cannot sell using my images as background

[EastVillage]

Greetings fellow creators !

Does anybody knows the reason for why I cannot sell products when I use my own images as backgrounds ? 

The "sell" option disappear, but I can buy the item if I want to, meaning the image quality is there.  However, when the same image is used in "fill" option for the same product, "there is an issue with the image quality" message.  I am puzzling over this and would really appreciate your inputs - thanks ! 

[Sara_H]

@EastVillage Which product is it that is giving you the image quality error?

[EastVillage]

Hi - I just remember a dog pillow and a bedroom blanket, but I miss the others- thanks ! 

[Sara_H]

@EastVillage Both those products need large sized artwork as @WHS_Designs said. You need to resize your artwork and re-upload new so you won't get the pixelated error warning or set a background color and place your artwork so it looks 'framed'

Most other products are fine with smaller sized (pixels)/dpi) artwork.

But the bigger dpi the better

[EastVillage]

Thank you all for your time in helping with this.

I still don't understand why my image prints fine as background or why Zazzle doesn't allow me to sell it 

[Sara_H]

@EastVillage 

It might be something to do with the subject matter and what tags you are using.

Graffiti is difficult as sometimes they used branded subjects (trademarks) which you're not allowed to sell (is it your art? Did you spray paint the walls?) There may be intellectual property issues which is why Zazzle won't let you post for sale. I don't know 

[EastVillage]

Thanks - but not just a graffiti image and besides, all those images worked fine on other products or in the same products ( not on fill mode ). So 1) image in background mode = ok to print but not to sell 2) same image in fill mode = not ok for printing ( and therefore not ok for selling ) 3) same image in any other mode is ok to sell. Sorry for the confusion 

[Sara_H]

@EastVillage  I am really confused

I don't add my images to the design tool via the background mode, I click on Layers and then use the My Files option to search for my artwork that way

[WHS_Designs]

filling probably blew up your image beyond its maximum resolution, resulting in a poor quality image. that's why you got that message.

you'll have to resize your original image in an image editor (Photoshop or Microsoft's A Sharper Scaling -- the latter is freeware just for PCs), save it as a different file, and upload to remove that message. 

[EastVillage]

Thank you for your input ! So, filling blows up the image, but same image in background mode is fine ? Because that’s what is happening in here. 

[EastVillage]

The issue is why I can buy it - but not sell it in my store

[Sara_H]

@EastVillage which product can't you post for sale. Is it a greeting card? You have to add an envelope.

Have you added another background or a icon? (from the Most Popular Backgrounds) tab. These are for customer's and not for designers to sell.

If you can mention which product you're having issues with, we give you some ideas why it isn't posting for sale

[Scott]

Can you link me to a product that's not showing the Sell button?

[EastVillage]

https://www.zazzle.com/z/1xq9wwxf

[Scott · Accepted solution]

If you are ONLY adding an image to the Background layer then the product is considered "empty" and so we disable publishing. I logged into your account, then opened this design, and then added "test" in text. Notice that the Sell button now appears https://www.zazzle.com/z/aluikd2d

If you're only adding one image to a design I'd suggest adding the image (or text) to the Front or Back of the design.

[SJoy]

I think I know what you are talking about.  I use a quick get around to publish products that I only want an image as the background.  With just a background image, the designer thinks that the foreground is empty.  So I go to elements and choose the circle.  Then resize it with the corner tabs until it is as small as I can get it.  Then I click and drag it way out of view (into the gray area of the designer).  Even though you can't see it, it is there and will be picked up as having something in the foreground.  When you click done, a Sell It button should be available.  This is my workaround.  Hope it helps.

[EastVillage]

you are right !

[Jules_Sky]

I've seen some gift bags for sale that have just the background. When you open the "customize this design". and look at the layers you'll notice that the designer put TWO backgrounds.  One is named Front Background and the other is Back Background.  I would love to know how to ADD a background. Then name them.  It has to cover the entire area.  Any thoughts? In the meantime, I love your workaround.  THX

[BKMuir]

Thanks for this discussion (I think). I never even noticed the ADD YOUR IMAGE button on the background tab. I alwas just added my image on the main, or FRONT design area and enlarged, or tiled to fit.

I see that adding to the background, one is not able to adjust the image in any way (on a mug anyway). I really don't think this would be a useful edit for me.