♪ Muffin's Ordering Guide
Are you completely new to commissioning artwork?
Are you about to place an order with me?
Maybe just wondering what my process is?
You're on the right page, read on~
These are only my personal preferences, other artists will have different workflows and require different information!
Are you about to place an order with me?
Maybe just wondering what my process is?
You're on the right page, read on~
These are only my personal preferences, other artists will have different workflows and require different information!
My Process
Sketch commissions usually take two phases to complete, while a typical full colour commission takes about four stages. Some projects need more back-and-forth than others, particularly if designing is involved.
Here are some examples of my colour commission process:
Here are some examples of my colour commission process:
1. Planning
By far the messiest stage, but this is completely normal, you just have to trust in the process!
I will roughly sketch up some poses or layout thumbnails for you so we have a basic starting point. At this stage, if you can't choose what to move forward with, it's okay to pick a couple for me to take into the next stage.
It is important to specify at the start if you need the artwork to be a certain size as it will be more difficult later. I will default to 300dpi with at least 1000px on its longest side.
By far the messiest stage, but this is completely normal, you just have to trust in the process!
I will roughly sketch up some poses or layout thumbnails for you so we have a basic starting point. At this stage, if you can't choose what to move forward with, it's okay to pick a couple for me to take into the next stage.
It is important to specify at the start if you need the artwork to be a certain size as it will be more difficult later. I will default to 300dpi with at least 1000px on its longest side.
2. Sketch
This is where I tidy up the initial idea to give you more of a tangible preview of how it's going to look when completed. Sometimes this stage poses a few more options to be decided on before lineart begins.
This is where I tidy up the initial idea to give you more of a tangible preview of how it's going to look when completed. Sometimes this stage poses a few more options to be decided on before lineart begins.
3. Lineart
The lines are the most time-consuming part of the process for me, so please don't panic if it takes me a few weeks to complete yours.
This is the last opportunity to request substantial changes to the artwork before the final stage.
The lines are the most time-consuming part of the process for me, so please don't panic if it takes me a few weeks to complete yours.
This is the last opportunity to request substantial changes to the artwork before the final stage.
4. Colour
The most exciting part, where it all comes together! This is the final stage of colour artwork so please don't hesitate to let me know if you think anything needs adjusting. It's my goal that you be as happy as possible with your commission. Only small edits to the construction are allowed at this point, though changes to the colour palette are free reign. Large edits at this point may incur a fee.
I will send you the high resolution 300dpi files via Google Drive links, in jpg or png format, and at least 1000px on its longest side. I can often provide various smaller sizes or focussed crops on request, just ask.
The most exciting part, where it all comes together! This is the final stage of colour artwork so please don't hesitate to let me know if you think anything needs adjusting. It's my goal that you be as happy as possible with your commission. Only small edits to the construction are allowed at this point, though changes to the colour palette are free reign. Large edits at this point may incur a fee.
I will send you the high resolution 300dpi files via Google Drive links, in jpg or png format, and at least 1000px on its longest side. I can often provide various smaller sizes or focussed crops on request, just ask.
Order Information
For reference, here are some of the questions my order form will ask you, in case you would like to prepare your information ahead of time!
- Commission type and size:
- Number of characters:
- Names of characters:
- Character details:
•
•
• - How would you like them drawn?:
- How would you like to be credited?:
How to fill in the form
1a. Commission type
Please tell me the style of artwork you're looking to order. If all types are on offer, this means one of the below:
- sketch
- sketch page
- soft colour
- flat colour
- reference sheet
1b. Commission size
I also need to know how much of your characters you would like me to draw. Prices are listed for sizes:
- bust shot (head to bust)
- half body (head to hips)
- full body (head to toe)
It's possible that the artwork you want to order may be a combination of a few different sizes (ex. one full length character, another half), so please mention that here. If you're not sure what would work best, we can discuss it afterwards, just give me an idea of how big you're willing to go!
Please tell me the style of artwork you're looking to order. If all types are on offer, this means one of the below:
- sketch
- sketch page
- soft colour
- flat colour
- reference sheet
1b. Commission size
I also need to know how much of your characters you would like me to draw. Prices are listed for sizes:
- bust shot (head to bust)
- half body (head to hips)
- full body (head to toe)
It's possible that the artwork you want to order may be a combination of a few different sizes (ex. one full length character, another half), so please mention that here. If you're not sure what would work best, we can discuss it afterwards, just give me an idea of how big you're willing to go!
2. Number of characters
This is the number of subjects you want drawn in a single piece. Humanoid or large monsters count as 1, though I will discount pets or smaller characters.
This is the number of subjects you want drawn in a single piece. Humanoid or large monsters count as 1, though I will discount pets or smaller characters.
3. Names of characters
Self explanatory! I will always try to refer to your characters properly when writing up the artwork description afterwards.
Self explanatory! I will always try to refer to your characters properly when writing up the artwork description afterwards.
4. Character details
This is the section where most of your information should go, but that doesn't mean it needs to be paragraphs of history and world lore. Please try to keep it short and simple!
A short summary of the most important parts about the visual references, and a few words to describe your character's personality is usually enough. Try slimming it down to a list of points for clarity!
- characters' personalities and their relationship with each other in a few words
- heights, ages, ethnicity, and body type if not immediately obvious
- important design elements that you would like me to emphasise
- details I can't tell from the visual references alone, or that are different
This is the section where most of your information should go, but that doesn't mean it needs to be paragraphs of history and world lore. Please try to keep it short and simple!
A short summary of the most important parts about the visual references, and a few words to describe your character's personality is usually enough. Try slimming it down to a list of points for clarity!
- characters' personalities and their relationship with each other in a few words
- heights, ages, ethnicity, and body type if not immediately obvious
- important design elements that you would like me to emphasise
- details I can't tell from the visual references alone, or that are different
5. How would you like them drawn?
Please give me a short description of what you had in mind. Ask yourself what you would really like to see from this piece!
This could mean the artwork's overall theme, the kind of emotion it should have, directions of character poses or a specific scene you want to see portrayed, etc.
If you can't quite decide, it's okay to list off some ideas for me to choose from too!
Please give me a short description of what you had in mind. Ask yourself what you would really like to see from this piece!
This could mean the artwork's overall theme, the kind of emotion it should have, directions of character poses or a specific scene you want to see portrayed, etc.
If you can't quite decide, it's okay to list off some ideas for me to choose from too!
6. How would you like to be credited?
Do you want to be credited on social media when I post the artwork? If so, please tell me the handle for your twitter, tumblr etc. Otherwise, a name will do!
Do you want to be credited on social media when I post the artwork? If so, please tell me the handle for your twitter, tumblr etc. Otherwise, a name will do!
reference images explained
Visual references are extremely important. Even if you don't have any art drawn of your character already, I'm happy to design them from descriptions for a fee appropriate to the size of the piece.
Images of the clothing you'd like them to wear, IRL face claims, even photos of how you would like them posed will really help me to capture them for you if you have a very specific image in mind! Google Images is your friend :D
When preparing your images, please make use of the crop and brightness adjustment tools on your photo viewer if you can.
Images of the clothing you'd like them to wear, IRL face claims, even photos of how you would like them posed will really help me to capture them for you if you have a very specific image in mind! Google Images is your friend :D
When preparing your images, please make use of the crop and brightness adjustment tools on your photo viewer if you can.
Things that are very helpful for me:
- Clarification on images that are to be strictly followed and those that just serve as inspiration
- Different angles of your character's face and outfit if possible
- Full body shots of all clothing or separate references of each, including footwear if your commission is a full body!
- Try to make sure that any in-game screenshots are cropped down to focus on the subject, well lit in daylight and taken from different angles, even listing the important item names for me if possible
- Doodles of poses or composition if you have your heart set on something very specific
- Image filenames that are either numbered by importance or with descriptive titles
If you don't have any visual references already, consider taking screenshots from any game that lets you make a character in the creation screen, such as FFXIV, Dragon Age, The Sims, and most MMOs in general. Alternatively, cartoon avatar or even those old doll maker sites from the 00s are also extremely valid options that can be used to throw together the bare bones of a character's appearance. It just gives me something solid to work from, and can help you dodge the full design fee!
If you're looking to commission a very specific pose or composition, believe me when I say that even a small doodle or two of what you have in mind can help me SO MUCH when I translate your request into artwork.
Finally, an example of naming or numbering your images according to what and how important they are. It saves me having to do it myself when I download them :D