printful-iphone-snap-case-production

name	Printful iPhone Snap Case Production
description	Complete pipeline for iPhone Snap Case (catalog 683) on Printful. 12 iPhone models (iPhone 15 through iPhone 17 Pro Max), 2 finishes (Glossy + Matte), 24 variants. Covers sublimation design, product creation, variant management, mockup generation, and Supabase integration. Use when creating iPhone case products, generating phone case mockups, or managing sublimation-printed accessories.

Printful iPhone Snap Case Production Pipeline

Full production pipeline for SKAPARA-branded iPhone Snap Cases using sublimation (heat press) on Printful. One design file works across all 12 supported iPhone models (iPhone 15 through 17 Pro Max). 2 finishes available (Glossy and Matte). 24 total variants. Produced in-house at Printful Latvia (Riga) — confirmed EU fulfillment.

For other phone case types (Samsung, MagSafe), refer to the API-VERIFIED-CATALOG.md for related CAT IDs (681, 682, 684, 686, 601, 605, 798, 799).

---

Product Specifications

Property	Value
Blank	iPhone Snap Case
Catalog ID	683
Tier	ACCESSORIES
Material	Polycarbonate
Finish	Glossy AND Matte
Finishes	2 (Glossy, Matte)
Models	12 iPhone models (iPhone 15 through iPhone 17 Pro Max)
Variants	24 total (12 models x 2 finishes)
Print Method	Sublimation (heat press)
Producer	Printful (Latvia — Riga, in-house)
EU Fulfillment	YES — confirmed

---

When to Use

• Create a new iPhone Snap Case product on Printful
• Upload sublimation designs for phone cases
• Generate mockups for iPhone case products
• Manage iPhone model variants (12 models, 2 finishes)
• Update Supabase with iPhone case product data and mockup images
• Expand the accessories category in the SKAPARA catalog
• Choose between Glossy and Matte finish variants

---

Sublimation (Heat Press) — Technique Specifications

Sublimation infuses ink INTO the polycarbonate surface using heat and pressure. The result is a durable, vibrant print that does not peel, crack, or fade.

Property	Value
Color space	Full CMYK — vibrant, photographic quality
Resolution	300 DPI
Surface	Flat polycarbonate + slight edge wrap
Durability	Scratch-resistant, will not peel or crack
Opacity	Full coverage — glossy finish
Fill mode	cover (design covers entire printable area, edges may crop)

Design Considerations for iPhone Snap Case

1. ONE design = ALL 12 models: A single printfile (PF#438, 1328x2197) works across all models. Printful scales and crops automatically per model.
2. Edge wrap: The design wraps slightly around the case edges. Content at the very edges (outer ~50px on each side) may wrap and be partially hidden.
3. Safe zone: Keep critical design elements (text, logos, faces) within a centered safe area. Recommended safe zone: 1128x1897 px (100px inset on all sides).
4. Camera cutout: Each iPhone model has a different camera cutout position. Printful handles this automatically — the design is printed, then the case is cut for the specific model. Avoid placing critical content in the upper-left area where camera cutouts are typically located.
5. Vertical orientation: The canvas is portrait (1328 wide x 2197 tall). Design for vertical viewing.
6. TWO finishes available:
   • Glossy: Colors appear saturated and vibrant. Blacks are deep. High contrast designs look excellent.
   • Matte: Softer, non-reflective surface. Colors appear slightly muted. Fingerprint-resistant. Premium feel.
   • Design note: Matte finish available — design should avoid glossy-dependent visual effects (e.g., metallic sheen, specular highlights) if targeting Matte variant. Flat colors, bold graphics, and matte-friendly palettes work best on Matte.

Canvas & Printfile

Placement	Printfile	Canvas (px)	DPI	Physical	Fill
default	PF#438	1328 x 2197	300	~4.43" x 7.32"	cover

---

SKAPARA Branding for iPhone Case

The iPhone Snap Case has a single default placement. SKAPARA branding must be integrated into the case design itself, with the brand mark positioned in the lower third.

Recommended Layout (1328 x 2197 px)

+---------------------------+
|                           |
|  [Camera cutout zone]    |  <- Avoid upper-left ~300x300px
|                           |
|                           |
|                           |
|     MAIN DESIGN AREA      |
|     (centered content)    |
|                           |
|                           |
|                           |
|                           |
|  +---------------------+  |
|  | SKAPARA brand mark  |  |  <- Lower third (~bottom 600px)
|  | S mark or wordmark  |  |
|  | centered, ~200px h  |  |
|  +---------------------+  |
|                           |
+---------------------------+
  ^50px^              ^50px^
     EDGE WRAP ZONES

Branding placement rules:

• Position SKAPARA brand mark in the lower third of the design
• Use S mark isotipo (centered, ~200px height) or SKAPARA wordmark
• Brand mark should complement the design — not feel stamped on
• On dark backgrounds: white S mark or white wordmark
• On light backgrounds: dark S mark or gradient S mark
• On busy/photo backgrounds: semi-transparent S mark with subtle drop shadow

Branding assets (in /frontend/public/brand/):

• skapara-mark-color.svg — Full color S mark
• skapara-mark-dark.svg — Dark S mark
• skapara-mark-white.svg — White S mark
• skapara-wordmark-dark.svg — Dark wordmark

---

Base Costs (Production)

All 24 variants (12 models x 2 finishes) have the same base cost:

Model	Base Cost (EUR)	Notes
All iPhone models (Glossy)	14.25	Flat rate, single placement
All iPhone models (Matte)	14.25	Flat rate, single placement

No additional placement costs — the default placement is included.

---

Pricing Strategy

Target minimum 35% margin per SKAPARA pricing rules.

Retail Price (EUR)	Base Cost	Margin	Notes
22.99	14.25	38.0%	Minimum recommended
24.99	14.25	43.0%	Standard pricing
27.99	14.25	49.1%	Premium design pricing
29.99	14.25	52.5%	Limited edition / collab

CRITICAL: Set prices in Printful FIRST. The cron sync margin fixer overwrites prices if margin falls below 35%.

---

Printful API Reference

Auth headers (ALL requests):

Authorization: Bearer ${PRINTFUL_API_TOKEN}
X-PF-Store-Id: ${PRINTFUL_STORE_ID}
Content-Type: application/json
User-Agent: POD-AI-Store/1.0

Rate limits:

• General API: ~120 req/min. Use delay(2000) between calls
• Mockup Generator: ~10 req/min. Use delay(10000) between tasks
• On 429: read x-ratelimit-reset header, wait that many seconds, retry

Shared utility: For scripts, use import { createPrintfulClient } from './lib/printful-rate-limiter.mjs'

Key endpoints:

Endpoint	Method	Use
/files	POST	Upload image to File Library
/store/products	POST	Create new sync product
/store/products/{id}	GET/PUT	Read/update sync product + all variants
/store/variants/{vid}	PUT	Update single variant
/mockup-generator/create-task/683	POST	Create iPhone case mockup task
/mockup-generator/task?task_key=gt-xxx	GET	Poll mockup task status
/mockup-generator/printfiles/683	GET	List iPhone case print positions

---

Workflow: Create New iPhone Snap Case Product

Step 1: Design the Case (1328 x 2197 px @ 300 DPI)

Create the sublimation design as a PNG file:

• Canvas: 1328 x 2197 px
• Resolution: 300 DPI
• Color mode: sRGB
• Format: PNG (NO transparency — sublimation requires full coverage)
• Integrate SKAPARA branding into lower third (see Branding section above)
• Avoid critical content in upper-left camera cutout zone (~300x300px)

Design safe zone:

• All edges: 100px wrap buffer
• Camera zone: upper-left 300x300px
• Critical content: center 1128 x 1897 px

Step 2: Upload Design to File Library

Upload to Supabase Storage first (permanent hosting), then POST the public URL to Printful.

# Upload to Supabase Storage
curl -X POST "${SUPABASE_URL}/storage/v1/object/designs/uploads/${FILENAME}" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${SUPABASE_SERVICE_KEY}" \
  -H "apikey: ${SUPABASE_SERVICE_KEY}" \
  -H "Content-Type: image/png" \
  -H "x-upsert: true" \
  --data-binary "@${LOCAL_FILE_PATH}"

# Get public URL
PUBLIC_URL="${SUPABASE_URL}/storage/v1/object/public/designs/uploads/${FILENAME}"

# Upload to Printful File Library
curl -X POST "https://api.printful.com/files" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${PRINTFUL_API_TOKEN}" \
  -H "X-PF-Store-Id: ${PRINTFUL_STORE_ID}" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "User-Agent: POD-AI-Store/1.0" \
  -d '{
    "url": "'${PUBLIC_URL}'",
    "filename": "'${FILENAME}'"
  }'

Response: { "result": { "id": 123456789, "type": "default", "preview_url": "..." } }

Save the id — this is the CASE_FILE_ID used in all subsequent API calls.

Step 3: Create Sync Product

Create the product with ALL 24 variants (12 models x 2 finishes). Every variant uses the same design file.

curl -X POST "https://api.printful.com/store/products" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${PRINTFUL_API_TOKEN}" \
  -H "X-PF-Store-Id: ${PRINTFUL_STORE_ID}" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "User-Agent: POD-AI-Store/1.0" \
  -d '{
    "sync_product": {
      "name": "Product Name — iPhone Snap Case",
      "thumbnail": "https://files.cdn.printful.com/files/.../preview.png"
    },
    "sync_variants": [
      { "variant_id": VARIANT_ID_1, "retail_price": "24.99", "files": [{ "type": "default", "id": CASE_FILE_ID }] },
      { "variant_id": VARIANT_ID_2, "retail_price": "24.99", "files": [{ "type": "default", "id": CASE_FILE_ID }] }
    ]
  }'

See VARIANTS.md for ALL 24 variant IDs.

Key points:

• variant_id is the catalog variant ID — each iPhone model + finish combination has a unique ID
• retail_price is the same for all variants (same base cost)
• files[].type = "default" for the case print
• Include ALL 24 variants (12 models x 2 finishes) in a single product
• The files array is identical for all variants (one design scales to all models)

Step 4: Set Variant Prices

All variants use the same price (flat base cost across all models and finishes):

Models	Retail Price	Base Cost	Margin
All 12 models (Glossy)	24.99	14.25	43.0%
All 12 models (Matte)	24.99	14.25	43.0%

CRITICAL: Set prices in Printful FIRST. The cron sync margin fixer overwrites prices if margin falls below 35%.

Step 5: Generate Mockups

Generate mockups for representative models (not all 24 — choose 3-4 hero models in both finishes):

# iPhone 16 Pro as hero mockup
curl -X POST "https://api.printful.com/mockup-generator/create-task/683" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${PRINTFUL_API_TOKEN}" \
  -H "X-PF-Store-Id: ${PRINTFUL_STORE_ID}" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "User-Agent: POD-AI-Store/1.0" \
  -d '{
    "variant_ids": [IPHONE_16_PRO_VARIANT_ID],
    "format": "png",
    "width": 1000,
    "files": [
      {
        "placement": "default",
        "image_url": "DESIGN_PREVIEW_URL",
        "position": {
          "area_width": 1328,
          "area_height": 2197,
          "width": 1328,
          "height": 2197,
          "top": 0,
          "left": 0
        }
      }
    ]
  }'

Recommended hero models for mockups:

1. iPhone 17 Pro (newest flagship)
2. iPhone 16 Pro Max (current popular flagship)
3. iPhone 15 Pro (widely owned)
4. iPhone 15 (entry-level current gen)

Generate both Glossy and Matte mockups for at least the primary hero model.

Poll for completion:

curl -s "https://api.printful.com/mockup-generator/task?task_key=gt-XXXXXXXX" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${PRINTFUL_API_TOKEN}" \
  -H "X-PF-Store-Id: ${PRINTFUL_STORE_ID}" \
  -H "User-Agent: POD-AI-Store/1.0"

Step 6: Download Mockups & Upload to Supabase Storage

Mockup S3 URLs expire in ~24h. Always download and re-upload to permanent storage:

const storagePath = `designs/mockups/${productSlug}/${modelSlug}-default.png`
const ts = Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000)
const publicUrl = `${SUPABASE_URL}/storage/v1/object/public/designs/${storagePath}?v=${ts}`

Step 7: Update Supabase products Table

const ts = Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000)

const images = [
  // Hero mockups first
  { src: `https://.../mockups/slug/iphone-16-pro-default.png?v=${ts}`, alt: 'Title - iPhone 16 Pro' },
  { src: `https://.../mockups/slug/iphone-17-pro-default.png?v=${ts}`, alt: 'Title - iPhone 17 Pro' },
  { src: `https://.../mockups/slug/iphone-15-pro-default.png?v=${ts}`, alt: 'Title - iPhone 15 Pro' },
  { src: `https://.../mockups/slug/iphone-15-default.png?v=${ts}`, alt: 'Title - iPhone 15' },
]

// 1. Create or update product in Supabase
await supabase.from('products').upsert({
  id: productId,
  title: 'Product Name',
  description: 'Creative marketing description only. No specs here.',
  translations: {
    es: { title: 'Titulo en espanol', description: 'Descripcion en espanol' },
    de: { title: 'Titel auf Deutsch', description: 'Beschreibung auf Deutsch' }
  },
  category_id: 'PHONE_CASES_CATEGORY_UUID', // FK to categories table
  pod_provider: 'printful',
  product_template_id: '683', // iPhone Snap Case catalog ID
  provider_product_id: String(pfProductId), // Printful sync product ID
  base_price_cents: 2499,
  compare_at_price_cents: 3999, // Strikethrough price
  images,
  product_details: {
    safety_information: GPSR_HTML,
    material: 'Polycarbonate',
    care_instructions: 'Wipe clean with damp cloth. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasives. Remove case before wireless charging if experiencing issues.',
    print_technique: 'Sublimation (heat press)',
    manufacturing_country: 'Latvia',
    brand: 'SKAPARA',
    blank: 'iPhone Snap Case',
    finish: 'Glossy / Matte',
    compatibility: '12 iPhone models (iPhone 15 - iPhone 17 Pro Max), 2 finishes'
  },
  status: 'active'
})

// 2. Create product variants (all 24 = 12 models x 2 finishes)
for (const { model, finish, variantId } of allVariants) {
  await supabase.from('product_variants').upsert({
    product_id: productId,
    color: finish, // 'Glossy' or 'Matte' — use finish as "color" dimension
    color_hex: finish === 'Glossy' ? '#FFFFFF' : '#E0E0E0',
    size: model, // e.g., "iPhone 15 Pro"
    is_enabled: true,
    external_variant_id: String(variantId),
    image_url: `https://.../mockups/slug/${modelSlug}-${finish.toLowerCase()}-default.png?v=${ts}`
  })
}

NOTE on variant mapping: iPhone cases use the size field for the model name (e.g., "iPhone 15 Pro") and the color field for the finish ("Glossy" or "Matte"). This gives 24 total variants (12 models x 2 finishes).

Step 8: GPSR Compliance (MANDATORY for EU)

Every product MUST have GPSR data before going live. EU Regulation 2023/988.

<p><strong>Manufacturer:</strong> Printful Inc., Riga, Latvia</p>
<p><strong>Material:</strong> Polycarbonate (snap-on case)</p>
<p><strong>Finish:</strong> Glossy or Matte sublimation print</p>
<p><strong>Print technique:</strong> Sublimation (heat press) — ink infused into polycarbonate surface</p>
<p><strong>Care:</strong> Wipe clean with damp cloth. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasives.</p>
<p><strong>Compliance:</strong> REACH compliant, RoHS compliant</p>
<p><strong>Compatibility:</strong> 12 iPhone models (iPhone 15 through iPhone 17 Pro Max)</p>

Store in products.product_details.safety_information (JSONB).

Step 9: Post-Creation Verification

• Product appears in shop with correct category (phone-cases or accessories)
• All 24 variants show (12 models x 2 finishes) in variant selector
• Glossy and Matte finishes appear as color options
• Price is correct for all variants (not overridden by margin fixer)
• Hero mockup images load (3-4 representative models)
• GPSR safety information stored in product_details
• Description is clean (no HTML tags, max 2000 chars)
• Alt text follows pattern: "Title - iPhone Model"
• Cache-buster ?v=timestamp appended to all image URLs
• Translations present for ES and DE
• Variant selector shows iPhone model names (not generic sizes)

---

Known Issues & Gotchas

Issue	Detail	Workaround
24 variants = many mockups	Generating mockups for all 24 variants is expensive (rate limit)	Generate for 3-4 hero models in both finishes, reuse for listing
Camera cutout position varies	Each model has different camera placement	Avoid critical content in upper-left ~300x300px
Fill mode is cover	Design may be cropped at edges to fill entire case	Keep critical content in safe zone (100px inset)
No transparency	Sublimation requires full coverage — transparent areas print as white	Use opaque designs only
TWO finishes (Glossy + Matte)	Both finishes available for all 12 models	Design should be finish-agnostic or provide variants
Matte visual differences	Colors appear slightly muted on Matte, no specular reflections	Avoid glossy-dependent visual effects for Matte variants
Size field as model name	The size field in product_variants stores "iPhone 15 Pro" etc.	Frontend VariantSelector must handle non-standard size strings
Finish as color field	The color field stores "Glossy" or "Matte"	Frontend must show finish selector alongside model selector
Temporary mockup URLs	S3 URLs expire ~24h	Always download + re-upload to Supabase Storage
Python urllib blocked	Cloudflare rejects Python urllib against Printful API	Use curl or Node.js fetch
Margin fixer	Cron sync overwrites prices if margin <35%	Set correct price in Printful FIRST
Cloudflare 403	Missing User-Agent causes blocks	Always include User-Agent: POD-AI-Store/1.0
Cache-busting	Browser/CDN cache images by URL	ALWAYS append ?v=timestamp when overwriting Supabase Storage files
iPhone 17 series new	iPhone 17, 17 Air, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max recently added	Verify variant IDs from API before first use

---

Related Products (Other Case Types — NOT in this skill)

These share similar pipelines but have different CAT IDs and may have different printfiles:

Product	CAT ID	Type	Notes
Samsung Galaxy Snap Case	681	Sublimation	Different printfile dimensions
Samsung Galaxy Case (variant)	682	Sublimation	—
iPhone Case (variant)	684	Sublimation	May be tough/rugged variant
iPhone Case (variant)	686	Sublimation	—
iPhone Case (variant)	601	Sublimation	Older catalog entry
iPhone Case (variant)	605	Sublimation	—
iPhone MagSafe Case	798	Sublimation	MagSafe compatible
iPhone MagSafe Case (variant)	799	Sublimation	—

---

Description Rules

What goes in description (creative text only):

• Product context, design inspiration, target audience
• 2-3 sentences max, casual but smart tone
• Highlight durability: "sublimation-printed — won't peel, crack, or fade"
• Mention compatibility: "fits 12 iPhone models from iPhone 15 to 17 Pro Max"
• Reference the finish options: "available in Glossy and Matte finish"
• Must be translated to EN, ES, DE

What does NOT go in description:

• Material composition -> product_details.material
• Care instructions -> product_details.care_instructions
• Manufacturing info -> product_details.manufacturing_country
• Safety/compliance -> product_details.safety_information
• Model list -> product_details.compatibility