Since posting this video, I have seen a lot of back and forth in the comments about personalization listings and if you can or cannot use mockups as the first image, based on the following statement by Etsy: _"Computer-generated mockups may be used in additional listing images to showcase customization options - just make sure your first image is the real deal.”_ The term ‘real deal’ is somewhat ambiguous. However, the statement by Etsy heavily implies that *additional* images may be computer-generated, but not the first image. Whether or not this is what Etsy intended, I’m not sure, but that is how I am interpreting Etsy’s statement. In my opinion, Etsy has a history of clarifying and confusing us at the same time and if I'm completely wrong, I'll make an update to this video. _Edit to add one more thing since posting._ *Another important note:* at 8:39 I meant to add a disclaimer that you cannot alter Creative Fabrica designs(such as cropping a as-is design and adding a graphic or font- you cannot just crop a design to resell just to clarify) without the original creators approval or it's written in the license. Templates from Canva and Kittl can be used- you just need to modify and edit templates such as changing the font, colors, patterns or graphics to make it your own intellectual property that it's unique to your own shop. Hopefully this clarifies and my apologies for not adding the disclaimer in the video here!
@@mrs.renaacevez2703 from my interpretation, right now I would not say a mockup is but * could * be considered the 'real deal' since it would be showcasing how the product looks when finalized- this is where it's completely up to each seller's own discretion to utilize mockups if you are selling personalized products on Etsy. The safest route, in my opinion, is to order a sample BUT I do not think that is realistic by any means. I personally plan to just list as normally and order samples for products I see selling. If the listing doesn't sell, then I will not order a sample and take my own photo. To note, this is only for personalization we have to worry about this. For any 'sold as' designs mockups are okay to use according to Etsy's new policies.
@@greeneyedbritishguy5172 the listing image requirement area states for 'original photos' and this is where my brain goes to inception since a mockup seller takes their own 'original photos' and sells them as a digital file. Mockups are not considered 'personalized' and sold on an as-is basis so I cannot forsee that it's a problem.
Another important note: at 8:39 I meant to add a disclaimer that you *cannot* alter Creative Fabrica designs(such as cropping a as-is design and adding a graphic or font- you cannot just crop a design to resell just to clarify) without the original creators approval or it's written in the license. Templates from Canva and Kittl *can be* used- you just need to modify and edit templates such as changing the font, colors, patterns or graphics to make it your own intellectual property that it's unique to your own shop. Hopefully this clarifies and my apologies for not adding the disclaimer in the video here!
I'm still slightly confused.. so can I download graphics from CF and use as a standalone element? Or do I have to add something (I.e. text) along with the graphic?
Okay I'm just a bit over 3 minutes in, but I think the word you were looking for is "validation". I sewed my own clothes for a clothing line for 10 years and no longer can due to physical limitations. POD is allowing me to create again in a different way, but it's just as creative and unique and cool.
Yes!! This is exactly what I was trying to convey and thank you for commenting this! I agree, POD allows so much for designs, crafters and artists with limitations and thanks for sharing!❤
Hi Heather. I have a follow up comment or questions. First, where do I find the selection "I did" for who created the product being sold? Second, are these rules/guidelines for today forward or should I be going back to every listing and making sure my mockups and such are compliant? Thank you in advance for your help!!
I am so done with Etsy. I’m reopening my Shopify. I think what they are trying to do is good- BUT they are killing their shop owners and not being anywhere near helpful about it. They don’t know what to do. And it’s very clear what they should do. And they don’t know their ARTISTS that keep their platform going. I give them at most 5 years. A competitor will eat them for breakfast, become an ultimate platform and give powerful data tools. It’s going to happen.
I know three sellers who have lost everything overnight because their store was banned. None of them have been able to get answers from Etsy as to why they were closed. One seller had to remortgage her home and go back to her old day job because they lost their primary source of income. Copyright issues aside, I get why Etsy does not want to look like a Temu clone, and banning stores would be fine if there's multiple violations after abusing a fair warning system in place (eg; three strikes and you're out), but Etsy don't even offer sellers the ability to know where they've gone wrong. Reading their ToS is one thing, but not giving sellers a way to appeal or find out what policy they have violated is why so many sellers are bailing the platform.
Me too!!! I make custom bridal gowns, which i provided pages of proof for , not to mention they can see the custom listings, but also my shop had gowns from my partners to make up the listing which were to be customised by the buyer . Ive had a successful store for four years and they couldn’t let me keep the store based on what i really dont know seeing as all of this now seems to be allowed.
I think the first photo can not say “ your text here “ but you can still use a mock up showing an example of the personalized item. That’s how I interpreted it
Etsy doesn't want the first image to be a blank image of example; a mug, a tee, with text that says your name here, etc. To me it means show the customer what the product would look like personalized. Question; It seems logical to obtain a product image in the Etsy ad, the seller could grab the image a product that they are readying for processing in Printiful (for example) that shows the personalized item would look like. Etsy doesn't want a bunch of blank 'your text here" products. I don't think a buyer has to buy products with the personalization... simply grab the mock up pic in your POD provider and use that. right?
Yes, this is how I read it too. A shirt that just says, "Custom Text" or "Your Text Here" only is not allowed, but a complete, personalized design is allowed. If the design will look the exact same, but the customer is changing a name or date, the main image is a clear representation of what the customer will receive.
Hi. I had posted a comment earlier, but I don't see it. To clarify, people who make real mockups, with real photos and real products can sell their mockups. The "Your Design Here" portion is only relevant for customized, personalized products. Correct?
Etsy is pretty vicious and many people have PTSD from sone of the problems the last coiple of years Payment holds, various suspensions. Etc. Nobody replies to emails and etsy does stuff without telling us why. Thats why people get scared and deactivate their own listings. They're afraid etsy will punish then amd then no recourse no customer service.
I know three sellers who have lost everything overnight because their store was banned. None of them have been able to get answers from Etsy as to why they were closed. One seller had to remortgage her home and go back to her old day job because they lost their primary source of income. Copyright issues aside, I get why Etsy does not want to look like a Temu clone, and banning stores would be fine if there's multiple violations after abusing a fair warning system in place (eg; three strikes and you're out), but Etsy don't even offer sellers the ability to know where they've gone wrong. Reading their ToS is one thing, but not giving sellers a way to appeal or find out what policy they have violated is why so many sellers are bailing the platform.
@@te22a People like these "experts" on RUclips don't believe you. They all think that everyone knows why they get punished and that of course etsy tells us. It has never happened to them so they just believe the big company does it right. The complaining seller must be lying. Knuckleheads I tell ya
Regarding customization, when Josh says "Just make sure your first image is the real deal", I understand it to mean that we have to show a name, date, etc. that would show the customer what it would look like when they had their name there, but that "Your Text Here" is not allowed on the first photo, but can be on any of the other photos. I read it several times and that is how I read it. Could be wishful thinking on my part though.
@@lizziemoo2502 Yes, I think this is correct. The one thing I did not mention is that I believe Etsy still wants a "real live" first photo, which can be gotten in my opinion, by using Etsy mockups, where the shop owner takes their own photos, and no AI is used anywhere. This is what I use for my first photo. I honestly cannot see the difference whether I buy the item, and take the photo or hire someone to take a photo of it, or just buy a mockup from the mockup shop that takes their own photos of the real product. You just have to ask the mockup shop whether they take their own photos of the item or if they use AI anywhere in the process. In any case, you can't put a customer's name on it beforehand because you have to list the item first, placing a made up name on it to show how it would similarly look to a customer. Then the customer can give you their personalization (name, etc.) and you can fulfil it for them. That's my take anyway.
I read it that way, too. I think the guidelines on print-on-demand items apply, being that a stock mock-up image may be used for personalised items, as long as it shows an example of what an actual personalised item would look like. I think it does spell the end for people just being a middle-man to Printify etc, who do not do any of their own designing ie. the "your design here" listings.
I think this is up to anyone’s interpretation at this stage because Etsy has 1) a history of continuously changing policies and reclarifying and 2) the area stating the ‘real deal’ is still vague for us sellers that only leads to more interpretation. Below the Listing Image Requirement article they do state that they do not want computer generated images and this does apply to POD. Any seller is able to interpret this the way they’d like or do with this information that makes you comfortable as you continue to post on Etsy. I personally am choosing the ‘safe route’ and only ordering samples of my future personalization listings or, to be quite honest, doing more ‘sold as is’ designs. I’ve built my shops of sold as is designs and, while Etsy is known for personalization, I’ve still done 5 & y figures in sales with non-personalization so it’s still a great place to sell in. Hopefully this helps and, like usual with Etsy updates, this still leaves questions and things up to interpretation.
Heather, THANK YOU for explaining all of this! I do have a question though....What about all those people selling the mockups that we use for our shops?? Are they all out of business, or can we still use the mockups we buy from them for all the listings that aren't personal?
You can still use mockups in your shop! Personalized listings you can also still use mockups, just according to Etsy the first image has to be 'the real deal'. Whether you interpret a 'real deal' as mockup or a picture, that's up to your discretion. Hopefully that makes sense and helps!
Do you think you could make a video to show examples of what the main image has to look like now if it's customized since the first one can't be a mock up? I'm not understanding how me taking a picture of my product with my phone is any different than an example text on a mockup, other than its probably going to look worse because im not a photographer...? Are they just against bad mockups or do they literally want lower quality phone pictures all over their platform? I don't understand 😅
This doesn't really clarify anything. Mockups bought on etsy, are of the actual base shirt. SO is that allowed? Cause every top seller would be gone if that was the case.
Hello Heather, i do personalized canvas print wall art and use mockups. But i do put "The Johnson's" instead of "Your Text Here" so my product does represent the final product. Do you think i would be ok reading that i am using a real name not a "placeholder" like "Your Text Here"? Thank you
From how I read it, yes you should be good. If you have an actual design with personalized elements, then the customer is able to see what the end product should look like from the thumbnail image.
Great news for most POD sellers! I noticed when listing a production partner from Printify, Jondo, it has multiple locations throughout the US, about 4 others. Their headquarters is in Yorba Linda, CA. Will Etsy give me problems if I list their headquarters location, but then it ships from their other location in Dallas, Texas, or it's not something to worry about?
i have this same problem. if you choose a specific location for a print provider, lets say the UK, then it shows to US buyers that you are sending the item from the UK when you are not. (and visa versa) they should allow us to choose a print provider and add a list of postcodes from which it is to be sent, with etsy showing the postcodes nearest to the buyer.
I use whatever location seems closest to me. To be transparent to my customers, In all my listings I do disclose that I create my designs and work with multiple specialty print providers that ship from different locations and that if the customer orders various items, they may come separately due to this in the mail. You could also disclose this in your about your shop info instead.
Hi Heather, do you know if you can use a mockup photo from printify if it’s a personalized item? I just listed one and got a sale but I had used the mockup generated by printify. Would that be okay or does the first photo have to be an actual picture of the item. 😊
The way that I read it was as long as you are not just selling a blank product that says "Custom" or "Your Text Here" then you are good. If you have an actual design with personalized elements, then you should be good with normal mockups.
Thank you for your much-needed video regarding these Etsy concerns. Personalized/custom listings may become very costly for the seller. For example, suppose you’ve already got 1,000+ personalized t-shirt listings (or are a new seller attempting 1,000+ listings). In this case, you have to order 1,000+ samples so that you can take an original photo of the product to place in the first photo slot of each listing. Since a majority of a seller's listings (I’ve heard that could be up to 90%) may never even sell. This new requirement seems excessive. and… what does a seller do with a plethora of unusable personalized t-shirts? I only have a handful of family/friends that I can give personalized designed t-shirts to. Plus, wouldn't it be more financially beneficial for a seller to have family/friends place an order themselves if they wanted the t-shirt in the first place? What are your thoughts?
The way I read it was as long as you are not selling a blank product that just says "Custom" or "Your Text Here" on it, then you are good as they customer is not able to determine what the end product will look like with just "Custom" on the thumbnail image. If you have an actual design with personalized elements, then you should be good as the customer can see what the end product will look like from the thumbnail, knowing it will have their personalization on it.
🙋♂hi heather, so this new thing on the first image being the real deal looks like could be a hurdle for new ETSY sellers. does this mean we have to purchase every new item we want to sell an provide real pictures?? especially if were POD dependent, how would that not be cost effective?! please help me understand this one! thanks
Heather, on the customization issue. Could your create a single draft listing, create a custom name/item mockup, dowenload it and then use that photo as the main photo? It would fit the customized final product requirement. Just a thought!
The way that I read it was as long as you are not selling a blank product that just says "Custom" or "Your Text Here" in text on the product on the thumbnail image, you are good. If you have an actual design with personalized elements, the customer is able to determine what the end product will look like from the thumbnail image.
What should I do with the first image of the listing if I sell personalized digital products, such as drawings from photos. Can I use mockups of the design framed?
Hi, Heather. Just to be clear, because I am not sure I understood this correctly. From what I know, until this point, you could take a pre made design from Creative Fabrica and just put it on a t-shirt, or mug, and sell it on Etsy, through a print on demand partner. If I understood correctly, you are saying that from now on, under the new Etsy rules, we are NOT allowed to do that anymore? Thank you for your video and your reply.
How does this apply to digital PNG downloads of designs others would use on their POD items. Can I show how my design might look on a mock up of a tee, sweatshirt, mug, etc?
Hi, Heather! Do you know if adding text to a pre-existing design makes that design "our own"? I try to do more than this by combining at least three elements, but sometimes I feel like it looks best with just text added... do you know if this is allowed? Also, thank you so much for your insights into the mock-up situation with customized designs.. I just watched someone else's video on these new updates and this was exactly the question I had.. it sounds like we can use mock-ups if the design is not offered as customizeable, but if it is offered as customizeable we have to take the picture ourself... I don't understand why Etsy is doing it like that, but grateful that you delved into it as this was one of my questions. ❤
Also would like to add that it would be dumb of Etsy to say no to mock-ups because there are a ton of sellers who have shops just for selling mock-ups. Some of them have beautiful mock-ups. It is art too!
Ok so tell me, I do custom shirts in a bootleg style and my main mockup is a silhouete of people with custom on the shirt, surely this is ok right? I also make my own designs and add them to my shop with detailed mockups showing every aspect of the product using mockups of course, is this ok?
I'm wondering about asigning print providers. I get that Etsy uses their address to determine shipping cost and times, but what what about a single provider like WYOC, that has multiple fulfillment centers around the world? How to handle this?
But "Designed by seller" is only under the digital product section, as long you select physical item you dont have option for "designed by seller!. So how do we list a pod product?
This makes me not want to do personalization. IE, Christmas shirts for a family. I gotta buy shirts in 5 different colors to personalize, mom-dad-kid-kid-dog? B/C personalize come in different colors, different sizes, male, female, children sizes ect...The entire point of Etsy is to personalize.
Totally understand the feeling here and just want to note that Etsy only requires the first photo in a listing to be a real produced product- not any other photos. You would only need to buy one sample in this case if you go this route! Unless you’re doing group tees then I understand your point here. Also to note, I’ve had two successful Etsy and POD businesses that scaled to 5 and 6 figures with only ‘as-is designs’ that are not custom listings. You can still be successful with non-personalization so hopefully that helps in knowing it is possible to have a full fledged shop without personalization too!
I use an "image grabber" on my computer. I would not have to buy a product in order to show how it might look personalized. Design your product, example in Printify, and 'grab" Printify's mockup. Save the finished image to your computer. Then use it has your first photo example in your next ad you run.
You know what Etsy should do...is give creators a demonstration. It's obvious we are ALL ARTISTS AND VISUAL learners. Give a 30 sec video demonstration of what the "real deal" is to them. And we'll follow it. 😃 "Assuming" will get a lot of us shut down.
Sorry i m more confused here. If u custom your item u have to order sample to make real picture?? Imagine for eacj single listing you going to spend more money than making money!!😮
Hello there! I have pet related audience on my ig pages and email. I'm starting an etsy store for pets , would you suggest I promote my etsy products on those pages , my listings will definitely get sales , but will get pushed higher in the ranking?
I’m infuriated and stressed. I do both personalized and non personalized items. In order for items to sell you have to have a great main photo… the only way I have found to do that is to have a mock-up as the main photo. I’m not a photographer. I have limited space. So while on some inexpensive items I sell (decals) I do have a photo of the actual item, it’s not the main photo. Then we have shirts - I pulled all of my listings today because mock-ups are my only option. I invested so much time and money in these mock-ups, I refuse to pay for the materials to make a shirt for every single design I offer, pay for the photography equipment necessary to take decent photos and then invest the time it would take for all of this. I can use whatever photos I want on my website so eliminating shirts on Etsy seems to be the easiest way for me to handle those. I absolutely cannot believe this change is happening when they still don’t have the shipping estimates fixed (first class changed to ground advantage a year ago!) and they are allowing people to use AI. 🙄 I’m just not sure what to do about decals… not only do I not have the time to go swap the main photo mock-ups for the real photos but I don’t think anyone would purchase them if I changed it. The single most important piece of advice in regard to being successful on Etsy is to have the best main photo you can have but now no mock-ups!
@@rachellyn6463 Contact Etsy and tell them them exactly this. See they don’t understand how many of their shop owners have exactly your situation. I don’t think they are understanding that without a mockup, a significant percentage of their platform is toast. A while back, I was listening to Starla Moore explain that they had an over saturation problem. Too many products and not enough buyers. So, it seems, by removing listings, closing/suspending shops, and now requiring the first photo to be a “real photo”- they believe they have solved the problem. However, they just killed their platform, because they don’t understand their shop owners.
@@rachellyn6463 oh! You are so right about First Class changing to Ground Advantage. I have contacted them about that too! It’s like, you need to fix this!! It’s a FIELD CHANGE, in the code. That’s it. It’s literally changing the word from First Class to Ground Advantage.
The way I read it is as long as you are not just selling a blank product that says "Custom Desin" or "Your Text Here" in plain text on the mockup, you are good. If you have an actual design with personalized elements, the customer is able to see what the end product should look like from the thumbnail.
Heather, when you say order a sample and take a custom pic...do we order a blank, and then add our design to the image we take after the fact? Nearly ALL of my listings are personalized. Also, my listings say 'Made by (my shop name)'. Is that the same as designed by. I prefer designed by so is there a way to change that?
Per Etsy's policy they state it has to be of the 'real deal' which is a physical product picture and not computer generated, according to Etsy's Listing Requirement page. Etsy does state 'limited circumstances' in which there could be some leeway here but, to me, it sounds like Etsy wants a real picture, not computer generated for only the first image as stated above. They do allow buyer's photo reviews, but you need permission from the customer. This is all my interpretation at the end of the day but hoping it helps clarify things a bit! Source: www.etsy.com/legal/policy/listing-image-requirements/253962679005?ref=list
@@itsheatherstudio Thank you so much for responding Heather! So is the process that we picture it blank, then add our designs just like any other mockup? I assume this is the case, but wanted to run it by you too. Also, they stipulate the first listing image only?
@@VivienneRussell if you digitally add the design to the blank product image to make a mockup, that is a computer generated image and not “the real deal.”
@@BohoBabeMockups I am getting more confused as I read:/ If I were to say purchase your real stock photo mock up I can use it as my first listing image if it is customizable?
@@bonnieeames1071 Yes, it seams this way! Here's what Etsy guideline says: "In certain situations, using original photos of the exact item may not be possible. You can use stock photos in some limited circumstances, where you are offering either personalised/customised items or an item made with a production partner" "For personalized or customized items your first image must feature a finished, customized item SIMILAR to what buyers will receive. This helps buyers visualize what their custom-made item will look like when completed." It other words, as long as you use a real stock PHOTO mockup of an actual tshirt brand that you're selling (Bella Canvas 3001, Gildan 64000 etc) and you place your finished EXAMPLE design on it (instead of a text "your design here") you should be good. What Etsy cares about is for you to display the main image as realistic as possible to help buyers see clearly what they are buying. :)
Etsy dont seem to say anything helpful about selling mockups (ie what is and isnt allowed), unless I've missed it in the sea of new information. It is frustrating also that you cant choose more than one location for the print provider.
If this were me, I would reach out to Mockstarboutique. I follow them and they seem to be up and running fine. Perhaps you could message them for pointers.
It is so confusing! What I really don't like about Etsy is that they are never very clear on their policies and rules. For example, I create mockups for those who sell wall art. Some of them are created using AI, and I modify them to make them ready to use, others are just my creations. Will I still be able to sell both of the types?
Thank you for your video ❤ i was so shocked at first, cause my sister and i just started a Business on etsy with selling mockups. Thank you for clearing this 🥰
I love your videos & I took part in your crash course a few weeks ago. I finally pulled the trigger and opened my etsy store only to be suspended immediately by them with no reasoning whatsoever. I sent you an email but you never responded back to me - I was interested in doing your POD paid course but I don't know how to get unsuspended by etsy. I don't know where to go from here, I'd love any suggestions if you have any!
Hey there! I’m sorry if I didn’t respond in email~ we’ve been flooded with questions lately and I’m still getting through a lot of emails in the inbox. Did you email hello@heatherxstudio.com? I just want to make sure you have the right contact and I’m so sorry to hear about your shop being suspended! I recommend emailing Etsy and requesting to be unsuspended or a reason. This is common with new shops and a lot of shops that request an appeal tend to be unsuspended. I believe their contact is integrity@etsy.com that worked in the past for other subscribers. Hopefully this helps a bit and you can get your shop back!❤️
I was so interested to see your take as a POD seller. It seems to me your interpretation of "real deal" photos as first photo is correct: it needs to be a sample item. Further interested to see you say you don't plan to do that. Because POD with drop ship is exactly what has given etsy a bad rap, it seems these clarifications are designed to eliminate the scenario of not having an actual product in hand. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
What was probably happening is that some shop owners were simply taking templates, linking those to a partner's printing shop, then just adding in the customer option for them to customize the template design. In essence, the shop owner wasn't doing anything creative, just inserting themselves as a middle-man and passing on the creative part to the buyer. And let's face it, taking someone else's template, asking the customer to add a slogan, then passing that to the POD partner isn't really creating a product. And reinventing the best selling "wheel" isn't being creative, the shop is just copying a proven design hoping to cash in.
I am also alittle upset😢 i bought etsy professional mockups by sellers per your advice so they look amazing spent a ton of money ON ETSY, then removed the actual mockup from printify on all my listing because i was told not to.use them in listings. I am not making money as of yet. Is it worth ir spent months adding 300 items 😢 now i need to go backwards.
Thanks Heather, it's relaxing listening to you.. so to clarify with AI designs we just need to somewhere state that the design image is AI generated, would that be stated in each individual listing or in the shop about section somewhere. What do you think?
@@absolutefreedom8035 Most ai embeds generation info in the image metadata. This includes the prompt, the model, the sampling method, etc. all of this is encoded and can be viewed via opening it in a text editor or similar program.
@@absolutefreedom8035 Most ai embeds generation info in the image metadata. This includes the prompt, the model, the sampling method, etc. all of this is encoded and can be viewed via opening it in a text editor.
I would think that the easiest way to tackle the new personalization requirements is to just have a mockup with example names rather than “your custom text here.” That way customers will see what the item looks like with real names/locations/dates etc.
From what I interpret, the new Listing Image Requirement page they state that the first photocard of a listing needs to be a real picture, not computer generated from what I interpret for personalization. In other words, the text in the main mockup does not matter('placeholder vs. name), it's the picture creation itself that matters that they want it to be either a customer photo(with permission from buyer) or your own taken photograph. This is only the first photo image and the additional photos, according to Etsy, can be computer generated. To mention here that I do not work or represent Etsy and I don't think they will take down thousands of listings or be able to identify which ones are real images versus mockups if your using mockup images so do with this information what you will.
This is a trainwreck. Etsy can implode in on itself without any help from externals. To expect a POD Seller (according to doublespeak hero j silverman) to order a sample garment for each design Png (shops that have 100's or 1000's of designs) then "model it" or physically mock up the item is a trainwreck. RIP Etsy, don't miss ya at all ...
I am thinking of creating customized blankets. However, I think you would agree that it’s just not realistic to order a sample of each customized product design. It seems like Etsy opens one door and closes another, especially when personalization does very well.
Please note that the requirement for personalized items is also included in the "exceptions" section for the general rule of using original photos. That is, personalized products included in these exceptions, respectively, do not require an orginal photo, at the same time, it is stipulated separately that you cannot place an image of an empty object with the inscription "your text is here" as the main photo in the listing. Based on all of the above, I believe that personalized products are included in the exceptions, do not require a real photo, but you need to post a mockup of the item with personalization.@@itsheatherstudio
@@markcollier4216 agreed here! I do not think this is realistic and in this video, I suggested samples but not for every single listing and I wish I clarified further what I meant while filming. I think going as normal, listing with mockups is fine to do and then getting samples later on if you have a listing performing well is probably the best route or asking a customer for a photo review to use in listings.
I watched another RUclips commenter on the new mockup rules. Her version was that you were supposed to use as the first photo, a photo of the finished product provided by the print provider. That way it is a direct image of the product as made through that print provider, however as we all know those images are basic and not the best. So, anybodys take on that idea?
Heather, what about pngs sold by Etsy sellers? You mentioned Creative Fabrica but what about Pngs Esty sellers make and we as POD buy to sell tshirts? is this not allowed? I have been very confused on the whole process as I do design myself, but also buy pngs from Etsy not Creative fabrica. Hope that makes sense.
According to Etsys policies, you cannot use any purchased design as is on a listing- you do need to create a design yourself or alter the design so that it is your own IP (example of altering is you buy a graphic and add multiple graphics and text) for it to be sold on Etsy. This does include Etsy SVGs, PNGs and designs sold as is along with Creative Fabrica.
@@itsheatherstudio But you cannot alter ready made artwork per the designers disclaimers, so why would you a seller, then make items that Etsy sellers themselves cannot use.
@@PapandeNewmanGraphics totally understand this question and to clarify what I meant, certain designs are sold as templates such as on Canva and Kittl that allow editing. If the designer of a design states in their permissions you cannot alter or edit to resell, then I would never recommend to alter and sell. My apologies as I should have put in the initial response *with permission from design creator* because I do not want that to be misconstrued. A lot of designs for purchase and elements have different permissions and most may not allow altering. This is one reason I stick to Kittl since Kittl allows elements to be edited and designs for POD commercial usage.
@@itsheatherstudio Correct me if I am wrong I believe you can not sell purchased design as it is (as digital file) like buy a design from creative fabrica and sell as digital art, but if you are making items like t shirt or mugs with these designs you can use them because there are made my you ? and you are not selling as it is your are selling them in a different form its just there are not designed by you but made by you? I print my own shirts.
@@latafatkhan1575Shvv Hi. I hope I understand what you are saying. If you get a design from Creative Fabrica you can't sell it as a digital product but you can put the design on items and sell those. We have those rights through creative fabrica. The problem is with Etsy policy. With their policy even if you are printing the item yourself and not using print on demand companies you may not use a ready made design. You would need to take that design and add elements to it in order to use it on a product and sell on Etsy.
all you have to do is put in a name in the listing photo, you can use your name as the name is the only thing changing not the design/image. i personalize a lot of items and all of my mockups have names I never fo your name here.
From what I interpret, the new Listing Image Requirement page they state that the first photocard of a listing needs to be a real picture, not computer generated from what I interpret for personalization. In other words, the text in the main mockup does not matter('placeholder vs. name), it's the picture creation itself that matters that they want it to be either a customer photo(with permission from buyer) or your own taken photograph. This is only the first photo image and the additional photos, according to Etsy, can be computer generated. To mention here that I do not work or represent Etsy and I don't think they will take down thousands of listings or be able to identify which ones are real images versus mockups if your using mockup images so do with this information what you will.
I think the problem Etsy has been having is that a few mockups get popular so the customer sees a sea of different shops using the same image. Etsy is trying to sell uniqueness.
Are they? If that were true drop-shipping would not be allowed. Only actualy handmade items, like they used to. (and yes, vintage etc.) Etsy lost its soul. They steal, they lie and they ruin people. Run, don't walk away.
OMG, this is a disaster I was going to do personalization and now I need to stop, this is ridiculous what if you have hundreds of listing, am I expected to purchase them do you know how expensive this is. Also the creative fabrica is another downer, I have glass cans I used from them ready made and adorable, also Etsy itself allows sellers to sells items/graphics to use on Shirts/cups how do they justify this, they are made to be used unaltered you cannot change the color or alter the design in order to use the graphic per the owners listing requirements. This makes no sense?
The way that I read it was as long as you are not selling a blank product that just says "Custom" or "Your Text Here" on the thumbnail image, then you are good as the customer is not able to see what the end product would actually look like. If you have an actual design with personalized elements, then you should be good as the customer is able to see what the product looks like. I hope that helps!
I'm trying to understand this....I am currently working on mockups to be used with canva where the seller can place their own design on the phone for their listing photo. I personally used midjourney to create the background photo...then I used the image of the specific phone case from printify in that AI generated photo. So...my background photo is AI...the phone case is not AI. Am I okay?
Yes! AI backgrounds are fine. At least your mockup is an accurate representation of your product, this is allowed per Etsy's policies. Disclaimer: I do not work or represent Etsy and would recommend asking Etsy's customer service if you have shop specific issues or questions as well.
Etsy still has a long way to go to get back to what it used to be. It's costly to have to order samples of everything you sell just to provide a "real" photo. They also may want to provide more clarity on AI usage because listings are being deactivated that have AI images. There are discussions all over Facebook about listings being deactivated. This is why I also have a website.
What about digital product mockups? It says make sure the first image is the real deal. But if I am selling digital art downloads... well is it just me or does their mockup update not address this? Any ideas???
But im not selling a print. Im selling a digital item that has no physical presence. The customer could print to paper, glicee, canvas, a poster or a framed poster...
@@greeneyedbritishguy5172 I understand, but a worksheet or a art print would still need to printed and photograph for the first picture of your listing. In the case of a sheet you'd place it on a desk or table with a pen or pencil and maybe some reading glasses. For the art print you would need a framed version to photograph, if that's how you're portraying the items in your listings. Or if you're portraying them as posters then you would need poster samples.
Heather I love your videos, been around since the beginning, but hun did you change your audio recently? All of your videos as of late have been very crackled and muffled audio so it’s been hard to listen. I’m sorry if you’ve gotten comments regarding this in the past or if you have addressed it and I missed it, I’ve seen this happen previously to another channel and it was an odd change for some videos that they fixed later, Ik it’s not on my end as every other video on RUclips and older videos of yours are fine. I would just hate for people to click away because of an audio issue as it is very distracting and again hard to listen through.
My mic is having problems as of recently~ I just got this mic in the past few months too so I have to contact the manufacturer under the warranty to see if I can get it fixed. My apologies on the low quality and we’re working on fixing it! Thanks for the kind words on the RUclips channel!❤️
@@itsheatherstudio no need to apologize again I just wanted to make sure that people aren’t clicking away because you give such good information! 💕hope everything works out!
This is ridiculous. I make everything myself but I can’t make one of everything. Also I purchase files which give me permission to make and sell items made with their files. Ie embroidery files.
Yes! At least it is not a personalization/custom listing you can use mockups in all photocards according to Etsy's new policies.If personalization/custom, the first image must be a 'real deal' photo as they state.
@@itsheatherstudio Yeah basically I'm selling prints of my oil paintings & I have purchased the mockups so I also own the licenses to use them on the internet (I know Etsy could say quite the opposite if they want to). So am I free to go? (my thumbnail is the mockup with my work) :-)
Hello, I have a quick question which I Hope you can answer to :) I opened my shop in 2021, sold 2/3 items and got a review then I stopped using Etsy. I started using it again months ago: I changed the title, got better graphic, I consistently work on it but get around 10/12 visits per day, sometimes even less than that. I sold a few things but it's usually 1 item per month. Do you think it could be because my shop was left unused for a long time? I tried everything, I dont get what I am doing wrong anf it's frustrating. Thank you in advance
As a print on demand seller, I appreciate these changes and clarification. We already follow all of Etsy's rules and say everywhere on our listings that our items are printed on demand. But we still get the occasional nasty message from someone saying "did you even make this item yourself?" And then we have to patiently explain yet again how our business works. Having the Etsy added "Designed by X" will hopefully help further prevent any confusion.
I agree, this will hopefully settle some of the messages many Etsy sellers get that now Etsy is showing that there are humans behind each shop. Thanks for watching and hopefully your shop will get less messages like that as time goes on!❤
I'm curious, did you throw a stink about something on there? Seems like every time I post a complaint, within 24 hours I get listings deactivated for one reason or another. I haven't been banned but it seems a little too coincidental that this happens. I complained about the off site and on site ads not being separated anymore. I can't figure out how much was spent where. And having no control of how much they charge per click.
I'm still confused on mockups. What I got is that no, we can't use them for the 1st image at all - whether it's personalization or not. But that it's okay for the other images? But we can't purchase pre-made mockups but we can use the printify mock up generator for 2nd images on? So confused. Shoot, I only make what I like anyway - I'll shoot my own. But they'll all be on the same armchair (small apartment) and then they'll say they're AI generated. *eyeroll*
Two things: 1. if they want to know if a design is made with AI assistance... we can't say for sure if we use designs from Creative Fabrics. 2. Personalized items... If Printify shows a mock-up using the personalization isn't that a fair representation of the item? We should be able to use Printify's Mock-ups because they are the actual product showing the actual placement they'd make. T-shirts have mock-ups with people wearing them showing even the back. If we couldn't trust mock-up images provided by 3rd party printers then we wouldn't use the provider.
I think Etsy just meant that sellers can't just have the Printify blank mock-up with a "your design here" message on it. The front image must show an image of what the personalised product looks like. In other words, the item must be designed by the seller, NOT by a customer.
@@elephantintheroom5678 Yes! Just put an example of the personalised design onto a real photo mockup (not Ai generated images) and you should be fine :) The customers need to know exactly what they're buying. Sometimes their vision of the design is not matching with the end result.. that's why the listing must show the design as accurately as possible.
There needs to be a marketplace for digital products such as AI Prompts or PLR products. Not sure why Etsy just doesn't start Etsy Digital Marketplace separate from their main site.
I don't think it's a shame at all, etsy is supposed to be for people who make handmade items or handmade designs. Using AI is cheating in a sense, because the person isn't actually creating anything themselves, they're using a computer bot to make things for them.
Heads up, whoever is editing your videos is over-processing your audio, that or your microphone is broken. I would look into getting a new mic or reducing your noise canceling.
can you help me out please ? I own the prompts and my art designs color combinations are being uploaded and mass copied by humans , I am a human indeed I reside in Egypt , no copy rights or what so ever may you help by any advice ? I also do music , my prompts are my hard work from stiding color theory and psychology of colors , and I also created a new color with the AI and we the AI and I called it Eidolon teal - I do all this designs of motifs and I resurected ancient styles and its goin super trendy , I wish I can earn from this instead of being copied , I made som e paid ads targeted designers but , no values owned by them
I am python developer and love art. I have my own learning machine offline with my propts and create wall and clip art. Why so against ai? It's my fantasy my work my private work that i spent 4 6 h to create one think. What is the difference between me and a pixabay or creative fabrca guys who download Ready art and create art? At least mine are 100% real creations no download and paste
Hey Heather Studio , Really Nice Video . I can do better editing in your videos which can help you to get more engagement in your videos . Pls lmk what do you think ?
I think these new rules are gonna screw a lot of shops and put them out of business, but at the same time Etsy is trying to take the company back to it's roots and make it a unique market place again. When you have multiple shops all using the same mockups and pre purchased designs you begin to loose that uniqueness and it starts to feel less like a handmade marketplace.
"Original designs by a seller (or seller prompted AI art)" What a joke. Also much love to you Heather! Love your videos! I'm just personally against the notion that AI prompted art can be considered an original design.
Okay, I understand that a lot of you love specificity, especially when concerning your business, but come on. The amount of people acting like they have no idea what the real deal is, is honestly ridiculous. It means it has to be a real example of the item you are selling. No photomanipulation or stock with text edited on. You need an example of the item, in hand, photographed by you. How is this hard? "But the vague language!" Stop it. You trying to skirt around it doesn't change what it means.
I guess the solution for the flood of dropshiped and AI crap on Esty is to..... make it a setting. Nice.🤣 If they could only take down the shops that sells illegal disney IP, that would be appreciated.
Why don’t you guys just make your own mock ups? It’s not hard. Good thing to learn how to do. Makes you unique. I don’t buy from Etsy sellers that have the same photo line ups and everyone else. That’s fake and they won’t get our money. Be a business, do your work to make you unique and stand out. Been in business 18 years, any trustworthy business that’s in it for actual business and not greed can do this. The greed businesses don’t last, they come and go believe me.
I don't understand artists who are afraid or dislike AI. It's just another tool. It has no power on it's own to create emotion. That can only come from an artist. It's just another tool, just like photoshop, just like the digital ipad, and just like the photo itself.
Thank you! Same here Midjourney and Ideogram. Illuator or Photoshop to tweak and clean up. Still work but a tool that makes it much quicker to be creative.
It's an unfortunate fearful reaction due to a lack of understanding of A.I. Those artists probably believe their own material is being stolen for that A.I. to be trained. I'm with you 100% its 'just another tool' for the technologically minded. I'm affiliated with QuantumMasterpieces on Etsy (just starting!) and we'll have posted effectively "EVERYTHING on this site has been touched by AI..and a computer savvy artist" That being said any A.I. suspected of training with actual copywrite material will be disabled until proven ethical training was done. (yay for companies like Adobe that force their stuff to have AI acknowledgement stamped within)
This new update on Etsy just displaced hundreds or thousands of digital sellers income/businesses. POD sellers are our #1 customers for art designs. Now POD sellers can’t buy them from us on Etsy or Creative Fabrica, but POD sellers are allowed to use and sell AI. This update is completely detrimental to digital sellers. So yeah. AI is a tool, and it’s also killing artist careers. Two things can be true at once.
@@absolutefreedom8035AI can feel inspired!? It can only copy and reproduce what an artist has done first. Artists are rightfully angry they did the work to develop talent and AI comes along with a generic copy+paste
Since posting this video, I have seen a lot of back and forth in the comments about personalization listings and if you can or cannot use mockups as the first image, based on the following statement by Etsy:
_"Computer-generated mockups may be used in additional listing images to showcase customization options - just make sure your first image is the real deal.”_
The term ‘real deal’ is somewhat ambiguous. However, the statement by Etsy heavily implies that *additional* images may be computer-generated, but not the first image. Whether or not this is what Etsy intended, I’m not sure, but that is how I am interpreting Etsy’s statement. In my opinion, Etsy has a history of clarifying and confusing us at the same time and if I'm completely wrong, I'll make an update to this video.
_Edit to add one more thing since posting._
*Another important note:* at 8:39 I meant to add a disclaimer that you cannot alter Creative Fabrica designs(such as cropping a as-is design and adding a graphic or font- you cannot just crop a design to resell just to clarify) without the original creators approval or it's written in the license. Templates from Canva and Kittl can be used- you just need to modify and edit templates such as changing the font, colors, patterns or graphics to make it your own intellectual property that it's unique to your own shop. Hopefully this clarifies and my apologies for not adding the disclaimer in the video here!
Would you say mockups purchased off Etsy (ie shirt model mockups) are the “real deal”?
Whats if you are selling mockups?!?!?!
@@mrs.renaacevez2703no, they mean getting a customized sample and taking a photo
@@mrs.renaacevez2703 from my interpretation, right now I would not say a mockup is but * could * be considered the 'real deal' since it would be showcasing how the product looks when finalized- this is where it's completely up to each seller's own discretion to utilize mockups if you are selling personalized products on Etsy. The safest route, in my opinion, is to order a sample BUT I do not think that is realistic by any means. I personally plan to just list as normally and order samples for products I see selling. If the listing doesn't sell, then I will not order a sample and take my own photo. To note, this is only for personalization we have to worry about this. For any 'sold as' designs mockups are okay to use according to Etsy's new policies.
@@greeneyedbritishguy5172 the listing image requirement area states for 'original photos' and this is where my brain goes to inception since a mockup seller takes their own 'original photos' and sells them as a digital file. Mockups are not considered 'personalized' and sold on an as-is basis so I cannot forsee that it's a problem.
Another important note: at 8:39 I meant to add a disclaimer that you *cannot* alter Creative Fabrica designs(such as cropping a as-is design and adding a graphic or font- you cannot just crop a design to resell just to clarify) without the original creators approval or it's written in the license. Templates from Canva and Kittl *can be* used- you just need to modify and edit templates such as changing the font, colors, patterns or graphics to make it your own intellectual property that it's unique to your own shop. Hopefully this clarifies and my apologies for not adding the disclaimer in the video here!
I'm still slightly confused.. so can I download graphics from CF and use as a standalone element? Or do I have to add something (I.e. text) along with the graphic?
Okay I'm just a bit over 3 minutes in, but I think the word you were looking for is "validation". I sewed my own clothes for a clothing line for 10 years and no longer can due to physical limitations. POD is allowing me to create again in a different way, but it's just as creative and unique and cool.
Yes!! This is exactly what I was trying to convey and thank you for commenting this! I agree, POD allows so much for designs, crafters and artists with limitations and thanks for sharing!❤
Hi Heather. I have a follow up comment or questions. First, where do I find the selection "I did" for who created the product being sold? Second, are these rules/guidelines for today forward or should I be going back to every listing and making sure my mockups and such are compliant? Thank you in advance for your help!!
I am so done with Etsy. I’m reopening my Shopify. I think what they are trying to do is good- BUT they are killing their shop owners and not being anywhere near helpful about it. They don’t know what to do. And it’s very clear what they should do. And they don’t know their ARTISTS that keep their platform going. I give them at most 5 years. A competitor will eat them for breakfast, become an ultimate platform and give powerful data tools. It’s going to happen.
I love Shopify! If you have an email list and social network following that’s all you need!
Agreed! They lost me as a seller and buyer!
I know three sellers who have lost everything overnight because their store was banned. None of them have been able to get answers from Etsy as to why they were closed. One seller had to remortgage her home and go back to her old day job because they lost their primary source of income. Copyright issues aside, I get why Etsy does not want to look like a Temu clone, and banning stores would be fine if there's multiple violations after abusing a fair warning system in place (eg; three strikes and you're out), but Etsy don't even offer sellers the ability to know where they've gone wrong. Reading their ToS is one thing, but not giving sellers a way to appeal or find out what policy they have violated is why so many sellers are bailing the platform.
Me too!!! I make custom bridal gowns, which i provided pages of proof for , not to mention they can see the custom listings, but also my shop had gowns from my partners to make up the listing which were to be customised by the buyer . Ive had a successful store for four years and they couldn’t let me keep the store based on what i really dont know seeing as all of this now seems to be allowed.
I think the first photo can not say “ your text here “ but you can still use a mock up showing an example of the personalized item. That’s how I interpreted it
Yes! But the mockup has to be a real stock photo mockup and not an AI generated image 👍
That is also how I took it. Mock ups ok but it must show an actual item for example teacher and Mrs Robinson rather than your name here
Etsy doesn't want the first image to be a blank image of example; a mug, a tee, with text that says your name here, etc. To me it means show the customer what the product would look like personalized. Question; It seems logical to obtain a product image in the Etsy ad, the seller could grab the image a product that they are readying for processing in Printiful (for example) that shows the personalized item would look like. Etsy doesn't want a bunch of blank 'your text here" products. I don't think a buyer has to buy products with the personalization... simply grab the mock up pic in your POD provider and use that. right?
@@BohoBabeMockups This is how I read it too. I just make sure the mockup shop I buy from takes their own photos. Problem solved.
Yes, this is how I read it too. A shirt that just says, "Custom Text" or "Your Text Here" only is not allowed, but a complete, personalized design is allowed. If the design will look the exact same, but the customer is changing a name or date, the main image is a clear representation of what the customer will receive.
Could your first photo be from Placeit as long as it’s the exact product? Or would you have to use a boring mock-up from Printify?
Hi. I had posted a comment earlier, but I don't see it. To clarify, people who make real mockups, with real photos and real products can sell their mockups. The "Your Design Here" portion is only relevant for customized, personalized products. Correct?
Etsy is pretty vicious and many people have PTSD from sone of the problems the last coiple of years Payment holds, various suspensions. Etc. Nobody replies to emails and etsy does stuff without telling us why. Thats why people get scared and deactivate their own listings. They're afraid etsy will punish then amd then no recourse no customer service.
I know three sellers who have lost everything overnight because their store was banned. None of them have been able to get answers from Etsy as to why they were closed. One seller had to remortgage her home and go back to her old day job because they lost their primary source of income. Copyright issues aside, I get why Etsy does not want to look like a Temu clone, and banning stores would be fine if there's multiple violations after abusing a fair warning system in place (eg; three strikes and you're out), but Etsy don't even offer sellers the ability to know where they've gone wrong. Reading their ToS is one thing, but not giving sellers a way to appeal or find out what policy they have violated is why so many sellers are bailing the platform.
@@te22a People like these "experts" on RUclips don't believe you. They all think that everyone knows why they get punished and that of course etsy tells us. It has never happened to them so they just believe the big company does it right. The complaining seller must be lying. Knuckleheads I tell ya
Regarding customization, when Josh says "Just make sure your first image is the real deal", I understand it to mean that we have to show a name, date, etc. that would show the customer what it would look like when they had their name there, but that "Your Text Here" is not allowed on the first photo, but can be on any of the other photos. I read it several times and that is how I read it. Could be wishful thinking on my part though.
That's how I interpret it too, I read it 3 times.
@@lizziemoo2502 Yes, I think this is correct. The one thing I did not mention is that I believe Etsy still wants a "real live" first photo, which can be gotten in my opinion, by using Etsy mockups, where the shop owner takes their own photos, and no AI is used anywhere. This is what I use for my first photo. I honestly cannot see the difference whether I buy the item, and take the photo or hire someone to take a photo of it, or just buy a mockup from the mockup shop that takes their own photos of the real product. You just have to ask the mockup shop whether they take their own photos of the item or if they use AI anywhere in the process. In any case, you can't put a customer's name on it beforehand because you have to list the item first, placing a made up name on it to show how it would similarly look to a customer. Then the customer can give you their personalization (name, etc.) and you can fulfil it for them. That's my take anyway.
I read it that way, too. I think the guidelines on print-on-demand items apply, being that a stock mock-up image may be used for personalised items, as long as it shows an example of what an actual personalised item would look like. I think it does spell the end for people just being a middle-man to Printify etc, who do not do any of their own designing ie. the "your design here" listings.
That’s how I read it too - but could we wishful thinking
I think this is up to anyone’s interpretation at this stage because Etsy has 1) a history of continuously changing policies and reclarifying and 2) the area stating the ‘real deal’ is still vague for us sellers that only leads to more interpretation.
Below the Listing Image Requirement article they do state that they do not want computer generated images and this does apply to POD. Any seller is able to interpret this the way they’d like or do with this information that makes you comfortable as you continue to post on Etsy.
I personally am choosing the ‘safe route’ and only ordering samples of my future personalization listings or, to be quite honest, doing more ‘sold as is’ designs. I’ve built my shops of sold as is designs and, while Etsy is known for personalization, I’ve still done 5 & y figures in sales with non-personalization so it’s still a great place to sell in.
Hopefully this helps and, like usual with Etsy updates, this still leaves questions and things up to interpretation.
Heather, THANK YOU for explaining all of this! I do have a question though....What about all those people selling the mockups that we use for our shops?? Are they all out of business, or can we still use the mockups we buy from them for all the listings that aren't personal?
You can still use mockups in your shop! Personalized listings you can also still use mockups, just according to Etsy the first image has to be 'the real deal'. Whether you interpret a 'real deal' as mockup or a picture, that's up to your discretion. Hopefully that makes sense and helps!
@@itsheatherstudio Thank you!
Do you think you could make a video to show examples of what the main image has to look like now if it's customized since the first one can't be a mock up? I'm not understanding how me taking a picture of my product with my phone is any different than an example text on a mockup, other than its probably going to look worse because im not a photographer...? Are they just against bad mockups or do they literally want lower quality phone pictures all over their platform? I don't understand 😅
This doesn't really clarify anything. Mockups bought on etsy, are of the actual base shirt. SO is that allowed? Cause every top seller would be gone if that was the case.
Hello Heather, i do personalized canvas print wall art and use mockups. But i do put "The Johnson's" instead of "Your Text Here" so my product does represent the final product. Do you think i would be ok reading that i am using a real name not a "placeholder" like "Your Text Here"? Thank you
From how I read it, yes you should be good. If you have an actual design with personalized elements, then the customer is able to see what the end product should look like from the thumbnail image.
Great news for most POD sellers! I noticed when listing a production partner from Printify, Jondo, it has multiple locations throughout the US, about 4 others. Their headquarters is in Yorba Linda, CA. Will Etsy give me problems if I list their headquarters location, but then it ships from their other location in Dallas, Texas, or it's not something to worry about?
i have this same problem. if you choose a specific location for a print provider, lets say the UK, then it shows to US buyers that you are sending the item from the UK when you are not. (and visa versa) they should allow us to choose a print provider and add a list of postcodes from which it is to be sent, with etsy showing the postcodes nearest to the buyer.
@@BlondieLou85I was thinking the same which location should I use I'm in the UK and want to sell in the US and Europe.
I use whatever location seems closest to me. To be transparent to my customers, In all my listings I do disclose that I create my designs and work with multiple specialty print providers that ship from different locations and that if the customer orders various items, they may come separately due to this in the mail. You could also disclose this in your about your shop info instead.
Hi Heather, do you know if you can use a mockup photo from printify if it’s a personalized item? I just listed one and got a sale but I had used the mockup generated by printify. Would that be okay or does the first photo have to be an actual picture of the item. 😊
The way that I read it was as long as you are not just selling a blank product that says "Custom" or "Your Text Here" then you are good. If you have an actual design with personalized elements, then you should be good with normal mockups.
Thank you for your much-needed video regarding these Etsy concerns.
Personalized/custom listings may become very costly for the seller. For example, suppose you’ve already got 1,000+ personalized t-shirt listings (or are a new seller attempting 1,000+ listings). In this case, you have to order 1,000+ samples so that you can take an original photo of the product to place in the first photo slot of each listing. Since a majority of a seller's listings (I’ve heard that could be up to 90%) may never even sell.
This new requirement seems excessive. and… what does a seller do with a plethora of unusable personalized t-shirts? I only have a handful of family/friends that I can give personalized designed t-shirts to. Plus, wouldn't it be more financially beneficial for a seller to have family/friends place an order themselves if they wanted the t-shirt in the first place?
What are your thoughts?
The way I read it was as long as you are not selling a blank product that just says "Custom" or "Your Text Here" on it, then you are good as they customer is not able to determine what the end product will look like with just "Custom" on the thumbnail image. If you have an actual design with personalized elements, then you should be good as the customer can see what the end product will look like from the thumbnail, knowing it will have their personalization on it.
🙋♂hi heather, so this new thing on the first image being the real deal looks like could be a hurdle for new ETSY sellers. does this mean we have to purchase every new item we want to sell an provide real pictures?? especially if were POD dependent, how would that not be cost effective?! please help me understand this one!
thanks
Heather, on the customization issue. Could your create a single draft listing, create a custom name/item mockup, dowenload it and then use that photo as the main photo? It would fit the customized final product requirement. Just a thought!
The way that I read it was as long as you are not selling a blank product that just says "Custom" or "Your Text Here" in text on the product on the thumbnail image, you are good. If you have an actual design with personalized elements, the customer is able to determine what the end product will look like from the thumbnail image.
What should I do with the first image of the listing if I sell personalized digital products, such as drawings from photos. Can I use mockups of the design framed?
I am wondering the same...
Hi, Heather. Just to be clear, because I am not sure I understood this correctly. From what I know, until this point, you could take a pre made design from Creative Fabrica and just put it on a t-shirt, or mug, and sell it on Etsy, through a print on demand partner. If I understood correctly, you are saying that from now on, under the new Etsy rules, we are NOT allowed to do that anymore? Thank you for your video and your reply.
Could we still purchase a mockup from etsy amd use that for our as is tshirts ?
no according to what they are saying even if they say you can use it commercially we cannot and need to alter the design which you cannot.
How does this apply to digital PNG downloads of designs others would use on their POD items. Can I show how my design might look on a mock up of a tee, sweatshirt, mug, etc?
Hi, Heather! Do you know if adding text to a pre-existing design makes that design "our own"? I try to do more than this by combining at least three elements, but sometimes I feel like it looks best with just text added... do you know if this is allowed?
Also, thank you so much for your insights into the mock-up situation with customized designs.. I just watched someone else's video on these new updates and this was exactly the question I had.. it sounds like we can use mock-ups if the design is not offered as customizeable, but if it is offered as customizeable we have to take the picture ourself... I don't understand why Etsy is doing it like that, but grateful that you delved into it as this was one of my questions. ❤
This was so exciting! I cheered out loud 😆. I’ve been designing my little heart out and just purchased my first mock up bundle today. So excited!
Also would like to add that it would be dumb of Etsy to say no to mock-ups because there are a ton of sellers who have shops just for selling mock-ups. Some of them have beautiful mock-ups. It is art too!
Ok so tell me, I do custom shirts in a bootleg style and my main mockup is a silhouete of people with custom on the shirt, surely this is ok right? I also make my own designs and add them to my shop with detailed mockups showing every aspect of the product using mockups of course, is this ok?
what about 3D visualization of products for CNC machines? should we buy a machine and photograph the finished products?
I'm wondering about asigning print providers. I get that Etsy uses their address to determine shipping cost and times, but what what about a single provider like WYOC, that has multiple fulfillment centers around the world? How to handle this?
But "Designed by seller" is only under the digital product section, as long you select physical item you dont have option for "designed by seller!. So how do we list a pod product?
Heather do you have a paid training program for POD?
This makes me not want to do personalization. IE, Christmas shirts for a family. I gotta buy shirts in 5 different colors to personalize, mom-dad-kid-kid-dog? B/C personalize come in different colors, different sizes, male, female, children sizes ect...The entire point of Etsy is to personalize.
Totally understand the feeling here and just want to note that Etsy only requires the first photo in a listing to be a real produced product- not any other photos. You would only need to buy one sample in this case if you go this route! Unless you’re doing group tees then I understand your point here.
Also to note, I’ve had two successful Etsy and POD businesses that scaled to 5 and 6 figures with only ‘as-is designs’ that are not custom listings. You can still be successful with non-personalization so hopefully that helps in knowing it is possible to have a full fledged shop without personalization too!
I have a friend that sells on Zazzle
According to her they don't have near the requirements that Etsy does
I use an "image grabber" on my computer. I would not have to buy a product in order to show how it might look personalized. Design your product, example in Printify, and 'grab" Printify's mockup. Save the finished image to your computer. Then use it has your first photo example in your next ad you run.
You know what Etsy should do...is give creators a demonstration. It's obvious we are ALL ARTISTS AND VISUAL learners. Give a 30 sec video demonstration of what the "real deal" is to them. And we'll follow it. 😃 "Assuming" will get a lot of us shut down.
Sorry i m more confused here. If u custom your item u have to order sample to make real picture?? Imagine for eacj single listing you going to spend more money than making money!!😮
Hello there! I have pet related audience on my ig pages and email. I'm starting an etsy store for pets , would you suggest I promote my etsy products on those pages , my listings will definitely get sales , but will get pushed higher in the ranking?
Heather, thank you. Can you cover the questions that come up in the "core details" section when we select "I did" for who made the item?
I’m infuriated and stressed. I do both personalized and non personalized items. In order for items to sell you have to have a great main photo… the only way I have found to do that is to have a mock-up as the main photo. I’m not a photographer. I have limited space. So while on some inexpensive items I sell (decals) I do have a photo of the actual item, it’s not the main photo. Then we have shirts - I pulled all of my listings today because mock-ups are my only option. I invested so much time and money in these mock-ups, I refuse to pay for the materials to make a shirt for every single design I offer, pay for the photography equipment necessary to take decent photos and then invest the time it would take for all of this. I can use whatever photos I want on my website so eliminating shirts on Etsy seems to be the easiest way for me to handle those.
I absolutely cannot believe this change is happening when they still don’t have the shipping estimates fixed (first class changed to ground advantage a year ago!) and they are allowing people to use AI. 🙄
I’m just not sure what to do about decals… not only do I not have the time to go swap the main photo mock-ups for the real photos but I don’t think anyone would purchase them if I changed it. The single most important piece of advice in regard to being successful on Etsy is to have the best main photo you can have but now no mock-ups!
@@rachellyn6463 Contact Etsy and tell them them exactly this. See they don’t understand how many of their shop owners have exactly your situation. I don’t think they are understanding that without a mockup, a significant percentage of their platform is toast. A while back, I was listening to Starla Moore explain that they had an over saturation problem. Too many products and not enough buyers. So, it seems, by removing listings, closing/suspending shops, and now requiring the first photo to be a “real photo”- they believe they have solved the problem. However, they just killed their platform, because they don’t understand their shop owners.
@@rachellyn6463 oh! You are so right about First Class changing to Ground Advantage. I have contacted them about that too! It’s like, you need to fix this!! It’s a FIELD CHANGE, in the code. That’s it. It’s literally changing the word from First Class to Ground Advantage.
The way I read it is as long as you are not just selling a blank product that says "Custom Desin" or "Your Text Here" in plain text on the mockup, you are good. If you have an actual design with personalized elements, the customer is able to see what the end product should look like from the thumbnail.
If a seller has hundreds of listings how much time are we given to make changes?
Heather, when you say order a sample and take a custom pic...do we order a blank, and then add our design to the image we take after the fact? Nearly ALL of my listings are personalized. Also, my listings say 'Made by (my shop name)'. Is that the same as designed by. I prefer designed by so is there a way to change that?
Per Etsy's policy they state it has to be of the 'real deal' which is a physical product picture and not computer generated, according to Etsy's Listing Requirement page.
Etsy does state 'limited circumstances' in which there could be some leeway here but, to me, it sounds like Etsy wants a real picture, not computer generated for only the first image as stated above. They do allow buyer's photo reviews, but you need permission from the customer. This is all my interpretation at the end of the day but hoping it helps clarify things a bit!
Source: www.etsy.com/legal/policy/listing-image-requirements/253962679005?ref=list
@@itsheatherstudio Thank you so much for responding Heather! So is the process that we picture it blank, then add our designs just like any other mockup? I assume this is the case, but wanted to run it by you too. Also, they stipulate the first listing image only?
@@VivienneRussell if you digitally add the design to the blank product image to make a mockup, that is a computer generated image and not “the real deal.”
I'm sorry, I'm a bit confused. Can we use AI mockups for t-shirts if they accurately depict the product (not personalized)?
The main image has to be a real stock photo mockup (not Ai). Ai mockups can only be used as supporting images but not as a main image.
@@BohoBabeMockups Thanks so much for the clarification. 🙏🙏🙏
@@BohoBabeMockups I am getting more confused as I read:/ If I were to say purchase your real stock photo mock up I can use it as my first listing image if it is customizable?
@@bonnieeames1071 Yes, it seams this way! Here's what Etsy guideline says:
"In certain situations, using original photos of the exact item may not be possible. You can use stock photos in some limited circumstances, where you are offering either personalised/customised items or an item made with a production partner"
"For personalized or customized items your first image must feature a finished, customized item SIMILAR to what buyers will receive. This helps buyers visualize what their custom-made item will look like when completed."
It other words, as long as you use a real stock PHOTO mockup of an actual tshirt brand that you're selling (Bella Canvas 3001, Gildan 64000 etc) and you place your finished EXAMPLE design on it (instead of a text "your design here") you should be good. What Etsy cares about is for you to display the main image as realistic as possible to help buyers see clearly what they are buying. :)
How does etsy know if the main image is a computer image or actual photo?
Etsy dont seem to say anything helpful about selling mockups (ie what is and isnt allowed), unless I've missed it in the sea of new information. It is frustrating also that you cant choose more than one location for the print provider.
If this were me, I would reach out to Mockstarboutique. I follow them and they seem to be up and running fine. Perhaps you could message them for pointers.
Very helpful video Heather, I think this breaks through a lot of the confusion.
Thanks for watching! ❤
It is so confusing! What I really don't like about Etsy is that they are never very clear on their policies and rules. For example, I create mockups for those who sell wall art. Some of them are created using AI, and I modify them to make them ready to use, others are just my creations. Will I still be able to sell both of the types?
I am wondering the same thing!
Thank you for your video ❤ i was so shocked at first, cause my sister and i just started a Business on etsy with selling mockups. Thank you for clearing this 🥰
Glad this helped and thanks for watching! ❤
I love your videos & I took part in your crash course a few weeks ago. I finally pulled the trigger and opened my etsy store only to be suspended immediately by them with no reasoning whatsoever. I sent you an email but you never responded back to me - I was interested in doing your POD paid course but I don't know how to get unsuspended by etsy. I don't know where to go from here, I'd love any suggestions if you have any!
Hey there! I’m sorry if I didn’t respond in email~ we’ve been flooded with questions lately and I’m still getting through a lot of emails in the inbox. Did you email hello@heatherxstudio.com? I just want to make sure you have the right contact and I’m so sorry to hear about your shop being suspended! I recommend emailing Etsy and requesting to be unsuspended or a reason. This is common with new shops and a lot of shops that request an appeal tend to be unsuspended. I believe their contact is integrity@etsy.com that worked in the past for other subscribers. Hopefully this helps a bit and you can get your shop back!❤️
I was so interested to see your take as a POD seller. It seems to me your interpretation of "real deal" photos as first photo is correct: it needs to be a sample item. Further interested to see you say you don't plan to do that.
Because POD with drop ship is exactly what has given etsy a bad rap, it seems these clarifications are designed to eliminate the scenario of not having an actual product in hand. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Is a stock photo mockup = to an AI mockup? I don’t use them but so many sellers are asking and I’m curious.
No, a stock photo mockup is an image of a real product taken by a physical camera.
What was probably happening is that some shop owners were simply taking templates, linking those to a partner's printing shop, then just adding in the customer option for them to customize the template design. In essence, the shop owner wasn't doing anything creative, just inserting themselves as a middle-man and passing on the creative part to the buyer.
And let's face it, taking someone else's template, asking the customer to add a slogan, then passing that to the POD partner isn't really creating a product. And reinventing the best selling "wheel" isn't being creative, the shop is just copying a proven design hoping to cash in.
I am also alittle upset😢 i bought etsy professional mockups by sellers per your advice so they look amazing spent a ton of money ON ETSY, then removed the actual mockup from printify on all my listing because i was told not to.use them in listings. I am not making money as of yet. Is it worth ir spent months adding 300 items 😢 now i need to go backwards.
Thanks Heather, it's relaxing listening to you.. so to clarify with AI designs we just need to somewhere state that the design image is AI generated, would that be stated in each individual listing or in the shop about section somewhere. What do you think?
You need to state it in the listing, and believe me they can easily tell if ai created it, because it has a certain coded data embedded in it.
@@absolutefreedom8035 Most ai embeds generation info in the image metadata. This includes the prompt, the model, the sampling method, etc. all of this is encoded and can be viewed via opening it in a text editor or similar program.
@@absolutefreedom8035 Most ai embeds generation info in the image metadata. This includes the prompt, the model, the sampling method, etc. all of this is encoded and can be viewed via opening it in a text editor.
I would think that the easiest way to tackle the new personalization requirements is to just have a mockup with example names rather than “your custom text here.” That way customers will see what the item looks like with real names/locations/dates etc.
From what I interpret, the new Listing Image Requirement page they state that the first photocard of a listing needs to be a real picture, not computer generated from what I interpret for personalization. In other words, the text in the main mockup does not matter('placeholder vs. name), it's the picture creation itself that matters that they want it to be either a customer photo(with permission from buyer) or your own taken photograph. This is only the first photo image and the additional photos, according to Etsy, can be computer generated.
To mention here that I do not work or represent Etsy and I don't think they will take down thousands of listings or be able to identify which ones are real images versus mockups if your using mockup images so do with this information what you will.
This is a trainwreck. Etsy can implode in on itself without any help from externals. To expect a POD Seller (according to doublespeak hero j silverman) to order a sample garment for each design Png (shops that have 100's or 1000's of designs) then "model it" or physically mock up the item is a trainwreck. RIP Etsy, don't miss ya at all ...
I am thinking of creating customized blankets. However, I think you would agree that it’s just not realistic to order a sample of each customized product design. It seems like Etsy opens one door and closes another, especially when personalization does very well.
Please note that the requirement for personalized items is also included in the "exceptions" section for the general rule of using original photos. That is, personalized products included in these exceptions, respectively, do not require an orginal photo, at the same time, it is stipulated separately that you cannot place an image of an empty object with the inscription "your text is here" as the main photo in the listing. Based on all of the above, I believe that personalized products are included in the exceptions, do not require a real photo, but you need to post a mockup of the item with personalization.@@itsheatherstudio
@@markcollier4216 agreed here! I do not think this is realistic and in this video, I suggested samples but not for every single listing and I wish I clarified further what I meant while filming. I think going as normal, listing with mockups is fine to do and then getting samples later on if you have a listing performing well is probably the best route or asking a customer for a photo review to use in listings.
Hi Heather do I have to add Canva as A production partner??
No, a partner is who makes the physical item and ships it out
What are ai prompt bundles?
I watched another RUclips commenter on the new mockup rules. Her version was that you were supposed to use as the first photo, a photo of the finished product provided by the print provider. That way it is a direct image of the product as made through that print provider, however as we all know those images are basic and not the best. So, anybodys take on that idea?
Heather, what about pngs sold by Etsy sellers? You mentioned Creative Fabrica but what about Pngs Esty sellers make and we as POD buy to sell tshirts? is this not allowed? I have been very confused on the whole process as I do design myself, but also buy pngs from Etsy not Creative fabrica. Hope that makes sense.
According to Etsys policies, you cannot use any purchased design as is on a listing- you do need to create a design yourself or alter the design so that it is your own IP (example of altering is you buy a graphic and add multiple graphics and text) for it to be sold on Etsy. This does include Etsy SVGs, PNGs and designs sold as is along with Creative Fabrica.
@@itsheatherstudio But you cannot alter ready made artwork per the designers disclaimers, so why would you a seller, then make items that Etsy sellers themselves cannot use.
@@PapandeNewmanGraphics totally understand this question and to clarify what I meant, certain designs are sold as templates such as on Canva and Kittl that allow editing.
If the designer of a design states in their permissions you cannot alter or edit to resell, then I would never recommend to alter and sell. My apologies as I should have put in the initial response *with permission from design creator* because I do not want that to be misconstrued.
A lot of designs for purchase and elements have different permissions and most may not allow altering. This is one reason I stick to Kittl since Kittl allows elements to be edited and designs for POD commercial usage.
@@itsheatherstudio Correct me if I am wrong I believe you can not sell purchased design as it is (as digital file) like buy a design from creative fabrica and sell as digital art, but if you are making items like t shirt or mugs with these designs you can use them because there are made my you ? and you are not selling as it is your are selling them in a different form its just there are not designed by you but made by you? I print my own shirts.
@@latafatkhan1575Shvv Hi. I hope I understand what you are saying. If you get a design from Creative Fabrica you can't sell it as a digital product but you can put the design on items and sell those. We have those rights through creative fabrica. The problem is with Etsy policy. With their policy even if you are printing the item yourself and not using print on demand companies you may not use a ready made design. You would need to take that design and add elements to it in order to use it on a product and sell on Etsy.
all you have to do is put in a name in the listing photo, you can use your name as the name is the only thing changing not the design/image. i personalize a lot of items and all of my mockups have names I never fo your name here.
From what I interpret, the new Listing Image Requirement page they state that the first photocard of a listing needs to be a real picture, not computer generated from what I interpret for personalization. In other words, the text in the main mockup does not matter('placeholder vs. name), it's the picture creation itself that matters that they want it to be either a customer photo(with permission from buyer) or your own taken photograph. This is only the first photo image and the additional photos, according to Etsy, can be computer generated.
To mention here that I do not work or represent Etsy and I don't think they will take down thousands of listings or be able to identify which ones are real images versus mockups if your using mockup images so do with this information what you will.
I think the problem Etsy has been having is that a few mockups get popular so the customer sees a sea of different shops using the same image. Etsy is trying to sell uniqueness.
Are they?
If that were true drop-shipping would not be allowed.
Only actualy handmade items, like they used to. (and yes, vintage etc.)
Etsy lost its soul. They steal, they lie and they ruin people.
Run, don't walk away.
@@YunaElphabaLovegood Good point. They are trying to sell the appearance of uniqueness.
OMG, this is a disaster I was going to do personalization and now I need to stop, this is ridiculous what if you have hundreds of listing, am I expected to purchase them do you know how expensive this is. Also the creative fabrica is another downer, I have glass cans I used from them ready made and adorable, also Etsy itself allows sellers to sells items/graphics to use on Shirts/cups how do they justify this, they are made to be used unaltered you cannot change the color or alter the design in order to use the graphic per the owners listing requirements. This makes no sense?
The way that I read it was as long as you are not selling a blank product that just says "Custom" or "Your Text Here" on the thumbnail image, then you are good as the customer is not able to see what the end product would actually look like. If you have an actual design with personalized elements, then you should be good as the customer is able to see what the product looks like. I hope that helps!
Thank you so much for this information, Heather!
Can't watch the video on etsy Any time I go to the community pages it says "you habe been banned from using this". Lol. A couple years already
I'm trying to understand this....I am currently working on mockups to be used with canva where the seller can place their own design on the phone for their listing photo. I personally used midjourney to create the background photo...then I used the image of the specific phone case from printify in that AI generated photo. So...my background photo is AI...the phone case is not AI. Am I okay?
Yes! AI backgrounds are fine. At least your mockup is an accurate representation of your product, this is allowed per Etsy's policies.
Disclaimer: I do not work or represent Etsy and would recommend asking Etsy's customer service if you have shop specific issues or questions as well.
Etsy still has a long way to go to get back to what it used to be. It's costly to have to order samples of everything you sell just to provide a "real" photo. They also may want to provide more clarity on AI usage because listings are being deactivated that have AI images. There are discussions all over Facebook about listings being deactivated. This is why I also have a website.
Interesting - Thanks for your efforts in going through the information.
What about digital product mockups? It says make sure the first image is the real deal.
But if I am selling digital art downloads... well is it just me or does their mockup update not address this?
Any ideas???
In this case you would need to print a sample sheet and photograph that in use or on the wall etc.
But im not selling a print. Im selling a digital item that has no physical presence. The customer could print to paper, glicee, canvas, a poster or a framed poster...
@@greeneyedbritishguy5172 I understand, but a worksheet or a art print would still need to printed and photograph for the first picture of your listing. In the case of a sheet you'd place it on a desk or table with a pen or pencil and maybe some reading glasses. For the art print you would need a framed version to photograph, if that's how you're portraying the items in your listings. Or if you're portraying them as posters then you would need poster samples.
Heather I love your videos, been around since the beginning, but hun did you change your audio recently? All of your videos as of late have been very crackled and muffled audio so it’s been hard to listen. I’m sorry if you’ve gotten comments regarding this in the past or if you have addressed it and I missed it, I’ve seen this happen previously to another channel and it was an odd change for some videos that they fixed later, Ik it’s not on my end as every other video on RUclips and older videos of yours are fine. I would just hate for people to click away because of an audio issue as it is very distracting and again hard to listen through.
My mic is having problems as of recently~ I just got this mic in the past few months too so I have to contact the manufacturer under the warranty to see if I can get it fixed. My apologies on the low quality and we’re working on fixing it! Thanks for the kind words on the RUclips channel!❤️
@@itsheatherstudio no need to apologize again I just wanted to make sure that people aren’t clicking away because you give such good information! 💕hope everything works out!
This is ridiculous. I make everything myself but I can’t make one of everything. Also I purchase files which give me permission to make and sell items made with their files. Ie embroidery files.
Can I use mockups just to showcase my prints? I don't do POD. I prints everything and ship by myself.
Yes! At least it is not a personalization/custom listing you can use mockups in all photocards according to Etsy's new policies.If personalization/custom, the first image must be a 'real deal' photo as they state.
@@itsheatherstudio Yeah basically I'm selling prints of my oil paintings & I have purchased the mockups so I also own the licenses to use them on the internet (I know Etsy could say quite the opposite if they want to). So am I free to go? (my thumbnail is the mockup with my work) :-)
Hello, I have a quick question which I Hope you can answer to :) I opened my shop in 2021, sold 2/3 items and got a review then I stopped using Etsy. I started using it again months ago: I changed the title, got better graphic, I consistently work on it but get around 10/12 visits per day, sometimes even less than that. I sold a few things but it's usually 1 item per month. Do you think it could be because my shop was left unused for a long time? I tried everything, I dont get what I am doing wrong anf it's frustrating. Thank you in advance
I think your microphone sounds messed up
Can ve use AI for product description ?
why not, who would know?
As a print on demand seller, I appreciate these changes and clarification. We already follow all of Etsy's rules and say everywhere on our listings that our items are printed on demand. But we still get the occasional nasty message from someone saying "did you even make this item yourself?" And then we have to patiently explain yet again how our business works. Having the Etsy added "Designed by X" will hopefully help further prevent any confusion.
I agree, this will hopefully settle some of the messages many Etsy sellers get that now Etsy is showing that there are humans behind each shop. Thanks for watching and hopefully your shop will get less messages like that as time goes on!❤
Great Video Heather, well explained, thank you xx
Appreciate the info - for whatever reason I am banned from the Etsy Forums area.
I'm curious, did you throw a stink about something on there? Seems like every time I post a complaint, within 24 hours I get listings deactivated for one reason or another. I haven't been banned but it seems a little too coincidental that this happens. I complained about the off site and on site ads not being separated anymore. I can't figure out how much was spent where. And having no control of how much they charge per click.
Me too and I have never complained or had an issue?
@@stronghealer No - it's always been like this for me. No clue why.
I'm still confused on mockups. What I got is that no, we can't use them for the 1st image at all - whether it's personalization or not. But that it's okay for the other images? But we can't purchase pre-made mockups but we can use the printify mock up generator for 2nd images on? So confused. Shoot, I only make what I like anyway - I'll shoot my own. But they'll all be on the same armchair (small apartment) and then they'll say they're AI generated. *eyeroll*
Two things:
1. if they want to know if a design is made with AI assistance... we can't say for sure if we use designs from Creative Fabrics.
2. Personalized items... If Printify shows a mock-up using the personalization isn't that a fair representation of the item? We should be able to use Printify's Mock-ups because they are the actual product showing the actual placement they'd make. T-shirts have mock-ups with people wearing them showing even the back. If we couldn't trust mock-up images provided by 3rd party printers then we wouldn't use the provider.
I think Etsy just meant that sellers can't just have the Printify blank mock-up with a "your design here" message on it. The front image must show an image of what the personalised product looks like. In other words, the item must be designed by the seller, NOT by a customer.
@@elephantintheroom5678 Yes! Just put an example of the personalised design onto a real photo mockup (not Ai generated images) and you should be fine :) The customers need to know exactly what they're buying. Sometimes their vision of the design is not matching with the end result.. that's why the listing must show the design as accurately as possible.
What if you buy the license to mockups or digital products? Does this meet Etsy’s guidelines regarding selling POD products and mock-ups? 😮
Thank you for this breakdown ❤
Thanks for watching! ❤
There needs to be a marketplace for digital products such as AI Prompts or PLR products. Not sure why Etsy just doesn't start Etsy Digital Marketplace separate from their main site.
I had that same thought because it has become hard to find the physical products in the sea of digital products.
Quite a shame that several mockup shops were basically put out of business last year from the whole ai mockup nightmare.
I don't think it's a shame at all, etsy is supposed to be for people who make handmade items or handmade designs. Using AI is cheating in a sense, because the person isn't actually creating anything themselves, they're using a computer bot to make things for them.
Heads up, whoever is editing your videos is over-processing your audio, that or your microphone is broken. I would look into getting a new mic or reducing your noise canceling.
can you help me out please ? I own the prompts and my art designs color combinations are being uploaded and mass copied by humans , I am a human indeed I reside in Egypt , no copy rights or what so ever
may you help by any advice ? I also do music , my prompts are my hard work from stiding color theory and psychology of colors , and I also created a new color with the AI and we the AI and I called it Eidolon teal - I do all this designs of motifs and I resurected ancient styles and its goin super trendy , I wish I can earn from this instead of being copied , I made som e paid ads targeted designers but , no values owned by them
love this heather!
Can you use ai mock ups?
Yup sounds like it's time for a Shopify store for me.
I think a lot of this will limit PLRs, they’re flooding Etsy.
Thank you so much
Thanks for watching! ❤
I am python developer and love art. I have my own learning machine offline with my propts and create wall and clip art. Why so against ai? It's my fantasy my work my private work that i spent 4 6 h to create one think. What is the difference between me and a pixabay or creative fabrca guys who download Ready art and create art? At least mine are 100% real creations no download and paste
Hey Heather Studio , Really Nice Video . I can do better editing in your videos which can help you to get more engagement in your videos . Pls lmk what do you think ?
Why do you pronounce Creative Fabrica like Creative Fah-bree-ka? It's Creative Fabric-ah.
I think these new rules are gonna screw a lot of shops and put them out of business, but at the same time Etsy is trying to take the company back to it's roots and make it a unique market place again. When you have multiple shops all using the same mockups and pre purchased designs you begin to loose that uniqueness and it starts to feel less like a handmade marketplace.
"Original designs by a seller (or seller prompted AI art)" What a joke.
Also much love to you Heather! Love your videos! I'm just personally against the notion that AI prompted art can be considered an original design.
What about the real artists? Are we condemned to starve.
crazy plate form etsy donot go there
Okay, I understand that a lot of you love specificity, especially when concerning your business, but come on. The amount of people acting like they have no idea what the real deal is, is honestly ridiculous. It means it has to be a real example of the item you are selling. No photomanipulation or stock with text edited on. You need an example of the item, in hand, photographed by you. How is this hard? "But the vague language!" Stop it. You trying to skirt around it doesn't change what it means.
Digital sellers can’t sell a completed design for POD sellers to buy, but AI is okay in that scenario. Lame.
Ty
Etsy should have kept the handmade website as usually greed takes over. They should have started a sister company that allowed all other options.
I guess the solution for the flood of dropshiped and AI crap on Esty is to..... make it a setting. Nice.🤣 If they could only take down the shops that sells illegal disney IP, that would be appreciated.
no just Disney, starbucks, care bears, all the items that are copyrighted I see thousands of shops, why don't they take them down???
Why don’t you guys just make your own mock ups? It’s not hard. Good thing to learn how to do. Makes you unique. I don’t buy from Etsy sellers that have the same photo line ups and everyone else. That’s fake and they won’t get our money. Be a business, do your work to make you unique and stand out. Been in business 18 years, any trustworthy business that’s in it for actual business and not greed can do this. The greed businesses don’t last, they come and go believe me.
you must disclose that you're using AI. How would they know? Nobody will disclose it don't want it.
I don't understand artists who are afraid or dislike AI. It's just another tool. It has no power on it's own to create emotion. That can only come from an artist. It's just another tool, just like photoshop, just like the digital ipad, and just like the photo itself.
Thank you! Same here Midjourney and Ideogram. Illuator or Photoshop to tweak and clean up. Still work but a tool that makes it much quicker to be creative.
It's an unfortunate fearful reaction due to a lack of understanding of A.I. Those artists probably believe their own material is being stolen for that A.I. to be trained. I'm with you 100% its 'just another tool' for the technologically minded. I'm affiliated with QuantumMasterpieces on Etsy (just starting!) and we'll have posted effectively "EVERYTHING on this site has been touched by AI..and a computer savvy artist" That being said any A.I. suspected of training with actual copywrite material will be disabled until proven ethical training was done. (yay for companies like Adobe that force their stuff to have AI acknowledgement stamped within)
This new update on Etsy just displaced hundreds or thousands of digital sellers income/businesses. POD sellers are our #1 customers for art designs. Now POD sellers can’t buy them from us on Etsy or Creative Fabrica, but POD sellers are allowed to use and sell AI. This update is completely detrimental to digital sellers. So yeah. AI is a tool, and it’s also killing artist careers. Two things can be true at once.
Artists are pissed because the ai uses their work to create the ai images.
@@absolutefreedom8035AI can feel inspired!? It can only copy and reproduce what an artist has done first. Artists are rightfully angry they did the work to develop talent and AI comes along with a generic copy+paste
I am human and my AI created for you all the color combinations you are suing for your decor and clothing