This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to map your product catalog with Gelato's product UIDs, a crucial step in ensuring a seamless integration with the Gelato API.
Finding the Right Gelato Product UID
Before you start selling, you'll need to connect the products in your store with the corresponding Gelato product UIDs. This process ensures that your orders are printed on the right product and with the correct specifications. Here's how:
Go to the Gelato product catalog.
Browse the categories or use the search bar to find the product you're looking for.
Once you've found your desired product, select the specific format, size, and paper type you need.
On the product page, you'll find the product UID. This unique code identifies all the specifics of the product, including its size, paper type, coating, and more.
Understanding Gelato Product UIDs
A Gelato product UID is more than just a random string of characters. It's a detailed code that conveys all the essential information about a product. Let's break down an example:
For a 30x40cm Classic matte poster in vertical orientation, the UID is: flat_300x400-mm-12x16-inch_170-gsm-65lb-uncoated_4-0_ver.
Here's what each part of the code means:
flat_300x400-mm-12x16-inch: Indicates the product is flat (not folded) and specifies the dimensions in millimeters and inches.
170-gsm-65lb-uncoated: Specifies the paper weight in grams per square meter (gsm) and pounds (lb), and mentions it's uncoated paper.
4-0: Indicates the printing type. In this case, it's 4-0, meaning full-color printing on one side (CMYK) and no printing on the other side.
ver: Indicates the orientation of the artwork on the final printed product, which is vertical in this example.
Bleed
When designing your artwork, remember to include a bleed area of 4mm on all sides. Bleed ensures that there are no white edges when your product is cut to its final size. For detailed design specifications, check out Gelato's design requirements.
In the example of the 30x40cm poster, the file you submit should have dimensions of 308 x 408 mm (including bleed) with a content area of 300 x 400 mm.
Protection
Gelato offers various protection options for your printed products, such as matte or glossy finishes. However, the availability of these options might vary depending on the specific product you choose.
Here are a few examples to illustrate how protection is indicated in the product UID:
cards_pf_bb_pt_350-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-0_hor - Printed on one side without protection.
cards_pf_bb_pt_350-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-4_hor - Printed on both sides without protection.
cards_pf_bb_pt_350-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-0_ct_matt-protection_prt_1-0_hor - Printed on one side with matte protection on one side.
cards_pf_bb_pt_350-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-4_ct_glossy-protection_prt_1-1_hor - Printed on both sides with glossy protection on both sides.
Format (Flat vs. Folded)
The format specified in the product UID always refers to the final product's size and shape after folding. This is particularly important to keep in mind when designing products that involve folding.
For example, the UID brochures_pf_a5_pt_350-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-4_ft_fold-ver_ver represents a final product that's an A5 brochure folded vertically. However, the file you'd submit would be an A4-sized design in landscape orientation. This A4 design would then be folded vertically to create the final A5 brochure.
Paper Options and Regional Standards
Gelato offers a range of paper types to cater to different needs and preferences. The available paper options will be listed on the product page when selecting the product. Additionally, paper weight can be specified in either gram per square meter (gsm) or pounds (lb), depending on the region where the product is being printed.
For instance:
Germany: cards_pf_bb_pt_350-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-0_ct_matt-protection_prt_1-1_hor (paper weight in gsm)
United States: cards_pf_bb_pt_130-lb-cover-coated-silk_cl_4-0_ct_matt-protection_prt_1-1_hor (paper weight in lb)
Folding Variations
Gelato offers both vertical and horizontal folding options for applicable products. This allows for greater flexibility in design and final product presentation. Here's a closer look at each folding type:
Vertical Folding, Vertical Artwork Orientation: The UID would look something like this: folded-flyers_pf_a5_pt_170-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-4_ft_fold-ver_ver. You would submit an A4 landscape (horizontal) PDF, which would then be folded vertically (ft_fold-ver) to create a final A5 document with vertically oriented artwork (_ver).
Horizontal Folding, Horizontal Artwork Orientation: The UID would be similar to this: folded-flyers_pf_a5_pt_170-gsm-coated-silk_cl_4-4_ft_fold-hor_hor. In this case, you would submit an A4 portrait (vertical) PDF, which would be folded horizontally (ft_fold-hor) to produce a final A5 document with horizontally oriented artwork (_hor).
