How to use this Tutorial

Listed 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:

• The Toolbar
• iDesigns™ Patterns
• Saving and Favorites

Get Started with The Toolbar tutorial.

The Toolbar

There 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:

	iPrint™ Mode: (or Image mode) This allows you to upload your images, add text, frames, mats, etc. to print. You can select from any of our Premuim full size or template icing sheets to print on, including all colored icing sheets and our pearl luster sheets.
	iDesigns™ Mode: This allows you to select from hundreds of iDesigns™ patterns to print in any size and orientation. You must purchase a subscription to print these patterns, although you can view them on the screen without a subscription (watermarked).
	Print Sheet: Print your icing sheet (only shown when there is something to print). If your paper size has changed since your last print, there will be a reminder to the left of this button.
	Clear Sheet: This clears all of your settings both in the Image and Design modes and starts over with a blank template. You will remain in the mode that is currently selected.
	Open/Save: This opens a dialog box that allows you to save and load up to ten templates combined of either mode. You can store your complicated templates without having to remember how you did it, or frequently printed templates.
	Tutorial: Opens this tutorial in a separate window so you can read the tutorial while trying out the features.
	Setup: This opens the browser/printer setup instructions. If you are using a new machine or printer, you can refer to these instructions at any time.
	Margin Adjustments: This opens a dialog box that allows you to adjust printer margins or circle diameters to compensate for any misalignments with your printer or icing sheets.
	Template Designer: The Template Designer allows you to design custom templates for printing your images in any format. This is a subscription add-on feature of iPrint™.
	Full Screen Toggle: This is a toggle button that switches between full screen mode and web-site mode. Full screen mode removes the top and left website navigation areas to maximize your screen space. You will have to return to web-size mode to navigate to other parts of the website.

Selecting the Mode

iPrint™ 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 Sheet

Using 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 Images

STEP 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:

1. As shown in the image below, click the Upload Image File... button, and select your file.
2. The file will start uploading immediately, showing its progress.
3. WAIT for your image to appear. It needs to "download" to the iPrint™ page after it's uploaded.
4. Repeat the above steps if you want to upload more images. You can select areas from different images to print on the same sheet (upload 5 max).

Delete Uploaded Images

You 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 Images

You 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 Sheet

STEP 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:

1. Below the select button a template of the selected icing sheet type appears.
2. To the right, the first uploaded image appears with a selection range shape over the image.

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 Areas

The 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 In

To select a smaller more specific area of the image, do the following, as indicated in the image below:

1. Slide the "size selection area" slider to the left to shrink the selection circle to the desired size.
2. Drag the smaller selection circle to any area of the image. Resize and drag as needed.
3. Once you have "honed in" on your target, click an orange region on template sheet (on the left). You can click one or more orange circles for the current selection. Click the Apply to All button above the template sheet to fill all circles with the same selection.
4. You can reclick a circle to replace it with another selection if needed.

Cutout Shapes

You can use the default circle, or any other shape for your selection. Follow these steps, as indicated in the image below:

1. Click the Shapes/Mats tab.
2. Click a shape that you want to use as a cutout.
   Scroll more shapes into view using the scrollbar on the right below the shapes.
3. The selection circle now shows the shape, with a dashed circle outline indicating how the cutout will fit within the icing sheet circle.
4. Click on the orange print area of the template sheet on the left where you want this selection to print.
5. Use any shape for any selection, and remember you can select shapes from other uploaded images for the same template sheet. The sheet below has cutouts from three different uploaded images.

Hard or Soft Edges

The 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 Hole

If 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 Preview

If 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 Image

This 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:

1. Center the selection box over your image (below, middle).
2. Click the template sheet (below, left). Your selection appears.
3. Click the left arrow on the rotate scrollbar, located under the left image. Your image is now rotated.
4. Drag the Shrink slider ball to the left until the image fits. (see Note below)

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 Frames

This 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:

Selecting a Mat Click the Shapes/Mats tab Select a shape for your mat Use the Mat Size Adjust scrollbars to adjust the width and height as needed Note: If you do not select a shape, you can still use the Mat Size Adjust scrollbars to create a rectangular mat, for example, to fit within a frame. Removing the Mat To remove the mat, click the box shape (the first shape to the far left), also be sure the Mat Size Adjust scrollbars are both slid to the far right.

Selecting a Frame Click the Frames tab Select a Frame. Note the frames are grouped by the Category dropdown box Note: you can view more frames using the more frames slider, or click the View All icon. Removing the Frame To remove the frame, click the box indicating "Click this box to select NO FRAME", which is located to the left of the frames.

Adjusting the Mat Selecting a Frame can cause the Mat to be covered up, so you need to shrink the mat to bring it back into view: Reselect the Shapes/Mats tab Use the Mat Width and Height sliders to resize the mat to fit within the frame Drag the image inside the mat to recenter Remember you can use the square (default) mat to create a nice border just inside the frame's border

Adjust Until Perfect

Even 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 Text

You 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:

1. Click in the text box and type your text. Use the ENTER key to start a new line for multi-line text.
2. Click the Apply button (arrow 1) below the text, and your text appears centered on your picture (as shown in the image to the right).
3. For multi-line text, you can justify left, center, or right, by clicking one of the icons (arrow 3) at the lower right of the text box. Text is centered by default.
4. To delete the text, click the Clear button (arrow 2) below the text box.

Sizing, Positioning, and Rotating the Text

Size, 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:

1. Select the desired font by clicking the Click to change the font box
2. Quickly rotate the text 90° by clicking the left arrow on the Rotate text slider.
3. Drag the text placed on the image to the upper right corner
4. Angle the text slightly by grabbing the right end of the text (which in this case would be the "bottom" of the vertically displayed text), and move the mouse slightly to the right to swing the text. Or use the Rotate text slider.
5. Size the text slightly larger by grabbing the left end of the text (top, as displayed), and pull the mouse upwards to enlargen the text. Or use the Change text size slider.
6. Finally, select a color and shadow style. The color is selected by clicking the Text color box. In this case the color was pulled off the image (see Click for Tips in the color selection box that appears to learn how to do this.)

Add Text to Multi-Circle Sheets

To create text on multi-circle sheets:

1. Follow the same instructions above to create text.
2. The text will appear centered on an enlarged copy of a circle (or rectangle, depending on the shape of each image) to the right of the template sheet.
3. Position the text within this copy as instructed above by dragging the text precisely into position. You will notice that the text also moves on each of the circles on the template sheet.
4. Note: The text will be positioned the same in all circles, you cannot position text individually per circle.

Text Font, Color, Shadow

The following text attributes can be changed at any time:

• Font: Click the Font selection box, and a group of 30 fonts will appear. Pick the font you like. IGNORE the sample text show for each font. You will of course type your own text.
• Text Colors: Click the Text Color box, and a palette of colors will appear with options for advanced color selection. Click the color you want.
• Shadow Color: Same procedure as the Text Color but for the text Shadow. Click the reverse color arrows between the two color boxes to easily switch colors between text and shadow color.
• Shadow Type: You can select 1) No Shadow, 2) Drop Shadow, or 3) Outline. Click the icon of your choice.
• Depth: A small number means a thin shadow or outline. A large number means a thick shadow or outline.

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.

Tinting

You 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:

1. Select the Tint/Effects tab
2. Be sure you have first applied an image or images to the left print preview sheet
3. Drag the "Tint Opacity" slider ball to the right to increase the opacity (so you can see how the tint effect will look as you select a color)
4. Click the rectangle under "Tint Color" to open the color selector. Single click a color swatch to see how the tint looks.
5. Adjust the Opacity to get the tint just right, and if the color needs to be tweaked, click the "Customize" button on the color selector and drag the circle on the large color square to find the exact tint for the current hue.
6. Continue to adjust the Tint Color and Opacity until it's perfect, then click the "Select Color" button.

You can adjust the tint and opacity at any time. To undo the tint, click the "No Tint" button.

Printing Solid Color Sheets

You 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 Effects

Images 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.

Be aware that effects to an image will no longer be undoable if you perform one of the following actions:

• Clear the sheet (assuming you first saved the sheet containing your image)
• Loading another saved sheet (assuming you first saved the sheet containing your image)
• Apply an effect to a different image

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:

1. Original Image (no effect applied yet)
2. Lighten Image (repeated 3 times to illustrate effect)
3. Darken Image (repeated 3 times to illustrate effect)
4. Grayscale Image
5. Aged Photo with Scratches
6. Negative Image
7. Heavy Sketching Black and White
8. Light Sketching Black and White

Tips:
1. Use the Lighten and Darken effects to compensate if your images are printing too dark or too light.
2. The last two effects (Sketching) may or may not produce good results, depending on the content and contrast of your image. To add interest to a sketch effect, you can apply a tint color.

Continue on to the iDesigns™ Patterns tutorial.

Patterns

iDesigns™ 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 Patterns

The 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 Height

STEP 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.

Extending Tiles to Fill Sheet If you want to fill the sheet and are not worried about matching the sheets up end-to-end, then click the Extend Tiles checkbox. Now the printed 3" pattern looks like the image show to the right: Enlarging Tiles You may want to blow-up a pattern tile really large to print, possibly for the reason that you need the details of a particular tile to print at a certain size for a cut-out or whatever. So, if your sheet is 8.5x 11, and you select a tile height of 10", which of course will not fit a full tile on the sheet, just check the Extend Tiles checkbox and it will appear.

Cut Lines

Cut 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.

Rotating Tiles You can rotate your pattern 90° if needed, by checking the Rotate 90° checkbox. The examples below show the effect of this. The left image is the normal orientaion, and the right image is rotated (with cut lines).

Pattern Selection Options

Roll 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 Sheets

Printed 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 Sheets

To 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 Sheets

When 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 Sheets

To 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 sheet

You 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 Sheet

If 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 Patterns

You 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:

1. Select a pattern category from the dropdown that contains the pattern you like.
2. After selecting a sheet size (if not already selected), click the pattern to fill the sheet.
3. Below the template sheet with your selected pattern is a heart (as shown in the red circle in the image below). Click the heart and that pattern is now added to the "My Favorites" category.

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).