From Sketch to Store: Launching “Tuxedo Cat Royale” Merch (Fourthwall + YouTube Shopping)
From Sketch to Store: How We Launched “Tuxedo Cat Royale” Merch in a Weekend
A complete, copy-and-paste workflow for turning a single illustration into a polished Fourthwall store connected to YouTube Shopping—tees, hoodies, long sleeves, stickers, mugs, and posters. This post includes print specs, product copy, pricing, tagging, and launch checklists.
1) Pick a hub & connect to YouTube
Hub: Fourthwall — no monthly fee, creator-first tools, YouTube Shopping integration.
- Fourthwall → Apps → YouTube Shopping → Connect.
- YouTube Studio → Earn → Shopping: confirm your Fourthwall store is connected.
- YouTube Studio → Customization → Layout → Shop tab: ON.
2) The core product plan & price bands
Core SKUs
- Tee (Unisex)
- Long Sleeve
- Hoodie
- Mug (15 oz)
- Sticker (die-cut)
- Poster (matte)
Price Targets
- Tee: $22
- Long Sleeve: $28–$30
- Hoodie: $44
- Mug (15 oz): $16
- Sticker: $8 (3"), $9 (4"), $11 (6")
- Poster: $18+ (12×18 / 18×24)
3) Build the master emblem
Concept: A Russian gray tuxedo cat (gray base with white bib/chin) in a bold black ring, with a brushed-brass builder’s plate engraved DEEP DIVE AI.
- Canvas: 1:1, 4000×4000, transparent background.
- Minimal, vector-clean lines; no glows, no background textures.
Prompt (drop-in)
Centered emblem logo of a Russian gray tuxedo cat (gray base with white bib and chin) inside a pure black circular ring.
Beneath the cat, a brushed-brass builder’s plate with two tiny screws, deep-etched to read: DEEP DIVE AI (all caps).
Style: minimal vector-style linework with subtle micro-shading; limited palette (cool gray + white; black ring; warm brass).
Canvas: 1:1 at 4000×4000, transparent background. No drop shadows, no background patterns.4) Sticker prep: 3 mm white border
We expanded the alpha silhouette by ~35 px (~3 mm @ 300 dpi) to create a clean die-cut border that follows the emblem. Export: transparent PNG, no background outside the border.
5) Poster files (print-ready)
- 12×18 in @ 300 dpi → 3600×5400 px
- 18×24 in @ 300 dpi → 5400×7200 px
- Centered art with museum-style whitespace. PNGs include 300 dpi metadata.
6) Hero illustration: Tuxedo Cat Royale
A vintage cross-hatch drawing of the tuxedo cat with a crown and a red yarn ball. Client requirement: use the exact drawing on a shirt, but remove the parchment background.
- Precisely extracted cat + crown + yarn; removed background.
- Hardened alpha (no semi-transparent edge pixels) to avoid DTG halos.
- Added a subtle 2 px inner charcoal stroke to keep line snap on dark tees.
- Exported: 1500×1500, 3000×3000, 4000×4000 (transparent, no glow).
Apparel placement tips
- Front print width: ~11″ on adult tees (9.5″ for Small).
- Best tee colors: Black, Charcoal, Heather Navy, Deep Forest.
- Disable light colors for maximum contrast.
7) Product names & descriptions (paste-ready)
Tee
Name: Deep Dive AI — Tuxedo Cat Royale Tee (Crown & Yarn, Vintage Crosshatch)
Description: Background-free crown, cat, and yarn—vintage cross-hatching with crisp edges so it prints sharp on dark garments. Unisex fit; front print ≈ 11″ on adult sizes. Best colors: black, charcoal, heather navy, deep forest.
Care: wash cold inside-out; tumble low; avoid ironing the print.
Sticker
Name: Deep Dive AI — Brass Plate Cat Emblem Sticker (Die-Cut, Matte)
Description: Die-cut emblem with a 3 mm white border. Durable matte vinyl; sizes 3″ / 4″ / 6″. Weather- and scratch-resistant.
Mug (15 oz)
Name: Deep Dive AI — Brass Plate Cat Emblem Mug (15 oz)
Description: Gloss white ceramic with sublimation print (crisp lines). Dishwasher/microwave safe (top-rack recommended).
Poster
Name: Deep Dive AI — Tuxedo Cat Royale Poster (Vintage Crosshatch)
Description: Hand-drawn tuxedo cat with crown & yarn; warm ivory tones and charcoal linework. Matte finish with museum-style margins. Sizes: 12×18 and 18×24.
8) Assemble the store
- Create a collection: Signature Emblem.
- Add Tee, Hoodie, Long Sleeve, Mug, Sticker, Poster.
- Feature the collection on the store home.
- Alt text/SEO (paste): “Vintage crosshatch tuxedo cat with crown and red yarn ball—no background.”
9) Launch links & offer
Store: https://deepdive-n1l-shop.fourthwall.com/
Promo: DEEPDIVE10 (10% off)
Banner copy: Launch week: 10% off with DEEPDIVE10.
10) Turn on YouTube Shopping & tag products
- YouTube Studio → Earn → Shopping → Display products on channel: ON.
- Manually select 3 items (Tee, Hoodie, Sticker).
- Tag 1–3 items on new & recent long videos; tag 1 item on Shorts.
Pinned comment (paste)
🛒 Shop Tuxedo Cat Royale → https://deepdive-n1l-shop.fourthwall.com/ — use DEEPDIVE10 for 10% off.11) Social posts
Facebook (launch)
Our store is live! 🐾👑
Meet Tuxedo Cat Royale—crown, yarn, attitude.
🛒 Shop: https://deepdive-n1l-shop.fourthwall.com/
💸 10% off with DEEPDIVE10: https://deepdive-n1l-shop.fourthwall.com/promo/DEEPDIVE10YouTube Community
Post a square mockup (1080×1080) + the same code; pin for 7 days.
12) QA & samples
- Order a black tee sample to verify edge sharpness and whites.
- Order a sticker and hoodie to confirm border and placement.
- Adjust pricing after the first week of sales.
13) Week-2 expansion
- Digital products: Premiere Pro Study Pack (PDF, $7–$9); Yacht Rock Prompt Pack (ZIP: PDF+TXT, $5–$9).
- Marketplace test: Mirror 1–2 designs on TeePublic for discovery (don’t direct core fans there).
- A/B test: Thumbnail variations; track CTR and conversion.
Asset & format cheat-sheet
- Apparel PNGs: transparent background, no semi-transparent edges. Sizes: 3000×3000 (or larger).
- Stickers: 3 mm white border; transparent outside.
- Posters: 12×18 & 18×24 @ 300 dpi; centered with margins.
- Aspect standards: YouTube thumbnails 16:9; editorial cartoons 9:16; default art 1:1.
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