Saving as RGB and making products!

Okay, so it's been a little while, but let's get back on track.

So, you've got the write DPI, you've got your images the right size, you're using CMYK colors. Great. Did I miss anything?

So, once you are ready to create your first design, you need to know how to save it correctly. We discussed saving it as PNG. Better than JPG because JPG will throw white where there is tranperancies... did we discuss that? It will all look the same on the shirts or what not, because white will print transparent. But on your pictures in your store, it will show some. So, save it as PNG.

Now, if you are using GIMP, you don't need to worry about saving in RGB (at least for now). Right now, gimp only uses an RGB color scheme, so it can't save in CMYK. However, you will need to switch it to RGB if it ever goes to CMYK and RGB. So, basically:
Save it in CMYK. "Save as" in RGB -- change the name slightly (name1, namergb, 1name, etc.) and then you're good to go.

I'm going to have a nice cup of Irish Breakfast tea while you go design your first design, 'kay?

Back so soon?! Wow. Looks great! ;-)

So, now you have one of two options. You can continue designing. Got that notebook full of design ideas, don'tcha? Or you can open a store with Cafepress.

My suggestion is this. Have a few designs and quite a few more ideas when you open a store. Some shopkeepers suggest opening a few basics before going "premium" (we'll discuss later, promise). But It is a pain in the but to do the designs for basic, then turn around and move them from basic to premium. So, I say, if you are going to go premium, have the designs but don't open them.

Why, it is a pain to move everything, first of all. Second, if you are going to be serious about making money, you really need more than what a basic can offer.

Now, you are going to go to cafepress (open in a new window or print this out so I can walk you through).
Above where you search, there are tabs... click the one that says "Start selling". You can read through the info on Cafepress if you'd like before you sign up. Matter of fact, I suggest it. Because things may change, so for now, this post is accurate. Who knows how accurate it will be in two years or so.
When you are ready, click on start selling now. Fill out all the stuff... standard stuff for now (Name, email, address, etc.).

When you are done with all that, you will be asked to choose a name for your shopid. This CAN be changed. BUT, changing it will destroy any links you may have created. So, be careful on doing that. What you want to do is pick a name that:

1) fits what you are designing. (Mine is witnwhimsy... I design witty tees and whimsical pictures.) So, do a bit of research on what you want to do. I'd suggest brainstorming for a bit and then writing down some ideas that might work. It doesn't have to be anything great, but you don't want something that doesn't fit.

2) is fairly short and memorable. If you are doing this for profit, you want people to know you and remember you. So, I could have done Wittyteesandwhimsicalpictures... but who's going to remember that?

3) you like. Since you have to keep it, don't name it after your boyfriend/girlfriend that you may break up with in a few months.

4) can be taken seriously. Again, if you are doing this for profit, you don't want something that is misspelled or seems unprofessional. I mean bymytees may not work very well as a business name. :)

Okay, so, name your store.

Now, as I had said, premium vs. basic is pretty different and if you really want to make money, you're going to need to go premium. Plus, you get a free two week trial. I used that time to get my shop all nice and neat with quite a few designs up. Mind you, I still make changes to the store all the time. But for the most part, it was how I wanted it.

So, let's just open a basic for now, so I can walk you through this. Don't worry it's really painless. (okay, mostly painless!)

Now, enter the shopid (like the store name) and the store name. For now, leave the "return page" box empty. Basically, when the shoppers check out, they can choose to go there (don't automatically get sent there). When you are all built up, you can build a thank you page where you ask them to sign your newsletter and what not. But for now, just leave it blank. They'll get sent to your home page for now.

Now, at the bottom.. if you are just doing this for you and your family, then you want to opt out of affiliates and the marketplace and/or list it as private. However, if you are selling your products, you want these unchecked.

Okay, submit now... if everything is okay (shopid not taken and what not) you're ready to begin. Good news is, if you messed up on anything, you can change this later.

For now, let's build our shop!

Click add products.

Pick some stuff that you can add your designs to (if you click the make selections link, you get to see the products).

For now, I'd strongly suggest you just start with some tees. You can add more later.

So, check the ones you want and add them. (Add these products)

Now, you'll see they are "pending" That's because they don't have any pictures yet.

Okay, so on your left, you'll see media basket. Click that link.

Welcome to your image basket! Now click upload image. Browse through your folders to find the design (remember, png files is what you want).

Upload them (you'll have to check the box).

Tag your image with what terms you think describe it. For instance:

Let's say I drew a I *heart* my mom design. I'd want to put in terms like: Mom, mommy, mama, heart, love, mother, .... etc.

Okay, you can add more later. Click done. And you're back to your image basket.

Now click create and manage (left side again). Find your store and click products.

Okay, you are back to your "store." So, you can do this one of two ways. I'm going to walk you through both ways.

First, to do one product at a time, click on the product or click edit. Now, you will be walked through the steps to add the image, add a name to your product (for my example, I'd use I *heart* my mom as a name), and describe it (Tell your customers about it. What's in it... is there a picture.. is there text, if so, what does it say, etc.).

Like I said, it will walk you all the way through it all. When you're done, click save and finish. YEAH! Your first tee... (wipes tear from eye)... I'm so proud of you!

Now, if you were really eager, you added a bunch of stuff and it is going to take forever to do that for each one. So, check the boxes of the products you want to do. (There's an area you can check for check all items).

With this, you can bulk add images, names and descriptions. But you have to do it one at a time (name, then image, then description or whatever). So, check the products and use the drop down box to pick what you want to do. It will take you to a new screen where you can select an image, name it or describe it. When you do all three, you're done!

Yeah! Got your first store ready! So, now type in your address so you can take a look at it.

If something goes wrong, check the forums (community). I'm usually there and the rest of the SKers (shopkeepers, and now you're one too) will help. But PLEASE use the "find" feature to search for similar problems first. 'kay?

Okay, so go look at your store and send the link to everyone you know. I'll be back to discuss premium vs. basic later.

Oh, and if you get energetic in the meantime, With a basic, you can only have ONE product of each type. So, if I want I heart my mom and I heart my dad, I can't have them on the same products for a basic. BUT you can open more than one basic. It is STRONGLY suggested if you are going to use basic to use one basic for each design.

Later!