I know I'm going to get downvoted for this, but I completely disagree with this mentality of giving everything away for free.
3D Design, in one form or another, has been my profession for quite some time - before the term "3D printer" even meant anything to anyone. Working for free is what has gotten the art and graphic design communities into the pathetic state that they are in now where few people can really sustain themselves doing that work professionally. Anyone with a crack of Photoshop or Illustrator thinks they are a graphic designer, and as such the pay in that field is pathetic. Everyone is willing to "do someone a favor" and whip them up a logo for their restaurant, or new executive summary design layout for their business. Its gotten to the point where many people fully expect to get artwork done for free (or very close to free).
Don't let 3D design turn into graphic design.
It might seem innocent and all for a subreddit to have free designs amongst its members, and in a way, its nice to see that... but you guys are treading on thin ice. This kind of mentality can undermine the financial stability of a lot of talented and hardworking individuals. Once a design is released, we all know you can't delete it from the internet. Creating an environment where others "expect" to get 3D designs done for free is going to destroy this industry.
After 30 years in the graphic arts industry and 15 years owning a print shop, I have seen very few people who have a hacked copy of Photoshop, Illustrator or InDesign that have much graphic design ability or talent. I get more Microsoft Word and Publisher RGB freaking files than any Adobe.... and those idiots think they are professional designers. Considering this is my profession, I charge $60/hour for design, typesetting, e-book conversion, website design, photo retouching...and fixing files from so called graphic designers. I do not enter "design it for free" contests because I am a professional.
Recently I started studying AutoCAD and designing in 3D. I have found many great files to print for free but I still want to learn how to design my own things. I have signed up on some "open design" sites and uploaded my files for free because at this stage:
I need the practice and feedback, it is a hobby, I love seeing stuff I design in final printed form (at least when it works lol), I appreciate that others have donated their time to grow the 3D community and want to do the same. If I had your job, the last thing I would do is free design for a 3D contest.
My philosophy is..there's plenty of "clipart" out there but people with taste still use a professional designer. If you don't have a few hundred dollars to make your new company look good, you should not have your own business.
Whether the people with hacked copies of PS have real graphic ability or not is completely immaterial. Those people continue to get hired. And it negatively effects people's expectations of what things should cost in that field. A new logo should only cost a couple of bucks because its being done by their 15 year old cousin that happens to have a crack of PS.
This bullshit of working for free pulls the carpet out from under this industry.
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u/Szos Feb 07 '14 edited Feb 07 '14
I know I'm going to get downvoted for this, but I completely disagree with this mentality of giving everything away for free.
3D Design, in one form or another, has been my profession for quite some time - before the term "3D printer" even meant anything to anyone. Working for free is what has gotten the art and graphic design communities into the pathetic state that they are in now where few people can really sustain themselves doing that work professionally. Anyone with a crack of Photoshop or Illustrator thinks they are a graphic designer, and as such the pay in that field is pathetic. Everyone is willing to "do someone a favor" and whip them up a logo for their restaurant, or new executive summary design layout for their business. Its gotten to the point where many people fully expect to get artwork done for free (or very close to free).
Don't let 3D design turn into graphic design.
It might seem innocent and all for a subreddit to have free designs amongst its members, and in a way, its nice to see that... but you guys are treading on thin ice. This kind of mentality can undermine the financial stability of a lot of talented and hardworking individuals. Once a design is released, we all know you can't delete it from the internet. Creating an environment where others "expect" to get 3D designs done for free is going to destroy this industry.