Downloading Artwork for Creating Cover Photos

[itsMolly]

I've been having this problem for a few weeks. The downloadable images of my product are now separate-- the front graphic, lettering on front and a 3rd one for lettering on back. I use PlaceIt and it only allows one image. I've used a workaround for the past week but it takes me forever. So far it's like this for Paper Cups and Can Glasses.

Wasn't at one time, the 2 artwork images to download, were front and back, with lettering or all layers on them?

I've searched and looked and can't find this topic. Thanks for any advice. 

@itsMolly 

[Beth]

Hi @itsMolly 
I'm not sure I understand your inquiry correctly, are you able to share screenshots so we can advise further? 
Beth

[itsMolly]

Thank you Beth. In the past, the lettering was on the background image. I would download the one file and use it in my mockup program (Placeit). I hope this makes more sense. 

This first screenshot downloads are not titled? They are Front (white text) Back (white text) & Full.  

3 Downloads here. Back text, Front text, Background

[Cat]

Sounds like the product in question might be a foil card? For the foil & print products the downloads separate the "front" and "front foil" layers into separate downloads. I'm not exactly sure why they do it that way, but it does make it much easier to create your own foil simulation if Zazzle's simulation doesn't work well with your design. If you want to use Zazzle's foil simulation, you can just download one of the other mockups and cut out the background (pretty easy since it's just a rectangle.)

[Beth]

Hi @Cat

Since the foil layer is added using a separate printing process to the colored front of the cards, the layer dedicated to where the foil parts of the design would be placed is also separate, allowing for the two to be applied independently to create the finished design.  That would certainly explain why the product images would include 3 separate parts. 

Beth
 

[itsMolly]

Thank you, @Cat . You’re always such a help to me.

I've never used foil on a product. I plan to this year for sure. 😁

[Cat]

Thanks for posting the screenshots. I think it's basically the same issue as the foil cards in that the download tool is showing you the artwork rather than the product - i.e. you're able to download the image that's on each separate design area. For products where there's only one design area it just gives you one download with all of the artwork on it. But for products like the cups and glass cans where the front, back, and background are separate design areas it lets you download them separately. The same is true for gift bags, table tent signs, backpacks, and anything where there are separate design areas. I think that actually works better if you're making your own mockups using PhotoShop or some other design software.

I've never used PlaceIt, so I don't know exactly how it works, but if they expect a single flat image that the software forms to the shape of the product, I think your best bet would be to use some sort of design software (PhotoShop, Gimp, Photopea or whatever you use) to combine the layers manually. Then save that as a single image and upload it.

Perhaps Zazzle could consider offering a "merged artwork" download for situations like this, though it might get a little bit tricky deciding how to properly merge the artwork depending on the product.

Hope that helps!