Revisions
Manage client revisions for commissions
Client revisions are not the enemy. Unclear revisions are. The goal is to make feedback easy for the buyer while protecting your time when a small edit turns into a new direction.
Quick answer
manage client revisions for commissions
To manage client revisions for commissions, define what each revision round covers, attach feedback to the right draft, use approval checkpoints, and treat a new direction as a new paid decision.
Friendly boundaries work better than surprise refusals. Tell buyers what is included, what stage they are reviewing, and what kinds of changes require a new quote.
Good revision management protects both sides: the buyer knows how to give useful feedback, and the creator has a record of what was approved.
Guide
How to make the process clearer without making it colder.
- Define revision rounds before work starts.
- Tie feedback to draft versions.
- Separate small edits from new direction.
- Use friendly scripts for boundaries.
Define what a revision round means
Saying two revisions included is better than saying unlimited edits, but it is still incomplete. Buyers need to know what kind of changes those rounds cover and when to send them.
For example, an early sketch round might cover pose, expression, and composition. A final cleanup round might cover small color tweaks, typo fixes, crop issues, or tiny detail corrections. Those are different from a full redraw.
- Number of included rounds
- What each round covers
- Which stage each round belongs to
- How feedback should be sent
- What counts as a new request
Use approval checkpoints before moving stages
Approval checkpoints prevent late-stage rewrites. If the buyer approves the sketch, then final-stage feedback should not reopen the entire pose, layout, or concept unless they approve a paid change.
This does not mean you ignore buyer needs. It means you make the stage clear: this is the time for composition feedback, this is the time for color feedback, and this is the time for final polish. Clear stages make the process easier to follow for buyers who have never commissioned custom work before.
- Sketch approval
- Layout approval
- Color or style approval
- Animation preview approval
- Final file approval
Help buyers give better feedback
Buyers often send scattered feedback because they are reacting in the moment. You can make feedback easier by asking for one organized message per draft and giving examples of useful notes.
Good feedback is specific. "Can the eyes be more excited?" is easier to act on than "something feels off." If feedback is vague, ask a clarifying question before spending a revision round.
- One feedback message per draft
- Specific changes
- Priority if there are many notes
- Reference to the current version
- Approval when the stage is done
Separate included edits from new direction
The hardest revision moments happen when the buyer asks for something that changes the approved commission. A new pose, new outfit, new background, extra screen, extra emote, or added business use can all be valid requests, but they may not be included.
Treat those changes as new decisions. Name what changed, explain why it is outside scope, and offer an add-on quote if you are willing to do the work.
- New concept
- Major redraw
- Added deliverable
- Different usage
- New deadline pressure
- Post-approval source file request
Keep a revision history both sides can understand
You do not need to document every brush stroke. You do need a record of which draft was sent, what feedback came back, which revision round was used, and what the buyer approved.
That history helps if a buyer later says an old change was never handled or asks for a stage to be reopened. You can respond from the record instead of arguing from memory.
- Draft version
- Date sent
- Buyer notes
- Creator response
- Revision round used
- Approval status
Practical use
Examples creators can recognize.
These examples show how the same guidance applies to real commission moments, from first request to final decision.
Sketch-stage versus final-stage change
A buyer approved a sketch for a character portrait, then after color asks to change the pose, outfit, and background.
- Confirm which small final-stage changes are included, such as color tweaks or minor details.
- Explain that pose, outfit, and background changes would require returning to the sketch stage.
- Offer a separate quote for the larger change instead of refusing abruptly.
- Keep the original approved sketch and feedback record attached to the order.
- Only move forward once the buyer chooses the included edits or approves the add-on.
Unclear feedback
A buyer says the draft feels wrong but does not explain what they want changed.
- Ask which part feels off: expression, color, pose, composition, or overall mood.
- Offer two or three concrete options if you can identify likely fixes.
- Do not spend a full revision round until the requested change is clear.
- Confirm the chosen direction in writing.
- Apply the revision and attach it to the draft history.
Details
Practical details to decide before the work moves.
Common revision stages
Different commission types need different checkpoints. These stages can be mixed or skipped depending on the work.
- Sketch
- Best for pose, composition, expression, layout, and big direction changes.
- Color or style
- Best for palette, lighting direction, brand fit, and mood.
- Animation preview
- Best for timing, loop feel, and movement issues before final export.
- Cleanup
- Best for small fixes, crop issues, typos, and polish.
- Final delivery
- Best for file package checks, not for reopening the concept.
Included versus extra examples
Concrete examples make boundaries easier to understand than abstract policy language.
- Usually included
- Small color tweak, minor expression adjustment, typo fix, crop correction, or export issue.
- Usually extra
- New pose, new outfit, new character, new screen, additional emote, editable source file, merch rights, or major redraw.
- Depends on stage
- Background changes, composition changes, and style changes may be included early but extra after approval.
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 all notes for this draft in one message if you can. That helps me keep the revision round clear and avoid missing anything.
That fits within the included revision round. I will make that adjustment in the next version.
I can adjust this, but I want to make sure I understand the issue first. Is the part that feels off the pose, expression, color, layout, or overall mood?
That change would move us outside the approved scope because it changes the original direction. I can quote it as an add-on if you want to include it.
Since that stage was already approved, changing it now would mean reopening earlier work. I can either make the included final edits or send a quote for the larger change.
Fit check
When revision structure matters most
Use this when
- The work has multiple creative stages.
- Buyers review drafts before final delivery.
- You include a limited number of edit rounds.
- Major changes can significantly change your time.
- You need a calm way to handle scope changes.
Skip or simplify when
- A tiny fixed edit with no approval stages.
- A premade product where buyers cannot request changes.
- A free informal favor where revision boundaries do not matter.
Checklist
Revision management checklist
Slatero keeps revision notes and approvals attached to the commission record so creators can handle edits without losing the original agreement.
- Number of included revision rounds
- What each round covers
- Which draft is currently under review
- Where feedback should be sent
- What feedback has already been used
- What the buyer approved
- What counts as new paid work
- Final delivery acceptance
Revision mistakes that drain creator time
- Promising unlimited revisions because it feels easier in the moment.
- Not defining the difference between small edits and new direction.
- Accepting feedback across multiple apps and losing the final list.
- Letting final-stage feedback reopen approved sketch decisions.
- Not recording buyer approval before moving to the next stage.
- Treating vague feedback as a full revision without clarifying first.
FAQ
Common questions about manage client revisions for commissions.
How many revisions should creators include?
It depends on the work type. Many creators include one early-stage round and one cleanup round, but the exact number matters less than explaining what each round covers.
How do creators handle unlimited small edits?
Avoid calling them unlimited. If you want to be generous, define a short post-delivery fix window for small issues, then treat new concepts, major redraws, or added files as paid changes.
What is the friendliest way to say no to a revision?
Do not frame it as a hard no first. Name what is included, explain why the request is outside that scope, and offer the buyer a clear paid option if you are willing to do it.
Should buyers approve each stage?
For multi-stage work, yes. Approval checkpoints protect both sides because the buyer can confirm direction before you spend time on later stages.
What should creators do with vague feedback?
Ask a clarifying question before spending a revision round. Vague feedback becomes workable when the buyer identifies the specific issue or chooses between concrete options.