Café Noir

The Print & New Media Design
Trade Customs

1. Estimate

A preliminary projection of cost which is not intended to be binding. Estimates are based upon prevailing wages, the anticipated hours of work and cost of materials and supplies necessary to produce work in accordance with preliminary copy, style and specifications and are not binding upon the designer unless a firm quotation has been issued.

2. Quotation

A quotation is a fixed price for producing a given project. A quotation is firm unless otherwise specified. Quotations are subject to acceptance within 30 days and are based on the cost of labor and materials on the date of the quote. If changes occur in the cost of materials, labor or other costs prior to acceptance, the right is reserved to change the price quotes. Subsequent projects will be subject to price revision if required. Quotations do not include alterations or applicable sales tax unless otherwise specified.

3. Alterations

Alteration charges are incurred by a client when a change is made to: approved layout, approved manuscript, mechanicals or disk produced correctly or any new work not within the original specifications.

4. Overtime

Overtime is work performed by the designer in excess of the work schedule of the project. Overtime may be charged at the designers prevailing rates for this service.

5. Copyright/Ownership

Creative work such as sketches, illustrations, layouts, designs, icons, logos, etc. produced on paper, computer disks or any other medium, are protected under the 1976 copyright act. Until the designer transfers ownership rights, creative work remains the property of the designer. There can be no use of the designer’s work except upon compensation to be determined by the designer. Purchase orders issued after the completion of creative work, claiming the clients ownership of creative work, are not valid unless agreed upon by both parties.

6. Experimental Work

Experimental or preliminary work performed at the client's request will be charged at current rates and may not be used by the client until the designer has been reimbursed in full for the work performed. All experimental work performed by a designer without authorization of the client is not billable.

7. Condition of Copy

If original copy, disk or manuscript, furnished by the client to the designer differs from that which has been originally described and consequently quoted, the original quotation shall be amended or a new quotation will be issued.

8. Production Schedules

Production schedules will be established and adhered to by client and designer, provided that neither shall incur any liability or penalty for delays due to state of war, riot, civil disorder, fire, labor trouble, strikes, accidents, energy failure, equipment breakdown, delays of suppliers or carriers, action of government or civil authority and acts of God or other causes beyond the control of client or designer. Where production schedules are not adhered to by the client, final delivery date(s) will be subject to renegotiation.

9. Client's Property

It is the customer's responsibility to maintain a copy of the original file. The provider is not responsible for accidental damage to media supplied by the customer or for the accuracy of furnished input or final output. Until digital input can be evaluated by the provider, no claims or promises are made about the provider's ability to work with jobs submitted in digital format, and no liability is assumed for problems that may arise. Any additional translating, editing, or programming needed to utilize customer-supplied files will be charged at prevailing rates. The designer will maintain fire, extended coverage, vandalism, malicious mischief and sprinkler leakage insurance covering all property belonging to the client while such property is in designer's possession. The designer's liability for such property shall not exceed the amount recoverable from such insurance. Client's property of extraordinary value shall be specially protected, only if the client identifies the property as requiring extraordinary coverage. The matter of first reproduction rights with subsequent reproduction rights is subject to additional compensation.

10. Outright Purchase vs. Reproduction Rights

These terms should be established at the time of purchase. Outright purchase gives the buyer physical possession of the artwork, disk, or negatives, while reproduction rights and related copyright interests require the return of the original to the artist. Outright purchase does not give to the buyer commercial or private reproduction rights or any other copyright interests unless so stipulated in the purchase agreement. should be clearly understood at the time of purchase.

11. Re-use and Extended Use of Artwork, Disk or Negatives

Artwork disk or negatives purchased for a specific use cannot be re-used or adapted for other purposes than originally planned without additional compensation to the artist. If this possibility exists at the time of purchase, it should be so stated and the price adjusted accordingly. If re-use or adaptation occurs after purchase, the buyer should negotiate reasonable additional compensation with the artist. Whenever adaptation requires the services of an artist, and the creator has performed to the buyer's satisfaction, the artist should be given the opportunity to revise his own work.

12. Mark-ups

Any out-of-agency services or goods such as typography, printing, photography, etc., or materials used specifically for the completion of a given project will be billed to the client with an appropriate mark-up. This mark-up is a handling fee only and unless otherwise agreed, does not include any professional or management fees.

13. Speculation

Graphic designs should not be asked for on speculation by a client. Design contests, except for educational or philanthropic purposes, are also considered speculation and not a trade custom.

14. Terms

By assigning an order either verbally or in writing or by purchase order, the client agrees to the designer's terms of payment and late charges on unpaid balances prescribed to by the designer. Payment shall be whatever was set forth in quotation or invoice unless otherwise provided in writing. Disputes over invoices must be made by the client in writing within a period of fifteen (15) days after the client's receipt of the invoice in question. Failure to make such claim within the stated period shall constitute acceptance and an admission that the client agrees with the invoice submitted. If only a portion of the invoice is in dispute, it is the client's responsibility to pay the portion not in dispute within the terms of the invoice.

15. Liability

A designer is only liable for the correction of errors made during the design and mechanical processes. The ultimate proofing prior to printing is always the client's responsibility unless the designer accepts this responsibility in written agreement. In any instance, the designer cannot be liable for more than the design and mechanical costs of a job in dispute.

16. Indemnification

Copyright The client shall indemnify and hold harmless the designer from any and all losses, costs, expenses, and damages (including court costs and reasonable attorney fees) on account of any and all manner of claims, demands, actions, and proceedings that may be instituted against the designer on grounds alleging that the said designer unknowingly violated any copyrights or any proprietary right of any person. Any materials such as photographs, photostats, transparencies, drawings, paintings, maps, diagrams, etc. furnished by the client to the designer should be free and clear of any copyright or trademark infringements. The designer is indemnified against any liability pursuant to the client's failure to obtain correct usage rights and said materials.

Personal or economic rights. The customer also warrants that the work does not contain anything that is libelous or scandalous, or anything that threatens anyone's right to privacy or other personal or economic rights.

Any false statements knowingly or unknowingly given to the designer, by the client, to be used as factual information to promote a product or service shall remain the client's sole responsibility for substantiation. The designer is indemnified from any liability due to the client's negligence.

17. Print Management/ Press Inspections

If a designer performs a press inspection for a client, the client's responsibility for proofing remains in effect. If the client has signed a printer's blueline, the designer is not responsible for any errors reflected in the approved blueline or final proof. If the designer approves color on a press proof or any other color proof, the designer is only responsible for approving color acceptable by industry standards. The printer is responsible for ensuring that the subsequent press run matches the color within acceptable standards of the proof approved by the designer.

18. New Media

If a designer reviews a Website for a client, the client's responsibility for proofing remains in effect. If the client has approved a site’s content, the designer is not responsible for any errors reflected on the approved site. The client’s Webmaster is responsible for ensuring that the colors and images remain within the acceptable standards of what has been approved by the designer.

19. Telecommunications

Unless otherwise agreed, the customer will pay for all transmission charges. The provider is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or extra costs resulting from faults in the transmission.