I'm here to pick the collective 12st brain. I've spent a lot of time doing web work, but lately I've been doing more and more print work. Now a client is looking for someone to take over the production of 9-15 reports a year, ranging from 30 to 200 pages.

I've been using this to calculate costs:

*Cover Design: **1 ½ hours **Pro forma design and page layouts: **6 hours **Layout: **1 hour per page x Amount of pages **Pre-press: **3 hours **Consumables: * Equal to 1-2 hours

Is there an industry standard for pricing this? I'm competing against 2 agencies. I'm not really worried about that, cause I know they've been screwing over the client. I'm more interested in not screwing over myself.

I dont know but 1 hr per page sounds like a whole lot. I mean why do a template if its then going to take you an hour to do each page?

The last book I laid out here is roughly 230 pages. It took us 3 days to go from our database to proofed. If you're working an 8 hr day you're claiming that same book would've taken you over a month to layout?

The thing is that it's not a templated design - it's not a question of dropping the text and pics into a set areas. Each page is custom; I included the editting of pics into that hour. I've worked with the manager before, and it's guaranteed that the text isn't finalised.

The reason why is presented in this fashion, is cause they prefer it that way.

sorry I haven't dropped in to spot this question, Napalm

Originally posted by: Napalm I've been using this to calculate costs:

[quote] *Cover Design: **1 ½ hours **Pro forma design and page layouts: **6 hours **Layout: **1 hour per page x Amount of pages **Pre-press: **3 hours **Consumables: * Equal to 1-2 hours

[/quote]

I would say you are giving a very conservative quote by these numbers.

All you have to point out is the "1 ½ hours for a cover design" to make that point. You've got "1 ½ hours" of billable time if you set their text in white on a black page, given that you say "it's guaranteed that the text isn't finalised"

that's the kicker right there. it's guaranteed that the text isn't finalised.

"isn't finalised" makes this a very scary proposition.

how many changes? I was trained as an intern that projects don't even begin untill the text is finalized. M44 posted recently that he does his own proofing. Text isn't finalised my ass. You finalize the text, I lay it into the document, you edit.

EDIT. that does not mean fill the fucking page and re=write everything. text is finalized before layout. period. otherwise they let you know how much they will pay for their own lack of prepairedness.

A good idea is to charge for corrections seperately. Those are the time killers

If each page is custom, why would you charge for the cover design seperately?

I just looked at a invoice i send on a brochure where each page were custom, 24 pages

4 hours concept 20 hours art direction 4 hours dtp

Originally posted by: Cone Graff If each page is custom, why would you charge for the cover design seperately?

interesting question. as best I can recollect, covers have always been designed seperately at each shop, or for each group that I have worked in.

I guess this has to do more with the client and the art director or shop management than anything else. In my first shop, the art director designed the covers for catalogues. He did not ever do any page layout. ever. he designed ads... or parts, but not layout. covers were also prestigious for other art directors, they spent as much time on cover design as all the layout production might take. those covers now take up framed photo positions in conference rooms.

I've never been afforded the luxury of time for that kind of game.

Imagine you put the same amount of time and dedication into the entire brochure, as you put into the cover. The World would be a little bit prettier

Hiya Cone, nice to see ya posting.

Originally posted by: Media44 Hiya Cone, nice to see ya posting.

Nice that you Think it's Nice :p