Contract template for 3D artists
The fights in 3D work are about two things: what the client owns at the end, and when a change stops being a revision. A client who paid for six renders may assume they also bought the model and can hand it to another studio for the next campaign. Unless the contract says so, that is not what they paid for.
The second fight is late changes. Moving a camera after final lighting means re-rendering, sometimes overnight. A contract that defines the stages and what a revision means at each one turns that conversation from an argument into a line item.
Not legal advice. This is a plain-language starting point, not a contract drafted for your situation or your country. For anything large or unusual, have a lawyer where you work read it before you sign.
Clauses specific to 3D artists
- What is delivered. The artist delivers rendered images and animations in the formats listed in the quote. Scene files, models and textures are not part of the delivery unless the quote lists them.
- Usage rights. On full payment the client may use the delivered renders for the purposes listed in the quote. Use of the 3D models themselves, for new images or by another studio, requires a separate licence.
- Client-supplied data. The client confirms it has the right to share any CAD, logos or reference material it provides. Time spent repairing unusable input is billed at the day rate.
- Stages and approvals. Work runs in stages: blockout, look development, final lighting and render. Approving a stage closes it. Changes to an approved stage are billed as additional work.
- Render costs. Third-party render farm costs are billed at cost on top of the agreed fee unless the quote says they are included.
- Portfolio use. The artist may show the work in a portfolio after the client's public launch, unless the quote marks the project as confidential.
The clauses every freelance contract needs
- Parties. Who the agreement is between: your legal name or business, the client's legal entity, and the addresses of both.
- Scope of work. What you will deliver, in what form, and what is explicitly not included. Refer to the quote or proposal by number if it lists the details.
- Fees and payment terms. The total fee or rate, the currency, any deposit, when invoices are issued and how many days the client has to pay.
- Late payment. What happens when an invoice is late: interest or a fixed fee if you want one, and your right to pause work until the account is settled.
- Changes and revisions. How many revision rounds are included, what counts as a change of scope, and how extra work is priced and approved.
- Timeline and client delays. Key dates, and that deadlines move when the client is late with feedback, content or approvals.
- Ownership and licence. Who owns the finished work and when (usually on full payment), what the client may use it for, and what you keep, such as your tools, templates and know-how.
- Confidentiality. Both sides keep the other's non-public information private, during the project and after it.
- Cancellation. How either side can end the agreement, the notice required, and payment for work done up to that point.
- Liability. A cap on what either side can claim, often the fees paid under the agreement, and no liability for indirect losses.
- Governing law. Which country's law applies and where disputes are heard. Usually where you are based.
A plain-language sample
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and cut what doesn't apply. Shorter is fine as long as the scope, the money and the rights are clear.
1. Parties
This agreement is between [Your name or business], the 3D artist ("we"), and [Client legal name], the client ("you"), and starts on [date].
2. The work
We will deliver the work described in quote [number], dated [date]. Anything not listed there is outside this agreement and will be quoted separately before we start on it.
3. What is delivered
The artist delivers rendered images and animations in the formats listed in the quote. Scene files, models and textures are not part of the delivery unless the quote lists them.
4. Usage rights
On full payment the client may use the delivered renders for the purposes listed in the quote. Use of the 3D models themselves, for new images or by another studio, requires a separate licence.
5. Client-supplied data
The client confirms it has the right to share any CAD, logos or reference material it provides. Time spent repairing unusable input is billed at the day rate.
6. Stages and approvals
Work runs in stages: blockout, look development, final lighting and render. Approving a stage closes it. Changes to an approved stage are billed as additional work.
7. Render costs
Third-party render farm costs are billed at cost on top of the agreed fee unless the quote says they are included.
8. Portfolio use
The artist may show the work in a portfolio after the client's public launch, unless the quote marks the project as confidential.
9. Fees and payment
The fee is [amount and currency]. We invoice [a deposit of X on signing and the balance on delivery / monthly in arrears]. Invoices are due within [14] days. If an invoice is more than [14] days late we may pause work until it is paid.
10. Changes
The quote includes [number] rounds of revisions. Further changes, or changes to work you have already approved, are charged at [rate] once you have agreed to the cost in writing.
11. Delays
Dates in the quote assume you send feedback and material on time. If you are late, the dates move by at least the same amount.
12. Confidentiality
We both keep the other's non-public information confidential, during this project and after it ends.
13. Ending the agreement
Either of us can end this agreement with [14] days' written notice. You pay for the work done up to the end date, and anything already paid for is yours to use under the terms above.
14. Liability
Neither of us is liable for indirect or consequential losses. Our total liability under this agreement is limited to the fees you have paid under it.
15. Law
This agreement is governed by the law of [country], and disputes are heard by the courts of [city or country].
Signatures
3D artist: [name, date]. Client: [name, title, date].
Contracts when the studio uses freelancers
If a freelancer works on the job, the studio needs the rights to their work before it can pass them on. Put an assignment or licence clause in the freelancer's agreement that matches what the client contract grants. Otherwise the studio is promising the client rights it does not hold.
Name one approver on the client side. A brand team, an agency and a product engineer can each send notes on the same render, and the contract should say whose sign-off closes a stage.
Questions 3D artists ask
Does the client own the 3D model if they paid for the renders?
Not automatically. Ownership and licences are whatever the contract says, and the law in many countries leaves copyright with the creator unless it is assigned in writing. If the client needs the model, write that into the contract and price it.
Can I use client work in my portfolio?
Usually, if the contract allows it. Product launches are often under embargo, so add a clause that lets you show the work after the public launch date and lets the client mark a project as confidential.
What if the client's CAD is unusable?
Say in the contract that the client is responsible for the input data and that repair or rebuild time is billed separately. Then estimate that time in the quote as soon as you have seen the files.
Get it signed without printing it
OIO has contract templates built in (service agreement, retainer, IP assignment, NDA) that you edit to fit, sign in the Sign app and send as a PDF. The contract sits next to the project and its invoices. Free plan, no card.
Start freeAlso for 3D artists: invoice template and quote template. Contract templates for related trades: motion designers, animators, game developers, architects. Or browse all contract templates.