Let’s make a sticker.

This tutorial is made for Photoshop -- I will work on one for windows Paint (default photo editor) soon.

Step 1

Get the image you want to make a sticker – I suggest you save it on your desktop or write down where you save it so that you can easily access it when the time comes.

Time to submit it as a product.

Step 2

Go to your IMVU Homepage. At the top in the middle-- click Create -- Dev Center.

Step 3

Then it'll take you to the IMVU Creator Program. Follow the direction and sign up. Once you've done that -- go back to this screen (via your homepage or whatever way you wish to get back there) and click "Make a Sticker"...

This page explains the whole process but I'll give you the long and short of it here. Click "Make a Sticker" in the last blue box 1. Make website stickers...this will bring you to a new page that looks like this:

Ok so let's start at the top...

Step 4

In Location -- use the selection tool to select PEOPLE/Avatars:

Step 5

Then in the Product Name: Type in the name of your sticker. For example: Naughty Xmas Sticker (or something)

Step 6

Next you need a Product Description. Type in something like "This is a custom sticker I made for my own avatar. The background is transparent--it will match on any color background. It is the size shown below." Or anything you wish for people to read in the product description when they go to the product page.

Now if you want to put an image of the sticker for potential buyers to preview in the product page -- then follow step 6a -6c (if not, then continue to step 7).

Step 6a

You must upload your images somewhere to be hosted -- so that you can then put an html link code in your product description to show the image on your product page. I would recommend you go to the http://www.photobucket.com and sign up for an account. I recommend you do this is a seperate tab or window -- but do not close the one you are currently submitting a sticker in.

Once your account is set up -- go onto step 6b.

Step 6b

You can upload your sticker file(s) to your photobucket account and it is nifty enough to give you the url or code for necessary to display it in your product description.

Once you've signed up and logged in -- go to My Album (by clicking on the blue tab "My Album".

Step 6c

In My Album -- on the upper right side it gives you the option to upload files... click browse and pick the file (wherever you saved it -- I suggested you save it on your desktop at first -- but whether or not you took that advice -- remember where you saved it). =) Select the file you want -- then click open... it should place the file in the box next to the Browse button on Photobucket.

Step 6d

Click "upload" and wait for it to upload...when it is finished it will refresh. Then your picture should be in the top row -- all the way to the left. =) Scroll down a bit to see the information under the picture.

Step 6e

Now click in the box that says, "HTML CODE." It will copy automatically. It'll bring up a yellow box that says "copied".

Step 6f

Now toggle back to the other window where you are submitting the sticker. (If you do not know what I mean by toggle -- I just mean to click on the other window to make it the one you are working in):

Step 6g

Now click in the Product description box -- after the description you've typed -- (click enter a time or two to give space).

Paste the information there. If it does not work -- just go back to the photobucket account page and copy it by clicking in the line (so it is highlighted) and right click -- copy. Then paste it in the Product Description box.

Step 7

Next choose an appropriate rating (General Audience, Restricted, Mature Audience). You will never choose the last one Mature Audience because it won't be submitted. I suggest you read through the terms of service on developing so you do not make any judgment errors. If your avatar is wearing a Restricted outfit or in a Restricted pose -- rate it Restricted, otherwise, rate it General Audience.

Step 8

Now the price... you can put this as high or as low as you want it. Breakeven price is 150 credits -- this means you will not make any profit if and when someone buys the sticker. Stickers range... but for beginners or for personal stickers, I suggest keeping it reasonable. Remember, you have to purchase your own stickers...you do not get them free. The price you set will not be the final selling price -- it'll be lower. IMVU adds a charge to get their cut. So let's pick a fairly smaller number for your first sticker and see how well it does... let's pick 175 credits. Type that in the box.

Step 9

This next part is where most have issues when they first begin: The Catalog icon image and the Sticker image. The Catalog icon image is the small image you see for every product in the catalog it is always 100 x 80 pixels (no exceptions). You must have an icon for every image (sticker) and every product you submit as a developer -- when you submit a sticker, you are a developer.

Step 9a

How to make an icon Catalog icon image:

I suggest when you are messing with your graphic...open your original sticker file.

Step 9b

Copy it.

Step 9c

Create a New file.

Step 9d

Paste the sticker image into it.

Now you have two images -- the original (which you can close for now) and the copy -- which you'll need to resize.

Step 9e

Now you must resize this copy to 100 x 80 pixels -- play around with it so that you do not end up with a squished image. For example if when you resize it -- to keep proportion it ends up being 100 x 90 just choose to only use part of it -- rather than squishing it. To resize it -- click Image -- Image Size:

My original was 550 x 380 pixels (this is too big for the Catalog Icon Image)

Step 9f

As you see in my example -- the original picture (when resized proportionally -- keep the box Constrain Proportions checked to do this) reduces to 100 x 69 -- this is not the right size but go ahead and click ok...

Now we have a file that is 100 x 69 -- we need to make a new file 100 x 80 for the icon -- which we will copy this new one (100 x 69) and paste into.

Step 9g

Click File -- New

A box comes up with some choices.

You want to make the width 100 pixels and the height 80 pixels. Then click ok... and a new file.

This new file will be the right size for the icon. It is small -- 100 x 80 pixels -- perfect size for the Catalog icon image.

Step 9h

Now... you should have two small files. One with the reduced sized picture (100 x 69 for my example) and an empty file 100 x 80 pixels big.

Click on the sticker image you resized to 100 x 69 pixels... copy the image by selecting it -- then edit copy.

Then click on the other new empty file you made 100 x 80 pixels big -- and click Edit Paste.

Now you have a file that is 100 x 80 pixels.

Click File... Save As...

This box will come up -- rename the file -- stickericon (in the File Name) and choose the format as .jpg. Then click Save (and be sure to have your desktop selected -- so that it saves to your desktop where you saved your original sticker image.

Next the JPEG Options box will appear. Stay with the default -- click ok. =)

Step 10

Now you have the icon and the sticker image. Go back to the internet page where you are submitting the sticker. Back to the part that wants the Catalog icon image.

Click browse and find the file you just created for the icon (stickericon.jpg). Click open.

Once you do this -- it should have the file name in the empty text line.

Step 11

Now click Browse next to the Sticker image (this is the actual image you want to be a sticker -- in the size you want the sticker). This should have been saved on your desktop (or wherever you saved it).

Step 12

Now you want to put in the Sticker width and Sticker height (this keeps the sticker from smushing up on your or others' pages -- distorting). To find out the original size of the sticker file go back to Photoshop -- open the graphic again -- click IMAGE -- IMAGE SIZE. This will bring up the window that gives you the image's dimensions. Make sure you have pixels after the top numbers.

So... the file in the example is 550 x 380 pixels.

Type 550 in the width and 380 in the height.

Step 13

Keywords -- these can be anything: "sticker" "fun" "stupid" "christmas" "dog" "breath". Really -- whatever you want but don't use bad words obviously. Fill them in if you wish or leave them blank -- it is up to you.

Step 14

Make sure the box is checked for "Check to make this product visible in the catalog." Then click Create a new product.

Step 15

Theoretically, you are done! =) Now you have submitted your first sticker. If it comes up with an error there are typically three reasons -- one is the server is not working right (doesn't happen often), another is that you do not have 100 credits to pay the submission fee and the third is a problem with the icon image (it is not the right size -- remember 100 x 80 pixels!).

VOILA! You are a sticker-maker. Now you can purchase your new sticker or put it on your wishlist so that others will buy it for you. =) Or you can gift your sticker to others. =) If you wish to make another -- just repeat the steps.