Terms of service
The following is my Terms of Service (ToS). This page is a form of contract between you (the customer) and I (the artist), and will describe our obligations to each other, image rights I provide in exchange for payment and what services you can expect from me in our business exchange : That I draw artwork and you pay me for it! This ToS is also applicable to people who own creative copyrights to characters featured in my artwork bought by a customer or provided free of charge.
As this document serves as a formal description of the limitations of my services and the extent of the rights I provide customers, most of the information described here will be in simple but blunt terms. This can seem abrasive, but know that it is only meant to be clear for those that seek to misuse my services or are otherwise curious.
As this document serves as a formal description of the limitations of my services and the extent of the rights I provide customers, most of the information described here will be in simple but blunt terms. This can seem abrasive, but know that it is only meant to be clear for those that seek to misuse my services or are otherwise curious.
If you are looking for the Terms of Service from before 6/19/2020 , please click here.
List of contents
- Purchase of a Commission
- Response time
- Communication
- Services Provided
- Payment Expectations
- Refunds
- Charge-backs
- Tipping
- Commission Form Information
- Completion time
- Minors
- Gifts
- Final Product
- Editing / The One Fix Rule
- Image Rights
- What you can do with Personal Rights
- What you can't do with Personal Rights
- Paying for additional Rights/Uses
- High Resolution Files
- Image Posting
- Acceptable behavior/ Refusal of services
- Private Commissions
- Streaming
- Queue
- Wait List
- Rushing a Commission
1. Purchase of a commission
Once you have paid for a Commission (a piece of artwork) from me you are entitled to the expectations, rights and services I list below. Similarly I am entitled to expect things of you as a customer.
You aren't locked in and obligated to pay for a commission you are only interested in buying. You can message me via Email for a quote if you are price shopping.
Payment will start our transaction, but can be terminated if you ask for a refund in the appropriate manner.
You aren't locked in and obligated to pay for a commission you are only interested in buying. You can message me via Email for a quote if you are price shopping.
Payment will start our transaction, but can be terminated if you ask for a refund in the appropriate manner.
2. Response time
Customers can expect me to correspond with them over Email. Response time with vary, but I will usually respond to a customer within 48 hours of an Email, or within 36 hours of submitting a commission form.
3. Communication
All of my communication with customers or potential customers will be through Email (from [email protected] ).
Customers that send in a commission form will hear back from me over Email within 24 hours if they've applied during a commission opening; customers that apply outside of a commission opening will be responded to at the same 24 hour window as other customers just after the next upcoming commission opening. There I will either accept or deny a customer's commission form, and if I accept it I will provide a customer with a quote in addition to some formal information reiterated from both my F.A.Q. and this ToS as well as a request for confirmation of the quote in prompt for an invoice.
Customers are politely requested to check their junk/spam folders for my correspondence in addition to their inboxes, as this can occasionally be where my Email automatically delivers.
Communication will not be conducted over Telegram or Furaffinity Notes, and I ask that customers not contact me in these places about their commissions either.
Customers are encouraged to Email me to ask any questions they have about their commission, or for a quote.
It is unusual for me not to respond within 3 days of any message. In the case you are waiting more than a few days for me to respond to you, customers are encouraged to reach out to me on different platforms (Telegram @vallhound, Twitter @vallhound or Furaffinity @vallhund).
Customers that send in a commission form will hear back from me over Email within 24 hours if they've applied during a commission opening; customers that apply outside of a commission opening will be responded to at the same 24 hour window as other customers just after the next upcoming commission opening. There I will either accept or deny a customer's commission form, and if I accept it I will provide a customer with a quote in addition to some formal information reiterated from both my F.A.Q. and this ToS as well as a request for confirmation of the quote in prompt for an invoice.
Customers are politely requested to check their junk/spam folders for my correspondence in addition to their inboxes, as this can occasionally be where my Email automatically delivers.
Communication will not be conducted over Telegram or Furaffinity Notes, and I ask that customers not contact me in these places about their commissions either.
Customers are encouraged to Email me to ask any questions they have about their commission, or for a quote.
It is unusual for me not to respond within 3 days of any message. In the case you are waiting more than a few days for me to respond to you, customers are encouraged to reach out to me on different platforms (Telegram @vallhound, Twitter @vallhound or Furaffinity @vallhund).
4. Services provided
I provide the service of drawing artwork for paying customers. My prices can be seen HERE.
I provide a variety of more mundane services in addition to drawing artwork for customers, all in relation to their purchase.
All of these will be described below.
I provide a variety of more mundane services in addition to drawing artwork for customers, all in relation to their purchase.
- Communication
- Clear due dates (Queue)
- Streaming services
- Editing / The One Fix Rule
- High resolution files
- Private Commissions
- a Wait List
- Personal Rights to the image
All of these will be described below.
5. Payment expectations
Payment in exchange for artwork is expected up-front, meaning to confirm a slot in my Queue and before the artwork is completed. I outline payment deadlines in the first formal Email I send to customers ; payment is usually expected within 5 days of a commission Opening. Payment made after the commission is unacceptable, and so will be withholding partial payment until after completion. Payment split by multiple people is acceptable, as is partial payment so long as payment in full is made by the payment deadline outlined in my Email.
Payment will be conducted by Paypal Invoice. You do not need a Paypal account to pay, other acceptable ways to pay the invoice can be seen here on the Paypal website.
Quotes, provided in my Email, will include the price of the commission as well as additional charges if you mention requiring additional services such as additional rights to the image. Quotes can also be provided for things like Edits at a customers request.
Customers are asked to wait for the invoice to send payment. Under no circumstances should a customer send me money independently , unless it is to tip after artwork has been completed.
Payment will be conducted by Paypal Invoice. You do not need a Paypal account to pay, other acceptable ways to pay the invoice can be seen here on the Paypal website.
Quotes, provided in my Email, will include the price of the commission as well as additional charges if you mention requiring additional services such as additional rights to the image. Quotes can also be provided for things like Edits at a customers request.
Customers are asked to wait for the invoice to send payment. Under no circumstances should a customer send me money independently , unless it is to tip after artwork has been completed.
6. Refunds
Customers can receive a refund up until the artwork has been completed. After the artwork is completed customers are not entitled to any refund.
Refunds may take some time to process.
Refunds may take some time to process.
7. Charge-backs
A charge-back is when a customer contacts their credit card or banking institution and claims the purchase was fraudulent, resulting in a reversal of the payment by Paypal after a small amount of time for dispute.
Customers that have received artwork that have issued a charge-back are still obligated to pay for the value of the commission and will maintain that obligation until I have been compensated fully.
Customers aware of charge-backs made in error or have made a charge-back because of a circumstance are asked to message me about it.
Customers that have received artwork that have issued a charge-back are still obligated to pay for the value of the commission and will maintain that obligation until I have been compensated fully.
Customers aware of charge-backs made in error or have made a charge-back because of a circumstance are asked to message me about it.
8. Tipping
Any customer can tip me, but this is not an obligation. I feel that a tip is a good sign that I've done a good job.
I provide an option to tip in the invoice for customers that want to provide one there.
For customers that want to provide a tip after the commission is completed they are welcome to send a tip through Paypal to [email protected]
I provide an option to tip in the invoice for customers that want to provide one there.
For customers that want to provide a tip after the commission is completed they are welcome to send a tip through Paypal to [email protected]
9. Commission form information
Every customer that sends in a commission form should receive a copy of their form to their Email. This is to be able to review the information and links provided.
Customers are asked to fill out the form truthfully and correctly, as well as with as much detail of the things expected in the image as possible without being facetious.
Form information is best kept to visual information in Bullet Points. Intangible elements like feelings, personality or intention are also important to mention, but should be relevant and short.
If a customer needs to edit the information on their commission form it can be done by Emailing me what needs to be changed.
Customers are asked to fill out the form truthfully and correctly, as well as with as much detail of the things expected in the image as possible without being facetious.
Form information is best kept to visual information in Bullet Points. Intangible elements like feelings, personality or intention are also important to mention, but should be relevant and short.
If a customer needs to edit the information on their commission form it can be done by Emailing me what needs to be changed.
10. Completion time
The completion time for commissions is usually between 6 and 17 days for a regular 2 week Queue. This may occasionally take longer depending on circumstances, most of which I should be up-front about.
If there is a personal emergency or urgent appointment I need to take care of your commission may be rescheduled.
You can expect that I will contact you about these circumstances if they should arise after the Queue has been made.
If there is a personal emergency or urgent appointment I need to take care of your commission may be rescheduled.
You can expect that I will contact you about these circumstances if they should arise after the Queue has been made.
11. Minors
Minors will under no circumstances receive mature artwork.
Minors are also expected to own the bank account they pay with in order to commission me. This is for liability reasons.
Minors are also expected to own the bank account they pay with in order to commission me. This is for liability reasons.
12. Gifts
Customers are welcome to purchase gifts.
Any person that owns the copyright to a character I draw in my artwork is entitled to a high resolution file, but will be asked to receive that file from the person that purchased the commission.
Any person that owns the copyright to a character I draw in my artwork is also obligated to follow my ToS.
Any person that owns the copyright to a character I draw in my artwork is entitled to a high resolution file, but will be asked to receive that file from the person that purchased the commission.
Any person that owns the copyright to a character I draw in my artwork is also obligated to follow my ToS.
13. Final Product
The final product of a commission will be the piece of artwork I produce based on a customers commission form. I will work fast during the day I schedule the commission for completion (your slot will be plotted on my Queue page), and as a result my process is different.
I will not provide customers with Works In Progress (W.I.P.s), instead I provide streaming services (described below).
If the final product I create deviates from what has been mentioned on the commission form, a customer is entitled to the One Fix Rule (described below).
After the artwork is completed I will regularly post the artwork to my Furaffinity and Twitter, though customers can request I not do this.
I will send high resolution files to customers after the workday has been completed over e-mail. Customers that do not receive an e-mail with their high resolution files (after checking junk/spam folders as well), should contact me over e-mail for the high resolution file.
I will not provide customers with Works In Progress (W.I.P.s), instead I provide streaming services (described below).
If the final product I create deviates from what has been mentioned on the commission form, a customer is entitled to the One Fix Rule (described below).
After the artwork is completed I will regularly post the artwork to my Furaffinity and Twitter, though customers can request I not do this.
I will send high resolution files to customers after the workday has been completed over e-mail. Customers that do not receive an e-mail with their high resolution files (after checking junk/spam folders as well), should contact me over e-mail for the high resolution file.
14. Editing/ the one fix rule
I provide customers the opportunity to edit the artwork I've made for them either at a cost or that is covered by my One Fix Rule.
The One Fix Rule is available as a no-charge one time edit only in the case I have made an error from the information provided on the commission form. Because the One Fix Rule only covers one edit, customers are encouraged to compile all the edits required that are a result of my error from the form information. Information not provided, or information that can be misinterpreted does not qualify for the One Fix Rule, nor does preference.
If an edit is requested that isn't covered by the One Fix Rule I will provide a quote for the cost depending on the amount of work related to the edit, which a customer will be obligated to pay in order to receive the fix.
All edits will be completed in my spare time. If an unreasonable amount of time has passed without action (4 weeks or more) customers are asked to Email me, and I'll be certain to place their edit in the next commission Queue.
The One Fix Rule is available as a no-charge one time edit only in the case I have made an error from the information provided on the commission form. Because the One Fix Rule only covers one edit, customers are encouraged to compile all the edits required that are a result of my error from the form information. Information not provided, or information that can be misinterpreted does not qualify for the One Fix Rule, nor does preference.
If an edit is requested that isn't covered by the One Fix Rule I will provide a quote for the cost depending on the amount of work related to the edit, which a customer will be obligated to pay in order to receive the fix.
All edits will be completed in my spare time. If an unreasonable amount of time has passed without action (4 weeks or more) customers are asked to Email me, and I'll be certain to place their edit in the next commission Queue.
15. Image rights
Rights determine what you can and can't do with the image legally.
When a customer purchases an image from me I automatically provide Personal Rights (described below) to them, and I have all remaining rights to the image. My definition of Personal Rights are very limited, but customers can purchase additional rights to the image to do specific things with the artwork, or purchase Full Rights to the image.
When a customer purchases an image from me I automatically provide Personal Rights (described below) to them, and I have all remaining rights to the image. My definition of Personal Rights are very limited, but customers can purchase additional rights to the image to do specific things with the artwork, or purchase Full Rights to the image.
16. What you can do with Personal Rights
If you own a copyrighted character in the artwork I made or have purchased the artwork you have Personal Rights to the image unless you paid for additional uses.
My definition of Personal Rights allows customers to:
These uses are limited based on my experience of what customers usually want to do with their artwork. Everyone wants to be able to share the image, be able to print it for personal things, and use it as an icon, along with a few other quality of life things.
My definition of Personal Rights allows customers to:
- Have a High Resolution file of the final image (upon request so that I remember)
- Be tagged if I post their artwork to my accounts
- Post the image to their personal (not business/professional) accounts at low resolution (under 2000x2000pixels), preferably if I am tagged.
- Print a copy of the image for personal use, such as on a print / dakimakura / backpack etc. Customers should ask permission to print the item on items other than regular paper.
- Crop the image for use as an icon
- Share the image as reference to another artist
These uses are limited based on my experience of what customers usually want to do with their artwork. Everyone wants to be able to share the image, be able to print it for personal things, and use it as an icon, along with a few other quality of life things.
17. What you can't do with personal rights
I am limiting customers reasonably from doing certain things with the artwork unless they pay for the right to do so. All of the things listed below are things customers can pay a bit more to have the right to do (purchasing additional rights).
You can choose to purchase any of these rights individually as additional rights to the image. My rights to the image are near full with the exception of consideration; you own your character, I own the artwork.
You can also purchase Full Rights to the image, which will let you do absolutely whatever you want to do with it.
- You can't post the high resolution file, or publicly share the high resolution file. This is to prevent abuse of the artwork, such as art theft, resale, identity theft, or manipulation. It means not sharing it in places like Telegram groups or posting on websites that allow you to post high resolution files.
- You can't use the artwork as advertising or self-promotion. If my artwork will be representational of you than I feel that it's fair you pay for that use. Things prohibited are using artwork as promotional posters, posting the image and soliciting people to visit your page/channel or buy something you're selling in the description, using the image as your Twitter banner or as a background for your website, as an overlay on a streaming service, using the image in a literal advertisement, etc.
- You can't give the artwork away, or provide it for use by a charity, non-profit, business or other individual. You violate my rights to the image by providing it to others to use how they see fit. I do not mean providing the file to another artist as reference. I do mean providing the file to a company to print a dakimakura and they keep the design to print for other customers, or giving the file to your DJ friend who wants to make a poster, or letting a film producer access to the artwork for use somewhere on their video, for example.
- You can't sell or publish the artwork. This is to prevent people from selling artwork for more than they paid me to draw it for, and to protect my rights to the image by not knowing who the buyer is or their intentions with the artwork, or in the case of publishing have any control over how that will be represented. Selling characters is a common way to sell an artwork, publishing a book cover is an example of publishing the artwork, but there are many other potential misuses.
- You can't use the artwork for merchandise. This is to prevent people from trying to profit from my artwork without my consent. You also can't create products or derivatives of my artwork for the same reason.
- You can't print out stickers, decals, or wraps. This is just to politely limit people from doing something a little like self-promotion. It's also because the requirements are heavier with those projects.
- You can't edit the image, or have someone else edit the image for you. I want to be able to control how my artwork looks. This includes cropping (except for an icon), photo-manipulating, color editing, squash/stretching, tracing, painting over, distorting, mirroring, and all other manner of taking the image and manipulating it. The image should stay exactly as I created it please!
- You can't color or animate the image or have someone else do it for you. Same as the last one I want to be able to control how my artwork looks. Shading flat colored images or animating existing artwork isn't something I want anyone else doing to the artwork ever. Please instead ask me to do it.
- You won't have access to my working files. This is something I won't provide unless you buy full rights to the image.
You can choose to purchase any of these rights individually as additional rights to the image. My rights to the image are near full with the exception of consideration; you own your character, I own the artwork.
You can also purchase Full Rights to the image, which will let you do absolutely whatever you want to do with it.
18. Paying for additional rights/ uses
All of the rights listed in the previous section are things you can pay to have.
There are a few items on my price guide that include some additional specific rights in their prices (All of the items in the "Chat and Social Media Stuff" section.
The cost will be quoted to you based on the circumstances of your use.
Full Rights to the image may cost 100% or more of the cost of your commission.
There are a few items on my price guide that include some additional specific rights in their prices (All of the items in the "Chat and Social Media Stuff" section.
The cost will be quoted to you based on the circumstances of your use.
Full Rights to the image may cost 100% or more of the cost of your commission.
19. High resolution files
All customers are entitled to a high resolution file. This file size is ideal for printing usually.
I will send you a high resolution file after the image is completed over email. If I have lapsed in doing so automatically, customers should send me an email requesting the file.
High resolution files should not be shared publicly.
You can share a high resolution file with an artist that would like reference of your character, or with close trusted friends. Please try to protect the circulation of the high resolution file when possible.
I will send you a high resolution file after the image is completed over email. If I have lapsed in doing so automatically, customers should send me an email requesting the file.
High resolution files should not be shared publicly.
You can share a high resolution file with an artist that would like reference of your character, or with close trusted friends. Please try to protect the circulation of the high resolution file when possible.
20. Image posting
Customers with Personal Rights to the image are allowed to post the image they've purchased in low resolution (max dimensions 2000x2000 pixels) to their public social media accounts.
Customers are asked to copy the low resolution files I post to my accounts, or to resize the image appropriately themselves in order to post the image.
It is required to keep my signature visible on the artwork. It is also requested that if possible customers tag me as the artist with a link to my relevant account.
Posting to social media accounts means places like Furaffinity, Sofurry, Inkbunny, Weasyl, Deviantart, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook, or other similar image posting websites. Communication apps like Telegram, Discord or Skype, and forum based websites are also acceptable sharing places.
Customers are asked to refrain from posting the image to their business/professional associated accounts, as this can quickly lead to advertising and self-promotion discrepancies.
Customers are asked to copy the low resolution files I post to my accounts, or to resize the image appropriately themselves in order to post the image.
It is required to keep my signature visible on the artwork. It is also requested that if possible customers tag me as the artist with a link to my relevant account.
Posting to social media accounts means places like Furaffinity, Sofurry, Inkbunny, Weasyl, Deviantart, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook, or other similar image posting websites. Communication apps like Telegram, Discord or Skype, and forum based websites are also acceptable sharing places.
Customers are asked to refrain from posting the image to their business/professional associated accounts, as this can quickly lead to advertising and self-promotion discrepancies.
21. Acceptable behavior/ refusal of services
Customers are asked to interact with me in a calm, polite, and appropriate manner.
If a customer is rude, abrasive, facetious or starts harassing me I have the right to refuse services by either refusing their commission request or cancelling their commission with refund.
I may also refuse services to customers that cater negativity on their social media, have proven to be untrustworthy customers by other working professionals, or have the intention of weaponizing or misusing the artwork I create for them.
If a customer is rude, abrasive, facetious or starts harassing me I have the right to refuse services by either refusing their commission request or cancelling their commission with refund.
I may also refuse services to customers that cater negativity on their social media, have proven to be untrustworthy customers by other working professionals, or have the intention of weaponizing or misusing the artwork I create for them.
22. Private commissions
I can provide private commissions to customers that do not want the image mentioned on my Queue, posted, or streamed.
Customers can speculate whether they would like the commission to be private on their commission forms.
In special cases private commissions can schedule a private stream. Please Email me to ask about that if you require that service.
Customers can speculate whether they would like the commission to be private on their commission forms.
In special cases private commissions can schedule a private stream. Please Email me to ask about that if you require that service.
23. Streaming
I provide Streaming services because I do not provide WIP's.
Customers are not obligated to attend the stream, it's a service that I host regardless of customer presence.
Customers will not be provided a guaranteed time slot, nor will customers be able to ask me to stream outside of my regular working hours.
I do take customer availability into consideration when creating the Queue.
Customers can speculate that they would not like the commission Streamed in the commission form.
Customers are not obligated to attend the stream, it's a service that I host regardless of customer presence.
Customers will not be provided a guaranteed time slot, nor will customers be able to ask me to stream outside of my regular working hours.
I do take customer availability into consideration when creating the Queue.
Customers can speculate that they would not like the commission Streamed in the commission form.
24. Schedule
The Schedule on my website plots both a list view of all pending and in-progress commissions as well as a Calendar with customers plotted the approximate time I'll begin drawing their commission. I will schedule customers during my working hours of between 10am-4pm (US Central Timezone) Monday to Friday.
The Queue will be updated on the day of the payment deadline for the round, usually the day before the first slot of that round is due to be completed, usually the Sunday after I open.
All customers availability will be considered seriously when making the Schedule, but in the case there are conflicting availabilities I cannot guarantee every customer is scheduled on their preferred dates of availability.
The Queue will be updated on the day of the payment deadline for the round, usually the day before the first slot of that round is due to be completed, usually the Sunday after I open.
All customers availability will be considered seriously when making the Schedule, but in the case there are conflicting availabilities I cannot guarantee every customer is scheduled on their preferred dates of availability.
25. Wait list
The wait list is a service for commissions that I want to take but can't accommodate in the current Queue. It is a literal list of customers that are waiting for me to have the space to take their commission.
The regular wait time on the wait list is 2 weeks, not including the time it takes to process the Queue before starting the round.
Customers on the wait list can expect that their slot be reserved in an upcoming Queue without the obligation of having to pay for the slot immediately. Customers on the wait list are instead asked to wait until I can take their commission to pay for the slot.
When I am capable of taking the commission I will message the wait list customer over Email with formal information and a Quote.
If any customer on the wait list requires an update as to the status of their commission please Email me!
The regular wait time on the wait list is 2 weeks, not including the time it takes to process the Queue before starting the round.
Customers on the wait list can expect that their slot be reserved in an upcoming Queue without the obligation of having to pay for the slot immediately. Customers on the wait list are instead asked to wait until I can take their commission to pay for the slot.
When I am capable of taking the commission I will message the wait list customer over Email with formal information and a Quote.
If any customer on the wait list requires an update as to the status of their commission please Email me!
26. Rushing a commission
Customers can pay to have their commission rushed.
A rushed commission will skip all other commissions in the next available Queue. This means you can't submit a form with a Rush request 2 days into my new 2 week Queue and expect it be done tomorrow, instead you would wait until the end of that 2 week Queue when I then have the time to complete your commission request.
A rushed commission will skip all other commissions in the next available Queue. This means you can't submit a form with a Rush request 2 days into my new 2 week Queue and expect it be done tomorrow, instead you would wait until the end of that 2 week Queue when I then have the time to complete your commission request.
If you have any questions or concerns about these Terms of Service please Email me at [email protected]
