Authors entering this giveaway should be mindful of the following:

• The total prize fund and number of winners may vary between each Most Wanted giveaway. The period during which the “Bounty” (total prize fund) is offered starts on the day the Most Wanted post is made and ends on the date specified in the announcement (“competition period”). All this information is stated in each Most Wanted announcement.
• All contest winners MUST keep their item online and available for sale on our marketplace for a minimum of 2 years from the final approval date.
• Authors continue to receive their normal commission rate on each sale.
• “Cash” prizes are paid by PayPal or Moneybookers only. Authors should ensure they have either of these payment vehicles available prior to entering the giveaway. No alternative payment arrangements are possible.
• The number of total prizes any one author is eligible to win in any one Most Wanted giveaway is stated in each announcement and may differ from event to event. An author will be unable to win ALL of the Bounty, only part of the available Bounty, based on the individual event posting. For example, a competition may offer a $100 reward for the first 20 items in a category, with a maximum of 3 prizes per author. If the author submits more than one item in the competition period, the author can get up to three $100 prizes ($300 of the total $2000 Bounty) based on submission date of approved items.
• Prizes are only given to APPROVED items based on the submission (upload) date of finally approved items. Items that are rejected due to not meeting ANY of our standard file preparation or quality criteria (see our marketplace upload instructions) are not eligible for prizes. But if an initially rejected item is improved or fixed, resubmitted during the competition period and then subsequently approved, the item becomes eligible for the giveaway. The eligibility date is based on the submission date of the finally approved item, NOT the submission date of earlier rejected versions of an item. Our decisions on whether items meet approval criteria are final.
• NO correspondence or inquiries regarding status of prizes shall be made to staff or support. We will post all winning usernames/authors in the forums and/or Envato Notes and we will contact all winners directly.
• Prior to receiving prizes, winners will be notified to complete an online authorization form to accept certain competition terms. The main purpose here is for authors to accept the agreement of keeping their approved file available on our marketplaces for a minimum of 2 years from approval. Winners will be given two weeks to respond (if there is no response we may award the prize to another author based on submission dates of approved items).
• We reserve the right to move items incorrectly uploaded to the requested category to their correct category, which may impact eligibility for Envato’s Most Wanted.

GraphicRiver reviewer Kailoon has put together some useful tips & tricks to help you prepare your submission for the Logo Templates category on GraphicRiver. As well as referring to our Logo Template Upload Instructions, the useful information below will also help authors avoid getting their file rejected.

1. Simplicity – While authors generally try to create something simple, simple doesn’t mean a basic square will do the job. You will need a concept before creating the ‘shape’.
2. Complexity – Some authors try to provide a very unique logo with lots of effects applied to it, such as gradients and drop shadows etc. Authors need to consider how well the logo will print also.
3. Combination – There are many good logos but when it is combined with a poor choice of font, it will fail to make your logo stand out from the crowd. Be sure to give your font and typography as much attention as your actual logo.
4. Flexibility – One common reason why we reject logo submissions is because of a lack of flexibility. For example, a container that can’t accommodate a longer business name, a tiny space that may cause a problem in small scale printing, a logo which requires a fix to a letter/character to make it work. Logo templates are different from logos. It should be easy to use and flexible enough for various type of purposes.
5. Concept – It’s always a good practice to start your logo template with a basic concept. A good practice to create conceptual logo templates is to provide more options of how it can be implemented in different options/situations. If you can’t think of any, then this will reduce the utility to the customer and may impact the success of your logo.
6. Illustration & Logo templates – There is a huge difference between normal illustrations & logo templates. You can’t simply have a silhouette of a man standing beside a business name and call it a logo template. A logo is more like a complete branding experience in that it should be part of an idea and it should mean something.
7. Variations – We recommend including multiple variations for a logo template. Perhaps provide multicolor versions, a single color version, black & white versions or a version with a different perspective. You can also play with the placement of the elements, for example horizontal and vertical versions, an inverse version or perhaps place the logo within a shape ( circle / square / triangle etc ).
8. Glossy / Special Effects – Authors tend to add multiple special effects to a logo which is actually really bad practice. A good logo can be very effective when it is kept simple and can deliver a message.

Finally, a couple of very important reminders about your submission that authors need to be mindful of before they submit Logo Templates to GraphicRiver are the following. For a full list of submission requirements however, please read our full upload instructions:

• Main file should always be in .EPS or .PSD with editable text.
• Item description example: While this is not a mandatory requirement, here’s a great starting point for your item description that gives customers all the info they need about your logo:
  Usage: Perfect for fresh bars, drinks, fruits and other healthy products.
  Font: Font Name – url to purchase / download the font
  Files included: EPS, PSD, PDF

Useful Templates

We have provided the following files/templates that you can download/use for the purpose of seeing how to construct your main file with variations as well as displaying your preview image.

EPS Starter Kit: logo_template_starterkit_v1.eps

Preview Image 1: preview_image_v1.png and preview_image_v1.psd:

Preview Image 2: preview_image_v2.png and preview_image_v2.psd:

1. All shirts must be in vector EPS format.
2. Shirt designs should be the same size in inches as they are meant to be on the actual shirt.
3. Your EPS must be in CMYK color mode.
4. Organize your layers by color. For example, you’d have a layer for everything red and another for everything blue. This makes it much easier for the printer.
5. Keep in mind that many potential buyers will be screen printing your designs. Each extra color in your design brings extra costs. Also, most screen printing machines can only handle 4 to 6 colors, meaning that when you have more, you significantly reduce your buyer’s options when choosing a printer.
6. Make sure the fonts are easily editable by the buyer. If you’re using a font that doesn’t come standard on both Mac and PC, either include the font itself or a link to where it can be downloaded. If you’d like to include it, make sure you have the legal rights to do so.

Step 2: Make Sure That You and Your File Don’t Get Banned

1. Do not upload borrowed assets. Note: many freebies and downloads from stock sites are not licensed for redistribution and resale. When in doubt, get permission from the asset author or make your own.
2. Only use fonts, images, photos, icons, brushes, filters, textures, patterns, and other assets which you have the rights to use. It is YOUR responsibility to ensure you have the rights to use any materials. We will remove or reject your file if it violates another person’s copyright or trademark. Please review this article for more information on acceptable assets.
3. Do not create a t-shirt based on a tutorial or traced from an existing t-shirt.
4. You may not copy the design, style, or technique of files from GraphicRiver or elsewhere. There is a fine line between being inspired by another file and copying it. If you upload a t-shirt that looks too similar to another t-shirt or file, it will be removed and you will receive a warning or possibly be banned.
5. Do not use trademarked logos or copyright protected items in your t-shirt.
6. Do not use famous landmarks, architecture, or works or art (such as the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Liberty) that are protected under U.S. or International copyright laws.

Step 3: Upload Your Files

1. Title and description
   1. Write your title and description in the text areas. Please note that your description must accurately describe all elements of your main file–be especially careful to mention anything shown in the preview which is not included in the zip (example photos, fonts, mock-ups) or note if any main element is rasterized or not editable. Failure to accurately describe your item might result in buyer refund requests or your item getting disabled. Get some tips.
   2. If you’re using a font that the buyer needs to download from another site, always include the link in the description.
   3. Click Preview Description to make sure it looks right.
2. Thumbnail
   1. Create an 80 x 80 pixel JPG or PNG thumbnail that accurately represents your t-shirt.
   2. Click Upload and select the thumbnail on your computer.
   3. Under the word “Thumbnail,” click the dropdown and select the thumbnail.
3. Preview Image.
   1. Create an 590 pixel wide jpg preview image. JPGs may be any height, but we recommend 590×700 pixels for optimal viewing. Note: files MUST be a JPG–PNGs or GIFs will not display correctly. Please note that we provide a PSD T-shirt template free of charge to GraphicRiver authors for the sole purpose of creating a preview image for your GraphicRiver item. If you wish to use the template for any other purpose outside of GraphicRiver, you will need to purchase a license here.
      Tip: When a buyer hovers over your item’s thumbnail, if you have an extremely long preview, only the top portion of it will show on hover. Read about what makes a good preview image.
   2. Click Upload and select the preview image on your computer.
   3. Under the words “Preview Image”, click the dropdown and select the preview image.
4. OPTIONAL: Preview Image Set
   1. If you want to provide additional preview images for potential buyers, you can create a Preview Image Set. Create a zip containing additional JPG images which are no larger than 900×900 pixels. NOTE: Preview Image Sets must be zip files, even if you’re only providing one additional image.
   2. Name the 900×900 pixel JPG files in the order which you want them to appear, using double digits. For example: 01_preview1.jpg, 02_preview2.jpg, 03_closeup.jpg… NOTE: Please do NOT include any other files than the preview JPGs, and do not include your preview JPGs in your main zip.
   3. Under the words “Preview Image Set” click the dropdown and select your preview set zip.
5. Main Files
   1. Zip (not Rar) all the files the buyer will need, including an EPS. If needed, be sure to also included any other necessary files like fonts, instructions, or additional file types.
   2. Click Upload and select main.zip on your computer.
   3. Under the word “Main File(s)” click the dropdown and select main.zip.
   Helpful Hint - To save time, instead of uploading your thumbnail, preview image, preview source, and main files individually, you can upload them all at once. Just click upload and ctrl+click all the files.
6. Categories & Attributes
   1. Select a subcategory within the t-shirt category.
   2. Select what version of Adobe Creative Suite your files open in.
   3. Select your file formats included in the ZIP. Please include ALL formats you’ve provided.
7. Tags
   1. Write relevant tags, separated by commas, in the tag field. Please note that tags may contain multiple words. ex: “Sports Team t-Shirt” or “Corporate Retreat Shirt”
   2. Make sure each tag is spelled correctly (using American Standard English).
   3. Limit your tags to 15 total.
   Helpful Hint - Effective and relevant tagging can make the difference between 10 and 1000 sales. Put yourself in the shoes of a potential buyer looking for your file. Try to imagine what they’d search for. Test out that search. Ask the people around you what they would search for.
8. Notes to the Reviewer
   1. If there’s anything you need to let the reviewer know to properly review your file, let them know here.
9. Read the Disclaimer and Click the Checkbox.
10. Click Upload and Make Some Money! Please note that reviewing your file may take up to a week.

Download Our Templates

Simply download one of the templates below before you begin your design and use the guides inside each file to ensure your design is not only ready for GraphicRiver but also ready for printing purposes as soon as a customer purchases your design! Remember: Extend the background of your design to the Bleed line but ensure any text, logos or content is positioned entirely within the Safe Zone and away from the Trim Line.

3.5″ x 2″ (Horizontal)

Photoshop PSD | InDesign INDD | EPS Format

2″ x 3.5″ (Vertical)

Photoshop PSD | InDesign INDD | EPS Format

Non-standard Size Business Cards

If you would like to create and sell a non-standard business card size on GraphicRiver, you can! Simply ensure your design contains a 0.125″ space between the Safe Zone and Trim Line and then another 0.125″ space between the Trim Line and Bleed.

Submit your Design

Once you’ve downloaded the template and created your design, you may submit it to GraphicRiver. Please also see our full Print Template upload instructions for further information.

Special thanks go to Dzinc for suggesting the idea of a Visual Rejection Guide and providing a helpful template for the summary. Special thanks go to the users who contributed work to the Guide, including NechitaPaulFlavius, kimi1122, agodesa, magnoworks, kozmica, ToivoMedia, and many, many more!

File Attributes

Category. Each upload category has descriptive sub-categories to help buyers who are browsing for files. Is your Graphic a “background” or is it a “Character”? Make sure you pick a sub-category that best describes the style or subject of your file.

Pixel Dimensions. This attribute describes how big your file is in pixels. You’ll want to provide the width and height of your image in a basic format, like 800×600 for 800 pixels wide and 600 pixels tall. If you are submitting a file pack or an image that contains multiple, unconnected elements (like a button or icon set), you only need to provide one size – usually for your largest item. You can provide additional dimensions in the File Description to help buyers know what to expect! Note: This attribute is not required for Vectors.

Print Dimensions. This optional attribute is the exact size which your file will be if printed, in inches, if printed at the standard 300dpi. Do not include bleeds in this measurement. Note: This is only required on files which have been designed for printing, such as Print Templates.

Layered? Indicate whether your item is fully layered and editable. This attribute is set to “No” by default. Note that if you choose “Yes,” your item needs to contain clearly labeled and organized layers with editable elements. Note: In order for a Vector file to be considered layered, layers must be clearly labeled and grouped with helpful organization.

Tileable? Indicate whether your item can be tiled in a seamless manner. This attribute is set to “No” by default. If your item is intended to be used as a tileable texture or pattern and is seamless, choose “Yes.”

Compatible OS. This attribute is only used in Fonts. Indicate which OS (Mac or PC) the font is designed for.

Optimum Size. This attribute is only used in Fonts. Indicate the ideal size for the font’s use, in points or pixels. E.g. 12pt, 8px.

Minimum Adobe CS. The minimum Adobe Creative Suite version compatible with ALL the features of your file. Note that certain modern features like Smart Objects and Smart Filters are only compatible with newer versions.

Files Included. The format of files provided in your item. Important: If some included formats are not as editable as the main file (such as providing rasterized versions of vector files), it is the author’s responsibility to note the differences in the File Description. Uneditable formats are a common cause for buyer refunds, so it is helpful to clearly describe your files.

File Tags

Tags are very important tools in order to help buyers find your file. Take time to pick accurate, descriptive tags for your file. All tags should use American English spelling and be single words. (E.g., “dog” rather than “fuzzy dog.”)

Theme tags should describe the concept, industry, or idea related to the file. Themes are not what’s physically depicted in the item itself (use Subject for that), but are what the graphic is related to or an idea it is trying to communicate. E.g. business, peace, holiday, celebration.

Subject tags are what is actually depicted in the graphic. E.g. dog, phone, car, sunset, city.

Color tags list the dominate color in an item. Minor or accent colors don’t need to be listed. E.g., gray, blue, red, green.

Style tags describe the design or illustrative style of the file. Try to avoid generic terms like “professional” or “web 2.0″ and choose terms that accurately reflect the design choices made. E.g., grunge, vintage, mod, comic, hand drawn.

Usage tags describe the purpose for which the items were designed to be used. E.g. proposal, advertising, wedding.

All submissions to the Isolated Objects category must be photographed with a camera. Graphics, illustrations and 3D Renders are not accepted in the Isolated Objects category.

Image Quality
Your photograph should be at least 4.0 megapixels (i.e. a minimum of 2000px x 2000px). The “quality” of your photograph should be to a similar standard you may find in a stock photography library. As “quality” is subjective, here is some specific criteria we will look for in your submission, so always ensure your photograph meets the criteria below before submitting it to us:

• Is your object in focus, and free of blur when viewed at 100%? We always recommend that objects are photographed using a tripod to minimize blur.
• Is your photograph exposed correctly? Overexposed or underexposed photographs will be rejected.
• Are there excessive artifacts in your image when viewed at 100%? If so, your image may be compressed too heavily or over-sharpened.
• Is your object clipped/masked effectively? See our Clipping and Masking section below for more details.

Clipping/Masking
In order for your photographed object to be eligible for the Isolated Objects category, it obviously has to be isolated from its background! If you are not sure how to clip/mask an object from its background, here are some recommended tutorials that cover some of the important principles, tools and techniques in Photoshop:

• Masking 101
• Masking Basics in Photoshop 5
• Masking Hair in Photoshop CS5
• 5 Great Background Masking Techniques in Photoshop

Ultimately, what we are looking for are clean, clear and realistic edges around your object. Jagged, pixelated, unnatural edges or poorly executed masking/clipping will result in your file getting rejected.

Trademarks
Your isolated object must not contain any trademarks or company logos. Trademarks must be removed from your images/photographs before submitting to us. For example, let’s say you have taken a photograph of a T-Shirt with a small logo/emblem on the front of the shirt. Digitally remove the logo/emblem from the T-Shirt so that the shirt becomes generic and is not branded in any way.

Utility
Your submission must always have some utility to the customer. If you upload something that is excessively abstract with little use to the customer, we reserve the right to reject your submission.

File Format
Your file must always be in PSD format. Ideally, it should contain two layers. The top layer will contain your isolated/masked, photographed object, and the bottom layer should be transparent. This not only helps the reviewer when reviewing your submission, but it is also useful to the customer so they can immediately see that the object is masked/isolated correctly.

Examples

Here are some great examples of well executed items currently in our library that demonstrate a combination of excellent quality photography and clean, clear masked edges. Your submissions should try to emulate, if not surpass the quality shown below:

Street Motorcycle by yio

Compact Fluorescent Lightbulb by jsternig

Business File Folders by jocosity

1. Any file may be sold individually as well as in a pack, but in no more than one pack.

2. There are a minimum and maximum number of files allowed in a pack depending on the file category.

• Graphics Web Elements (buttons, bars, etc): 8-50 elements
• Graphics Backgrounds: 3-12 backgrounds
• Graphics (all other): 3-30 elements
• Vectors Web Elements (buttons, bars, etc): 8-50 elements
• Vectors: 3-30 elements
• Icons: 8-100 unique icons
• Textures: 4-30 textures
• Add-On Styles: 8-50 styles
• Add-On Brushes: 8-30 brushes
• Add-On Shapes: 8-30 shapes
• Add-On Gradients: 8-50 gradients
• Design Templates: 3-12 templates
• Presentation Templates: 3-12 templates
• Isolated Objects: 3-20 objects
• Fonts: 3-8 fonts

Exceptions to this rule will be made based on group relevancy. For example, a pack of 50 U.S. state flags would be accepted because it’s a logical grouping requiring 50 files.

3. Items grouped together must be relevant to each other. For example, a pack containing a music player, a template, and an animation would be rejected whereas a pack of three site templates would be acceptable.

As long as these conditions are met, authors may upload file packs. Happy uploading!