How to Create Layout Products

by Becky Skelley

INTRODUCTION

So far in our series we’ve discussed creating customizable products and the details behind setting up custom attributes. Now let’s walk through creating a customizable with layout product from start to finish.

STEPS TO FOLLOW

First, sign into your website with an administrator’s username and password. Once you have signed in, you will see the admin area of your website with the blue tabs along the top of the page. Click on the Products tab; this is where you are able to work with and create new products.

This page should look familiar, as we reviewed creating a customizable product in our first installment. Today we’ll create 2 different products that share the same product type, customizable with layout. When steps are completed you will have products with layouts like examples in Image-1.  Before we begin, let’s first setup the custom attribute that will be used for our first product, a notary stamp. We will need a background image (size set to impression size, DPI 600) for our product with the border only see Image-2. Last month we discussed setting up custom attributes, which we will need to do for our product. When creating the new custom attribute be sure to set the background image by clicking the select button and then upload and choose your image. Stay tuned for further explanation of working with images on your website.

Now that our custom attribute exists with our background image set, head over to the Products tab where we will create a new product and set the product type to customizable with layout. Once you have created the new product and set up the basics, such as name, price, descriptions (as discussed in the June issue of MIM) on the far left of the screen you will see a new link within the Edit Product Menu, titled Edit Product Layout see Image-3. Before we click on the link, be sure to click on the Custom Product Design link. From past discussions readers will remember the importance of setting the product’s impression size, max lines, and of course the new custom attribute we created earlier. Once the custom product design requirements have been set, click the Edit Product Layout link.

Once clicked, we now see two sections (see top portion of Image-4), the top box sets the overall rules for the stamp layout, such as:

Locks – This column designates which elements within the layout will be locked.

Color – Set the product to display a particular color, choose from the drop down menu.

Upload Logo – (only appears if custom attribute allows clipart) Browse and upload a logo for your layout.

Border – Click the checkbox to allow a border, leave unchecked for no border.

Image Scale – Set the percent the uploaded logo will be scaled to here.

Zoom Factor – Choose if you would like to zoom in on the logo.

The bottom box sets the individual line settings see the bottom portion of Image-4.

Locks – This column lists the lock options for each individual customizable line on the product. Check the box next to Label, Text, Font, Size, Just (Justification), or Style to lock the options applied to each line.

Text Case – within the Locks column there is a section to choose whether you would like to lock the option for upper (upper case type), lower (lower case type) or none.

Label – type a label that will be displayed in front of the text box per line.

Text – this column contains the text box the customer will type the custom text into.

Font – this column contains the fonts the customer will choose from.

Size – this column contains the font sizes the customer may choose from.

Justification – this column contains options related to aligning the type to left, center, or right.

Style – this column contains options related to styling the type to B (bold), I (italic), or U (underline).

For the first line of our notary product check all boxes under the Locks column, (refer to Image-5) and set Text Case to UPPER. Within the Text column, type OFFICIAL SEAL and set the Font and Size accordingly. For the second line of our notary product check all boxes under the Locks column except Text. Within the Label column we will type Notary Name: and set the Font and Size accordingly, for our second line we’ve chosen to set the style to Bold. For the third line check all boxes under the Locks column and set the Text Case to UPPER. Within the Text column type Notary Public, State of Illinois and set the Font and Size accordingly. For the fourth line check all boxes under the Locks column and leave the Text Case to None. Within the Text column type My Commission Expires [[UserText]]. The [[UserText]] will allow your customer to type within this line even though we’ve set the text box to lock. Next set the Font and Size accordingly. Once you have completed these steps click the Preview Layout button at the bottom of the window. The screen will refresh and you may scroll to the bottom to preview your layout. If you approve the layout click the Save Layout button. Once the layout has been saved you are finished, Congratulations!

For our second product, a customizable address stamp with logo on the left, (see Image-6) we will need to create another new product that’s product type will be set to, you may have guessed it, customizable with layout. Once you have created the new product be sure to set up the basics, such as name, price, descriptions and then click save changes located at the bottom of the page.

Did you know when you create new products if you are not able to complete setting them up you may go back to edit them later? To find products on your site to edit go to the Products tab and look for the Find Existing Products area (located directly below the ADD New Product area). Refer to Image-9. Here you’ll see the words Search By next to a drop down box filled with choices. You may view your products by …

Keyword/SKU -  select this option to search by typing the Product ID/SK, Product Name,   or Keyword in the field to the right and click the find button. Stamp Shop Web will     search your products Product Name, Short/Long Description.

Type – select this option to search by product type, select the product type from the        drop down menu and all your products set to that product type will appear below.

Category – select this option and a list of all your website’s categories will appear.  You  will see a list of text links for you to click on to see the products within each category.        The Up One Level link will return you back to your main category list.

Manufacturer – select this option to view your products by the assigned manufacturer.   Choose the manufacturer from the drop down menu and a list of all products with that          manufacturer set will appear.

Vendor – select this option to view your products by the assigned vendor. Choose the       vendor from the drop down menu and a list of all products with that vendor set will            appear.

Now it goes without saying, if you have not set the manufacturer or vendor for each product none will appear when you search by manufacturer or vendor.

Next head over to the custom product design link to fill in the important impression size dimensions, max lines and custom attribute. For this address stamp we suggest choosing a custom attribute that allows clipart, such as inking stamps. Next click on the edit product layout link; this will allow us to place our four-leaf clover image on our die plate for the customer. Once on the product layout page you will see the box at the top of the page with settings for the overall rules for the stamp layout. For our address stamp we will need to lock the Image and Image Just (justification), be sure to check the box next to each (see Image-7). The colors you see available are pulled from the custom attribute you chose, if you would like to limit the ink color limit the colors available within the custom attribute.  Next we will add a logo by clicking the browse button and choose our four-leaf clover image to upload (600 DPI, BW jpg or gif). If we would like to set a border for the product you may check the box within the border column. For justification of the image we will select Left, image scale set to 100%, and zoom factor set to 0.

Similar to our notary product, we will now set up the individual line settings. For our first line under the Locks column we will check everything except Text, this will allow us to set the font, size, justification and style of the customizable text for our customer. Next we will leave the Text Case set to None. Within the Label column type First & Last Name:, leave the text column blank and set the font and size accordingly. Under the justification column set it to L (left alignment).  For the second and third lines we will repeat the same steps for the Locks column as we set for the first line. For the second line, under the Label column, type Street Address: and set the font and size accordingly. Next set the justification to L. For the third line, under the Label column type Town, State, Zip Code: and set the font and size accordingly. Set the justification to L. Finally, click the Preview Layout button located at the bottom of the page. Similar to the notary product, once the preview is correct (see Image-8) click the save layout button. This action will save the layout and make it available to your customer on the store side of your site.

Congratulations, you have now created two different customizable with layout products. Please stay tuned for our next month’s installment when we discuss round stamps and round daters.