For a high-quality digital painting sold as a download, the easiest and most effective method is to offer two primary formats in a single zipped folder . This provides both convenience and professional print quality for your customers.  Recommended format options - **Offer a high-quality JPEG for standard use.** A high-resolution JPEG is a versatile, universal format that is compatible with virtually all devices and printing services. - **Advantage for customers:** It's a smaller file size that is easy to download and preview, making it the most convenient option for most personal use cases. - **Recommendation:** When saving from Photoshop, use the highest possible quality setting to minimise compression loss. - **Offer a TIFF or PDF for professional printing.** A TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is an uncompressed, lossless format used by professional photographers and printers to preserve maximum image quality and detail. A print-ready PDF is another excellent option that ensures layout consistency and is universally supported by commercial printers. - **Advantage for customers:** This is the best option for customers who want to have the painting professionally printed on a large canvas, paper, or other merchandise. - **Recommendation:** Export this file at a resolution of 300 DPI for high-quality printing. - **Do not send the raw PSD file.** The original PSD file is large and only works with specific software like Adobe Photoshop. Most customers won't be able to open or use it.  - [A] How to prepare your files for selling on Square - [x] 21:35 - 22:10 Need to free up iCloud space ⏳ 2025-10-02 ✅ 2025-10-02 1. **Export from Photoshop:** From your high-resolution PSD file, save two copies of your artwork: - One high-quality JPEG for general use. - One TIFF or print-ready PDF for professional printing. 2. **Create a zipped folder:** Create a new folder, add both the JPEG and TIFF/PDF file, and compress it into a `.zip` file. This allows you to include multiple versions in a single download for your customers. 3. **Include instructions:** Add a "Read Me" text file to the folder with recommendations for how to use each file. This guides customers to the best option for their needs and reduces support requests. 4. **Upload to Square:** You can upload this zipped folder as a digital product in your Square Online store. - **File size:** Keep the total size of the zipped folder under 300 MB to directly upload it. - **File link:** If your zipped file exceeds 300 MB, you can upload it to a cloud service like Dropbox or Google Drive and provide a downloadable PDF containing the link. 5. **Use a low-res preview image:** For the product photo on your Square store, upload a much smaller, lower-resolution JPEG. This speeds up your website and prevents potential customers from downloading and misusing the high-quality file for free. --- A "Read Me" file is a simple, plain text file that contains important information for your customer . Including one in your digital download is a professional and customer-friendly practice. For your digital painting, the Read Me file should explain the different file versions you included and how to use them.  How to create a Read Me file on a Mac You can create a plain text file using the built-in **TextEdit** application. 1. Open TextEdit by searching for it with **Spotlight** (press `Command + Spacebar` and type "TextEdit"). 2. In the menu bar, go to **Format > Make Plain Text**. You can also use the keyboard shortcut `Shift + Command + T`. 3. Write the text for your file. - Explain what each file is for (e.g., "ArtworkName_Print.tiff for professional printing," "ArtworkName_Web.jpeg for sharing online"). - Offer guidance on printing or using the images. - Provide your contact information in case they have a question. 4. Go to **File > Save**. 5. In the save dialog box, name the file `README.txt` and choose the same location where your artwork files are saved.  [Simple Ways to Create a TXT File on Mac - wikiHow](https://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-TXT-File-on-Mac#:~:text=1,X%20Research%20source) Apr 3, 2025 — How to Save . txt File on Mac. Open the plain text document. Select File in the upper toolbar, and then move your cursor down until it hovers over Save. Click S... [wikiHow](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/web-development/readme-file/#:~:text=The%20file%20name%20readme%20contains,a%20prolonged%20period%20of%20time.) Readme: the file type simply explained with examples - Ionos Oct 8, 2020 — The file name readme contains a simple instruction and for good reason. The readme file is typically the first file a developer will look at before beginning a ... - [A] How to add the Read Me file to your zipped folder After you have created the `README.txt` file, you can add it to your zipped folder. 1. **Create a new folder** and move your files into it. - Locate your high-quality JPEG, your TIFF or PDF, and your `README.txt` file. - Create a new folder (using `Shift + Command + N`) and name it, for example, "ArtworkName_Downloads". - Drag all three files into this new folder. 2. **Compress the folder.** - Right-click (or `Control-click`) the "ArtworkName_Downloads" folder. - Select **Compress "ArtworkName_Downloads"** from the menu. 3. **Upload the `.zip` file.** A new file named `ArtworkName_Downloads.zip` will appear. This is the single file you will upload to your Square Online store for customers to purchase. - organising my shop products - https://support.squarespace.com/hc/en-us/articles/206541007-Organizing-products?platform=v6&websiteId=629e3e9c763fa1064a7a089d --- You can easily create a single, zipped folder on your iMac using the built-in Finder app . The best practice is to first place all your items into one folder and then compress that folder. This keeps everything organized for your customer.  - [A] Step-by-step guide to zipping files on a Mac 1. **Create a new folder.** Open your **Finder**, and in the location you prefer (like your Desktop), go to the menu bar and select **File > New Folder**. You can also use the shortcut `Shift + Command + N`. 2. **Name the folder.** Give your new folder a clear, customer-friendly name, like "ArtworkName_Downloads". 3. **Add your files to the folder.** Drag and drop the files you prepared into this new folder. For your painting, this would include the high-quality JPEG, the TIFF/PDF for printing, and your "Read Me" text file. 4. **Compress the folder.** Click once on the folder to select it. Then, either: - **Right-click** (or `Control-click`) the folder and choose **Compress "**[Folder Name]**"**from the menu. - Go to the menu bar and select **File > Compress "[Folder Name]"**. 5. **Locate the new `.zip` file.** A new file with the same folder name and a `.zip`extension will be created in the same location as your original folder. For example, "ArtworkName_Downloads.zip". 6. **Rename the `.zip` file (optional).** If you want to rename the final `.zip` file, click on it, press the `Return` key, and type the new name. [[My website]]