Gingerbread Man on 7/2/2003 at 01:48
We're set to expand the Online Store so that we can offer multiple designs per product. This means variety, and that means input.
Here's the deal: Got an idea for a T-Shirt design? Or a mousepad, mug, poster, baseball cap, boxer shorts, etc? Give it to me, and we'll make it available. Right now there isn't much in the store, and we're hoping that the massed creativity of TTLG's membership can fill our shelves with all kinds of cool things that you'd like to own.
Here are the restrictions (mostly imposed by CafePress)
* With the exception of baseball caps and grey t-shirts, all products are white. This is not a big deal when it comes to lunchboxes, mousepads, etc, as the design can be made to cover the entire surface.
* No images of famous people, existing brand names or products, or photoshopped / spoofed versions thereof can be used.
* No images of third parties without their consent.
* All images need to be at least 200 dpi, and no smaller than 200X200 pixels. The bigger the better, I can always resize things if need be, but enlarging designs nearly always results in a loss of clarity. And remember that any part of the image that is 255,255,255 white will NOT BE PRINTED. Consider pure white as your transparency. If you want white in the design, make sure it's not pure white.
* .png files are best to use, unless you really like .jpg artefacts
* Do not include text in the design itself unless it's 100% ready-to-go -- that means the right dimensions, the right resolution, everything perfect and exactly how it needs to be. Otherwise, if there is a textual element to the design, include a note saying what, where, size, font, etc in case something needs to be resized. If you aren't fussy about font, I'll pick something that looks good in the design. If you are fussy about font, chances are I have the font you need. If you don't know what font you want, but you can describe the sort of thing you want (ie. "handwriting" or "wild west-style wanted poster" or "worn-out stencil") then I'll come up with the best thing I can.
* Include a list of the things you'd like the design to be printed on.
Currently-available products:
* T-shirt
* Women's t-shirt
* Ash-grey t-shirt
* Long-sleeve t-shirt
* Baseball shirt
* Golf shirt
* Camisole
* Nightshirt
* Sweatshirt
* Hooded sweatshirt
* Babydoll t-shirt
* Kids' t-shirt
* Infant / Toddler t-shirt
* Toddler button-up hoodie
* Bib
* BBQ apron
* Baseball cap (white, grey, khaki, black)
* Ski hat (black)
* Wall clock
* Mug
* Large mug
* Stainless steel travel mug
* Frosted glass
* Beer stein
* Tile coaster
* Mouse pad
* Mini poster
* Poster (16x20)
* Poster (23x35)
* Tile box
* Teddy bear
* Picture frame
* Boxer shorts
* Thong
* Panties
* Stickers (rectangular, oval, and bumper stickers)
* Metal lunchbox
* Wall calendar
* Frisbee
* Postcards
* Greeting cards
* License plate frame
(Please note that some items can have a design on the front as well as on the back, and that some items have very restricted printing areas. I will let you know if your design cannot be used on certain things as submitted. Also, some products are seasonally available, and some product listings are subject to the whims of CafePress.)
If there are alterations that I need to make due to the specifications of the product, I will tell you and show the altered version to you for your approval. I will also tell you what exactly needs to be changed, so that if you'd rather make the adjustments yourself, you can.
All products will be marked up $3 from what CafePress charges us, and the profits will go into TTLG's operating expense account. If you want to make money from your design, you can sell it at your own CafePress shop: The basic online store is free.
All designs remain the property of their author, and we will immediately remove or change any design at the author's request. Your name, and a small (200 characters max) decription of the design (if you provide one) will be included in the product information blurb.
The "GBM's Stuff" section in the Member Mall contains some of my own designs that don't really fit in either the Official Logo section or the General Forum design section, and anyone who would like or would need (for reasons of keeping the storefront easy to navigate and generally tidy) is welcome to a section of their own as well. Things don't need to be TTLG-flavoured, and if you've got some cool ideas you'd like us to make available let me know and I'll section you onto your own "department" so to speak.
The idea behind the Member Mall is that, if you have more four or more designs you'd like to see offered, we'll set you up with a booth in the Mall, so that navigation can be easier. (
http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=64593) See the post in TTLG Website called The Store for more information on this idea.
I was going to post the specifications for printing on each item, but it would be really long and it's much easier to just say:
Make images around 1000px in size (adjust as necessary) and 200dpi minimum. Make them .png files, if you can. I can deal with the rest, if necessary.
Nothing offensive, copyright-infringing, or contrary to CafePress' terms of service will be used.It will take a while to get submitted designs up and available, so please be patient. Expect a day or two.
And please don't email them to me unless you
really have to. These files will not be tiny, and my poor email will CHOKE.
If you can, please
upload them to the web and email me a URL.
(
http://www.cafeshops.com/ttlgstore/) TTLGear
Questions, comments, whatever: Send to [email]store@ttlg.com[/email] or [email]gbm@ttlg.com[/email]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Please use this thread to discuss and generate design ideas.
Ideas I'm currently thinking about are things like Foofie / Haul stuff, more T2x designs, things like that.
Got a great idea but no graphics skills? Got great skills, but no ideas? We can hook each other up like that.
There will almost certainly be bugs to fix. Help me find and squish them. :)
