Using Redbubble

How to set up Redbubble on OrbitKit

Jeff Schnitzer avatar
Written by Jeff Schnitzer
Updated over a week ago

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Redbubble uses Airlock and Satellite Sync. You may wish to read that documentation first.

Setup

Step 1: Create a Redbubble venue

You do this normally using the OrbitKit UI. Visit "Venues & Blueprints" and add a venue.

Step 2: Link the venue to your Redbubble account

This requires the OrbitKit Airlock chrome extension.

  1. Install the extension in your browser

  2. Log into www.redbubble.com (be sure to click "Remember me")

  3. Click on the Airlock chrome extension icon in your browser's title bar

  4. Click "Link"

This links the Redbubble account you are logged into with this particular venue. In order for OrbitKit to publish exhibits to Redbubble, your browser must be logged into redbubble.com using this account.

Step 3: Turn on Satellite Sync

When you turn on Satellite Sync, Airlock with poll periodically for new exhibits to publish or update. When it finds something to do, Airlock will create a new tab to redbubble.com and automate it to perform the appropriate work. You can watch this tab and interact with it - though clicking or typing may interrupt the work.

How Satellite Sync Works

When you link your Redbubble account to a venue, OrbitKit saves the username (but nothing else). When Satellite Sync is enabled, Airlock periodically:

  1. Checks to see if you are logged into redbubble.com, and with what username.

  2. Sends this username to OrbitKit and asks "is there anything to do in my Organization"? If so, open a tab in your browser and start working.

This means Satellite Sync cannot work if you log out of redbubble.com. Please read the Satellite Sync documentation for additional concerns.

Synchronization

OrbitKit can re-sync everything from the Blueprint, including price, product assortment, colors, pattern repetition, etc.

Artwork Positioning

OrbitKit's artwork positioning logic for Redbubble is fairly sophisticated. We compensate for interior transparent space and vertically center on products for which centering is appropriate.

If your blueprint is positioned on the left or right half of a product (eg, the front cover of a hardcover journal) then OrbitKit will position your artwork similarly.

Gotchas

  • Positioning for Acrylic Blocks, Coasters, and Art Boards is broken. If you want to enable these products, you may need to use a pattern (which works).

  • Redbubble will ban accounts that use generic designs purchased online. You can't use designs you download from "license our designs and sell them" websites at all. They've already been uploaded to Redbubble hundreds of times! If you upload images like this (especially if your account is brand new), they will likely freeze your account and ignore your pleas. All POD sites want original artwork; Redbubble actively enforces it. Note: You can certainly use stock design elements in newly-created designs, but watch out for lazy VAs!

  • This is worth repeating: If you download artwork from sites like Vexels and upload them to Redbubble, their automated system will likely freeze your account. Even just one. Even if you have lots of other original content.

  • If you have multiple Redbubble accounts, do not upload the same artwork to more than one! This is considered abuse and may also get your account frozen.

Extra Help Creating Blueprints

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