When keywording your designs, check the "Make Video" box to create a video for that design. The design will then be placed in the queue for rendering. It can take up to 24 hours, depending on the number of current renders being processed for the video to show on your website. The video will appear as a thumbnail on the large design page.
Here are some tips on what THE PATTERN CLOUD believes is 'best practice' for management of your files.
Advice for high res files:
The 'shape' of your high res file is up to you, but the closer it is to the proportions listed below, the easier the creation of web jpegs will be.
To make your life easier, we recommend designers work in a size that scales perfectly to the TPC sizes. An aspect ratio of 1:1.412.
We advise that your hi-res files are as user friendly as possible, icons/drawings should be complete.
Advice for storing you high res files:
While the storage facility we use is secure and 'backed up,' TPC recommends that you also ensure you have an 'offline backup' or hard disc copy of your files.
Advice for file numbering:
It is essential that the numbers of your jpegs match the high-resolution file. We recommend all jpegs are made at the same time from the high-resolution file and saved together so a physical check can be made to make sure the numbering is correct. Sorting numbering issues out after upload is very time consuming, and opens up the potential of supplying the wrong file to customers.
FILES
3.1 HOW TO SAVE YOUR IMAGES
The Studio website has been created to show your designs at their best. In order to do this, it is essential to create and save your files at the correct size. All JPGs must be 850 x 1200 pixels (other sizes or ratios will look odd on your site)
We have recently updated our uploading method meaning there are TWO ways of saving files depending on how you would like to work.
NEW METHOD - Image map within the system. Simply upload your jpeg of your design and map your design using either our or your own templates. Add more jpegs to your design within the uploading area of the design.
ORIGINAL METHOD - Create your jpgs outside the system by ordering them in number of how you would like them to appear on the site. Label each JPG with -1,-2 etc. to tell the site which page the thumbnail will appear. Map your designs outside the system.
NEW METHOD:
Minimum requirements:
Compulsory - jpeg yournumber.jpg (Main image of design)
Optional - ‘high res’ design file
For the main way of uploading your designs, labelled as ‘New’ on the site, you will only need ONE jpeg of your design. You can then map your design into a Product Image within the site and add more JPG’s within the design upload.
ORIGINAL METHOD:
Minimum requirements:
Compulsory - jpeg yournumber-1.jpg
Compulsory - jpeg yournumber-2.jpg
Optional - jpeg yournumber-3.jpg
Optional - jpeg yournumber-4.jpg
Optional - 'high res' design file
Please note: 'yournumber' must contain only letters and numbers. Any - ! & etc. will corrupt the upload.
We recommend you upload your 'high res' design file, so it is available for immediate customer download post-sale. The file types supported are PSD - TIFF - AI - JPG. Please note you are responsible for ensuring all files are virus-free.
3.2 FILES
IF USING ORIGINAL UPLOAD METHOD PLEASE SEE BELOW
It is vital that you number your jpeg's correctly. It is this number that controls where designs appear on your site. yournumber-1 -2 -3 -4
1. yournumber-1.jpg – Your design 'mapped' onto an image or displayed however you want.
850 x 1200 pixels
The mapping images that TPC supply already have the 'path' or selection of the garment shape made, so 'overlaying' a design is straight forward. It is up to you to make your design look as good as possible.
2. yournumber-2.jpg - This is the first image that the customer will see when viewing the website.
850 x 1200 pixels
This should be a 'flat' representation of the high-resolution file you are supplying. This allows the customer to see the exact design they are buying
3) yournumber-3.jpg. Optional – A 'close up' or detail of an area of your design.
850 x 1200 pixels
4) yournumber-4.jpg. Optional – A further detail of your design, or another mapped example of a garment.
850 x 1200 pixels
3.3 FILES
Fitting your designs to the correct proportions.
The key to this is keeping the correct proportions for your design, whilst fitting it to the dimensions. There are 3 options:
Create the design in the correct proportions. Preferable.
Crop an area of your design.
Repeat or tile your design to fill the box.
If using garment shapes, remember the scale of your design is indicated on the image.
MAPPING
You will see a selection of Product Templates for you to put your designs into. We advise studios also add their own images and personalise in the way they show designs, making sure to keep every site looking different.
To upload your own PRODUCT IMAGES for mapping:
Go to SETTINGS
Click on PRODUCT IMAGES
Upload PNG files by dragging and dropping your files in the Upload area
PLEASE NOTE: DON’T USE SPACES IN FILE NAMES!
HOW TO CREATE TRANSPARENT MAPPING IMAGES
Please take a look at our tutorial video below on how to create Product Images to upload to the system.
Product Images must be PNG files and 850 X 1200 pixels.
Play00:0003:35MuteSettingsEnter fullscreen00:00
4.1 MAPPING
ORIGINAL MAPPING METHOD OUTSIDE OF SYSTEM:
In Photoshop, duplicate your design.
Flatten it and drag it onto your TPC mapping image or copy and paste
Lessen opacity so you can see through the design to the template underneath (layer 3).
Rescale the print (Command-T, while holding: Shift – to constrain the proportions.) to the required size.
Click Edit > Transform > Warp and manipulate the design a little, so it works on the image. If the design is a stripe or it is a border, you may have to use Puppet Warp.
Return opacity to 100%.
Click on layer 2 – the displacement map.
Hold down control and click on the layer 2 icon (thumbnail) in the layer box simultaneously. This will automatically select the silhouette of the garment.
Click layer 3. You will see a row of icons at the bottom. Click the rectangle called the clipping mask (icon with a dark circle in the middle) to select your garment automatically.
Click on layer 3. Go to filters > select multiply to make the image look more realistic.
Finally, play around with the shadows by adjusting the opacity on layer 2 to get the best result.
MAPPING GUIDANCE
MAKE THE IMAGES LOOK AS REAL AS POSSIBLE; take time mapping your images to show your designs at their full potential.
USE CLOSE UP IMAGES FOR SMALL SCALE DESIGNS; helps the customer to see the design correctly.
DON'T DISTORT YOUR DESIGN; warp your design to fit the image but be careful to not distort the designs too much for the customer.
MAKE THE SHADOWS LOOK TRUE TO LIFE; the shadows on TPC images are exaggerated to allow for different design and colour needs. Make sure you adjust their opacity/levels to make them look like actual folds in the clothes.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT IMAGE FOR YOUR DESIGN; there are lots of different shapes to choose from, so make sure that you pick one that will show off your design to its full potential. Add your own to personalise your site.
USE DIFFERENT IMAGES THROUGHOUT A COLLECTION; don't map whole groups/collection on the same image, a variety is much more visually appealing.
USE CONTRASTING IMAGES FOR THE 2ND MAPPED IMAGE (4th image); show that your design can be used in different ways.
MAKE YOUR MAPPING TRUE TO SCALE; scale your design to reflect the intended size on the image.