How to use this TutorialListed above are the topics that cover all the features of iPrint™ and iDesigns™. Start with the first topic, experiment as you go, and work through each in order. You can leave this tutorial window open as you follow the steps. Each topic covers a small amount of tasks, and there are pictures for clarity. You'll figure out how everything works quickly by reading through this tutorial. After that, just experiment. You can refer back to this tutorial at any time. Only interested in iDesigns™ ?If you are only interested in learning how to use iDesigns™ at this point, read only the following topics from the top menu:
Get Started with The Toolbar tutorial. The ToolbarThere are several tool icons in the upper right corner of the iPrint™ or iDesigns™ screen, which include the two on the right edge of the page. Here is a brief description of each:
Selecting the ModeiPrint™ and iDesigns™ are separate modes. iPrint™ is for printing images that you upload. iDesigns™ is for printing patterns that you select from the choices presented within each category. (See the iDesigns™ Patterns tutorial topic for details). You can access either mode by clicking the printer icon in the upper right corner of the screen, then selecting from the dropdown menu that appears. You will know what mode you are in by looking at the page title at the top left of the page ("iPrint™" for image mode, or "iDesigns™" for designs mode). Continue on to the Loading Images tutorial. Creating a New Image SheetUsing the Clear Sheet button if necessary, be sure "Image Mode" is selected. If you want to save what you have already created, be sure to do so before clicking Clear Sheet. You will not be prompted to save any current settings (since it would likely be an annoying prompt for such a small amount of selections each and every time). Upload One or More ImagesSTEP 1: You can upload .jpg, .png, or .gif image files from your computer, flash drive, camera, etc. Once the image is uploaded, it is saved until you delete it. Large image files will take longer to upload. Follow these easy steps:
Delete Uploaded ImagesYou can delete an uploaded image by clicking the red X on the image, as shown below.
Or, you can click the Clear Sheet button as mentioned above to delete everything when you are ready to start with a new template.
Deleting the last remaining image has the same effect as clicking Clear Sheet. Rotate Uploaded ImagesYou can rotate your uploaded images using the rotate left and rotate right arrow buttons that appear on each image next to the delete button. This rotation changes your uploaded image to a permanent rotation. You can also rotate your images as described in the "Rotating and Sizing Images" tutorial. Select Your Icing SheetSTEP 2: Just below your uploaded images is a "select ..." button that when clicked will present all the Icing Sheet types. Click this button and select the sheet type you wish to print on. After you select your sheet type, two things happen:
Depending on the icing sheet type you select, there will be one or more orange "print areas" that you can apply your image(s) to, as explained in the next section. Continue on to the Selecting Image Areas tutorial. Selecting Image AreasThe selection shape in the image below is the large circle. You can select areas from any of your uploaded images, just click on another uploaded image if you want to select from it. The selection shape matches the dimension of your selected icing sheet, or a circle in this case. Zooming InTo select a smaller more specific area of the image, do the following, as indicated in the image below:
Cutout ShapesYou can use the default circle, or any other shape for your selection. Follow these steps, as indicated in the image below:
Hard or Soft EdgesThe cutout shapes found under the Mats/Shapes tab can have a "hard edge", or a "soft edge". This Edge Type setting affects all shapes together, you cannot select a different edge for each circle or shape. They also apply to full size sheets or the 8" circle. The Mat Size Adjust sliders are for full print sheets only, they are covered in the Mats and Frames section. Fitting a Square Peg into a Round HoleIf you want to print an entire image within the circle (or any other cutout shape), you may find that the shape of the image extends beyond the circle's outline, as shown in the left image below. Using the shrink image slider, found to the right of the size selection area slider, you can shrink your image inside the boundaries of the selection area, as shown in the right image below. Note that after you apply your selection to the icing sheets using a "shrinked" image, there will be orange areas remaining where there is no image area to print. These orange sections are only for reference and will not be printed, so don't worry. Enlarge the PreviewIf you have a large screen and would like to see a better view of the preview sheet (where the orange circles are clicked), or just want to zoom in on the preview temporarily to verify your selections, simply drag the "preview sizer" icon located at the top right edge of the preview sheet. Dragging right increases the sheet size and dragging left shrinks the preview back to the default size. You can also just click the icon to restore the preview to its original size. The preview size remains the same while you load and save other sheets or select a different sheet size. Continue on to the Rotating and Sizing Images tutorial. Rotating Your ImageThis topic is for full-print sheets only, not multi-circle template sheets. After you select an area from your image, and it appears in the left template sheet, you can make further adjustments. You can drag the image to reposition it, you can rotate it as needed, or zoom out (shrink) to bring more image into view. Note the two scrollbars below your selection: Click the arrows at either end of the rotate scrollbar to rotate the image in 90 degree increments. On the rotate scrollbar, drag the blue scroll-ball left or right to rotate between the 90 degreee increments. Use the shrink slider to shrink the image if needed. For example, if you have selected a mat or frame, you may need to shrink the image to better fit it within the boundaries of the mat or frame. Printing Landscape (How to fit your wide photo on the sheet)To print landscape for wide images, DO NOT tell your printer to print landscape. Instead, rotate the image. Using the techniques mentioned above, follow these steps:
Now your image looks like the example to the far right, rotated and sized to fit on the icing sheet. Note: If you shrink your image and orange bars appear, this just means your image is not the same dimension as the sheet's print area. Shrink the image as much as you need to - don't worry, the orange bars will not print. Continue on to the Mats and Frames tutorial. Mats and FramesThis topic is for full-print sheets only, not multi-circle template sheets. The section "Selecting Images Areas" talked about "Cutout Shapes" for template circles. These same shapes can also be used on full size sheets, as a mat. You can also choose to add a frame, with or without a mat. The three steps below demonstrate how easy it is to add a Frame and/or Mat over your image:
Adjust Until PerfectEven after you have selected your Mat and/or Frame, you can continue to fine-tune the image position, rotation, and size. Remember you can drag the image around to align it better with your mat and/or frame selection. All of your selections and setting are saved until you create a new sheet (by pressing the Clear Sheet button on the first tab). Continue on to the Adding Text tutorial. Applying TextYou can apply one or two sections of text on your image. For example, you can type "Happy Birthday" in one font/color at the top of your sheet, and the person's name at the bottom in a different font/color. Click the Text tab. Then, looking at the image below, there are two tabs on the left (1 and 2). Click either tab to create each text section. It doesn't matter which one you use or where you place the text. To create text:
Sizing, Positioning, and Rotating the TextSize, Position, and Rotate text by grabbing the left edge, middle, or right edge of the text applied on the preview sheet. Just hover the mouse over the center of the text or at either edge, and the cursor will change as shown below. Then, press the mouse and drag - release when done. Optionally use the Change text size scrollbar and the Rotate text scrollbar (see right image below) to make adjustments to your text. By experimenting with these scrollbars you will see what effects they have. If you are printing a landscape image (by rotating your image 90 degrees as discussed in the "Rotating and Sizing Images" tutorial), you will also need to rotate your text to match the orientation. Clicking the left arrow on the rotate scrollbar will rotate the text 90 degrees clockwise. The right arrow rotates the text 90 degrees counter-clockwise. If you have two text areas, clicking on each text area will activate the controls for that text in the Text tab. Remember to Apply the text first. Upon applying the text, you can now position and rotate your text, change the font and color. Each image below shows the steps to create the perfect text:
Add Text to Multi-Circle SheetsTo create text on multi-circle sheets:
Text Font, Color, ShadowThe following text attributes can be changed at any time:
Remember you can create two sections of text. Each text section has its own set of attributes. By clicking on the text already placed over your image, the corresponding text tab will open up for editing. When the Clear Sheet button is clicked on the toolbar, all text and attributes are deleted. Continue on to the Tints & Effects tutorial. TintingYou can apply a tint over the pictures on your print sheet. When you select a tint, all images (e.g. each circle on a multi-circle template sheet) will receive the same tint. You cannot apply different tint colors for different images on the same sheet. To apply a tint:
You can adjust the tint and opacity at any time. To undo the tint, click the "No Tint" button. Printing Solid Color SheetsYou might want to print a solid colored icing sheet to quickly add a colored backdrop to your cake, or for cutting the colored sheet into shapes using one of our cutting machines, such as the Cameo Silhouette or the Cricut Explore Air 2. Printing a solid color is the same as applying a Tint - just set the Opacity to 100%. In order to apply a tint, you must first upload any image since an image is required to create a sheet. Since the opacity is going to be 100%, the image will not be visible, so simply upload the smallest image you can. Applying EffectsImages that you upload can have one or more effects applied. Applying effects will change your uploaded image as if you uploaded
the image with the effect already applied (your original image on your computer or smartphone is not affected, of course).
You can apply multiple effects to experiment.
If you do not like the applied effects, you can UNDO the effects.
The effect toolbar: Effects are applied only to the images. Frames and Text that you select are not affected. The images shown below demonstrate the following effects by clicking the corresponding button on the Effect toolbar:
Tips: Continue on to the iDesigns™ Patterns tutorial. PatternsiDesigns™ is a subscription feature. See the iDesigns™ product link on the website for details. You can still browse the selection of patterns without a subscription, but you will not be able to print them. iDesigns™ patterns are square tiles that will print seamlessly in repetition at any size you want to fill your icing sheet. There are currently about a thousand to choose from in over 70 categories, organized by both color and theme. Selecting PatternsThe first step is to select the iDesigns™ tool icon found on the right edge of the page. Once in design mode, select the icing sheet size you will print your pattern on (step 1 in the image to the right). The next step is to select the category of patterns you want to view. Click the dropdown box (step 2), and you will see many categories. After picking a category, the pattern "thumbs" will load (see image below). Depending on your internet speed, this may take a little bit of time, but you can select any pattern you see while the remaining patterns load. Next, scroll through the patterns until you find the one you want to print. When you click a pattern, it will fill the icing sheet page on the left with the tile at the current "height" setting. The image to the right shows how the pattern, the blue flower pattern in this case, fills the page with the current setting of a 1" height, so the pattern repeats every one inch. Pattern Tiles and HeightSTEP 3 shows four options you can apply to your pattern selection. The Height dropdown lists measurements ranging from 1 inch up to 11 inches, in quarter-inch increments. Use this dropdown to indicate how large you want each tile. For example, if you are going to wrap a pattern around a cake layer that is 3" tall, then select 3". The image below (left) demonstrates what you will see by selecting 3". Note that the entire sheet is not filled. Only whole tiles will be printed. You can see there is not enough room for addition full tiles. The reason for this is that you can cut out the printed pattern area as shown, and by printing additional sheets, the patterns will match up as you place the sheets adjacent to eachother. If you were to print a full sheet, and you planned to place the sheets next to eachother, even cut into strips, the patterns would not line up.
Cut LinesCut lines are thin white lines that appear on your printed sheet to use as a guide for cutting strips of pattern. They can print vertically, horizontally, or not at all, depending on what you select from the Cut Lines dropdown box. The distance between the cut lines is determined by the current Height setting. In the image below (left), the pattern height is set to 2". The Cut lines dropdown is set to vertical, and Extend Tiles is not checked. These printed strips can be joined end-to-end for continuous flow of the pattern.
Pattern Selection OptionsRoll the Dice There is a dice icon next to the pattern categories dropdown. By clicking this icon, 20 random patterns will appear (with each "roll"). This is to give you ideas or inspirations rather than searching through all of the categories. Since these random patterns are only presented for that particular "roll of the dice", you should take note of what you like and add it to the favorites category before you roll the dice again or select another category. (see the next tutorial for instructions on adding patterns to favorites.) Find Pattern By Number Since decorators like to share information, the patterns are identified by number. After a pattern is selected, the pattern number is displayed below the template sheet. To find a pattern that someone recommends to you, click the find icon (magnifying glass) located at the top right of the pattern window in STEP 2. The entry window (shown below) appears. Type in the pattern number, click Find and the pattern will be loaded onto the template sheet. If you like the pattern, add it to your favorites. iDesigns™ Pattern Catalog All patterns, by number, can be viewed in our downloadable pattern catalog. The catalog can be found on our iDesigns™ product page. The fastest way to find the catalog is to search "Catalog" using our website's search feature. Show Larger/Smaller Patterns In order to fit more patterns for preview on the screen, they may appear too small to see the details of the pattern. By clicking the zoom on link, the patterns will appear magnified as you pass the mouse over the pattern. Select the pattern by clicking just as you normally would. If you find the zoom annoying, click the link again which is now titled zoom off. And finally......When you select a pattern, the small pattern tiles that appear in the sheet preview (on the left) are sized by the browser to fit on screen. You may notice "ghost lines" where tiles join, especially if you select Rotate 90°, or slight misalignment on the print preview screen. Don't worry! Your printed pattern sheet will be perfect. The "Icing Imgages" watermarks will not appear on the small images when you purchase a subscription (and of course they never appear on the prints). Continue on to the Saving and Favorites tutorial. (including how to save your favorite patterns).Load and Save SheetsPrinted sheets that you create can be saved for use later. This is handy when you are working on different customers' images at the same time, or when you have a specific sheet you need to print often. By clicking on the Open & Save toolbar icon, you see the following dialog: Saving SheetsTo save, enter a sheet name in the textbox at the bottom, and click the Save Sheet button. If you want to password protect your sheet so others signed into your account cannot access it or so you do not accidentally delete it, check the Password protect box, and another textbox will appear for you to type in your password. You can also blur the image if you want to conceal the contents by checking the Blur checkbox. Then click the Save Sheet button. If you make changes to a sheet you have saved, remember to re-save it. If you do not save the changes, the last version of the sheet will still be available for opening. Opening SheetsWhen you save a sheet, a small image of the sheet will appear in this screen, with the name of the sheet appearing under it. To open a sheet for printing, just click the small image of the sheet. If the sheet is password protected, a password textbox appears on the image. First type the password, then press ENTER or click the image. Deleting SheetsTo delete a sheet, click the red X that appears in the upper left corner of the sheet image. If the sheet is password protected, first type the password in the textbox on the sheet, and then click the red X. If you press ENTER after typing the password, you will open the sheet, not delete it. Adding or Removing Password from existing saved sheetYou can add or remove the password from a saved sheet anytime. Just open the sheet, wait for the sheet to load, then click the Open&Save icon on the iPrint™ toolbar, and either check or uncheck the Password protect box, then re-save the sheet. Renaming a Saved SheetIf you need to rename a saved sheet, just click on the sheet name under the image and a textbox appears with the current sheet name. Type the new name, and press Enter or click out of the textbox to save, or press Esc to cancel the change. If the sheet is password protected, type the password in the password box first before changing the sheet name. Favorite PatternsYou can select as many iDesigns™ patterns as you like and place them in a "My Favorites" category. The "My Favorites" category has been placed at the top of the pattern Category dropdown, as show in the image to the right: To add a pattern to favorites:
To un-favorite a pattern: With the "My Favorites" category selected, all of your favorite patterns are shown, each with a red X in the upper left corner (see image to the right). Click this X to remove that pattern from the My Favorites category. The pattern display must be in "smaller" mode to click the X (you are in smaller mode when the "show larger" link apears). |