Getting started

ArtworkDesk follows each custom order from the moment it's taken to the day it's dispatched. You add the order, the customer sends their design, you send a mockup for them to approve, and approved work moves through your production board.

You can be up and running in an afternoon. This is the order we suggest.

1. Make it look like your business

Open Settings > Business and branding. Add your logo, pick your brand colour and check your business name, phone and address. Customers see these on every page and email, so it's worth doing first. See Business details and branding.

2. Add your products

Open Products and add the blanks and items you decorate: T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, tote bags and so on. Give each one its usual decoration and a lead time, so new orders get a due date automatically. See Products.

3. Set your prices (if you send quotes)

Open Price books and fill in quantity-break prices for your products, with any setup fee. Quotes then price themselves. See Price books.

4. Match the production board to your workshop

Open Settings > Production stages and name the stages work goes through, such as Pre-press, Screen print, Curing and Packing. See The production board.

5. Invite your team

Open Settings > Team and invite the people who'll use ArtworkDesk, choosing a role for each. See Your team and roles.

6. Add your first order

Click New order at the top of any page. Pick or add the customer, add the products, and leave Email the customer now asking them to upload their design ticked. See Adding an order.

From there, ArtworkDesk tells you what needs doing next: the dashboard shows what's waiting for artwork, what needs a mockup, what's with the customer, and what's in production.