Well, I've been spending way too much time playing around with Poser, and I would like to think - or at least pretend - that they might be some kind of payoff at the end. Looking aroud the job boards, I don't see much work for Poser or 3D artists in general.

I'm sure that those of you who sell Poser and DAZ products make a little money at it, but is it really considered a real job for you? Once you get really good at Poser, what then? Is there any real demand in advertising, TV or film, product specs, and let's not forget porn?

Attached Link: http://www.drgeep.com/p4/money/money.htm

I am. :lol:

cheers,
dr geep
;=]

I make a small amount doing book covers for two publishers in the USA, it doesn't amount to much in money terms and it'll never be enough for me to do it as a living, but I get satisfaction when I walk past the bookstore and see the book in the window with my artwork on the front...reward enough for me..!And yes the publisher does credit me in the appendix of the books..

I've made a small amount on my single product here at Rendo, but have made much, much more simply doing renders for hire. A number of people who frequent the websites where I post my work seek me out to do custom scenes. I probably have sold something over 100 renders in the past year. I've also done five covers for a horror fan magazine. I've also done some sub-contracting for other illustrators.

It's not a living by any means, but since I'm retired, it certainly makes me feel like I'm doing something worthwhile.

I am in the middle of a very $$Lucrative $$Character animation project

for an independent film.

I am simulating Console Game play

that will be cut into the film as one the main actors plays and Loses

one time I got close, but needed approval by Mr. Maya, and couldn't contact him...ah well, these things happened.

Quote - I make a small amount doing book covers for two publishers in the USA, it doesn't amount to much in money terms and it'll never be enough for me to do it as a living, but I get satisfaction when I walk past the bookstore and see the book in the window with my artwork on the front...reward enough for me..!

This pretty much sums up my experience too, although I've yet to get a book cover in this century....!  Working on a publisher-oriented portfolio at the moment to try and rectify that situation.  I don't ever expect to make enough to be able to give up the day job any time soon though.

I've been writing and illustrating Poser articles for 3D Artist magazine and just got my first magazine cover in Holland.  I also did some trading card art and the retail packaging for same.  All Poser-based, but with some help from Vue, Bryce and Photoshop.

Quote - one time I got close, but needed approval by Mr. Maya, and couldn't contact him...ah well, these things happened.

paked

I work with a charity in India and have completed my first 12minute film, its very simple , I get paid in Bars of Spiritual Gold!

"Did you here the headlines the world is going back to the GOLD standard".

No money can be a problem Little money is awkward but tolerable , to much money makes worry.

I'll stick to the Vedic teaching it is all Maya!

Interesting that the responses aren't from 3D vendors, rather from people using 3D skills in general, which is great. Selling 3D models is a tough market. The product only stays in prime view for a couple of days, so you need to be "known" for people to actually want to see what you have in your store. Then you have to discount it before anyone will think about hitting the Add To Cart button. Then of course Rendo or Daz or RDNA get their cut.

Then there's the glut. Sooner or later everyone learns how to make a conforming bikini or how to change hair shades and wants to cash in. What we need is for new users to join the market faster than veteran users turn into sellers. Thankfully there are hobbyist apps like Poser and DS3 to help.

I sell a little of my products here but it is mostly pocket change.

But I also sell 3d products elsewhere and they are sellin better there.

I made some interior scenes in poser for a project of my sister in law, and got paid for it. I hope to do some more of it in the future.

regards,

Bopper.

Well one has to consider that there is the "Poser market" and the general computer Graphics/3D market.

The so co called poser market is largely dominated by the DAZ V-chick and her content.
so if all you know is the poser application
and it various sub skills (Making morphs,poser clothing & textures etc, ) you will be competing in a very small and crowded market.

If you have a broader skill set like animation Advanced Modeling

( stonemason), Illustration& graphic design than you do have more opportunities for paid work from the general public OUTSIDE these Myopic communities that may sometimes involve using poser assets.

Cheers

That's true, wolf359, if our 3d skill is limited so will our sales be. :)

Which is why I've been trying to absorb more information and learn more 3d skills.

Of course it will still never be a real money-maker for me due to health limitation as well.

There are times I can't do any computer work at all or anything else for thar matter.

I spent 6 weeks working on a comic. I did everything in Poser and Photoshop. The comic was 9 pages in length and was published in an online e-zine.

The day the check arrived I was so excited! I was an honest-to-goodness published artist!

I tore it open and read $25.

My heart sank. I since haven't had the spirit left to work so hard for so little.

The secret is to make opportunities for yourself.

I went on a mission and contacted museums, ad agencies, film companies, TV production companies, and everyone else I could think of. Despite about 400 rejections, I have now made animations for the History Channel, images for museums, supplied models to an ad agency, animated business logos for companies, done simple animations for presentations and designed logos in 3D.

You will be surprised at how amazing people think you are if you have a good showreel, a few good models or animations or images, and if you don't tell them what programs you use. The end result is what counts, not the tools you use to get there.

You need to think outside the box, to make people decide they need your 3D skills even if they didn't know they needed them before you turned up. And sometimes when you do land a job, and you don't have the entire skill set needed to complete it, don't panic, that is what this forum and others like it are for. If you land a good job but you need someone to do one part of it, as long as the money or credit is there, you will find someone online to help you complete the job.

Helgard

Quote - The secret is to make opportunities for yourself.

I went on a mission and contacted museums, ad agencies, film companies, TV production companies, and everyone else I could think of. Despite about 400 rejections, I have now made animations for the History Channel, images for museums, supplied models to an ad agency, animated business logos for companies, done simple animations for presentations and designed logos in 3D.

You will be surprised at how amazing people think you are if you have a good showreel, a few good models or animations or images, and if you don't tell them what programs you use. The end result is what counts, not the tools you use to get there.

You need to think outside the box, to make people decide they need your 3D skills even if they didn't know they needed them before you turned up. And sometimes when you do land a job, and you don't have the entire skill set needed to complete it, don't panic, that is what this forum and others like it are for. If you land a good job but you need someone to do one part of it, as long as the money or credit is there, you will find someone online to help you complete the job.

Helgard

Excellent!!

Marketing your skills outside the poser community is the best option
with My current animation Contract I was contacted By the film company after they  happened across my online  demo reel .They are not even aware of poser they just liked that I could do ragdoll physics with humans.

And I am Using CP "Koji" all animated in poser but will be rendered in Cinema4D at HD resolution.

its all about Marketing.

Cheers

Wolf  those are great  impacts in  your Character Animation Reel  but often  times  the feet are sliding around on  the floor

It would be nice to make the hobby pay for itself.

Compliments are nice.  You know what's really nice, when the artist who made an item in the render compliments the render.

When I get notification that an artists has used something of mine I view it and comment.

Most times those buying don't send any notice to the creator so it goes un-noticed by us.

I do try to surf the gallery and look for my items but this is a big gallery. :)

I have a few products at Content Paradise. And sold some of them.

I'd probably make more out of Poser if I got around to actually creating content again. The only stuff I've worked on recently are freebies.  Too many things happening recently for me to get my mind set on working.  Hopefully, that will change in the near future.

Other than that, I make money out of graphics mainly using Photoshop.

Making money with Poser is one of those fairytales we love to keep alive. As you can see from the replies, if you want to make money you have to grow beyond Poser. But even then, most make very little.

Aeilkema,

I totally disagree. I use mainly Poser, sometimes Vue for rendering long or high quality animations, and I use Wings for modelling, UV Mapper and UnFold3D for mapping, and CorelDraw for texturing.

I do 3D work as my full time occupation, and I know of others who do medical illustrations, book covers, etc, who also use mainly Poser. It is not the tools you use, but how you use them, how you market your skills, how you collaborate with others for the skills you do not have, and how professional you are, as with any other creative type of work.

When making money with Poser does become a fairytale is when people spend two days on making a product and think that it is going to be a top seller on a Poser site and that it will make them rich. The people who have top sellers spend a lot of time not only in making those products, but also in acquiring the skills to make those products.

I have seen so many people get Poser, and within a week start asking how they can sell their creations. I think if people take the time to learn, release freebies to hone their skills, get feedback on their quality, release less but concentrate on higher quality, not only will they make more money, but the standard of Poser products will rise, Poser will be taken more seriously, and others who use their products will also be able to deliver a higher standard of work.

Oooops, I am ranting and babbling again. Better get some work done, lol.

Helgard

Well stated  Helgard, well stated ........... You are right .............. ONTARGET ! :lol:
(pun intended)

cheers,
dr geep
;=]

Great reply Helgard. Well put.

Well said, Helgard.

I know of several other vendors who have Poser content sales as their main source of income.

Creating Poser images - and nothing else - will never make you rich but if you can model and/or texture, you can definitely make a living.   If you're good enough, you can make a very good living, too.

Quote - I have seen so many people get Poser, and within a week start asking how they can sell their creations.

Really?! A week?! Man, it took me three months just to get Vicky out of her purple bikini and into some decent clothes.

I didn't start creating items for sale for at least a year after I got Poser.

And I made freebies first then decided to try retail items.

It is not my main income, if it was I'd starve...:lol:

BlueEcho,

I did say this was my main income. I didn't say that I wasn't starving sometimes, lol.

Working in something like freelance graphic design, animation or similar field has periods when you have too much work too handle, and periods when you have no work, no prospects of work, and you think that if something doesn't happen soon you are going to have to take that attractive job at McDonalds cleaning the deep fryers.

Helgard, I admire those who have already learned to model and do animation.

If I had more free time I might have already got the hang of it.

Seems like every time I sit down at my machine, there's something else I need to do...sigh.

I'm main caregiver for my mother who is almost blind and crippled.

If one can suppress one’s artistic aspirations and ideals, don’t forget that lawyers love it.  

And the good news is that even crappy Poser lo-rez is often what works best for them (simple, almost generic, animations offer less potential for objections than do more subjective photo-realistic images, -- and some even feel that wireframe renders can contribute to viewer’s perception that there is perhaps more objective Math & Science, and less Art behind the evidence presented) .   

And for those that suffer from the “Leaf by Niggle” syndrome, it appears that, in the right hands, even partial, preliminary, or unfinished pieces are still a very formidable and intimidating pre-trial settlement tool, at a low cost.   e.g. “Here’s the kind of stuff we’re preparing, and will hit the jury with, - if you don’t settle!”.

Quote -  

If one can suppress one’s artistic aspirations and ideals, don’t forget that lawyers love it.  

And the good news is that even crappy Poser lo-rez is often what works best for them (simple, almost generic, animations offer less potential for objections than do more subjective photo-realistic images, -- and some even feel that wireframe renders can contribute to viewer’s perception that there is perhaps more objective Math & Science, and less Art behind the evidence presented) .   

And for those that suffer from the “Leaf by Niggle” syndrome, it appears that, in the right hands, even partial, preliminary, or unfinished pieces are still a very formidable and intimidating pre-trial settlement tool, at a low cost.   e.g. “Here’s the kind of stuff we’re preparing, and will hit the jury with, - if you don’t settle!”.

Wh-what?

"Leaf by Niggle" - a short story written by J. R. R. Tolkien. Yeah, I didn't get it either.

[OT & rambling digression warning]

Yeah, I realize that was indeed a bit ‘out there’.   The obscure literary reference was in the context of the title character's tendency to get bogged down in minutia in his endlessly compulsive pursuit of artistic perfection.  

The obvious similarities hit me after spending a couple of days trying to get the single ideal displacement & texture mapping for a simple, ground level, panoramic view, stretching out  across a rolling field of grassy hills.  I felt that history indicates others here might also relate to Niggle’s “ailment”.  

Wikipeda does have a rather nice summary of Tolkien's short story:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf_by_Niggle

Bit late, sorry. Reading all the replies to my post makes one thing clear..... you all confirm my statement. Making money from purely Poser (as the OP asked and I replied to), doesn't happen too often at all. There is more involved as all of you point out. Making money solely from Poser isn't likely at all.

I'm a content creator, but as all others replied, I'm not making money with Poser at all. Poser is what I create the content for, not with. The content is created with other 3D applications, those generate money, Poser itself doesn't. It's the target application, not the money making one.

Before this thread peters out let me bring up one area of potential income that I mentioned in the OP but that no one else has commented on, and that is porn. There are a lot of smokin' hot babes posted to this site - heck, there's even an entire genre in the galleries section devoted to pin-ups.This may not be an industry you see yourself in, but if Nance can "suppress (her/his) artistic aspirations and ideals" enough to work with lawyers surely you can work with pornsters - or whatever they're called. Has anyone tried that industry?

Quote - Before this thread peters out let me bring up one area of potential income that I mentioned in the OP but that no one else has commented on, and that is porn. There are a lot of smokin' hot babes posted to this site - heck, there's even an entire genre in the galleries section devoted to pin-ups.This may not be an industry you see yourself in, but if Nance can "suppress (her/his) artistic aspirations and ideals" enough to work with lawyers surely you can work with pornsters - or whatever they're called. Has anyone tried that industry?

Not me directly but I know of two other Poser artists who have.  One of them goes by the name of Mr X for his adult work.  He produces graphic (very graphic) novels of female superheroes who get involved in all kinds of shenanigans, often featuring tentacles.

Anyhow, he says it generated a regular income but it can be hard work.  His advice was to go for the well established sites and send them samples of your very best work.  If they like your stuff, they will pay.  The smaller sites will just steal it.

I have, several times, supplied graphics to order for a few adult sites.  Some of them have been Poser renders.

Excellent topic and great insights! Thanks to all who are contributing their real-world experiences. Hope that this thread just keeps on growing!

Dkal