ONLINE 3D Comics using DAZ-Has anyone done them and are you making decent money?
RKane_1
Posts: 3,039
Has anyone done them and are you making decent money?
Post edited by RKane_1 on
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I've made "beer money" with commission work on Deviant Art, which is more than I've made for modeling content in Blender, but i'd ask Bobvan, he seems to do okay with commission work.
If you want to commit to on-line comics the Comic business may be far more finicky in regards to making money then say commission work. Commissions are generally directed to a very specific audience - usually of one person with "a very specific" request.
Keep in mind if you have a moral conviction that marches to the hymn "Closer to thee, oh Lord" then Deviant Art commission work may not be for you.
I have and no.
I know of some people who make a living doing 3D comics, but it's niche erotic stuff, they work a lot, and they living in countries with fairly low costs of living than the U.S. or similar nations. It's probably easier to make a living with a drawn web comic. There are plenty of people who do pretty well at that, and not all of them are particularly talented artists (think xkcd)
What are these ... "morals" thing you speak of?
I am now and it's a moneypit. I've spent far more on content than I'll ever get back with my webcomic.
They sound expensive.
-- Walt Sterdan
If you are good enough, and willing to do some stuff you would go like "what is dissss..." and merge into their special community, then yes you can get some decent amount :)
I have made some money from commissions, and have released quite a few comics over the years.. But as another poster has said here, I have spent more on content getting those commissions than the commission has paid..
If you mean like a twice weekly or thrice weekly webcomic... sadly, those days are over. Unless you're extremely lucky, or one of the few who got in "on the ground floor" several years ago and even then were lucky, there's really nothing in webcomics.
I look at it as a way to partly pay for an expensive hobby. I have about 1,150 watchers on DA and post 800 pixel wide images along with text. If someone makes a donation (I suggest $30), they get full the sized renders. About 15 have done so. I've heard anything about one percent of watchers making a donation is high. This gave me about $1,300 last year (a few made fairly large contributions). I tried commissions - a few people better, but probably not enough to quit a day job. I gave that up as I prefer to work with my ideas.
For me basially it's a mechanism to shift money from a few watchers to Daz:-)
That's more or less my take, and probably the most I could hope to achieve (if my stuff is ever good enough): something to justify writing off part of that cost when tax time rolls around next April. Or the April after that, or the...
"Making decent money" is not really an advisable end goal of any creative endeavor other than porn. It can happen (and not that rarely) but it isn't a reason to start a project and it only happens to those who have worked long and hard without making money first.
Not to be too negative here, but take the time you'd spend building up a 3D repertoir, posing scenes, correcting collision errors (etc.) and rendering, and learn to draw. Drawing a comic takes a lot less time, and (IMO) is more rewarding.
You can still use 3D for modeling and basics, but 90% of the work is done either by hand, if you prefer that method, or in a painting program. (And I'm not talking about Photoshop.)
Meh. I constructed a couple of comic pages using Daz renders in a fraction of the time it would have taken me to draw something I was happy with. And I've spent years studying art, so YMMV on that.
I think your best bet, if you enjoy doing webcomics anyway, is to do it at a regular pace -- nothing kills viewer interest than a lack of dependability --and as you finish enough to publish as a book, gather the pages, add some extra material not available on the website, and publish digitally through places like Comixology and Amazon. Staying digital keeps your costs down (with the exception of the horrendous 3D content, mentioned by many above and echoed by my wife) and for relatively little extra effort you have a chance of expanding your audience -- someone may take a chance at Comixology and start following your website, and vice versa.
Personally I think the writing is the most important part -- sites like XKCD don't win awards for their art, but the writting is nothing short of brilliant and he meets his deadlines. If going the 3D route, I'd try to keep the art simple and clean and find a style that is consistent but doesn't take too long to produce. I can't emphasize enough the importance of consistancy and deadlines in comic publishing of any sort
There are a number of tutorial sites and books out there for doing webcomics, take a litlle extra time and research it. Above all, don't expect to "make it" too quickly; as others here have mentioned, there was a lot less competition even a few years ago, which is why I'd view the webcomics as your starting base, with an eye to expanding your market with your content.
Good luck with whatever you decide!
-- Walt Sterdan
I get as much satisfaction using Studio to create my webcomic as I would using pigments on paper.
Art is more than pretty pictures, and webcomics are the same. But webcomics are different from what is usually considered art, as they are a combination of several disciplines. There is, of course, the visual, the part created by pencil, pixel, or Studio. Then there is the art of the story, and even the art of motion, if your story requires multiple panels. But the images used to illustrate the story are only a small part of it.
Financially, it is not satisfying at all. But that's okay, my purpose for sharing my art was to let out the stories (and some memories) that have been bouncing around in my head for years, and that is greatly satisfying!
may you share a link to DA ?
trick question.
why?
you might as well ask who makes serious money making ANY KIND of comic. answer...very very few.
how many folks make serious money performing magic ? very very few
how many folks make good money doing stand up ? very very few.
it is the nature of ANY art.
only a few have what it takes to make serious money in art.
talent , match public desire , LUCK , time , the ability to SELL or an agent who can , timing
if by some mircle you can have all of this hit at the same time, you can make the big bucks.
so if your looking to make big bucks...don't do art.
if you just love art and don't care if you make anything at all...DO ART.
it is that simple.
Professional artist, here. Worked outside of DAZ for years selling prints and doing professional work as an illustrator. FYI.
Making decent money is the only goal as a professional artist unless you intend to do it as a hobby.
I have photoshop and Painter and Manga Studio (now Clip Studio) and a number of others. Still use Phooshop for a majority of the painting but move in between it and those other programs especially when I want a more pauinterly effect.
Solid advice! Thank you, sir. :)
Good advice as well. Thank you! :)
Apparently I have been lucky, then but never made "Big bucks" just semi-comfortable living. Our definition of "decent money" must differ.
Wow... what is up with all the jaded naysayers? I decline your negativity. Take it elsewhere.
Thanks to all who gave meaningful, positive insight. :)
I've done them, but for the fun of it, and to draw attention to my more profitable novels. In other words, mine were free (they're on hold at the moment).
There are several online who work in 3D. They don't charge for the comic itself, but offer special picture bundles of the characters in less than full clothing, and I think a few even offer solid merchandize like coffee cups and tee shirts. That approach may be something to keep in mind.
Thanks! Valuable input! :) Just trying to get an idea of a business model that is working. :)
I have been doing DA and online comics... I haven't made money yet, but it has at least offset my spending here and the hardware to do it quite a bit.
There's a few I know making money at it. I was purely doing 3D renders as a hobby, spending a fair amount at it on content and software. Now I'd like to make some money at it, like "beer money" after expenses or for some additional financial stability. I don't see it replacing my day job.
I attempted a web comic and used an ad system to try to raise revenue. If I ever go back to it I'll switch to asking for PayPal donations; it probably won't amount to much, but given a year with ads netted me maybe 10, 20 cents, the bar is easy to clear.
Commissions can be a lot more lucrative, if you can find a market
Im fairly new to this, but i think as with ANY form of art, it takes time, luck, and patience. No one in any artform became millionaires overnight. You have to establish an audience that likes your craft and grow from there. I started a webcomic last year, and have received nominal revenue from it, but i think im still VERY early in the game, and see a lot of growth that can stem from it. Everyone LOVES art... finding ones that love and willing to invest in YOUR art is the challenge... but is very possible.
Good Luck!
-MJ