Wrap & Patterns

Please see below for steps on preparing your winning wrap files for launch to minted.com. Please feel free to reach out to us at [e-mail] or post in #help-file-prep in the Minted Artist Community Slack (be sure to tag @artistrelations!) with any additional questions. 

1. DOWNLOAD TEMPLATES
Start by downloading the 30” template located in your file request email. Using this template, you will prepare your repeating patterned wrap, with a length that is divisible by 30 inches and a width that matches your original pattern swatch.

2. NOTE YOUR PATTERN DIMENSIONS

Make sure to note the dimensions of your repeating pattern for our team to reference.

3. TECHNICAL LIMITATIONS

Our new wrap is printed using a slightly different process, and as a result, we have a few more technical requirements from our printing teams that we're kindly asking artists to keep in mind:

• We've found that designs print best when they include no more than 6 distinct colors (including black). White is treated as a knockout rather than an ink color and won't count toward the total. Our team may reduce the number of colors in your design during the test printing period if they feel there's room to make edits while still honoring your original design intention.
• Our printer requires that each color be set up as its own compound path. Please be sure to label each path with its corresponding color. 

Tip: If your raster design can be translated well into a vector format we strongly encourage you to do so! This will allow for the highest possible chances of a successful test print. Our team may request that you slightly simplify complex raster designs, or remove textures if we find they're not printing well on our new paper stocks.

4. CHECK YOUR REPEAT

Once you are done designing your pattern, we recommend you do a few checks. Create a copy of the pattern (entire artboard), and align the top of the pasted artboard to the bottom of the original artboard to verify that all elements match up perfectly.

Artwork in this area should match up seamlessly when a duplicate copy is placed below the artboard.

5. TEST PATTERN SCALE

To test the scale of your pattern, open the print dialog and print one page with ‘do not scale’ selected. This will give you a preview of the full scale on relative to an 8.5x11” sheet of paper.

6. CREATING COLORWAYS

After your pattern is perfect, create at least 3 and up to 6 colorways for your design. We suggest you aim to create all 6 colorways as customers are looking for a wide range of colors to complement their home decor, so having many color options will increase the sales of your design. Your first colorway (colorway A) should be your winning challenge submission unless changes were requested in your File Request email.

Shape Play by Ampersand Design Studio offers the maximum of 6 colorways in a variety of options

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TIPS & TRICKS

	1. CHECK RESOLUTION OF IMAGES Raster elements in your artwork should be a minimum of 150 ppi at 100% size, and must be in the same colorspace as the rest of your artwork.To check ppi in Illustrator, use the Direct Select tool (white arrow) and click on the embedded image. At the top left of your tool panel (underneath the menu bar) you will see the effective ppi (Pixels Per Inch).To check ppi in Photoshop, use the Image Size option (Image > Image Size...). Here you can see the effective resolution of the overall file. If adjusting the ppi in Photoshop, make sure to un-check the ‘Resample’ option (this option adds or subtracts pixels from your file but does not create a higher quality image).
	2. EMBED RASTER ARTWORK Raster images must be fully embedded in your files prior to submission. If not, they will show up as blank/missing images to our team when we open your files. To embed your artwork in Illustrator, use the Links panel. Select your image, click the upper right menu dropdown, and select ‘Embed Image.’ Once your image is embedded successfully, you will see a square graphic icon next to the image in your Links panel.
	3. AVOID OVERSATURATION If you are submitting vector graphics, the sum of the CMYK values for a single color should add up to no greater than 255% (ex C-25, M-75, Y-55, K-100 = 225% total ink coverage). This prevents ink oversaturation making dark colors print muddy, as well as ink smudging (where ink rubs off onto other pieces in the order).