

I think a safe range would be over $60 and under $110 USD (priced per project). I like the second one the most (maybe I am biased because I create a mystery/crime comic xD)

[Lirina]

I just bought a novel cover for $130, including commercial rights, which I expect to be similar in quality compared to yours

[vapidink]

Thank you, that sounds like a good range. Lol, I think the third one fits more into the mystery category but I see what you mean! XD

[vapidink]

Oh interesting, thanks for your input!

[RedLenai]

Well, If it were me then first I would check out other people with similar art styles to mine and their prices, see what they offer, compare quality, making notes regarding offers and prices. Keeping in mind that, I think about the time that it takes me to make a specific work, about my needs, if I have to pay my roof, food, etc.

Some charge differently depending if they are doing only a face-to-bust, or face-to-the-waist or a fullbody. As well some other people charge depending on extra characters, type of background, if it's simple or detailed. Some may charge extra depending if it's for personal/non-profitable use or if it's for commercial use.

In my case I don't charge for the type of use the clients gives to the drawing, nor if it's a fullbody or a bust.
I recently changed my prices, but cel shaded work was $40 USD a character, $25 extra character and $25 background. So $90 USD. Here are some samples

In my case I work with images around the 4500 x 6750n at 200dpi which I give to the client once the work is both paid and finished. Then I use a smaller version like these ones to show the work online, with a watermark. The client however can do whatever they want with the picture, even sell prints or whatever, I don't mind.

As I previously mentioned, those were the old prices, now a work like this is $50 main character, $30 extra character and $30 background. $110 USD. I have to increase the prices due to my country devaluating the currency, again. personally speaking I fidget a lot when it comes to increase the prices but that's why is important to keep in mind your needs, your overall situation, the time it takes you, and so on.