Now that we have laid the groundwork for the amazing print-on-demand opportunities surrounding Merch By Amazon and KDP, let’s start using Stencil to make some great-looking designs!

The two most important things that you need to remember about the files that you need to create for these platforms are:

-You have to use the correct image DIMENSIONS

If you are off by eve ONE PIXEL, the image will be rejected.

-You have to use the correct image FORMAT

For Merch By Amazon (all products), save all of your files as PNG files. Any other format will be rejected.

For almost all of the Merch By Amazon apparel options, you will use the file dimensions 4500 x 5400, 300 dpi, PNG files.

Currently, the only apparel options that use a different file size are hoodies FRONTS. There is detailed information about hoodies for Merch By Amazon in the next chapter.

For the most part, you will want to have a transparent background before you Save, Download, and then upload to your Merch By Amazon account. You can, however, use a background color while creating your designs if it helps by making it easier to see your image compared to the gray and white checkerboard pattern.

Now that you have your file size set and your background is transparent, you are ready to start designing your first shirt!

You can use any of the 2,000,000+ images that are available by clicking the Photos icon at the top right of the screen. You can also use any of the icons that

DISCLAIMER: Many users use Stencil for making promotional images for social media. For this reason, you will find icons of logos for social media sites like Facebook and Instagram in the Icons section of Stencil. Obviously, you don’t have commercial rights or a license to use the logos of these companies, so please your own judgment when choosing the assets in Stencil for your print-on-demand designs. Using the Facebook logo as the primary image on a t-shirt that could be interpreted as the shirt being from Facebook would be seen as problematic. However, you would be fine using them to add links to your social media profiles on the back cover of your KDP books. If in doubt, please ask the members of the Merch Stencil Facebook group and get a second opinion on your specific usage.

Enter a search term for either Photos or Icons to see a curated list of design assets that you can choose from.

In my experience, using Stencil’s Photos section is best for making designs for products that are ‘full bleed’, meaning that the image design extends past the edges on the final product. This would apply to print-on-demand products like cell phone cases and PopSockets through Merch By Amazon and covers for both Kindle and paperback books.

You can certainly use these photos and images for t-shirts and other apparel designs but remember that you are designing for a specific rectangle shape on a t-shirt and the edges of a photo may not always translate into an eye-catching design that customers would want to purchase.

A full bleed design on a t-shirt can often not be as appealing visually as a design that utilizes a transparent background.

You can download the official templates from Amazon and use them in programs like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator or even free design programs like GIMP. However, to make designs in Stencil, you just need to be sure that you are using the correct dimensions and that you are saving your designs as PNG files.

This is one reason why I love using Stencil so much! I can just set my dimensions and start making my design. When I’m done, I know that I’ll be able to save my design in the correct format (PNG) and I’ll be ready to upload to my Merch By Amazon account.

When you open the MAIN Merch By Amazon template in Adobe Photoshop, you will get a file that has two editable Smart Objects (one for the from design and one for the back design). By editing (and saving) the contents of these Smart Objects, you can get instant previews of your designs on t-shirts.

You can show or hide different layers to see your design on all of the different colors of available shirts.

You can also show or hide layers to see your design on all of the other Merch By Amazon products such as V-neck shirts, tank-tops, long-sleeve shirts, raglan/baseball shirts, and sweatshirts.

Hoodies on Merch By Amazon are currently the only apparel item with dimensions other than 4500 x 5400. This is because the placement of the pockets/pouch on the front of the hoodies reduces the total vertical size of the designs.

The only real difference between t-shirts and hoodies when creating a design in Stencil is that the dimensions are slightly different. Files need to be 4500 x 4050 instead of 4500 x 5400.

To create a hoodie design in the correct dimensions, create a new CUSTOM size with the name Merch Hoodie with the dimensions 2250 x 2025 so that when you save it using Stencil’s @2X/Retina feature, your final design will have the correct dimensions of 4500 x 4050.

PopSockets are COMPLETELY different from t-shirt and hoodie designs for Merch By Amazon. Of course, the dimensions are different, but the biggest difference is that designs are going to FULL BLEED. This means that the images are going to go right to the edge of your designs.

This is a very different type of design compared to making an eye-catching, good-looking design that looks great on a t-shirt or hoodie. Because of the full bleed aspect of making designs for PopSockets, they are often seen as EASY, FUN, and also FAST.

PopSocket designs need to be 485 x 485 PNG files. You can set your dimensions or create a Custom image size in Stencil with the name PopSockets and dimensions 485 x 485.

Once you have the 485 x 485 PopSocket design set in your Custom sizes menu, you can quickly access it at any time to make PopSocket designs in the proper dimensions.

As was mentioned earlier, you’ll soon find that making PopSocket designs in Stencil is very easy, very fast, and actually a lot of FUN! You’ll likely be able to create many PopSocket designs in the same amount of time that it would take you to make a single t-shirt design.

Similar to PopSockets, Phone Cases are COMPLETELY different from t-shirt and hoodies designs for Merch By Amazon. Like PopSockets, the dimensions are different, and the designs are going to FULL BLEED. This means that the images are going to go right to the edge of your designs.

Remember, because of the full bleed aspect of making designs for Phone Cases, they are often seen as easy, fun, and also FAST.

Phone Case designs need to be 1800 x 3200 PNG files. You can use the PRESET dimensions for Phone Cases under the DESIGN tab, or you can set your own dimensions and create a Custom image size in Stencil with the name Phone Cases and dimensions 900 x 1600.

Because there are TWO TYPES of Phone Cases through Merch By Amazon (iPhone and Samsung Galaxy), you will have the OPTION of uploading two DIFFERENT files or designs in your account. You can create one design specifically to fit the iPhone template (GREEN OUTLINE) and a separate design for the Samsung Galaxy template (PINK OUTLINE).

Depending on your design, you may end up using the SAME FILE for both iPhone and Samsung Galaxy cases.

PlaceIt is an amazing web-based design program that specialized in making MOCKUPS for nearly any product that you can imagine! Their mockups compliment Stencil very well; you can create a great design in Stencil and then generate an eye-catching mockup with PlaceIt that you can use to promote your product on social media.

Remember, as long as you set the correct dimensions/size in Stencil before you download your designs, you will be able to upload the images directly to your Merch By Amazon account.

For example, if you create a design for Merch By Amazon t-shirts with your dimensions set as 4500 x 5400 and save the image as a PNG file, you can go directly to your Merch By Amazon account and upload the file, as-is.

However, if you want to create an awesome mockup image that you can use to display or promote your design on social media, you’ll need to upload that same image into a PlaceIt mockup.

When you click on a PlaceIt mockup template, you will see the dimensions listed on the left-hand side. You will also see them on the sample mockup image.

One of the best things about PlaceIt is that you can upload nearly any image in any size, and you’ll be able to quickly and easily crop or resize the image to fit their desired mockup dimensions.

For example, if you have created a 4500 x 5400 PNG file in Stencil that you want to use to create a mockup image in PlaceIt, you don’t need to convert the file dimensions to 750 x 1200 before uploading the image.

Just click on the Upload Image button in PlaceIt, choose the PNG file to upload, and you’ll have the option to crop/resize the image to fit the selected mockup.

The most common image dimensions used for the hoodie mockups in PlaceIt is 750 x 750. You can upload any square image and the mockup image will look correct. You can also just upload your 4500 x 4050 images created in Stencil and use their built-in cropping tool.

If needed, you can crop your uploaded hoodie design separately, or you can use PlaceIt’s free cropping tool.

The most common image dimensions used for the PopSocket mockups in PlaceIt is 1200 x 1200. However, you can upload any square image (like 485 x 485) and the mockup image will look correct.

The most common image dimensions used for the phone case mockups in PlaceIt is 900 x 1700. If needed, you can crop the uploaded phone case design, or you can use PlaceIt’s free cropping tool.

Designing a cover for a Kindle book for KDP is a little bit different than what we’ve covered for Merch By Amazon designs. For starters, your Kindle cover file needs to be saved as a JPG file instead of a PNG file.

While you CAN use different file sizes for Kindle book covers, Amazon does recommend (and prefer) 1600 x 2650. Some authors prefer 1200 x 1800 for a slightly different aspect ratio, but I have always used 1600 x 2650 unless I have a specific reason to use something else.

You can create a Custom Image Size in Stencil under the Custom tab and entering the name Kindle Cover and the dimensions 1600 x 2650.

If you are new to publishing and creating Kindle books (that will need Kindle Covers), you may feel a little lost about where to start. When you are creating something from scratch, your creativity can literally go in ANY direction.

To help you get started and to see how easy it can be to both decide on a design for your Kindle Cover as well as create your Kindle Cover in Stencil, I suggest going to Amazon and looking at some of the best-selling Kindle books.

Take a look at their covers. Are they simple? Are they complex? Are they something that could be created in Stencil? Are they basically composed of a background image and some text for the title and author? If so, then you can definitely create something similar in Stencil!

Stencil is an AMAZING program for many kinds of images and files. However, using Stencil to create a full, wrap-around cover for a paperback book published through KDP is a bit more complicated than the previous types of products that you’ve seen in this book.

The reason for this is that KDP cover files for paperback books are very different than the files required for Kindle books. Kindle books use a standardized size for all books while the file size required for paperback books will vary based on the trim size of the book and the overall page-count (the total number of printed pages) of the book. Adding to these variables, there are three types of paper that you can choose from when creating your paperback book in KDP:

· Black ink on white paper

· Black ink on cream paper

· Color ink on white paper

Each of these options will result in a slightly different thickness of your book which will affect the thickness of the spine of the book. The thickness of the spine of the book will then affect the overall WIDTH of your paperback cover file.

This is because your paperback cover file is one, single file that is composed of the front cover, spine, and back cover within a single image file.

You really won’t know the exact dimensions of your KDP paperback cover file until your interior book file is completely finished. When your book is completed, you will know your final page count and you’ll be able to calculate the exact dimensions of your KDP cover file.

Dimensions for KDP paperback books are also quite large. They will almost always exceed the 2700-pixel limit in Stencil. This means that you’ll have to reduce the dimensions by ½ and then later save the file using Stencil’s Retina/@2X feature in order to bring the file back to the proper dimensions.

So how do you figure out the dimensions required for your KDP paperback book? And how do you create the properly sized canvas in Stencil in order to create your KDP paperback book cover?

Step 1: Amazon provides you with templates in the correct size for every book size and page count. Just select your Trim Size, enter your Page Count, and select your Paper Color. Then click on Download Cover Template.

Step 2: Get the dimensions of your file by unzipping your file, opening the folder, and finding the corresponding .PNG file. You can then open it in an image editor like Photoshop to view the Image Size.

Once you’ve set your correct dimensions based on your trim size, page count, and paper type, upload the PNG file (that you downloaded from Amazon) and then add it to your Stencil canvas as a background image. It’s important that this layer is a background image so that it fits the Stencil canvas perfectly.

You may notice that when you download a KDP paperback book cover template file from Amazon, that sometimes the dimensions are ODD NUMBERS. This means that you can’t simply divide by two to get the ½ size dimensions required to make your Custom canvas size in Stencil.

With Merch By Amazon, design files needed to be EXACTLY the correct dimensions otherwise the file upload would not work. Even just a single pixel would throw everything off.

Well, it’s a little bit different with KDP.

You see, KDP paperback book covers are calculated by inches/centimeters, not pixels. Because of this, you can simply ADD ONE PIXEL to any KDP paperback book cover dimension that you need to divide by two. You can then get the corresponding Stencil dimensions.

That’s why all of the dimensions that are calculated in the previous charts for 6 x 9 book files that will be 1388 pixels for the height of the book (9 inches) that then get doubled to 2776 pixels in the final design file.

You saw how the original file for the 200-page 6 x 9 black ink on white paper book cover file was 3810 x 2775. Because 2775 was ODD, I added a single pixel to make it 2776 and then divided by two to get 1388.

So even though the file that will be uploaded to Amazon is technically one pixel larger than the original template file that we downloaded, you’ll find that Amazon accepts the files without issue because the dimensions as calculated as inches/centimeters will still be correct with the additional pixel added.

Just be sure that when you download your finished KDP paperback book cover design from Stencil that you choose Retina/@2X under Dimensions. This way, your final cover design will have the correct dimensions to upload to your KDP account.

KDP paperback book cover files also need to be saved (and uploaded) as PDF files. Currently Stencil does not export or save files as PDFs. When you do create a KDP paperback cover file in Stencil, save it as a JPG or PNG file and then use another program like Photoshop or a web-based file conversion website to convert the file into a PDF.

Amazon also provides some pretty amazing resources to help with the creation of your Kindle paperback cover.

PlaceIt has tons of mockups specifically for Kindle books. Just search PlaceIt for keyword ‘Kindle’ to see them all. These mockups will display your Kindle book on Kindle devices that have black & white e-ink screens.

The most common image dimensions used for Kindle mockups in PlaceIt is 1264 x 1680. If needed, you can crop the uploaded Kindle Cover design, or you can use PlaceIt’s free cropping tool.

PlaceIt has some great mockups for Kindle, but they all show the book’s cover in black & white since Kindle devices use an e-ink display. PlaceIt has an entire section for iPads and you can also search for the keyword ‘tablets’ and then upload your full color Kindle book cover design to get some great looking mockup images of you Kindle book.

As much as I like the Kindle device mockups, there are also times to use mockups with the full-color cover shown on an iPad or tablet. Not everyone has a dedicated Kindle device, so it’s important to let people know that they can still read your book on their devices.

Many people also read their Kindle books on their smartphones, so feel free to use the iPhone and Android mockups if you prefer.

Now that you’ve made an amazing cover for your paperback book, let’s make some great 3D mockups that you can use to promote and share! The most common image dimensions used for book mockups in PlaceIt is 1000 x 1400. If needed, you can crop the uploaded book Cover design, or you can use PlaceIt’s free cropping tool.

Instantly add text to any image - just right-click!

The Stencil Chrome extension lets you highlight text anywhere on the web and turn it into an image instantly. See an image you want to add some text to? Just right-click any image and select “Open Image with Stencil”.

Then you can start creating and customizing your image!

· Over 2,300,000+ new royalty-free background photos (with search)

· Over 2,000,000+ royalty-free icons (with search)

· Over 100,000+ quotes (with search)

· 925+ all new templates

· 2,850+ fonts

· Instantly add captions to images on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest & Instagram and any images on the web!

· Custom watermarks

· Works on any website!

When posting images to social media, it’s a good idea to post them in their optimal dimensions. When you use other dimensions (too big, to small, or different aspect ratios), your images can get cut-off or cropped, and your followers may not be able to see the most important parts of your images.

Another reason that it is important to use the proper, optimal dimensions on social media is that it can also signal to your followers that you ‘know what you are doing’ and care about their experience with your content.

Conversely, if you use the wrong dimensions, it can make you appear sloppy or unorganized when it comes to your social media accounts. Even if unintentional, this can send the wrong message to your followers.

Merch By Amazon and Kindle Direct Publishing are non-exclusive platforms. That means that you are free to offer your designs and books on other sites and other platforms. Amazon.com will likely always be your number one sales channel, but if you want to try some other print-on-demand sites, this chapter contains a list of the most popular ones.

Merch By Amazon and KDP are amazing, but they aren’t perfect. There are sites that have additional print-on-demand products that are not currently offered by Amazon. If you have customers who want specific items that are not offered by Merch By Amazon, then you may want to consider working with a different site that does offer those products.

You may also have customers who live in countries where Amazon may not currently ship. For these customers, you may want to find a different print-on-demand site that does ship to those countries.

Remember, while it may sound great to have your designs on multiple platforms and potentially get more exposure (and hopefully more sales), remember that it will take time to both upload and manage your listings on other sites. Just remember that sometimes that same time would be better spent on your Amazon accounts.

Many of these additional print-on-demand sites offer Amazon integrations so that you can offer THEIR products on Amazon through your accounts! This takes a few extra steps and requires an Amazon Seller Central account ($39.99/month @ sell.amazon.com).

Some of these sites (PrintTech, for example) offer additional integrations for listing your products on multiple marketplaces. PrintTech can even offer CUSTOMIZED products (where a customer can choose to personalize their order on Amazon or Etsy) and it’s all completely automated!

PrintTech is my favorite third-party print-on-demand site because they offer some amazing Amazon and Etsy integrations. They also allow customers to CUSTOMIZE their Amazon and Etsy orders!

PrintTech offers the only auto-fulfillment integration for Amazon Custom Print On Demand!

You can quickly and easily list your print-on-demand products on Amazon Custom and PrintTech takes care of the rest. No more manually editing designs to add user customized text. PrintTech automates the entire process for you!

Sell personalized products on Amazon with just a few clicks. Their new push-button integration makes the process seamless. Connect your Amazon account, upload your designs, and edit your descriptions. PrintTech handles the rest.

Do you want to learn more about print-on-demand, Merch By Amazon, and KDP? Do you feel overwhelmed with all of the options and you’re not sure where to start or how to move forward?

You know other people are seeing success with these platforms, so how are they doing it? You want a coach/mentor to get you on the right track?

Helping people succeed with Amazon is what I do best! I’ve been working with Amazon for a long time and I’ve helped thousands of people find success with their many platforms.

I’ve done everything from publish books, host events, and keynote conferences, but the BEST way to help people succeed (by far) that I’ve found is through CHALLENGES.

Throughout the year, I host The Merch Challenge. It consists of 14 days of LIVE training with me, Chris Green. We cover one specific topic each day as we all move towards a common goal, together.

But don’t just take my word for it. There are hundreds of successful students who have successfully completed The Merch Challenge!

Merch Challenge members can order their own Merch Challenge Workbook to follow along with the daily Merch By Amazon and KDP training.