Ruth51
Hi! As in any graphic design/illustration service, or any other business for that matter, the terms depend upon the contract. Every transaction should have a WRITTEN CONTRACT. Over the years of my career, I have seen many situations that really became ugly when there was no written contract, and sometimes even ended up in legal disputes. All that could have been avoided simply by having a contract. A contract protects both the artist and the client. Each party agrees to the terms of the contract. By law, the graphic designer retains the right to his or her work. Owning the rights to your work gives you the right to get paid for additional use of a design and protect it from unwanted changes. Be careful of situations in which a client requests "work-for-hire," as this implies you will not retain the copyright. There are only certain situations in which this is legal. There is a wealth of information at these links regarding copyright, contracts, and legal information regarding graphic design: Here you will find information regarding specifics for poster art: Fees for poster art vary greatly, depending on how the poster is used, what kind of company it is for, the quality of the illustrator, the location of the company, etc. The best thing is to get involved with the American Poster Institute for current information and to meet other artists. And, don't forget software programs that are available for pricing out jobs such as these according to perimeters that you enter. Thanks for asking this question. Best wishes!