This article walks you through a few steps you will need to go through if you want to prepare your product images for Kickflip using Photoshop.
If you need any help, we recommend asking one of our artwork expert partners or finding a graphic artist on platforms like Fiverr, Upwork or Peopleperhour.
Preparing your workfile
Loading your images
In Photoshop, load all of your images into the same workfile using the Load Files into Stack script.
File > Scripts > Load Files into Stack...
Resizing your images
From one view to the other, your images need to have the same size relative to each other. If a view is larger than the others, make sure to resize it using the Scale tool.
Edit > Transform > Scale
Aligning your images
To avoid a “shifting” effect when switching between views, you need to make sure all of your images are aligned vertically and horizontally.
1) Select the Move tool;
2) Select all of your layers;
3) Click on Align horizontal centers and Align vertical centers.
Editing your canvas size
Once all of your images are properly sized and aligned, use the Crop tool to trim the edges of your image. Make sure to leave an even border of about 20 to 40 pixels all around your product.
IMPORTANT! Remember that all of your product images need to have the same size and that your canvas size must have that size too.
Cutting out your product in multiple parts
Use the pen tool to create paths. Start by tracing the outside shape of the product, then proceed to cut out your product, part by part.
Save and name your paths.
Make sure your paths are precisely at the intersection of two colors or zones.
Convert path to selection (anti-aliased).
Create a mask using your selection. Fill the mask with white or black depending on what needs to be hidden or shown.
Making your parts white
If you plan to apply colors dynamically on your product, you will need to make your product parts look white.
Select the layer containing the part you want to make white.
Desaturate it.
Image > Adjustments > Desaturate
Use the levels to adjust brightness, contrast, and tonal range of your part.
Image > Adjustments > Levels
HINT! You want to desaturate your images to make them the whitest possible without losing detail. If they are not desaturated enough, this will affect the final color displayed in the customizer.
Saving your images
Your images must be saved in transparent png format (PNG-24). They must be optimized for the web (72 dpi).
All your images must have the same size. The recommended image size is 1200 x 1200 px.
Saving larger images could affect the performance of your customizer, especially on mobile devices.
TIP
You can use Photoshop's Export Layers to Files feature to quickly export your layers to PNG-24. If you do so, uncheck the 'Trim Layers' box to make sure that all the exported images have the same size.
Compressing your png images to make your customizer load faster
To speed up your customizer, consider compressing your png files with TinyPNG.