Handing over source files

[Rosco]

I have a client who I have just finished a small design job for... well, it should be finished but she's a bit of a pain and keeps dragging it out - I've been very careful to keep unpaid scope-creep from happening.

The job is a template/theme for a commercial (dating) app.

Although she is very happy indeed with my work it would appear she has found a cheaper designer to do additional work, now that I have completed the job to her satisfaction... which I'm totally fine with cos I can't be arsed working for/with her in future anyway so I'm happy to politely thank her and let her move on.

However she is now asking for my PSD file for her new designer to work with.  I have a few concerns with this, and wonder what you all think.

A couple of things to note:  I don't actually have a PSD file, my source file is a layered Fireworks PNG.  The terms for the project do not include source files, and indeed when she once asked which files would be delivered I explicitly stated that the deliverables were exported graphics, PHP files and CSS files.

On one hand I don't like being awkward for the sake of it, and although I don't particularly want any more work from her she has said she wants to provide a link back to me as she expects good traffic and would like me to benefit.  One the other hand I don't see why I should hand over the source file for some other cheap designer to benefit from and charge money for using my tools - or using the file to knock out other templates.

Any thoughts? Discuss

[familychoice]

Since it'll mean less work for the new designer and therefore reduce costs for any new work on the site, and wasn't included in your original agreement then you could offer to provide one for a small charge.

[Charisma Bypass]

Politely explain that the deliverables were XYZ, and the source file is not a part of that and is your intellectual property. 

OR.

Politely ask her new designer to punch himself in the balls for being a cheapskate.

[Jem]

Although I'm of the opinion that if someone pays for the design they should get the design (inc. files), if you've already stated that they're getting only finished files (and she has agreed to that and you've done the work) then I don't see the point in going back on that. You could arrange to send over the original files for a fee though, as suggested by familychoice.

[orydian]

If the work's been done and paid for, I don't really understand the problem. Like Jem, I would have included the .psd as part of the project in the first place.

I'd just hand over the file for a minor fee, then sit back and have a good giggle at the unimaginable horror the design becomes. Who knows, she might come running back into your open (but now considerably pricier) arms when it all goes tits up. To resurrect an old acronym of mine: YGWYPF.

ory.

[Rosco]

If the work's been done and paid for, I don't really understand the problem.

If you quote for one template design, then hand over the tools for somebody else to use your organised layered file to more quickly roll out similar designs (say, with simple colour/photo changes) for a fraction of your price, without the experience that went into producing said organised layered file, and using techniques they may not know (although they might... I'm perhaps talking myself up a bit here, but the principle remains), then that's where the problem lies.

Like Jem, I would have included the .psd as part of the project in the first place.

I generally would, but would also generally consider such a deliverable when quoting the price... but in this case I am kinda constrained (by agreement with the app vendor) to a set price for the template design, and in the interests of keeping this flat-fee as low as possible for clients the provision of source files is not reflected in the price.

I'd just hand over the file for a minor fee, then sit back and have a good giggle at the unimaginable horror the design becomes. Who knows, she might come running back into your open (but now considerably pricier) arms when it all goes tits up. To resurrect an old acronym of mine: YGWYPF.

Yep, agree.

From what I've seen her other/new designer is decent enough graphically, but isn't very clued up.  She declined a quote for a rotating image banner (including preparing the photographs, applying masks, configuring jquery effects etc) for the other guy/gal to create an animated (200x700px) GIF of 10+ frames of photographic content for $25!

What I've decided to do is hand over the source files for free, and make it clear it is a gesture of goodwill.  No point being stubborn when at the end of the day I don't actually want any future work from her - the (flat) fee has probably only just covered the time spent reading and responding to an idiotic amount of emails from her (70+ and counting for a theme which only has two different page layouts!).  I'll amend my terms for these kind of jobs (which I'm getting fairly frequent referrals for), so that I get more for releasing my source files to other people.  That way it keeps costs down for clients who have no need for them, and I am getting some extra cash from the people who do want them and they can use/re-use them as they see fit.

Thanks for the comments/discussion folks... I'm not meaning to only reply to ory, but his is the most recent reply and it covered or re-itirated most of the relevant points

Gotta go, Thunderbird has just flagged up another email from her!  The preview on the bottom of my screen seems to tell me she's buggered up the Facebook page URL she provided... sigh

Anybody want a client from St Louis? She's lovely, honest

[familychoice]

I don't supply clients with my working .psd files as part of a web job unless it's something they need to update content themselves (e.g. a fancy photo border) or it's part of the original agreement. If part of the original agreement then I make sure they're not the usual mess of unlabelled layers and old rubbish, and they pay for the extra work involved in cleaning them up afterwards.

I'm not selling template packages, I create bespoke websites and so I don't consider working files used in the creative process as part of the finished product. However occasionally I provide designs for companies to code themselves and in that instance they will receive meticulously labelled and organised .psd's as part of the job.

If the new designer's any good then they should be able to recreate the layout in a few minutes anyway based on a screengrab from the live website, as long as the client has kept all her photos and other graphics.

[Rosco]

I stripped down the layered files, removed folders/grouped-layers, and sent her a combined file with both layouts.... with a message stating it was not part of the cost or intended deliverables but on this occasion I would release the work as a gesture of goodwill.  I apologised (although it was secretly insincere ) if things were not made clear enough in my terms, and that I would update the prices and terms to avoid future confusion.  I also added that no support is included in the use of the file or Adobe Fireworks.

In this case I figured it means less hassle for me and the client should continue to be happy enough. Now to go add an extra item to the pricelist