Guides
Integrate your designs with Printful and Gelato
A step-by-step technical guide to connecting OwnStarMap with your POD suppliers and automating your production workflow.
Integration with Printful
Printful is the most widely used POD supplier among OwnStarMap resellers, thanks to its consistent print quality and native e-commerce integrations.
Step 1 — Create a free Printful account and connect it to your store (Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce). The Printful app automatically syncs your products and orders.
Step 2 — Configure your products. In Printful's mockup generator, upload your OwnStarMap design (PNG file, 300 DPI). Adjust the print zone for each product: posters use the full surface, canvases need a 3 cm margin for frame wrapping, mugs have a specific printable area (approximately 20×8 cm), and phone cases have a precise template per model.
Step 3 — Print settings. For posters and canvases, select giclée printing (better quality, more accurate colors). For mugs, sublimation printing is the standard. For phone cases, direct UV printing offers the best results.
Step 4 — Test order. Before launching your store, order one of each product using Printful's discount code (20% for samples). Check print quality, colors, packaging, and delivery times. This step is crucial: you need to know exactly what product your customers will receive.
Integration with Gelato
Gelato stands out with its network of 130+ local printing facilities in 33 countries, reducing delivery times and carbon footprint.
Step 1 — Create a free Gelato account and connect your store (Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, BigCommerce). The interface is similar to Printful, with automatic order synchronization.
Step 2 — Select your products and upload OwnStarMap designs. Gelato offers an online design editor that lets you adjust placement, cropping, and margins directly in the browser. Templates are pre-configured with safety zones — impossible to have your design bleed out.
Step 3 — Choose print quality. Gelato typically offers two levels: standard and premium. For star maps, premium is recommended — the cost difference is €1–2 but the rendering of dark colors (the sky background) is significantly better.
Step 4 — Configure shipping. Gelato's advantage is local printing: an order placed by a German customer will be printed in Germany, not in Latvia or the USA. Result: 2–4 day delivery times instead of 7–14 days, and shipping costs reduced by 30–50%.
Step 5 — Order a sample. Gelato offers a 50% discount on sample orders. Test at least one poster and one canvas to validate quality before launch.
File formats and resolution
OwnStarMap designs are optimized for print on demand, but a few best practices ensure flawless results with every print.
File format: OwnStarMap generates high-resolution PNG files. PNG is the recommended format for both Printful and Gelato because it preserves transparency and doesn't compress details (unlike JPEG). Never convert an OwnStarMap design to JPEG — you'll lose quality in detailed areas (fine stars, text).
Resolution: designs are generated at 300 DPI (dots per inch), the industry standard for quality printing. This resolution ensures sharp rendering even on large formats (60×90 cm canvas). Printful and Gelato accept a minimum of 150 DPI — OwnStarMap designs are well above the minimum requirement.
Color spaces: designs are generated in RGB (Red-Green-Blue), the digital standard. POD suppliers automatically convert to CMYK (Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Key) for printing. The dark sky background colors and bluish star tones reproduce faithfully in this conversion.
Margins and safety zones: allow a minimum 3 mm margin on each edge for posters (guillotine cutting), 3 cm for canvases (frame wrapping), and follow the templates provided by Printful/Gelato for phone cases and mugs. The OwnStarMap design features a background that extends beyond the stars, allowing cropping without content loss.
Automation and advanced tips
As your order volume grows, automation becomes essential to maintain profitability and your sanity.
Workflow automation: use Zapier or Make (formerly Integromat) to create automations between your store, OwnStarMap, and your POD supplier. Examples: Slack notification when an order arrives, automatic email to the customer with estimated timeline, reminder to create the design if the order hasn't been processed after 24 hours.
Design templates: create reusable templates in OwnStarMap to speed up creation. If 80% of your orders are wedding posters, set up a "Wedding" template with optimal colors, fonts, and layout. You'll only need to change the date, location, and names.
Multi-supplier management: some resellers use Printful for phone cases and mugs (better quality on these products) and Gelato for posters and canvases (local printing, faster delivery). This hybrid strategy optimizes both quality and delivery times.
Quality control: order a sample whenever you change suppliers or product types. Colors may vary slightly between printing facilities. If you notice a discrepancy, adjust brightness or contrast in the OwnStarMap design before uploading to the supplier.
Troubleshooting common issues: if the print appears pixelated, verify you're using the HD file (not the low-resolution preview). If colors are too light, increase saturation by 5–10% in your image editor before uploading. If text is cut off, check the template's safety margins.
Frequently asked questions
Which POD supplier should I choose — Printful or Gelato?
Both are excellent. Printful has the advantage of reliability and mature e-commerce integrations. Gelato has the advantage of local printing (faster delivery, reduced costs). For European resellers, Gelato is often the better choice. Test both with sample orders before deciding.
Are OwnStarMap designs compatible with other POD suppliers?
Yes, 300 DPI PNG files are a universal standard. OwnStarMap designs are compatible with Printful, Gelato, Gooten, SPOD, Prodigi, and any other POD supplier that accepts high-resolution PNG files.
How do I handle different print zones for different products?
Each POD supplier provides templates with exact print zones. Upload your OwnStarMap design and adjust positioning in the online editor. For mugs and phone cases, center the stars in the printable area. For posters and canvases, the design adapts automatically.
What if printed colors don't match the screen?
A slight difference is normal (screens display in RGB, printing uses CMYK). To minimize differences: calibrate your monitor, order a sample to see real colors, and adjust brightness and saturation if needed. Star map dark backgrounds generally reproduce very faithfully.
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