Looking to sell your own templates through the Eagle Cut Template Store? If you haven’t already, start by setting up your Creator Account and have it approved by Eagle. After you’ve received your approval (which can take up to 7 days) you can move to the next phase, actually uploading your template.
Now that you have a Creator Account, we can proceed to the fun stuff.
First, create your template. You can use the tools in Eagle Cut to create your template. While we continue to develop Eagle Cut’s tools, it’s best designed for simple editing and is not (currently) a replacement for dedicated vector art tools, but will do the job in a pinch.
What if Eagle Cut doesn’t support to the tools you need to create your template? Use any vector that can export in SVG format. A quick list of recommended editors:
Adobe Illustrator – While it’s not free, it’s one of the most known and used vector editors.
Inkscape – Free, and has a good tool set to work from
SVG-Edit – Free, but doesn’t have as many advanced tools as Illustrator or Inkscape. Can run directly in your browser and doesn’t require a download.
Note: We do no provide support for any of the above products. You’ll have to check their websites and forums if you have questions about editing in any of them
One you’ve created your design, you can export it as an SVG. For Illustrator, we recommend using 6 digits of precision when exporting. While Eagle Cut internally has it’s own specialized drawing format, it can import SVG image files. To import an SVG file, open Eagle Cut, and select “Edit” from the left hand column. In the editor, click “File -> Import -> SVG” Your SVG file should now appear in the editor.
What if your template isn’t already in SVG format?
If you own Adobe Illustrator, you can convert most vector formats (DXF, AI, etc.) to SVG format. If not, and your editor doesn’t support exporting to SVG, you can use an online Exporter such as Vector.Express to take your file from AI format to SVG format. (As with the editors mentioned previously, we cannot provide direct support for online editors – you’ll have to search their websites for help.)
SVG supports a lot of things Eagle Cut does not. Eagle Cut only supports vectors for cuts – things like fill colors, gradients, or specialized effects will be stripped when they are imported into Eagle Cut. After importing your SVG file, make sure all of your template is in there.
Now, make any adjustments you want inside of Eagle Cut. While not absolutely required, we do recommend saving your template under Load / Save Templates once.
- Plot your template once – make sure all your cuts appear properly before continuing, that way people who download your template get what they expect.
- Fill out the form. Be sure to include plenty of information for prospective customers to make an informed decision about if your template will work for them.
- Submit. Once you’ve uploaded it, it will take up to a week for Eagle to approve or decline your template.
Your template can be removed or declined for any reason, including:
- Copyrighted or Trademarked material belonging to anyone
- Material deemed offense or inappropriate
- Items not meeting the minimum utility value (for instance, a single line)
- Items not meeting the minimum quality standards (fails to cut properly, poor reviews, etc.)
- Items that are nearly perfect copies of a template belonging to someone else
- Any violation of the Eagle Cut Template Store Terms of Service
How much should your template cost?
That’s a hard question. One of the best examples for pricing is to look in the Official Templates. Generally, most Eagle Cut Official Templates (ones created here in house) run between $11 and $50, and are based upon complexity. Our templates are “cut to fit”, meaning when someone plots them, they fit around body molding, antennas, and other body fixtures without requiring a knife at installation time.
You can chose your pricing model based on any criteria you like, and can even give templates away (just enter “0” for a price) We recommend using our pricing as a model for it, but it’s entirely up to you.
What Tags Should I Use?
You must always start with the major section tag(s), such as Automotive, Marine, etc. Or, if it doesn’t fit in a specific category, you can use General. After that, get a little more specific. Is it for a Truck? Then add Truck. Is it for a Ford f150? Then add f150 as your next tag.
Case doesn’t matter – when users search, TRUCK is the same a TRuCk, or truck.
It’s important that your tags match what you’re offering to end customers. If it’s not obvious, no one may see your template, and your sales will be low.
Do I Need Installation Instructions?
We recommend installation instructions for all templates, but can understand if your template is too simple (if it’s just a fancy star that can be applied to any surface and is only one layer would be a great example of one that requires no instructions or just “Plot and Install.”)
