Short Answer: As fast as you need it.

From the time we receive your assets (if any) and completed creative brief, it typically takes somewhere between 1-3 weeks for us to send you the first round of comps. The turnaround depends on the size and complexity of your project, our current workload, and seasonal variations (eg. we get busiest just before the major film markets). Therefore, the earlier you send us your project, the better. Need it sooner? Please contact us for a custom estimate. Additional fees may apply for rush projects.

Every project is different, but an average Key Art project takes between 4-6 weeks total, from the time we receive the completed Creative Brief and assets (if any) to the final file delivery. This timeline is highly dependent on how quickly you give us revisions. We understand that some clients need to have many people weigh in on the Key Art, and so may take longer to get back to us. Of course, the sooner you give us direction, the sooner you will get the next round.

Please click here for a step-by-step breakdown of our design process.

A “comp” is advertising lingo for a design concept.

Acceptable assets include digital stills from a photo shoot, on-set photography, unit photography, screen grabs from the film, a hard drive containing the high resolution film, and/or stock photography.

We try to use the absolute best possible assets in our design process. This ensures the highest quality product. However, there are times when legal necessity or marketing strategy require the use of lower quality assets. The following ranking will help you understand “The Best” to “The Worst” quality of assets.

The absolute best with the least amount of limitations:

1) RAW format still photography (In the form of Canon .CR2 or Nikon .NEF):

This image file type provides the highest quality and the greatest flexibility in terms of lighting, and detail within the image. We strongly prefer this format whenever possible.

2) Stock Photography:

We have access to a very large library of royalty-free stock photography, which we are happy to utilize at no additional cost to the client. Of course, there are limitations based on what is available, and specific requests may not be an option (period clothing, as one example, is difficult to come by).

3) High-Res still photography (In the form of TIFF’s or JPG’s):

Quality varies greatly depending on the quality and file size provided.

4) High-Resolution Screen Grabs from the Film:

Screen resolution is lower than print resolution, and therefore screen grabs are not a preferred form of assets. However, they may be used in certain limited circumstances.

5) Low-Resolution Screen Grabs or Low-Resolution Photography:

These are generally not usable. We will only use these if there are legal requirements for us to do so, (i.e. an actor’s face must be shown) and no other assets are available. We are incredibly limited when using these so we will explain to the client beforehand.

Short Answer: Yes, absolutely!

We work with many films that are in pre-production, script or pitch phases. We pride ourselves on our ability to create high concept, beautifully executed art using only stock photography at no additional charge.

In some cases, the film has been shot but no still photos were taken. We can still create a beautiful poster, but please understand that there will be some limitations. We can pull frame grabs from the film, but we are limited by the resolution of those frames. Print resolution is higher than screen resolution, and posters are large (27″ x 40″). There may just be a limit to how large an actor’s face can be on the poster, for example. We will let you know what we are able to do, and our suggestions.

Some questions to ask are:

1. Will the revision look significantly different from the original concept?

2. Will the revision be able to use almost all of the original image assets?

3. Will it take a long time to design?

If the answer to all of these questions is no, then it is a probably a revision.

Revisions are relatively minor adjustments to a concept. The revision doesn’t majorly change the concept, and can be accomplished in a relatively short amount of time. A revision will utilize most, if not all, of the initial image assets in a concept.

Some examples of revisions are: trying out different color palettes, taking a title treatment from one concept and putting it on another, stripping out a head of an actor for a different shot, moving the placement of a tagline, title or above title names, trying out different texture treatments or borders, or swapping out a background shot for a different shot at the same angle.

If the answer to one or more of those questions is yes, we probably have to build a new concept.

New Concepts are generally made using more than one or two new image assets. They contain larger changes that significantly alter the concept and will take us a significant amount of time to accomplish. They require us find new photography assets, and then re-design accordingly. This desire by the client for new concepts can be for a variety of reasons. For example, a client may have new idea they would like us to try out. He may change the marketing strategy. She may desire a new perspective/angle of shots, or an entirely new layout, or new set of image assets.

Prior to beginning work, we require 50% of the total project fee.* Upon completion of the project, we will send an invoice for the remainder of the balance due. Once we send the invoice, payment is due within 30 days, and additional fees may apply for late payments.

*Certain projects may require different payment terms. In these cases we will notify you in advance of those terms.

Payment must be made as check, cashiers check, money order, or Paypal in US dollars.