Tag: tutorial

How to Make a Seamless Pattern in Procreate

how to make patterns in procreate
~ Julie ~ 4 Comments
how to make a seamless pattern in procreate for ipad

Did you recently get an iPad with the Procreate app? If so, congratulations! If you’re a surface designer like me, you’re probably wondering how you can make seamless pattern designs in the Procreate app!

I’m here to show you my method of creating seamless offset patterns in Procreate. Keep in mind there are multiple ways to achieve the same result!

Check out my video below for step by step instructions to make seamless patterns on your iPad with Procreate.

How to make a Seamless Pattern in Procreate

  1. Begin with a square canvas (ex. 4000 x 4000 pixels).
  2. Draw your motifs (I drew some simple strawberries).
  3. Arrange your motifs so they are somewhat close to the center of your square canvas.
  4. Create a group from your motifs and duplicate it.
  5. Hide your original group.
  6. Pinch the new group together into 1 layer.
  7. Create a new layer and fill it with a solid color background (can be any color, it doesn’t matter).
  8. Group the layer with your motifs with the solid background layer.
  9. Duplicate this group 4 times.
  10. With snapping and magnetics ON, move each of those layers into the 4 corners of the document.
  11. Now you can delete those solid background layers.
  12. Turn back on your original group of motifs and arrange them so they fit nicely between the others.
  13. Now you have your seamless pattern tile!

If you want to test your pattern swatch to make sure it all lines up correctly, I’ve shown you how to do that too in the video above.

Once you have your final seamless pattern you can export it and use it for many projects or upload your patterns to print on demand stores so they can be printed on products!

Here’s an example of what I created with my strawberry pattern. I added some more florals to it.

(You can shop this design in my Redbubble store by the way!)

I hope you’ve found this post helpful and you learned how to make a seamless pattern in the Procreate app!


You may also be interested in these posts:

Cheers,

julie signing off

Easy DIY Deer Halloween Costume

easy diy deer fawn halloween costume
~ Julie ~ 10 Comments
easy diy deer fawn halloween costume

Hey guys! With Halloween coming up soon I thought I would share another costume idea:

Easy DIY Deer Halloween Costume

This is a fairly simple costume, and the finished result is adorable and totally work appropriate.

Materials used for the deer makeup:

  • bronzer
  • black liquid eyeliner
  • white eyeliner
  • brown eyeshadow

For the makeup look I searched for deer makeup ideas on Pinterest, and then combined a few different looks, keeping it simple. You’re welcome to copy my makeup.

Materials for the antlers

I followed Lauren Conrad’s tutorial to create the antlers. However, I used standard paper maché instead of Modge Podge.

Recently I’ve seen some pre-made headbands like this at Michaels and other places, so if you can find one of those it might be easier than making it yourself unless you enjoy that sort of thing, like I do!

The floral headband was re-purposed from my Day of the Dead costume. But you could glue the flowers to the antlers once they’re dry, or glue them to a second headband and wear the two together.

  • headband(s)
  • fake flowers from the dollar store
  • glue gun
  • newspaper strips and paper maché
  • brown and silver acrylic paint
  • pipe cleaners

Deer costume outfit

I wore a tan coloured sweater over a white tank top, but you could wear something else you have on hand, or create an outfit to go with it.

  • tan coloured sweater
  • white tank top
  • black leggings
  • black boots

I hope you like this simple DIY deer Halloween costume! Let me know what you’re dressing up as this year in the comments below.

Check out more of my DIY Halloween costumes here:

Cheers,

julie signing off

How to Make an Offset Pattern in Photoshop Tutorial

offset pattern photoshop tutorial
~ Julie ~ 4 Comments
offset pattern photoshop tutorial

Hey friends! Today I’m sharing with you a video tutorial I made on how to make an offset repeating pattern in Photoshop.

Offset patterns are a great way to add interest and texture to your designs, and they’re fairly easy to create in Photoshop. In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through the steps for creating an offset pattern of your own. You’ll learn how to use the Offset Filter, how to adjust your layer properties, and how to save your pattern for future use. Let’s get started!

Watch my video tutorial below on how to make an offset pattern in Photoshop

Creating a offset pattern is simple and especially useful for designing artwork for Print on Demand websites.

Some Print on Demand websites, like Redbubble, let you make a tiled pattern right in their uploading tool. However, it might not always look just how you want it to. Being able to make your own offset pattern will ensure that your design looks good on the full range of products like leggings, dresses or curtains.

Making a pattern from your design can also be helpful if your artwork is too small to cover the product. Instead of up-sizing and losing quality, you can make a pattern instead.

Below are some examples of products I’ve made with this technique.

Offset pattern photoshop tutorial sunflower curtains
pastel pineapple offset pattern backpack

Although there are many ways to create an offset pattern in Photoshop, this tutorial outlines a simple and effective way to create an eye-catching pattern that can be used for a variety of purposes. With just a few clicks, you can easily create an offset pattern that can be applied to your designs.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on my tutorial. If you have suggestions for other tutorials you would like me to make let me know in the comments below!

You might also like: Cleaning up Line Art in Photoshop and Illustrator

Check out the resources section of my website for even more tutorials and tips for selling your art online.

Cheers,

julie signing off

How to Fill Out the W-8BEN Tax Form for Print on Demand Royalties

print on demand tax forms and information
~ Julie ~ 7 Comments
print on demand tax forms and information

Ah, tax forms. They’re one of those tedious administrative tasks that we simply can’t avoid when it comes to selling artwork online through Print on Demand websites. If you’re using a U.S.-based Print on Demand company like Zazzle, you’ll likely need to fill out and submit a W-8BEN tax form to ensure your payments are processed correctly.

**This post was updated to reflect the most current information available in July 2023.

Let’s dive in and explore the importance of the W-8BEN tax form specifically for royalties on Print on Demand platforms.

Now, this form can be quite confusing, and here’s the kicker: if you fail to submit it or fill it out properly, you might find yourself facing a hefty 30% withholding tax on your royalties. Ouch!

Fortunately, there’s good news for individuals residing in countries that have an income tax treaty with the U.S., like Canada. You may be exempt from paying this hefty withholding tax or, in some cases, eligible for a reduced withholding tax rate. To determine the specific withholding amounts based on your country, refer to the comprehensive list available on the IRS website.

To get started on your tax journey, head over to the IRS website and download the W-8BEN tax form. Now, filling out this form correctly is crucial to ensure your royalties are processed smoothly. Here’s an example of how to complete the form as a Canadian artist.

w8-ben royalties for print on demand websites canada

Let’s go over a few key points to remember:

  • The Foreign Tax identifying number (Box 6a) is equivalent to a U.S. Social Security Number and serves as your personal identification number for tax purposes in your country.
  • To find the correct Article and Paragraph number you will need to consult the tax document for your Country, which is provided on the IRS website.
  • The ____% rate of withholding (Line 10) will vary based on the withholding tax rate of your resident country. Remember to consult the same list provided on the IRS website for the specific rate applicable to you.

In conclusion, dealing with tax forms may be a bit of a hassle, but when it comes to selling your art and earning royalties through Print on Demand websites, it’s crucial to understand and comply with the W-8BEN tax form requirements.

By properly filling out this form and ensuring your eligibility for tax treaty benefits, you can avoid unnecessary withholding taxes and receive your hard-earned royalties in full.

I hope this guide has shed some light on the importance of the W-8BEN tax form for royalty payments on Print on Demand platforms. If you have any thoughts or questions, feel free to leave a comment below.

Cheers to a successful and tax-compliant art-selling journey!

julie signing off

Looking for more information about selling your art through Print on Demand sites? Check out the resources section of my website.

Also check out these posts:

How to Design for Print On Demand Websites

how to design print on demand websites
~ Julie ~ 5 Comments
how to design print on demand websites

If you’re just starting out selling your art on Print on Demand websites it can be overwhelming!  How do you decide what kinds of designs to make?  How can you optimize your artwork for all of the different Print on Demand sites?

Below I’ve compiled a list of tips to make it easier for you.  I’ve been selling my art through Print on Demand websites for over 8 years now, and I’ve learned a few things in that time.  I use Photoshop and Procreate mainly, but these tips can work with whatever apps you use.

So, read on if you need help with designing and optimizing your artwork for sale on Print on Demand sites such as Society6, Redbubble, Zazzle, Teepublic and others!

Design for Print on Demand Websites – Best Practices

  • Research trends. Use Pinterest or a search engine to see what kind of art is currently trending, then use this for inspiration to create something in your own style.
  • Start with a large file size (10,000 pixels covers most products).
  • Keep your designs in layers to easily make changes or re-use elements later on.
  • Design with the products you want to sell in mind.  For example, most Print on Demand sites offer products like t-shirts, throw pillows and cell phone cases.  Keep these products in mind while you create your designs.
  • Keep images crisp (300 DPI), high resolution and colours relatively saturated (more saturated colors tend to look better when printed on fabric).
  • For drawings, use a scanner if possible (rather than photographs) and use the available settings to scan a large, high DPI image file.
  • For line drawings or black and white drawings, use Illustrator to make your lines crisp.  Check out my tutorial below on how to digitize your art for print on demand.
  • Don’t up-size your artwork if possible, this leads to a pixelated fuzzy look on the final product (this is why you start with a large file size in the first place).
  • Depending on what kind of artwork you make, you may need to adjust the size or medium you use in order for them to look good on the computer. Play around.
  • Don’t use copyrighted images, text, logos or anything else, or you risk the image being taken down, or even your account being suspended.  Some sites allow “fan art” but make sure you follow all the rules.

Now that you have some designs to work with…

Optimize your Designs for Print on Demand

  • Each website has it’s own file size and type requirements so make sure to check that before you start uploading.
  • Curate designs for each platform. Some designs might work better in different stores depending on their audience.
  • Save layers separately if you sell on Zazzle because you can layer different images and text on that particular POD site.
  • Create the same design in different colors and variations, especially once you have an idea of which designs are popular with your audience.
  • Adjust designs for individual product types. For example, use a transparent background for a t-shirt or sticker, use coloured background or make the design into a pattern for tapestries and pillows, remove text for leggings and apparel where it doesn’t work, etc.

Looking for more print on demand tips? Check out the Artist Resources section of my website!

You may also like these posts:

Here are some more posts to help you sell your art online.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you’ve found these tips helpful.  If you have any other ideas or questions feel free to post in the comments below!


Cheers,

julie signing off

How to Clean up Line Art using Photoshop and Illustrator

clean up line art photoshop
~ Julie ~ 8 Comments
cleaning up line art in photoshop illustrator

Hello friends! Today I would like to share with you how to clean up line art drawings using Photoshop and Illustrator.

Smoothing out your line art is especially important if you are selling artwork printed on shirts and other products through Print on Demand stores like Redbubble, Zazzle, Society6, etc.

This is just one of many ways I create designs, and a technique you can use to turn black and white drawings into digital line art — which you can then use any way you choose.

How to Clean up Line Art using Photoshop and Illustrator

 Start out with some ideas in your sketchbook, and make a short list of designs to try drawing.  I often look online for inspiration and have a few things in mind before I get started.

sketchbook
  • Once you have a design you like, re-draw it lightly on a clean page in pencil.
  • Go over the pencil drawing with a black Sharpie or another fine black ink pen, to get something like this:
sketches black and white
  • Make sure you erase all pencil lines.
  • Scan each design separately into Photoshop.
line drawing in photoshop
  • Clean up the image as much as possible using tools such as desaturate, Brightness/Contrast, Curves, and erase to clean up any little black dots or dust bits that are showing.  
  • You can also use the colour selection tool to select the black line only, then create a new layer and fill it in with black. Once I am finished with this step, I save the file as a .PSD.
  • Next open the .PSD file in Illustrator, and use the Live Trace or Image Trace tool to turn your design into a nice smooth vector image. This is a great tutorial on using Live Trace in Illustrator that I often follow.
live trace in illustrator
  • The result of this process is that you get much smoother lines. This is important if you are having the designs printed, especially in large sizes.
  • Save the image as a .AI file.
  • Open up the file in Photoshop and set the pixel size to something large, like 10,000 x 10,000 pixels.
  • Fill or colour your line drawing however you like.  I like to use layers, fill with gradients and use layer settings (ex. Screen) or just paint on another layer using a drawing tablet.  There is basically an endless variety of ways you can use your line art.
  • Save your finished design as the correct file type and size(s) for the POD site you are creating for.  I always save a .PSD file as well (with all my layers in tact) so I can open it again later and use the same design multiple times.

Here are some examples of work that I have used this technique for:

tangled black and white yin yang mandala live trace illustrator
pot head teapot live trace illustrator tutorial

And there you have it!  Hopefully you now have a little bit of insight into how I create my designs for sale, and maybe even learned a new technique to try out for yourself.

Feel free to leave any questions or comments about this process in the comments section below.

Have a great week everyone!

Cheers,

julie signing off