Intake
Custom art commission intake
Custom art commission intake is how you turn a vague idea into something you can quote. Good intake does not interrogate the buyer. It asks friendly questions that reveal the scope, effort, rights, timing, and files needed.
Quick answer
custom art commission intake
A good custom art commission intake flow collects the idea, purpose, references, deadline, budget, usage, file needs, and revision expectations before the creator sends a final quote.
The best intake questions use buyer-friendly language. Ask where the art will be used instead of starting with licensing terms. Ask what they like about references instead of assuming every reference is a style target.
Intake should help buyers who are not sure what they want yet. Give them prompts, examples, and "not sure yet" options so they can explain the mood, use case, and must-have details without guessing technical answers.
Guide
How to make the process clearer without making it colder.
- Ask what the buyer wants in plain language first.
- Collect references with context, not just uploads.
- Ask usage and file questions before quoting.
- Make uncertain buyers feel guided instead of rejected.
Start with the buyer's plain-language request
Many buyers do not think in terms of scope, deliverables, file packages, or usage rights. In plain terms, that means what is included, which files they receive, and where they can use the work. Buyers usually start with what they want the art to do: look cute on stream, match a debut theme, make a character feel more expressive, or give their community a new emote.
Start there. Ask them to describe the commission in their own words. You can translate that answer into final files and boundaries later. This keeps intake warm and lowers the chance that a serious buyer bounces because the form feels too technical.
- What would you like made?
- What is this for?
- Where will people see it?
- What mood or feeling should it have?
- Is there anything you definitely want included?
Ask for references and what each reference means
References are only useful when you know why the buyer sent them. One image might be about pose, another about color, another about outfit details, and another about mood. Without context, you can easily copy the wrong part.
Ask buyers to add a short note next to each reference. This also helps avoid accidental copying, because the conversation becomes about direction rather than recreating someone else's work.
- Character sheets or existing brand assets
- Pose, expression, and outfit references
- Color palette or lighting examples
- Style examples and what they like about them
- Examples they do not want copied
A reference without context is a clue. A reference with context is direction.
Bring scope-changing details forward
Some questions may feel awkward to ask early, but they are exactly the details that prevent quote surprises. Usage, deadline, editable files, animation, multiple sizes, and complex backgrounds can all change the effort or value of the commission.
The buyer does not need to know the technical reason. You can frame these as normal setup questions: where will this be used, when do you need it, and what files do you expect at the end?
- Use in money-making content, merch, or a business
- Rush timing or fixed launch date
- Animation or alternate versions
- Editable project or source files
- Background complexity
- Multiple crops, sizes, or formats
Ask about budget without making it hostile
Budget questions can feel tense if they sound like a test. They become much easier when you explain that budget helps you suggest the right scope.
If the buyer has a smaller range, you may suggest fewer files, simpler animation, fewer revisions, or personal-use rights only. If they have a larger range, you can include add-ons like editable files, rush timing, or broader business use.
- Budget range
- Must-have versus nice-to-have details
- Whether the buyer wants a quote first
- Possible add-ons
- Simpler scope options
Set revision expectations before the quote
Intake should ask enough about feedback expectations to prevent mismatch. A buyer who expects sketch approval, color approval, and final polish is asking for a different process than a buyer who only wants one small cleanup pass.
You do not need to finalize every revision rule in intake, but you should know whether the buyer expects a collaborative process or a simple final delivery.
- Sketch approval
- Color or layout checkpoint
- Included revision rounds
- Feedback deadline
- What counts as a new request
Practical use
Examples creators can recognize.
These examples show how the same guidance applies to real commission moments, from first request to final decision.
Character illustration intake
A buyer wants a half-body character commission for a profile picture, but may use it for merch later.
- Ask for character references, pose notes, expression notes, and any outfit details that must be included.
- Ask where the art will be used now and whether merch use is needed now or later.
- Ask for deadline, budget range, file format, and whether editable source files are expected.
- Ask if they want sketch approval before color.
- Quote personal use first, then list merch use as an optional rights upgrade.
Buyer who is not sure yet
A buyer says they want something for their stream, but they do not know whether it should be a badge, emote, panel, or overlay.
- Ask where the art will appear and what problem it should solve.
- Offer common options such as emotes for chat, panels for information, overlays for scenes, or badges for loyalty.
- Ask for references to the channel's current look.
- Suggest a small starter scope instead of forcing a large custom package.
- Quote once the format and use case are clear.
Details
Practical details to decide before the work moves.
Buyer-friendly intake prompts
These prompts collect serious information without making the buyer feel like they need professional art vocabulary.
- Purpose
- Where will this be used, and what should it help with?
- Mood
- What should the finished piece feel like? Cute, intense, cozy, polished, chaotic, elegant, funny, or something else?
- References
- Send references and tell me what you like about each one.
- Deadline
- Is this tied to a debut, launch, birthday, stream event, or other fixed date?
- Files
- Do you know what file formats or sizes you need? If not, tell me where you plan to use the art.
- Usage
- Will this be personal, for content that earns money, for merch, or for a brand/business?
Creator notes for pricing
These are the details that usually affect price or timeline and should not be discovered after the quote.
- Rush date
- A fixed date may require a rush fee or a smaller scope.
- Business use
- Content that earns money or merch use may require different pricing.
- Editable files
- Editable source files are separate from final exports for many creators.
- Complexity
- Detailed outfits, props, backgrounds, and animation can change effort.
- Multiple outputs
- Extra crops, sizes, and platform versions should be named before quoting.
Client language
Wording you can adapt.
Use these as starting points. Keep the tone yours, but make the boundary or next step visible.
Please send references and tell me what you like about each one, such as pose, colors, mood, outfit details, or style.
Will this be for personal display, content that earns money, merch, or another business use? Usage can affect the quote, so I like to confirm it early.
If you have a budget range, include it. That helps me suggest the best scope instead of guessing.
No worries if you do not know the exact format yet. Tell me where you want to use the art and what feeling you want, and I can suggest a scope.
Fit check
When detailed intake is worth it
Use this when
- The quote changes based on usage, deadline, files, or complexity.
- You need references before deciding whether the request is a fit.
- The buyer may not understand what details affect price.
- You handle several commission types with different requirements.
- You want fewer awkward renegotiations after quoting.
Skip or simplify when
- You sell a fixed product with no customization.
- The buyer is purchasing a small predefined add-on.
- The request is not serious enough to justify a full intake step yet.
Checklist
Custom art commission intake checklist
Slatero intake is designed to keep buyer friction low while still collecting the details creators need before they quote and accept a commission.
- Commission type
- Buyer description in their own words
- Purpose and where the art will be used
- Reference files or links
- Notes about what each reference means
- Deadline or launch date
- Budget range or pricing expectation
- Usage and licensing needs
- Required file formats
- Revision expectations
- Must-have and must-avoid details
Intake mistakes that lead to rework
- Asking for references but not asking what the buyer likes about them.
- Skipping usage until after the artwork is finished.
- Treating a fixed launch date like a flexible preference.
- Letting buyers request editable source files without pricing them separately.
- Making every field required even when some details do not apply.
- Using art or legal jargon before the buyer understands the basics.
FAQ
Common questions about custom art commission intake.
What should an art commission intake form ask?
It should ask what the buyer wants made, where it will be used, what references apply, when it is needed, what budget range they have, what files they need, and what kind of revisions they expect.
How long should commission intake be?
Short enough that serious buyers can finish it, but complete enough to protect your quote. If a question will not change price, timing, allowed use, or delivery, it probably does not belong in the first intake step.
Should budget be required?
It depends on your process. Asking for a budget range can help you suggest realistic scope. You can also show starting prices and ask buyers to choose the closest fit.
What if a buyer does not know exactly what they want?
That is common. Ask about purpose, mood, examples, must-have details, and must-avoid details. You can turn that into options instead of expecting the buyer to speak like an art director.
Should usage be part of intake?
Yes. Usage can affect price, file delivery, attribution, and whether the creator wants to accept the commission. It is easier to ask before quoting than after delivery.