topic Re: Cover Photo Functionality in Ask a Question

Cover Photo Functionality

Caprice — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 17:19:23 GMT

Has anyone tried this out? In your view, is it worth the effort?

Re: Cover Photo Functionality

PenguinPower — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 17:44:08 GMT

I was recently regretting not taking advantage of the original cover photo beta, so I was delighted to be included in the newest iteration. I have been creating them, starting with easier items that have no existing in situ views. I’m quite happy with the results so far. It takes some work though and good photo editing skills. I’d post some examples…. But I still haven’t figured out how to get the insert html option on the mobile browser version of the message board..

Re: Cover Photo Functionality

Cat — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 18:14:39 GMT

I'm totally confused about how it works. I read through the instructions, but it sounds like you're supposed to upload a separate cover photo for each and every product rather than just uploading some sort of template. Is this accurate? Seems like an impossible amount of work to me! And how can that possibly work... like how does the customer see their custom version in the cover photo? And what if they change the size/aspect ratio. I feel like I'm missing something.

Re: Cover Photo Functionality

PenguinPower — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 18:49:15 GMT

The cover photo will be static, but the customer will still be able to see all of the other views, including those that show customization.

Re: Cover Photo Functionality

ColsCreations — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 18:18:45 GMT

store-management/designer-uploaded-mockups

Re: Cover Photo Functionality

KeegansCreation — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 18:31:22 GMT

Is it worth it? I have no idea. Is it a lot of work? It sure is. So I'm just picking and choosing some products to do it with. In the email they recommended PlaceIt and Creative Market as places to buy mockup kits (unless you have the resources to do it without a kit, or if you just straight up bought products you can photograph which I have but gifted them at Christmas). The PlaceIt mockups looked pretty grim. The CreativeMarket mockups are far better but are expensive and do require Photoshop since they are dependent on Photoshop smart objects. Here is a shower curtain mockup (cover photo) I did from a purchased kit that allowed for changing colors of objects in the room as well. It did require going into Edit>Product Merchandising 24 hours later to change the view to this new uploaded one. Next I will do a couple duvet covers which have no in-situ at all.

It Can't Happen Here WPA Poster
by KeeganCreations

Re: Cover Photo Functionality

KeegansCreation — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 18:45:47 GMT

It isn't the customer's custom version. It's ours. This is the designer uploaded in situ which we've seen pop up previously as this got its' first beta test. To make your own custom in situ, you have to either photograph a Zazzle product you already bought or do a mockup. People with very advanced skills might make their own mockups. I bought a kit at CreativeMarket (a vendor recommended in the email) which uses Photoshop smart objects to warp your design onto a blank in an in-situ setting, much like Zazzle's in-situs.

There are a number of hurdles that a designer must overcome which is probably why they are slow rolling this rollout.

You have to photograph a Zazzle product of your own which you are also selling or......

You have to make your own mockup via photographing a scene in your home with a product that could arguably be something Zazzle sells which you then have to superimpose your design on in a way that looks organic or you have to fake that you did that with collaging photos or.....

You have to buy mockup kits. That's the route I went. This comes with its own hurdles.

These kits will cost you 15-25$ roughly for the good ones that use smart objects in Photoshop.

Smart objects in Photoshop don't work as such in other programs.

You are limited to mockups that look just like the products Zazzle sells. This is a limit you have to be attentive to before laying down money. They warn about it in the instruction doc with an example of tote bags that don't have straps in the mockup that match what Zazzle sells.

Re: Cover Photo Functionality

Cat — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 19:04:37 GMT

Wait... so I can't just take a screenshot of my invitation or whatever and then use my design software to make it look like it's sitting inside of some pretty scene? I think I'm even more confused now!

At the end of this process, I'm supposed to upload a 2048 x 2048 pixel image, correct? Does it matter how I create it?

Re: Cover Photo Functionality

PenguinPower — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 19:08:00 GMT

Sure you can - if you’ve got the photo editing skills to drop things into backgrounds you’ve found or made do it… with flat products it should be easy.

Re: Cover Photo Functionality

KeegansCreation — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 19:11:13 GMT

You absolutely can. Paper products are the one product where you can probably make your own in situ just fine with a screenshot and software to collage it with other things. It's when you step outside the realm of products that can lie flat on a table that things get complex and cumbersome and that's why I bought a kit for shower curtains.

And then yes, you crop it to 2048 x 2048. It doesn't matter how you create it but what I got from the email was it has to look like a legit in-situ.

Re: Cover Photo Functionality

Cat — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 19:12:06 GMT

Whew! Well that sounds like it might be at least possible! Guess I'll add it to my list of about a bazillion things to experiment with when I have time! 😁

Re: Cover Photo Functionality

randysgrandma — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 19:37:07 GMT

I haven't tried it because I don't have any Zazzle products to photograph. They are way beyond what my budget allows.

Re: Cover Photo Functionality

PenguinPower — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 19:51:55 GMT

Now that I've figured out how to post html with my phone.... here's a few examples of what I've been up to. These aren't from a kit or real product, just me & my mad photoshop skills 😜 I’ve been focusing on products without existing in situ images The one thing I’d really like is more angles in the Z provided mock-ups. It is a challenge to find many appropriate backdrops shot pretty much straight on and I’m trying to not repeat.

Personalized Funny Sasquatch Location and Research
by Penguin_Protest

Custom Name and Monogram Celtic Style Ouroboros
by Works_For_Peanuts

Old Map Love Lives In Alaska State Shaped Photo
by Works_For_Peanuts

Re: Cover Photo Functionality

Caprice — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 19:56:36 GMT

You guys have done a great job with the ones you've created. It does sound like a tremendous amount of time and effort though. It would be one thing if I were making $$$ hand over fist with Z (read: worth the effort) - but alas - I am not. 😝

Re: Cover Photo Functionality

KeegansCreation — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 20:18:58 GMT

Very nice. I don't have the confidence in my Photoshop skills to warp a layer around a curved object in a plausible way. And then there's the matter of shadow. I might be able to pull off the beer mug since shadow is not required but that Sasquatch mug. Oh my.

Re: Cover Photo Functionality

PAZP — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 20:56:27 GMT

Nice job!

Re: Cover Photo Functionality

Cat — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 21:13:07 GMT

@KeegansCreation I think you're making this harder than it is. Maybe I'm not giving @PenguinPower enough credit, but I don't think she's using photoshop to warp her design around the object, Zazzle's already done that part for you. All you need to do is to take a screen shot of the mug or glass or pillow, put it into your scene and add other objects and shadows in separate layers as appropriate. That's how I'd do it anyhow!

Re: Cover Photo Functionality

Windy — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 21:19:36 GMT

I hear ya. I have a policy of not getting high on my own supply!

Re: Cover Photo Functionality

KeegansCreation — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 21:28:18 GMT

Thanks, I'll give that a try.😃

Making things harder than they need to be is my superpower. Or downfall. One of those.

Re: Cover Photo Functionality

PAZP — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 21:27:37 GMT

Depending on the angle even on some flat lays you have to "warp" into perspective the objects you are adding. I've had to do that with one of my business card flat lays. Once i figured it out though, it's easy to do.