Earlier, a fellow novelist published a blog post on Hatena’s anonymous diary service about his entrusted illustrator to create a cover for his comrades
The author has written a novel for many years. About 10 years ago, she first invited someone to paint a cover for her doujinshi. However, her small description is Happy End, the cover that the painters handed in is always gray and heavy, and the characters are gloomy and sad. Moreover, most of these covers have no background, just a little texture. She did not ask for rework and asked for rework. She could only complain in her heart: Why didn’t I give instructions, it would always become the cover of the same kind?
And a few years later, there was an unpleasant experience. She commissioned the artist who painted the cover, sent an e-mail requesting confirmation of the sketch when she was watching the movie, and expressed the hope that it would be “solved” within today and asked her to give a reply as soon as possible. In desperation, she can only use the mobile phone and the painter to communicate during the film screening process, completely losing the mood to watch the movie. When she returned home, the artist had handed over the finished manuscript. However, the manuscript completely ignored her instructions, and the color, resolution, font, and even her community name were all wrong
This incident has hurt her. Since then, she has not commissioned the cover for the painter for many years. Seeing that other writers and painters are in close communication, they only have envy
She also understands that her own state is not healthy. Because the cover is hurt, it can only be cured by the cover. So, a few years later, she once again took courage and made a commission to the artist
This time, the painter is good at the picture of lively joy. She thought that if she was the painter, she would not draw a frowning cover. Moreover, the cover that the artist painted for others is very meticulous, not only the characters, but also the background, architecture and natural scenery, props, etc. in the works are drawn with great care
She thought that her work can also be accompanied by such a cover, how happy it is; but at the same time, half of her has already given up, I think it will not be so, because before that, there was never a painter. She has painted such a picture
Sure enough, when she received the sketch submitted by the artist, she realized that she had failed
She forgot to designate the artist to draw a “smile”
The characters on the cover are gloomy. The background is also very rough, just a texture
The author began to blame himself, thinking that the painters painted the cover for themselves is not as detailed as the cover for others, and that it is not a two-painter, but almost all the painters who have dealt with it, because of their own The work has no charm and cannot stimulate the motivation of the artist to paint, so the painters are only dealing with the errands
She thinks that the painters are so busy, but take the time to paint the cover for her. She only has the gratitude, no right to complain, only to feel sad
(https://anond.hatelabo.jp/20190519061244).
Although the author is very emotional, many people who actually work on the creation, whether they are the writers of the order or the artist who took the order, seem to be unable to understand her distress: “Why don’t I give instructions?” It will always become the cover of the same thing.” Because you did not give instructions!
Network CartoonistベニガシラEven think that the artists who painted the cover of the author are very good. These painters may have carefully studied the cover of her past works and then concluded: “The author likes the dark atmosphere. The background is not too thin to highlight the characters.” So they all surrendered the same. Cover
(https://twitter.com/poppoyakiya/status/1171940622141231104).
Many novelists will give very detailed instructions to the illustrator. And many illustrators also happy customers to clear their needs and reduce their own burden
Even some people will automatically draw sketches and let the illustrator understand the cover they want
同人作者さよのすけIn the same gameplay script, the partner illustrator was inconsistent with the illustration, adding a lot of trouble. The illustrator told her: “No matter how rough the sketch is, it is completely different from the one. So give me a sketch.” She also learned that the impression in the brain is only output by herself. The sketch is very important
The following two are the sketches that she asked the artist to draw on the cover and the pictures that the artist completed
(https://twitter.com/sayonosuke/status/1171736303332757504).
…… Such a sketch is also a test of art. At least I can’t draw it
I can’t draw more than one. Network novelist YamadaまるOnce worked as a script in a company, the company told her: “When commissioning an illustration, if the screenwriter does not draw a compositional sketch to the illustrator, it is rude.” So, Yamada Struggling to draw a composition of the grass, sent the past, the illustrator immediately called her, forced to laugh, said: “I can not see www wwwwwww”.
(https://twitter.com/maru_yamada/status/1171718455155777537).
Fortunately, even if you don’t paint yourself, there are ways to let the illustrator understand his intentions
The cartoonist Daisuke was commissioned to receive illustrations of the novel. On the customer’s instruction form, the draft of the free material website “Irasutoya” was compiled into a draft, which made her understand what the customer wanted her to paint at a glance. She also hopes that this practice will be universal, whether it is a professional or amateur customer
(https://twitter.com/sleeper_is_mine/status/1171722653675094016).
But the profession has a specialization, and the writing must be in the form of an image to give instructions to the painting, there is always a sense of self-inflicted. Still use words to clearly express needs, and better to avoid weaknesses
An anonymous former light novel editor shared his thoughts on commissioning illustrations in Hatena’s anonymous diary
- Ask for the requirements that match the draft fee.
- Thinking “This picture will take a few working days to draw.” If you entrust a commercial illustrator, the income of the other party must be at least 200,000 yen / month, which is 10,000 yen / working day. A color map will take at least 5 working days, or 50,000 yen, plus a 10% tax
- This is the pricing of the commercial benchmark, and some writers will definitely find this price too expensive. If you can’t provide such a high salary, you need to make all kinds of financing, reduce the burden of thinking of the illustrator, and try not to give ambiguous instructions
- All requirements are required at the outset.
- Illustrator number.
- Color or black and white, if it is color, is CMYK or RGB.
- Dimensions and resolutions (not “library size”, but to “105 x 148mm, 3mm left and right, 3mm blank, page size 111x154mm, 350dpi”).
- Use (is the cover or the title page, whether it will be published online, whether there is an electronic version of the plan, etc.).
- Schedule the pre-delivery schedule (the schedule should be fine, and the schedule of “○○ will be completed before XXX” will be determined on the premise of sketches, line drawings, and coloring.)
- In the beginning, I hope that the number of sketches proposed by the other party (don’t wait for the other party to submit a sketch to say “I don’t think so differently”, and let the other party submit a completely different draft. At the beginning, we must reach an agreement: Two sketches, one of them”).
- Consider the reasonable draft fee for all the above requirements.
- Set up several levels for the requirements.
- Absolutely can’t change / In principle, I hope to follow.
- want to follow as much as possible.
- If possible, I hope to follow, but not reluctantly.
- I have not decided here, I hope you will come up with an idea if possible.
- This is to prevent the illustrator from becoming a “machine that draws on purely on request” and to ensure the predictability of the illustrator’s work
- For rework, you must also agree in advance, such as: “Remove only at most once” “If you request a repair, you will submit it 24 hours after receiving the manuscript.”
- Especially when the fee is low, it is necessary to stipulate that “absolutely no rework is required (or at most ○ repairs only)”, reducing the uneasiness of the illustrator
- Don’t light up a novel manuscript in the past.
- The manuscript of the fictional novel is more or less difficult to read. Don’t force the illustrator to read your text, and use other forms to clarify the needs.
- But at the same time, in order to let the illustrator understand the atmosphere of the work, it is also necessary to send the original.
- For example, if you want the illustrator to draw a picture of the girl, you must prompt in advance.
- Hairstyles.
- Clothing.
- Theme color.
- character.
- Composition.
- Illustrators with backgrounds are not ~~~ often difficult to draw, the overall workload will double. If you ask the illustrator to paint the background, you should start by saying it.
- Light increases a character, and the labor of thinking about it is doubled. Therefore, I hope that the number of characters drawn by the illustrator should also be raised from the beginning.
- Confirm the other party’s situation.
- If you are an illustrator of a commercial debut, be sure to confirm the other’s schedule first, and give priority to each other’s business activities.
- If you ask the other party to not draw anything, you should estimate the workload to Da Li.
- Give the schedule a free flow.
- The schedule is bound to be delayed.
(https://anond.hatelabo.jp/20190911220815).
Of course, illustrators are also diverse. The editor believes that the nuances of the illustrator can reduce the workload of the illustrator thinking, but for the illustrator; but the illustrator does not necessarily hold the same view
Illustratorニリツmeans that it is not just painting, according to his experience, when commissioning work, if he can set the purpose of painting, he will It will be better to draw. For example, “The most important thing is to attract attention.” “People who want to see will feel happy” “I want a cool impression” and so on. Thinking about composition according to purpose is the role of their illustrator, so he would be more grateful if he could free him
ニリツthe so-called “purpose” is the so-called “concept”. When he is in a meeting with the client, the two parties will look for and confirm this “concept”. And he believes that customers with clear concepts have an advantage
The illustrations in business work are basically based on the premise of “selling pictures”; in the meeting, “how to sell, how to sell” will be different every time.And for the same person to entrust, the options should be more abundant (for example, it doesn’t matter if you don’t sell well), so you need to confirm it
(https://twitter.com/Ann_NH/status/1171793371179843584)
The illustrator, Shimizu Yoichi, said that the painter has the type of “giving a detailed instruction that will improve the quality of the painting”, as well as “the type of good drawing that can be drawn with fewer instructions.” Therefore, people who are not accustomed to entrusting others to paint, it is best to ask clearly at the beginning, is it better to indicate finer?
If the person who draws a good picture is less likely to make repeated amendments, it may complete the horrible work; in turn, the indication given to the quality of the painting will be blurred. The other party can never establish the impression of the picture. This is a common unfortunate case
(https://twitter.com/you629/status/1171898814002679809).
And the illustrator side can’t always hope for the expressive ability of the customer
Illustratorさいとうなおきmeans that the painters can draw a lesson from this matter. If you can grasp the real needs of customers, understand that “you give My request is like this, but in fact, the picture you want is like that?”, then you will be more valuable than other artists
さいとうi have worked with many well-known big companies in the publishing and gaming industries. According to his experience, 80% of the power of attorneys will be wrong somewhere. It is better to say that if someone can write a power of attorney that is completely correct, then this person is already a “god artist”
(https://twitter.com/_NaokiSaito/status/1171913999115415553)