How To Commission a Customized Crystal Glass Engraving

Crystal glass engraving is not that labour-intensive with the right machinery. All you need to do is provide a design file and the machines will do the rest. The main issue here, however, is actually creating that design file. This is not a problem if you are browsing a catalogue of premade designs, but you need to keep the following in mind if you want a unique custom design that will fit your needs and purposes.

Prepare reference materials

One of the first things you need to do is come up with a batch of reference materials for your crystal glass engraving projects. If the piece will be based on an existing image - i.e. a photograph or painting - simply snap a digital photo and set it aside. If you have a more abstract idea, a series of reference photos coupled with clear descriptions of the image you have in mind will help you out. All this will help the artist understand what you want accomplished.

Create a list of designers

The next step is to go out and start researching the artists that specialize in three-dimensional designs. These artists know how to work with software that will allow them to create three-dimensional designs and save them in file formats that the machines will understand. The list you created will help you narrow down your choices and focus your future efforts.

Check the website

A truly professional designer will have a section on their website dedicated to providing basic information to prospective clients. Check if they accept commissions in the first place and how much they charge for a custom design order. They should also post up samples of their work on their website, which will allow you to judge whether their particular style suits your needs or not.

Get in touch

Once you have narrowed down your choices to about two or three artists, the next thing you need to do is send them an email and ask if they are willing to work on a commissioned piece. If the artist is willing, use this opportunity to determine the arrangements, pricing and deadlines to follow. Be sure to set review milestones as well. You will definitely want to check the final design before having a crystal glass engraving machine create the finished product.

Draw a contract

You don't need to meet up with your artist and sign a formal document. A simple email will suffice to serve as the contract - as long as the email exchange clearly states the requirements for both parties to fulfil. Include the names of all parties involved, the date the agreement was signed, the order you have commissioned the artist for, a description of the final design, who holds the rights to the design you paid for, dates for review milestones, the final deadline, the breakdown of costs, how payments will be delivered and what will happen when one party fails to uphold its commitments.

One last thing: remember to keep in touch with your artist every now and then. A quick update will let you know how your project is going and will help immensely with formulating the finalized version of your crystal glass engraving project.

George Berdichevsky is the Founder of 3Design Center, which designs image files to be used in crystal glass engraving machines. His team of talented artists can create bespoke images for 3D crystal engravings from any idea or image. Visit the website for more information.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.