I have just created a Facebook fan page.
It's still a work in progress, so keep that in mind.
I'll be posting to that site whenever I add something to one of the sites where my photography and artwork is available for sale. Red Bubble suggests using a fan page when updating.
Why create a Facebook fan page despite already having a personal profile?
Well, for starters that's "personal profile". According to Red Bubble, using a personal profile for commerce can result in the profile being deleted by Facebook. It apparently violates their terms of service. (Don't ask me why. Ask Zuckerberg.)
There is also a limit on the number of "friends" one can have. (I'm no where near the 5,000 limit). There is no limit on "fans" Again, don't ask me why.
It also allows for separation of personal and business activity. This can be important when attempting to create a professional appearance. I'm not worries about that right now, but might be in the future. It also helps with branding as you can use a Company name for the fan page. I used "The Great Fire Dragon", same as this blog site.
It also opens up some options not available when using just a profile page. Red Bubble offers image options when linking to a fan page that aren't available on a personal profile page.
Showing posts with label Red Bubble Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Red Bubble Tips. Show all posts
Friday, November 7, 2014
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Red Bubble Tips - Mug Design
Red Bubble recently announced the addition of mugs to the range of items offered for sale.
There has been a little confusion on how to design for mugs. Part of this stems from the site changing how images are applied to a certain extent.
Currently, the site uses one image for mugs (tall and standard) and a different image for travel mugs. Travel mugs aren't currently available on the site, but should be sometime in the near future.
The image for coffee mugs needs to be 2700 x 1624 for full coverage on tall mugs. The same image can be used for standard sized coffee mugs, but the vertical portion of the image that will show on a standard mug is just over 1120 pixels.
For best result you'll want to limit important portions of the image to the central 1000 pixels or use a repeating pattern.
Here's a template to use when designing mugs:
It's 2700 x 1624. Use the entire template (dark and light gray) for tall mugs. (These aren't available yet, but it's a good idea to design with them in mind.) The light gray area shows the area that will be printed on standard mugs. It's roughly 1126 pixels tall.
The green line represents the point immediately across from the handle. If you want to center an image across from the handle, use this line.
The red lines are where you want to place images to center them on the sides. Yes, the red lines are closer to the edges than to the middle. The area missing on the edges is where the handle is located.
Travel Mugs
Image dimensions for travel mugs (when implemented): 2376 x 2024. Travel mugs don't have a handle, so you don't need to make allowance for the handle.
For travel mugs:
For a single element (like a logo) center it on the green line. For two elements, center on the red. You can use the entire vertical area without worrying about losing part of the design.
There has been a little confusion on how to design for mugs. Part of this stems from the site changing how images are applied to a certain extent.
Currently, the site uses one image for mugs (tall and standard) and a different image for travel mugs. Travel mugs aren't currently available on the site, but should be sometime in the near future.
The image for coffee mugs needs to be 2700 x 1624 for full coverage on tall mugs. The same image can be used for standard sized coffee mugs, but the vertical portion of the image that will show on a standard mug is just over 1120 pixels.
For best result you'll want to limit important portions of the image to the central 1000 pixels or use a repeating pattern.
Here's a template to use when designing mugs:
It's 2700 x 1624. Use the entire template (dark and light gray) for tall mugs. (These aren't available yet, but it's a good idea to design with them in mind.) The light gray area shows the area that will be printed on standard mugs. It's roughly 1126 pixels tall.
The green line represents the point immediately across from the handle. If you want to center an image across from the handle, use this line.
The red lines are where you want to place images to center them on the sides. Yes, the red lines are closer to the edges than to the middle. The area missing on the edges is where the handle is located.
Travel Mugs
Image dimensions for travel mugs (when implemented): 2376 x 2024. Travel mugs don't have a handle, so you don't need to make allowance for the handle.
For travel mugs:
For a single element (like a logo) center it on the green line. For two elements, center on the red. You can use the entire vertical area without worrying about losing part of the design.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Red Bubble Tips - Image Files
Red Bubble currently accepts two formats for image files: jpg and png.
So which format should be used when uploading images?
JPG Images
Jpg images are good for complex images or images with a large number of different colors. Or both. This is format you should use when uploading photographs or artwork with complex images. Jpg images can be compressed when saved. This lowers the image quality. Images should be saved with no compression if possible.
(Digital cameras can automatically apply compression when saving images.. Make sure to use the lowest compression setting on your camera when taking pictures.)
PNG Images
Png files tend to be larger than jpg images when dealing with complex images, like photographs. (Less complex images like line-art tend to be smaller when saved in png format.)
Unlike the jpg format, png allows you to save transparency information. This transparency information is necessary if you want to print something other than a rectangular or square image. Use this format if you want an image to blend seamlessly into the background.
Png images should be used on apparel and stickers, but can be used on other items as well. (They often work better on mugs or cases than jpg images.)
Png files do support multiple transparency values by using an alpha channel. This allows certain portions of the image to be fully transparent, others partially transparent and the rest opaque.
Multiple Images
Red Bubble does offer the option to use different images depending on what items is being purchased. For example, you can use one image for the majority of items but use a modified image for mugs. (I've done this. The default file is just the image. The image file for mugs includes text. The result is the image on one side of the mig and text on the other. All other items just have the image.)
When you upload an image (or edit an existing one) you will wind up on a page that shows product previews. The top of the page has a "REPLACE ALL IMAGES" button. Use this to upload a new file for all items.
Clicking on the preview image or "EDIT" button for an item will open the setting options for that item.
On the right hand side of the options there will be a "REPLACE IMAGE" button. Click this to upload an image to be used with that item.
There are times when an image needs to be modified based on what items it is used on. Red Bubble provides the option to do this.
Image Size
Red Bubble does have a maximum file size: 300MB or 13500 x 13500 pixels. The last is important when dealing with Duvet Covers. Images for King sized duvets need to be 13500 x 11462 for full coverage. This is almost maximum size.
Other products require smaller images. If an image exceeds the size needed it will be scaled down when the product is produced. This allows a single large image to be used for most items. The individual items may need to be edited so that the image is positioned properly.
Color Space
A color space is a specific organization of colors. This organization allows for reproducible results when the image is rendered, either on screen or when printed.
Images uploaded to Red Bubble should be saved using the sRGB color space. (The "s" is for standard.) This allows for the most predictable results when the image is used.
Some image editing software offer the option to automatically assign a color space to image created or edited by that software. Doing so ensures that the image uploaded always have the correct color profile.
In plain language, the color space or color profile tells the device what the colors used in the image should look like when the image is reproduced. It is then up to that device (monitor or printer) to correctly reproduce the color. Using the sRGB color space will give Red Bubble the best change to render the colors in your images correctly.
So which format should be used when uploading images?
JPG Images
Jpg images are good for complex images or images with a large number of different colors. Or both. This is format you should use when uploading photographs or artwork with complex images. Jpg images can be compressed when saved. This lowers the image quality. Images should be saved with no compression if possible.
(Digital cameras can automatically apply compression when saving images.. Make sure to use the lowest compression setting on your camera when taking pictures.)
PNG Images
Png files tend to be larger than jpg images when dealing with complex images, like photographs. (Less complex images like line-art tend to be smaller when saved in png format.)
Unlike the jpg format, png allows you to save transparency information. This transparency information is necessary if you want to print something other than a rectangular or square image. Use this format if you want an image to blend seamlessly into the background.
Png images should be used on apparel and stickers, but can be used on other items as well. (They often work better on mugs or cases than jpg images.)
Png files do support multiple transparency values by using an alpha channel. This allows certain portions of the image to be fully transparent, others partially transparent and the rest opaque.
Multiple Images
Red Bubble does offer the option to use different images depending on what items is being purchased. For example, you can use one image for the majority of items but use a modified image for mugs. (I've done this. The default file is just the image. The image file for mugs includes text. The result is the image on one side of the mig and text on the other. All other items just have the image.)
When you upload an image (or edit an existing one) you will wind up on a page that shows product previews. The top of the page has a "REPLACE ALL IMAGES" button. Use this to upload a new file for all items.
Clicking on the preview image or "EDIT" button for an item will open the setting options for that item.
On the right hand side of the options there will be a "REPLACE IMAGE" button. Click this to upload an image to be used with that item.
There are times when an image needs to be modified based on what items it is used on. Red Bubble provides the option to do this.
Image Size
Red Bubble does have a maximum file size: 300MB or 13500 x 13500 pixels. The last is important when dealing with Duvet Covers. Images for King sized duvets need to be 13500 x 11462 for full coverage. This is almost maximum size.
Other products require smaller images. If an image exceeds the size needed it will be scaled down when the product is produced. This allows a single large image to be used for most items. The individual items may need to be edited so that the image is positioned properly.
Color Space
A color space is a specific organization of colors. This organization allows for reproducible results when the image is rendered, either on screen or when printed.
Images uploaded to Red Bubble should be saved using the sRGB color space. (The "s" is for standard.) This allows for the most predictable results when the image is used.
Some image editing software offer the option to automatically assign a color space to image created or edited by that software. Doing so ensures that the image uploaded always have the correct color profile.
In plain language, the color space or color profile tells the device what the colors used in the image should look like when the image is reproduced. It is then up to that device (monitor or printer) to correctly reproduce the color. Using the sRGB color space will give Red Bubble the best change to render the colors in your images correctly.
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