TUTORIAL 1: "Create a New Item"

STEP ONE: Go to Product Lab

Obviously, you can't do too much that involves custom items, unless you are in the Product Lab! This is the heart of our system, and allows our clients to design their own custom items from a variety of products that we offer. We allow you to upload your own artwork files, add and edit text, and more. To find the Product Lab, start by logging into the platform; this gives you access to a host of new buttons, located at the top of the app.

STEP TWO: Click "Create New Item"

From the Product Lab, you will notice a menu on the left indicating all of the custom items that you have created. If you don't see an item that you think should be there, try looking at alternate product categories to see if it is somewhere else. Below the item list, you will see two buttons; one is for adding an item, and another is for removing an item from the list. Pressing the "Create New Item" button will open the new product dialog.

	Product Lab View

STEP THREE: Choose Your Product

Once you click the "Create New Item" button, you will see a new menu pop up which will show you a variety of product options to choose from; select the base product you want to design, and then click "Create From Scratch". Once you have done this, your new item should be created and you should be taken back to the Product Lab work area, where you can proceed to add images and / or text.

Select Base Product	New Item Created!

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TUTORIAL 2: "Upload an Image"

STEP ONE: Click "Add Image" Button

Click the "Add Image" button from the Product Lab (if you don't see the add / remove image buttons, make sure the toolbox is switched to Image Tools); this will cause a popup window to appear, allowing you to browse for local images, verify background transparency, etc. Once this popup appears, select the "Browse" button to peruse your local hard drive for high quality artwork!

STEP TWO: Image Upload Requirements

Our platform currently accepts PNG and JPEG file type uploads, but we are in the process of implementing PDF uploads, as well. Please remember that the quality of the final product will only be as good as the original artwork file that you upload! We recommend uploading images with a native resolution (meaning they were designed at this resolution, not converted after-the-fact) of 180-200 dpi, for best results.

Although most paper printing will yield optimum results when the original artwork is created in CMYK color format, our unique DTG printing process produces better results from RGB images, instead! As we implement more complex product options and decoration techniques, our custom software will automatically prompt you with the optimum artwork requirements, based on the intended decoration technique.

STEP THREE: Select Artwork and Verify Transparency

Once your image has been uploaded, you will see it appear in the preflight area - the checkerboard pattern behind the image will indicate whether or not your unique artwork file is complete with a transparent background or not. If no transparent background is present, you will not be able to see the checkerboard pattern behind your image (within the actual image boundary); if the background is transparent, as it should be, then you will be able to see all of the checkerboard pattern behind the image (as seen below).

Notice the transparency can be seen throughout the image!

STEP FOUR: Add Image to Workspace

Once you are happy with the image you want to add, click the "Add to Workspace" button to actually import the image into the design space. From there, you can use the image manipulation tools to move, resize and rotate the image to your liking. If you would like to see a preview of your custom item, in real time, click the "Preview" button to generate an on-the-fly visual. From the preview screen, either select "Return to Edit" or double click anywhere in the design area to return to edit mode.

Use the Preview Button to Check Your Work	The Finished Product!

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TUTORIAL 3: "Name My Item / Set Item Details"

When editing a custom item, you are able to determine details that will eventually make it easier for other people to find your items. The following image shows some of the possible details that you can edit:

ITEM TITLE - This is what your item will be referred to, in your custom stores. Keep it short, yet descriptive. ITEM CATEGORIES - You can select two categories which best identify your item. KEYWORDS - Use a variety of keywords to allow people to search for your custom item; our search engine will also look through item titles and artist names, when a user enters a search term.

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TUTORIAL 4: "Set Item Markup"

For each item that you create, you can set a unique markup amount, above and beyond the base manufacturing cost. If you sell one of your custom items from any of your store profiles, you keep the markup (which is tracked and managed through your Statistics panel). When you buy one of your own items yourself, through the Manage Orders panel, or directly through the Product Lab, you do not have to pay for the markup.

NOTE ON SHAREABLE ITEMS: If you decide to make your item "Shareable", other store owners would be given the option to re-sell it, once they have purchased one for themselves. People who are sharing your item can not edit your design or your unique item markup. When someone else sell's a copy of your item, you (the original artist) get 50% of your set markup, and the person who sold the item gets 50% of your set markup; this ensures that the original artists always make a commission from any sale of their work, while still offering an incentive for other users to share and sell designs.

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TUTORIAL 5: "Add / Remove Item Print Locations"

... COMING SOON!

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TUTORIAL 6: "Working with Layers"

... COMING SOON!

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