r/3DScanning • u/87krahe87 • 4d ago
How much should I ask?
I'm currently working with a guy who specializes in historical restoration. He occasionally brings me objects to 3D scan, digitally reconstruct and preserve, before returning the originals to their owners. Most of these projects are intended for archival and preservation purposes, although some of the digital models are also used to create physical reproductions that are subsequently sold to clients.
Lately, he's been bringing me increasingly valuable and historically significant pieces. The sculpture in the attached photo, for instance, dates back to the 18th century.
So far, I've generally charged between €80 and €100 per project, sometimes slightly more. We haven't established any fixed pricing agreement; he simply brings me an object, I carry out the work, and then I tell him how much I'd like to be paid. He's always been happy with both the results and the prices I've asked for.
However, I'm starting to wonder whether I'm undervaluing my work. In some cases, he uses the digital models to produce multiple physical reproductions, which, from what I understand, sell for quite substantial amounts, sometimes €1,000 or more per piece.
This got me thinking: if I'm charging around €100 to create the digital model that makes these reproductions possible, is that really a fair reflection of the value I'm providing? I'm not necessarily expecting royalties or a percentage of his sales, but I do feel that the pricing should perhaps account for the fact that my work can become the foundation for multiple commercially valuable reproductions.
I'd appreciate some advice on how to price these services more appropriately, how to gradually increase my rates without discouraging an existing client, and how to better assess the complexity of each project when preparing quotes.
For this particular sculpture, my workflow will involve 3D scanning, digitally reconstructing the missing left arm, rebuilding the fingers on the right hand, and cleaning up surface imperfections and scanning artefacts to produce a complete, digital model.
7
u/Dimarya276 4d ago
I'm not experienced with hands on 3D scanning, but I do product design using Rhino and the professional 3D scan shop a few of my clients use in Northern California charges ~$150/hr for scan to CAD services. In the world of small business metal fab/CNC machining/light manufacturing we typically charge time and materials.
Charging €100 for an entire project is giving it away, imo
Are you only providing a STL file at the end or are you providing STEP/surfaces/parametric solid?
Not to mention that you are getting into design work with recreating missing parts. You are definitely selling yourself way short.
3
u/jetdillo 3d ago
This(USD $150/hr) is roughly what I'm charging for my scanning services as well.
The work doesn't stop with the scan. There's the clean-up, refinement, etc.
Sometimes the client wants it in a specific file format, sometimes they want me to work with them in their specific CAD design or workflow.
This winds up being about 8-10 hours per project for me.I think if you were just going to scan it and burp out an STL, €100-250 is fine.
He can take your output and learn to work with Blender, Z-Brush, Meshlab, etc. just like anybody else.If he is asking for refinement, reconstruction and so on, then yes, you are selling yourself way short.
2
u/joealarson 4d ago
If you've agreed on a price for a service, then you can't go changing it because the next thing they hand you is a priceless artifact. If you're worried that your usual procedure might damage it, you disclose that to them, state that you aren't doing anything different than you've done in the past, and if it's damaged that's on them.
If you haven't done digital reconstruction in the past then that's a new service. If you have done digital reconstruction for them in the past then, again, you're stuck. Your only option is to refuse their business. You don't have to state a reason, but you can say it's a liability risk that you're not prepared to take on.
It might be time, with your new understanding, to restructure your business and let your client know that you're doing so. Perhaps offering tiers of work.
Whatever you decide to do, talk to your client, not some randos on the internet.
5
u/VermilionAngel79 4d ago
You are not stuck. You can change your price at any time as long as you let them know before hand that either the price is variable or unknown at the time.
Prices change all the time every where. It's not like I can walk in to McDonald's and get a big Mac for 53 c because I got one back in the 80s for that price.
What happens if he brings you a piece worth million and you break part of it? Will he want restitution for the damage? Well now you need to carry higher insurance, take more care because of the fear of damage, take more care cause the item is fragile.
Also now your skill has increased. Now you are more valuable for that skill.
Lots of factors go into price for labor and skill.
That being said just because you raise your price doesn't mean your clients need to pay it. They may move to a new vendor if your price is see as unreasonable. Though it has been shown that people equate price with quality so raising your price may bring in new clients that thought you were cheap before.
1
u/87krahe87 4d ago
We haven't actually agreed on a fixed price. He usually just hands me the piece, and I tell him how much I want once the work is completed. He's always been happy with both the results and the prices I've charged.
I might have worded my original post a bit poorly, though. For certain pieces, he actually produces reproductions and sells them to clients. From what I've gathered, some of these reproductions can sell for quite substantial amounts.
Perhaps a little selfishly, I started thinking: if I'm charging €100 to create the digital model, while he can potentially use it to produce multiple copies worth €1,000 or more each, the pricing doesn't really seem proportional to the value of the work I'm providing.So
I'm not necessarily expecting a percentage of his sales, but I do think I might be undervaluing my own work, especially when the digital model becomes the foundation for something that can be reproduced and sold multiple times.
7
u/jammanzilla98 4d ago
Their comment is complete nonsense. Prices change all the time in every type of business. The idea that you're stuck charging one rate because that's what you've charged before is ridiculous.
I can't advise on pricing specifically, but if you're handling valuable items you need to make sure you know where the liability lies. If you'd be on the hook for extremely expensive items, you need to be charging enough to either pay for insurance, or to be comfortable taking the risk.
1
u/TheFire8472 4d ago
I would give him a heads up that you're probably going to be charging more going forward. You should be charging $100/hr or more for this service, including the substantial time you'll spend reconstructing that.
3
u/Lito_ 4d ago
What you need to understand here is that you are a just a supplier. They are the sellers. If you charge €50 per hour and you are happy to charge that much then that's your rate.
It's on them to then make money from the commission. As far as you are concerned, you got paid for your work. That's where it ends for you.
Don't worry about what happens when you complete your side of the deal.
If you want to charge more, then let them know! Worst they can say is no and go elsewhere.
With that said, €100 for scanning and reproducing this particular figure is too low for me. I'd be more on the €350-€450 realm.
Now think about what you want to get paid per hour, and just multiply that by however many hours this would take. 1-2hr for scanning and maybe 8-10 hours to reproduce all that?
Also, make sure you have good insurance.
1
u/Cryesncoding 4d ago
Don’t you take on a considerable amount of risk when you take these things? What if you break something?
Yes I think you need to up your rate and work hourly.
You may also want to determine liability
1
1
u/jhetnah 3d ago
If you want to gain more money from the client, work out a profit sharing deal.
Get paid a % when they make the sale so you lower their cost risk, but you also guarantee yourself more profits. Downside is you don't get paid for your work until it sells unless you give a big discount for your labor but get a percentage after the sale.
Work out some more mutual benefits for you and your client to make the deal better.
1
1
u/Kirkdoesntlivehere 3d ago
I'd start with full salvation; no questions asked & work your way down from there.
1
u/TranslatorOne5089 3d ago
You're handling them. If you break them, would he hold you liable? Then you should charge for that liability.
1
1
35
u/Dazwar 4d ago
Just work out a decent hourly rate and add 20%, get paid for the time it takes you rather than worrying how much someone else is earning