Tag: art licensing

Art licensing means letting a company use your artwork on its products in return for a fee or a royalty.

You keep the copyright. The company pays for permission to use the design for a set purpose, time and place.

Where Licensed Art Appears

Licensed designs are used on fabric, greeting cards, stationery, homeware, puzzles, gift wrap and many other everyday products.

Surface pattern designers, illustrators and painters can all license their work, as long as the designs suit products.

How Licensing Deals Work

A licence agreement sets out which products, which regions and how long the company may use your design.

Payment may be a flat fee, a royalty on each sale, or an advance that is paid back from future royalties.

Finding Companies

Artists find licensing partners through trade shows, direct pitches to manufacturers, licensing agents and online portfolios.

Research each company’s product range first, and send a small collection that fits what it already sells.

Protecting Your Work

Read every contract carefully before signing. Check whether it is exclusive, and what happens when the agreement ends.

Keep records of your original files and dates. In the US, registering copyright adds legal options if someone copies your work.

Preparing Your Portfolio

Group your designs into themed collections, with a main design and matching coordinates that work together on a product range.

Show each collection on product mockups, so companies can quickly see how your artwork would look in their shops.

Update your portfolio regularly with new collections, since companies plan seasonal ranges many months in advance.

What You Will Find Here

The posts under this tag explain how licensing works, how to prepare a portfolio, and how to protect your artwork from misuse.