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Creating Products

 

Introduction

Zazzle is the ideal place to create and purchase customized products for yourself, your organization, or your event.

Products you create can be either private (products only you can view and purchase) or public (displayed in your Contributor Gallery and available for purchase by the public, earning you commissions). At any time, you can view and purchase both your Private Products and your Public products (located in your Contributor Gallery) from your MyZazzle page.

Learn more about earning money by creating products for sale through our Contributor Program.

Benefits

In addition to affordable prices and generous price discounts, Zazzle surpasses other product creation services in many ways:

Easy, online design: If you're reading this webpage, then you already have all the tools you need to design a custom Zazzle product! You may either upload your own image from your computer, or customize an existing product from the Product Galleries. Upload images, add text, and choose from hundreds of fonts and millions of colors.

Unlimited printing colors: Other printing services usually limit the maximum number of colors in a design to six, and charge more for additional colors in a design. Zazzle uses an innovative digital technology that imprints our products with as many colors as the image contains — at no extra cost. The result is a vivid, photo-quality image at a great price.

Top-quality products: In a word, Zazzle quality is exceptional — exceptional quality apparel, papers and materials; exceptional quality digital printing techniques. You'll be amazed. The design you purchase is infused into the product it is printed on, resulting in an unusually vibrant image that will endure for years. With our apparel, this means that the printed design is as soft and supple as the rest of the shirt. You have to feel it to believe it.

Really fast shipping: Immediately after you click "Place Order," our manufacturing systems begin processing your order. Our digital printing capabilities and technical expertise allow us to ship most orders within 24 hours. Other custom printing services often require weeks to produce a custom product. With Zazzle, you don't have to plan weeks in advance.

Getting Started

Follow these easy steps to begin creating products.

1) Register as a Zazzle Member. To create a product, you must first create a Member Account.

2) Create a Product. After you have logged in to your Member Account, simply create a product. You will be able to upload images, add text phrases, and style each of the images or text elements. You can also email your design to others to view.

3) Choose Your Public or Private Gallery for Your Product. You can choose whether your product is Public (available for viewing and purchase to everyone) or Private (available only to you).

Private Products: If you choose to make the product Private, choose a Title and a Short Description for your product. You will then be asked to accept the Private Submission Agreement. You will be taken to a page where you can order the product. Your product will also be available to you in the future in your Private Products area of your MyZazzle section.

Public Products: If you choose to mark the product Public:

  • First, you will choose a Title, Short Description, Keywords and a Long Description for your product.
  • You may also choose to make this product further customizable (link: customization option) by your users.
  • You will then be asked to rate the product (link: help->ratings system) for the community.
  • You may choose one or two categories in which your product will be placed in on the Zazzle community website.
  • You will choose a category in which your product will be placed in within your own Contributor Gallery (you can edit these categories here).
  • You will be asked to accept the Nonexclusive License Agreement (link).
  • Finally, choose whether you want a "supersize" view (without a digital watermark), a supersize view with a watermark (more secure), or no supersize view (most secure, but makes the product less accessible by your potential customers).
  • You will be taken to the main Zazzle gallery, where your product should be visible. Click on your product’s thumbnail view to see that product page!

Your Public product will also appear in your Contributor Gallery, which you may access anytime by clicking on your username in the upper right-hand corner of the website (if you are logged in).

4) Order the Product. From the finished product page, simply choose from the options on the right to specify size, quantity, media, type, and so on. Click "Add to Cart" when you are ready to order.

Adding Text to Designs

First, you must be at a "text step" in the Zazzle Design Program. This is where a text box is available on the left-side "Object Manager" panel.

From here, just enter the text in the box, and then click "Add Text." After the text appears on the product, you may modify it (placement, size, font, color) with the controls on the right panel ("Control Panel").

Adding Images to Designs

In the Zazzle Design Program, you may upload an image using the "Upload a New Image" button or import an image from your myImages collection, using the "Import from My Images" button. If you upload a new image, it will automatically be stored in your myImages collection in case you want to use it later.

A great way to build a collection of usable images for products is to use the "Bulk Upload" feature in MyZazzle (under myImages). This feature lets you upload up to 10 images at a time. Afterwards, they will appear in your myImages collection in MyZazzle.

Image Formats. Zazzle supports images in both JPEG and PNG formats. Both formats will produce great quality products as long as the resolution meets or exceeds our recommendations.

    JPEG
  • The JPEG format supports millions of colors, which allows for great design flexibility.
  • The JPEG format compresses the image information, keeping the file size small and reducing the upload time.
  • Most digital cameras can save their images in JPEG fomat.
    PNG
  • PNG is a completely lossless compression format.
  • Most graphic design programs (e.g. Photoshop) can create PNG images.
  • With the PNG format, full alpha transparency is supported!

Images with the color white.
In any image, there are areas that you may want to be transparent (i.e. the area or background behind it shows through) or areas that you may want to be non-transparent. If you create PNG images with transparency, then those transparency settings will be obeyed. In photos, we would guess that no area should be transparent.

But if you have a JPEG image (or PNG image w/o transparency), you cannot specify which areas are to be treated as transparent. In that case, we let you specify all white in your image as transparent. To do this, under the "Customize It" tab, please check "show whites in image as transparent" on the pod for your image.

When "show whites in image as transparent" is checked:

  the background color, shirt color, or any objects behind your image will appear in place of any white in your image.

When this is unchecked:

  the white in your image will appear as you see it on screen.

Special apparel note for white in images:
White is not printed on light-colored Zazzle apparel (including grey, ash, natural, light blue, pink, light green, etc.). In this case, any white in your design will appear as the color of the shirt.

On Zazzle Dark apparel (black, red, etc.) we have a special printing process that allows us to print white on these shirts. Please see: designing for dark apparel

By default, "show whites in image as transparent" will be checked.

Transparency. With PNG, we can support full transparency of your images as you design. This can be especially useful if you are creating a design with multiple overlapping images such as borders to go around your design, or shapes with non-rectangular edges. Also, when designing for dark-colored apparel, PNG images are recommended to ensure your image is produced correctly. Please see our special instructions for dark apparel.

Upload Time. When you add an image to your design, you must send the image file from your computer to our servers. The process is called "uploading." The upload time can vary widely depending on the size of the image file and the speed of your internet connection. Uploading a large image (1MB+) may take a few seconds on a fast internet connection (such as DSL) or more than 5 minutes using a slow internet connection (such as 28.8Kpbs modem).

Creating Images. There are many ways to create an image. For example, you can create one with a graphics design program, scan in a physical photograph or something you've drawn or painted, or use a digital photograph.

Image Sizes

Print area pixel dimensions
The "print area pixel dimensions" displays the current product's optimal image size (in pixels) if the image were to take up the entire design area. In other words, any image created at this exact pixel size should look fine on the selected product.

This information is a guideline to use when creating images in graphics programs, such as Adobe Photoshop, so that they print at a high enough resolution. The dimensions are displayed as width by height.

PPI (Pixels Per Inch)
Jump to:
Apparel
Mugs & Drinkware
Posters & Prints
Cards & Postcards

Apparel: 150ppi
The images you upload will be converted to 150ppi (pixels per inch) if they aren’t already at this resolution. This means every 150 pixels in your image will become 1 inch when printed. For example, if you submit a 1200 pixel by 1500 pixel image for an apparel product, it will be printed at 8" by 10". (1200 pixels divided by 150 pixels/inch = 8 inches, 1500 pixels divided by 150 pixels/inch = 10 inches.)

We recommend that you add images that are smaller than or equal to the maximum sizes:

  • pocket: 600 pixels x 600 pixels = 4" x 4"
  • horizontal: 2100 pixels x 1800 pixels = 14" x 12"
  • vertical: 1800 pixels x 2100 pixels = 12" x 14"

For the most effective printing on Zazzle Basic Dark T-Shirts [beta], see our special instructions for dark apparel.

Mugs & Drinkware: 200ppi
The images you upload will be converted up to 200ppi (pixels per inch) if they aren’t already at this resolution. This means every 200 pixels in your image will become 1 inch when printed. For example, if you submit a 800 pixel by 600 pixel image for a mug product, it will be printed at 4" by 3". (800 pixels divided by 200 pixels/inch = 4 inches, 600 pixels divided by 200 pixels/inch = 3 inches.)

The maximum print area is 8.66" x 3.25" to wrap around the mug fully. Your design and images can be printed anywhere within this print area and do not need to fill the full area.

To fill the full area, we recommend that you add images that are equal to or larger than the sizes below. For images smaller than these sizes, you may not fill the entire mug area, but will have additional "white space". This looks just fine on a mug.

All Mugs & Drinkware (full wraparound): 1732 pixels x 650 pixels = 8.66" x 3.25"
All Mugs (half mug): 866 pixels x 650 pixels = 4.33" x 3.25"
All Mugs (icon / logo): 200 pixels x 200 pixels = 1" x 1"

If your image is bigger than the maximum sizes, it will automatically be scaled down to the maximum size. The resolution of the image will be maintained, so it will actually be printed at a higher resolution than the standard for the particular product being designed.

Posters & Prints: 100ppi and up
The images you upload will be printed at no less than 100ppi (pixels per inch). This means every 100 pixels in your image will become 1 inch when printed. For example, if you submit a 4000 pixel by 3500 pixel image for a poster, the largest you can print it is 40" by 35" to stay at 100 ppi. (4000 pixels divided by 100 pixels/inch = 40 inches, 3500 pixels divided by 100 pixels/inch = 35 inches.)

Tip: Get the highest resolution possible! If you upload a larger image and then choose to print it at a smaller size, it will print at the best resolution possible to ensure a quality print. We recommend that you add images that are larger than the minimum for the best quality. We will maintain your resolution when printing if the resolution is greater than 100 ppi. For logos, digital art, or anything with sharp edges and contrasts, 200 ppi or greater is recommended.

Here are the minimum resolutions for each size of printing:

  • Portfolio (vertical): 1100 pixels x 1650 pixels = 16.5" x 11"
  • Portfolio (horizontal): 1650 pixels x 1100 pixels = 11" x 16.5"
  • Small (vertical): 1500 pixels x 2250 pixels = 15" x 22.5"
  • Small (horizontal): 2250 pixels x 1500 pixels = 22.5" x 15"
  • Large (vertical): 2300 pixels x 3450 pixels = 23" x 34.5"
  • Large (horizontal): 3450 pixels x 2300 pixels = 34.5" x 23"
  • Huge (vertical): 3500 pixels x 5250 pixels = 35" x 52.5"
  • Huge (horizontal): 5250 pixels x 3500 pixels = 52.5" x 35"
  • Colossal (vertical): 7800 pixels x 5200 pixels = 78" x 52"
  • Colossal (horizontal): 5200 pixels x 7800 pixels = 52" x 78"

Cards & Postcards: 200ppi
The images you upload will be converted to 200ppi (pixels per inch) if they aren’t already at this resolution. This means every 200 pixels in your image will become 1 inch when printed. For example, if you submit a 800 pixel by 1000 pixel image for a card product, it will be printed at 4" by 5". (800 pixels divided by 200 pixels/inch = 4 inches, 1000 pixels divided by 200 pixels/inch = 5 inches.)

We recommend that you add images that are smaller than or equal to the maximum sizes:

Greeting Card (vertical): 1000 pixels x 1400 pixels = 5" x 7"
Greeting Card (horizontal): 1400 pixels x 1000 pixels = 7" x 5"
Note Cards (vertical): 800 pixels x 1120 pixels = 4" x 5.6"
Note Cards (horizontal): 1120 pixels x 800 pixels = 5.6" x 4"
Postcards (vertical): 850 pixels x 1120 pixels = 4.25" x 5.6"
Postcards (horzontal): 1120 pixels x 850 pixels = 5.6" x 4.25"

If your image is smaller than the maximum sizes, there will be some extra "white space" that will not be printed.

If your image is bigger than the maximum sizes, it will automatically be scaled down to the maximum size. The resolution of the image will be maintained, so it will actually be printed at a higher resolution than the standard for the particular product being designed.

Customization Option

Zazzle offers you the unique option of allowing your Public products to be customized by other Zazzle members, which can increase your customer base and your profit opportunities.

For example, certain illustrations or photographs may be ideally suited to parties, sports teams, family reunions, or other specific uses. By allowing Zazzle users to personalize your work by adding text or images and choosing from a variety of fonts and colors, a piece of artwork may become relevant to a larger number of customers.

Zazzle provides safeguards to ensure that only you can profit from your creative work. Other users cannot display customized versions of your products in their public galleries.

Understanding intellectual property issues can be confusing. As a guideline, you may contribute only original work that you have created yourself from original elements.

This means you can't use images of celebrities or corporate products, nor images, text, or design that you've copied from a website without written permission from the owner. You can't create a "new" image using elements from images other people have created. And you can't contribute a quote or a slogan that is substantially the same as something already written by someone else.

Copyright Law. As a guideline, copyright law limits you to contributing only original work that you have created yourself from original elements. This means you can’t use images of celebrities or corporate products, nor images, text, or design that you’ve cut from a website without written permission from the owner. You can’t create a "new" image using elements from images that other people have created. And you can’t contribute a quote or a slogan that is substantially the same as something already written by someone else.

Trademark Law. Letters, words, designs, logos, and combinations of the foregoing can be trademarks when used to promote the sale and distribution of goods and/or services. Trademarks identify and distinguish one seller's goods and/or services from the goods and/or services of others. The test for infringement is whether your use of a design creates a likelihood of confusion on the part of the public. You cannot create products with a design that is likely to cause confusion.

For complete coverage of all copyright related information, please visit the United States Copyright Office.

If you notice a questionable image, please click "Report Violation" on the lower left-hand corner of the product page, or report it to content_agent@zazzle.com.

If you mark your product "Private", you must agree to our Private Submission Agreement; if Public, you must agree to our Nonexclusive License Agreement.

Image Security & Rights

We are dedicated to ensuring that your unique and valuable designs are secure on our site.

Image Security. The full-size and detailed images will be accessible only to our manufacturing facilities for printing. The public will be able to view only the smaller, lower-resolution image previews.

If you choose not to contribute your images to the Public Galleries, site visitors will not be able to view them. These products will be stored under "Private Products" in your myProducts section of MyZazzle.

Image Rights. You retain all rights to your work. If you choose to publicly display your work at Zazzle, you will maintain your copyright on everything contributed to the site.

You are not transferring ownership of your designs when you contribute them to the Gallery. Rather, you are only granting us the nonexclusive right to actualize your designs into products. Nonexclusive means that you may continue using your contributed work for any other purpose you want to, including selling it elsewhere. Please see the Nonexclusive License Agreement for complete details.

Acceptable Content

When it comes to acceptable content, we don't quibble. If it's not appropriate for viewing by your child or by your little brother or sister, then it's not appropriate to create on Zazzle. That means no nudity, period. No violence. No sexual connotations. No derogatory references about religion, race, national origin, sexual orientation, or physical/mental handicaps.

For a full description of Acceptable Content, please see our User Agreement.

The Ratings System

Contributors assume responsibility for rating the work they contribute to the Public Galleries. The purpose of Zazzle's rating system is to provide parents and users with advance information about Zazzle's content, enabling them to make judgments about what they want to view. The rule of thumb for Zazzle Contributors is simple: If it's not appropriate for viewing by your child, or by your little brother or sister, then it's not appropriate for Zazzle's public galleries. Contributors must rate their work in accordance with the following guidelines:

G: This content contains images and/or language appropriate for people of all ages and tastes, including children. Parents would not find any of this material inappropriate for even their youngest children.
DOES NOT CONTAIN: Nudity, sexual connotations, drug use or references, depictions of illegal activities, violence, derogatory references about religion, race, national origin, sexual orientation, or physical/mental handicaps.

PG: This content contains images and/or language considered inappropriate for preteens. Content may include some comic mischief (for example, slapstick comedy). Language may go beyond polite conversation, but is within the bounds of common, everyday expressions.
DOES NOT CONTAIN: Nudity, sexual connotations, drug use or references, depictions of illegal activities, violence, derogatory references about religion, race, national origin, sexual orientation, or physical/mental handicaps.

R: Users must be 18 years old to view this content. Credit card confirmation is required for entry. Content may contain some violence, strong language, and artistic nudity (for example, a depiction of Michelangelo's "David").
DOES NOT CONTAIN: Pornography, drug use or references, depictions of illegal activities, excessive violence, derogatory references about religion, race, national origin, sexual orientation, or physical/mental handicaps.

To enable viewing of "PG-13" or "R" rated products on your account, update your account information.

FAQ

If I design something, do I have to contribute it?

You are welcome to experiment with the Zazzle Design Program. Add images, add text, move things, size things, change things. It's simple to do and fun to play with. You are under no obligation to do anything with your design at any time.

At any time, you can exit the Design Program and your design will automatically be saved for you. When you come back, your design will appear in a pop-up window and you may choose to resume work, save the design, or delete it.

If I design something, do I have to buy it?

No. When you start designing something, you can scrap it, save it, contribute it publicly, or keep it in your private product gallery. Whichever option you choose, you are never under any obligation to purchase the product.

Can I make money on my design?

Yes! If you choose to contribute your product to the public galleries, you will earn a 10% royalty every time it is sold. Please see the Contributors Program for more information about earnings royalties on the site.

Can I save my design and finish it later?

Yes. If you ever want to save your design, just exit the section. Your design will automatically be saved for you. When you return to the Zazzle Design Program, your design will appear in a pop-up window and you can choose to resume, save, or delete it.

Your saved designs are also maintained under In Progress Designs in MyZazzle.