​While I am by no means an expert or professional, I have been selling art print on demand for over 10 years, and I would like to share a few things I have learned. I have sold on many websites including Society6, Zazzle, Etsy, Redbubble and many more as an obsessive hobby, so I've picked up a few basic tips, and a few esoteric ones as well. Enjoy!

Create Large Images

Always create a bigger image than you think you need.  Even if at the moment you’re only interested in selling stickers or buttons, you might want to expand your product line in the future. I like to create the largest image I can, so can design for products ranging from pins to wall tapestries. And I always use at least 300 DPI (dots per inch). 150 DPI is standard for most printers, but since my images often have a lot of detail I like to go higher. Some of my fabric designs actually end up with 600!

Research Trademarks

Having a product listing deleted for a trademark violation is not fun. So if you think one of your tags might be trademarked, do a quick search of the trademark database located HERE. You’d be surprised how many common phrases are actually trademarked. Even if the particular phrase you want to use isn’t registered for the product type/industry you want to use it for, it’s often best to err on the side of caution. Some companies (ex. Disney) are very protective of their trademarks, so even if you think a certain word of phrase will benefit your SEO, it’s not worth the risk.

Check the Fine Print

Always be sure to read and double check the fine print of any images you’re licensing. Certain stock providers (including the free ones such as Pixabay) have very specific rules regarding use of their images. They might have specific requirements for crediting the artist, rules regarding commercial use, etc, etc, etc. Failure to follow these rules could result in your products being removed from the marketplace or receiving a cease and desist letter. 

 Check Seamless Patterns 

Always check that your seamless patterns tile properly without any glitches or gaps. I like to use on online checker like the one HERE for convenience. I find it quicker than jumping through hoops in photoshop or other programs. This can save you a quite a bit of money if your fabric or products have weird seams in the patterns and you end up having to reorder or refund your customers!

Back Up Your Files

It might I learned this the hard way. I used to upload an image to a POD website and then delete the files to save space on my hard drive. Then my computer died. So now I try to upload everything I can to Amazon Photos.  You can get unlimited photo storage if you’re a Prime member. You can get a free trial of Amazon Prime HERE.

Beware of TOS Violations

​If you are using a drop shipper, check that the premade product description doesn’t have anything in it that could get your product listing deleted. For instance, Prinify’s insulated lunch bags mention in the description that the insulation is FDA approved. Stating that any part of your product is approved by the FDA is prohibited on Etsy and is against their terms of service, and these product listings will be deactivated. So, wherever you sell, make sure you thoroughly read through their list of prohibited products.