Thanks for the feedback!  I really appreciate you taking the time to respond.

To clarify, in my example question I was only asking for what it would take to construct a .obj file.  I am aware that there are more steps to the process.  I may be able to handle them myself, or I may also consider farming some of those out as well, but the initial modeling is the minimum that I would like to hire someone else to do.  I need some idea of this cost as a starting point.

All of you have mentioned the possibility of a partnership between myself and the artist.  This is, of course, a perfectly good arrangement, but it has complications.  One entity has to collect the proceeds from the sales.  If that entity is either me or the artist, it leaves the other person in the position of having to trust the one collecting the money to give them their proceeds on a regular basis.  This does not appeal to me when dealing with total strangers, plus it is a pain for the person dealing out the money.  The other way to do this is to form a business together, but that is too much of a committment in my mind.

I would rather take the approach of paying a reasonable cost up front and taking my chances in the marketplace.  I think this is a better business model for my situation, because it is much simpler.  The artist must choose how much money will make it worth his time to release the copyright.  It is reasonable that releasing the copyright would increase the price, but you also have to consider the fact that there is value in getting a guaranteed amount of money for your work.  Selling in the marketplace has no guarantees.  I will be absorbing the risk of not earning back enough to make it worth my time or investment.

I would love to hear more responses, and if anyone has experience with this or with forming a partnership with an artist, I would love to hear about that as well.

Thanks again,

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