TERMS OF SERVICE.

1.1 Requirement Definition

Prior to initiating any project, the CLIENT must provide a clear briefing document or Moodboard specifying:

• Visual style (e.g., PBR realistic, stylized, sci-fi).
• Target engine or render pipeline (e.g., Unreal Engine 5.x, Unity, Arnold).
• Geometry budgets (Polycount / Tri-count limits) per asset or environment.
• Texture resolution (1K, 2K, 4K), required maps, and budget for trim sheets or master materials / vertex painting.

1.2 Standard Deliverables Format

Unless explicitly agreed upon in writing within the project proposal, standard deliverables consist of:

• Environments & Level Layouts: Scene files (.hip, .mb, .max, or packaged Unreal Engine .umap project/level files).
• Assets & Props: Clean .FBX or .OBJ files, aligned to the origin pivot $(0,0,0)$ at proper grid scale (1 unit = 1 centimeter).
• Textures & Shaders: Standard PBR maps (BaseColor, Normal, Roughness, Metallic, AO or packed ORM/RMA maps) in .PNG or .TGA format, or Substance .spsm/.sbsar files where applicable.
• Technical Note on Raw Files: Unprocessed, unoptimized high-density sculpt files (such as raw native ZBrush .ZPR files with active subtools or raw High-Poly meshes) will not be provided unless a separate fee for High-Poly source deliverables is agreed upon.

2.1 Production Milestones

The development of 3D environments and assets will strictly follow a 3-Phase Approval Milestone:

• PHASE 1: Blockout / Graybox: Approval of spatial composition, proportions, scale, and general silhouette in-engine.
• PHASE 2: High/Low-Poly Mesh & UVs: Approval of optimized final geometry, normal map baking, and UV layout / Texel Density distribution.
• PHASE 3: Texturing, Shaders & Lighting: Approval of final visual assets, look development, and scene lighting integration.

2.2 Revisions Policy

• Included Revisions: Each milestone includes up to two (2) rounds of minor adjustments strictly aligned with the original brief for that specific phase.
• Frozen Milestones: Once a phase is approved (e.g., Phase 1 Blockout), no structural geometry changes will be allowed in subsequent phases without incurring extra charges.
• Change Orders: Any modification requiring topology re-works, baked UV modifications, or re-texturing due to a shift in creative direction from the CLIENT will be billed as a Change Order at an hourly or additional flat rate.

3.1 Retention of Rights

All assets, 3D models, shaders, textures, and environments created by the ARTIST remain the exclusive intellectual property of the ARTIST until the CLIENT settles the 100% full payment.

3.2 License of Use (Upon Full Payment)

Upon receipt of full payment, the ARTIST grants the CLIENT an exclusive, worldwide, unlimited commercial license to use, publish, and distribute the deliverables within the specific game, cinematic, or interactive project specified in the contract.

3.3 Base Libraries & Proprietary Tools

The ARTIST retains full ownership of any pre-existing proprietary tools, procedural networks (Houdini digital assets/scripts), custom shaders, or base materials used during production. The CLIENT is granted a license to use the exported final outputs, but does not acquire ownership over the ARTIST’s underlying procedural tools or algorithms.

3.4 Portfolio & Self-Promotion Rights

The ARTIST reserves the absolute right to showcase final renders, wireframes, texture maps, breakdown videos, and real-time viewport captures on their personal portfolio (e.g., ArtStation, personal website, social media, demo reel), subject to signed Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs).

4.1 Payment Structure

• Milestone / Fixed-Price Projects: 50% Initial Deposit (Non-Refundable): Required prior to starting any project planning, grayboxing, or scene setup.
• 50% Final Payment: Due upon visual approval of Phase 3 and prior to the release of downloadable final source files or compiled project builds.
• Hourly / Ongoing Contracts: Invoiced weekly or bi-weekly against logged production hours.

4.2 Financial Fees

The CLIENT is responsible for covering any transaction, bank transfer, or platform fees (e.g., Stripe, PayPal, Wise, international wire fees).

4.3 Cancellation Policy (Kill Fee)

If the CLIENT cancels or halts the project before completion:

• The initial 50% deposit is strictly non-refundable to cover initial planning, setup time, and calendar reservation.
• If canceled during Phase 2 or Phase 3, the CLIENT must pay for all completed work/hours up to the written date of cancellation. The ARTIST will deliver only the assets completed and paid for up to that milestone.

5.1 Technical Integrity

The ARTIST guarantees that exported geometry will feature clean topology (valid quads/tris), no non-manifold geometry or inverted normals, and proper UV layout matching agreed Texel Density metrics.

5.2 Simulation & Render Times

• Baking & Computations: Heavy physical simulations (e.g., Marvelous Designer cloth dynamics, Houdini procedural shattering) or heavy lighting bakes will be billed as active production time.
• The ARTIST is not responsible for frame rate drops (FPS drops) caused by third-party code, unoptimized client-side scripts, or hardware targets that do not meet minimum engine requirements (e.g., Unreal Engine 5 Nanite/Lumen requirements).

If an NDA is required:

• A clear public disclosure date must be defined (e.g., game announcement trailer or official release).
• If the project is shelved or unreleased for more than 12 months, the ARTIST retains the right to showcase the completed environment assets as "Unannounced / Concept Work" within their portfolio.

Submitting an initial deposit, signing a work order, or issuing written approval to proceed constitutes full and unconditional acceptance of these Terms of Service.