assetsproductiontemplates

Creating Transmedia-Ready Art: Asset Lists Producers Will Ask For

aartwork

2026-02-13

10 min read

A producer-ready checklist for transmedia artists: layered PSDs, vector logos, character turnarounds, stems, and rights docs—pack like The Orangery, pitch like Vice-ready talent.

Creating Transmedia-Ready Art: What Producers Will Ask For (Concise Asset Checklist)

Hook: If your portfolio gets passed to a producer at Vice Studios or a talent agent at WME, will your assets survive the first 10 minutes of scrutiny? In 2026, producers don’t just want pretty images — they want complete, well-documented, rights-cleared packages that scale from social to screen. Missing a vector logo, a character turnaround, or a clear rights memo can mean a lost option, delayed deal, or reduced payment. This article gives you the exact asset list and practical delivery playbook producers ask for, inspired by The Orangery’s transmedia packaging and Vice Media’s studio pivot.

Why this matters in 2026

Two late-2025/early-2026 developments changed the brief for creators: The Orangery — a European transmedia IP studio behind hits like “Traveling to Mars” — signed with WME, signaling that packaged IP attracts agency-level dealmaking. At the same time, Vice Media has shifted toward studio-scale production and is hiring for growth, which means more in-house producers looking for turnkey IP ready to shoot, animate, license, or serialize. Those trends mean producers now expect creators to deliver a production-friendly asset bundle from day one.

Top-line checklist (Executive Summary)

Give producers one glance and they should see you understand production workflows. Start with this condensed checklist and expand where needed.

Master artwork: layered PSD/PSB (highest-res) + flattened TIFF/JPEG previews
Logos: vector (SVG/EPS) + color & reversed variants + font files & license
Character assets: turnarounds, expression sheets, model sheets, color keys
Motion & 3D: rigged PSDs, sprite sheets, OBJ/FBX/glTF, animation exports
Audio: stems (dialog, music, SFX) with BPM/key/ISRC where available
Rights & provenance: chain-of-title, releases, license templates, AI-use clauses
EPK/one-pager: pitch deck, synopsis, episode outlines, mood board, contact info
Delivery: manifest (JSON/CSV), checksum, preview watermarked package, cloud link + expiry

Detailed asset list producers will ask for

Below is a production-ready expansion of the executive checklist. Treat it as a living template: update formats and metadata as you iterate on projects.

1. Master Artwork (visual masters)

Layered PSD or PSB files — cleanly organized layers, named groups, non-destructive adjustments, linked smart objects. Keep the original color space (sRGB or Adobe RGB) and include a text file noting the color profile and working DPI.
High-res TIFF (300 DPI) & JPEG preview — TIFF for print or plate-making, a 2,000–4,000 px long edge JPEG for quick previews.
Flattened low-res preview — 72 DPI watermark-protected preview for pitching.
Alternate aspect crops — 1:1, 4:5, 16:9, vertical social crop (1080×1920), so producers can test placements immediately.

2. Vector logos & identity

SVG and EPS — scalable, editable vectors; supply both to cover web and print workflows.
PNG/JPEG variants — transparent PNGs at 2x and 3x for web/mobile use.
Color system — HEX, RGB, CMYK, and Pantone references for exact reproduction.
Font files and license — OTF/TTF and a copy of the font license or webfont agreement (or equivalent documentation for custom typography).

3. Character turnarounds & model sheets

Character assets are the most time-consuming to recreate. Providing them speeds adaptation for animation, 3D, and merchandising.

Turnaround views — front, 3/4, side, back at consistent scale with a character height guide.
Expression sheet — 6–12 core expressions and mouth shapes for lip-syncing (visemes).
Close-up detail sheets — hands, eyes, costumes, props, texture patterns.
Color keys & palettes — base colors, highlighted palettes, RGB/HEX/Pantone values.
Proportions and turnaround notes — measurements, rigging guides, attachment points for props.

4. Motion, 3D & game-ready assets

Rigged PSD/After Effects comps — labeled comps, editable precomps, and EXR sequences where applicable.
3D models — OBJ, FBX, glTF; include diffuse/specular/normal maps and source files (Blender/Max) when possible.
Sprite sheets & atlases — PNG/JSON atlases for game engines.
Animation exports — MP4/H.264 previews plus original project files and frame sequences.

5. Audio: stems, metadata, and licensing

Separate stems — music separated into stems (drums, bass, synths, vocals) in WAV or FLAC; provide BPM and key.
Dialog & SFX — dialog tracks with timecode, labeled SFX with descriptive names and durations.
ISRC/metadata — include ISRC codes if applicable, composer credits, and contact for sync licensing.
Clean and voiced edits — 30-, 60-second and custom edit requests to speed up usage in trailers and promos.

6. Legal: rights clearance and chain-of-title

This is non-negotiable. Producers will not greenlight a pitch without clear documentation proving you control the rights you claim to sell.

Chain-of-title summary — one-page annotated timeline: who created what, when, and under what terms.
Assignment and commissioning contracts — written agreements with contributors, contractors, and collaborators.
Release forms — talent/model releases, location releases, prop releases where relevant.
License samples — suggested sync/mechanical/merch templates and standard rates you expect.
AI training use clause — opt-in/out statements that clarify whether your assets may be used for model training or dataset ingestion; post-2024 buyer scrutiny makes this essential.
Copyright registration or proof — registration IDs or deposit copies where applicable.

7. Pitch & packaging (EPK)

One-pager & logline — single-page summary with contact info and short hook.
5–10 slide pitch deck — tone, world, characters, market comps, intended media (comic, film, series, game).
Transmedia bible — episode outlines, character arcs, franchise extensions, merchandising potential and target demos.
Mood board & references — links to visual references, key art, and inspiration with proper credit.

8. Metadata, file manifests, & delivery specifics

Manifest file (JSON/CSV) — canonical index of every file, including filename, checksum (MD5/SHA256), file size, created date, and brief description. See tooling that automates extraction and embedding of metadata for large packs.
Readme/Delivery note — instructions, dependencies, and software versions used (Photoshop CC 2026, Blender 4.x, etc.).
Preview watermarks & access controls — low-res watermarked previews and a secure preview link separated from the master files.
Cloud delivery options — preferred delivery solutions (Dropbox Business, Google Drive for Work, Aspera/Signiant for large media), and an S3-compatible link where necessary.

Practical folder structure and file-naming conventions

Consistency wins. Use this minimal folder structure and a predictable naming system so producers and supervisors can script ingest or hand files off to their teams immediately.

Example folder tree

/Project-Title_YYYY
  /01_Pitches
    Project-Title_OnePager.pdf
    Project-Title_Deck.pdf
  /02_Art_Masters
    Title_KeyArt.psb
    Title_KeyArt_preview.jpg
  /03_Characters
    CharacterName_turnaround.psd
    CharacterName_expressions.psd
  /04_Logos
    Title_Logo.eps
    Title_Logo_Stacked.svg
  /05_3D
    Vehicle_model.fbx
    Vehicle_textures.zip
  /06_Audio
    OST_Title_stems.zip
  /07_Legal
    Chain_of_Title.pdf
    Releases.zip
  /08_Manifest
    manifest.json
    checksum.sha256

File-naming conventions (examples)

ProjectTitle_AssetType_Version_Date.ext — e.g., SweetPaprika_CharacterTurn_Front_v02_20260105.psd
AssetType_LayerDescription_Version.ext — e.g., KeyArt_BG_SkyGradient_v03.psb

How to present transmedia-ready assets in your portfolio & link-in-bio

Your public portfolio should balance discoverability with secure delivery. Producers want to preview quickly; they don’t want to download everything immediately.

Curated showcase pages — build a project page per IP that surfaces: logline, one key visual, downloadable one-pager, and a ‘Request EPK’ CTA.
Locked EPK delivery — use a gated link (email captured) to deliver a watermarked preview and a private request form for full access.
Link-in-bio best practice — your single link should go to a mini-landing page that lists active IP, quick contact, and a ‘Producer Pack’ request button; avoid linking directly to large files. Follow content templates and discovery best practices such as the AEO-friendly content templates for better findability.
Portfolio templates — provide a simple downloadable Project One-Pager (PDF) that includes all production highlights and links to the manifest. Templates should be optimized for both mobile and desktop.

Rights clearance: the make-or-break section

In 2026, producers—particularly studios like Vice that are rebuilding production capacity—won’t move without documented rights. Be proactive: if there are gray areas, disclose them up front.

Third-party content — sample usage should be removed or clearly licensed (music clips, stock textures, found footage).
Contributor agreements — secure written work-for-hire or assignment agreements with creatives who contribute to the IP.
AI training language — state whether contributors consent to dataset use for AI model training; many buyers now require explicit opt-in.
Clear license terms — outline exclusivity windows, territories, media, and sub-licensing rights in plain language.

Quick rule: if it’s not written, it’s not sold. Producers assume risk; your job is to reduce it.

Packaging examples inspired by The Orangery and Vice

The Orangery’s WME signing is a recent example of how tightly packaged IP attracts agency interest. While we don’t have access to their exact files, their public playbook teaches a few lessons:

Prepared chain-of-title and transmedia bible — agencies want to see franchise expansion mapped out (comics → animation → series → games).
Market comps and monetization paths — show where your IP sits, who the audience is, and how it can generate revenue.

Vice’s pivot to a studio model means more internal production teams will request deliverables, often with quick turnaround. They’ll appreciate packages that include editable After Effects comps, music stems, and a short-form trailer ready for press and buyers.

Advanced strategies and future-proofing (2026+)

To stay ahead in 2026, add these proactive layers to your asset packs.

Provenance & authenticity — consider content integrity stamps or blockchain receipts to demonstrate provenance (useful for collectors and licensors). Read debates about why physical provenance still matters: Physical Provenance: Why It Still Matters.
AI-proof backups — provide original files and a signed declaration if you don’t want assets used to train generative models.
Pre-clear music & SFX — create or commission pre-cleared cues with known rights to speed sync deals.
Localization-ready text — supply editable copy and separate text files for quick localization and subtitling. If you repurpose long-form for short-form platforms, see advice on reformatting: How to Reformat Your Doc-Series for YouTube.
Structured metadata — embed IPTC/XMP metadata in images and ID3 tags/metadata for audio; exporters in 2026 make this simpler but you must populate fields.

Checklist you can use right now

Copy this checklist to a project’s root folder and tick off items as you assemble the EPK.

Layered PSD/PSB master(s)
High-res TIFF + JPEG preview images
SVG/EPS logos + PNG variants
Character turnarounds + expression sheets
Rigged comps / 3D models / sprite sheets
Audio stems + metadata (BPM, key, ISRC)
Chain-of-title document
Contributor agreements & releases
Transmedia bible + 5-slide pitch deck
Manifest.json and checksum file
Preview watermarked pack + secure delivery link

How to price and present licensing terms (practical tips)

Producers want clarity. Provide a simple matrix at the top of your EPK that outlines standard fees for:

One-off use (social, editorial)
Sync license for trailer / short-form
Exclusive option for development (time-limited)
Full assignment for motion-picture/TV

Include optional add-ons like merchandising and game rights. If you’re unsure about pricing, pick ranges and flag them as negotiable — having guidance is better than silence.

Final checklist of quick wins for artists in 30–90 minutes

Export a 2,000 px preview + watermark it.
Create a one-pager PDF (logline, audience, contact) and add it to your project root.
Save a flattened TIFF for print requests.
Zip and label any contributor contracts and add to /07_Legal.
Upload to a secure cloud folder and generate a request-only link for producers.

Closing thoughts: package like a studio, pitch like an artist

Producers working at rebuilt production houses — whether a nimble transmedia agency like The Orangery or a scaling studio inside Vice Media — are looking for creators who understand both craft and legal/technical rigor. Your advantage is attention to detail: a clean manifest, clear rights, and a preview that can go into a deck or cut into a vertical ad. That level of readiness turns casual interest into options, contests, and deals.

Actionable takeaway: Start every new IP with the folder structure above, a chain-of-title draft, and a one-pager. If you do nothing else this week, assemble and share a watermarked EPK link that producers can request.

Call to action

Ready to make your work transmedia-ready? Download our free, editable asset checklist and portfolio template at artwork.link/transmedia (includes manifest.json template and rights memo samples). Need hands-on help packaging an EPK for producers? Contact our team for a portfolio review and step-by-step packaging session.

artwork

Contributor

Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.