Shopify How to Guide

Learn how to use our Shopify app with simple, easy-to-follow instructions. Our step-by-step guide walks you through the entire process, from start to finish, making setup a breeze!

Step-by-Step Guide

Creating Your Shopify Store

When signing up we recommend using a fresh Gmail account, for a clean start. You can call your store whatever you would like. Shopify offers a wide range of customizable templates to help you get started quickly. Whether you want a simple online storefront or plan to list across platforms like Etsy and Amazon (which Shopify can integrate with), this is where you begin. Once your store template is set up, you’re ready to add your first product.

Installing the Slant 3D Plugin

Here’s where the magic happens! Once your product is added, head to the Shopify App Store and install the Slant 3D plugin. This is the tool that will allow you to automatically 3D print your products as soon as they’re ordered. Note: the Slant 3D app requires a subscription to fulfill orders, but you can start setting it up without one.

Once installed, the app needs access to your product listings to match them with the 3D printing files (STLs). Every time someone orders, the app will print the item and you’ll be billed for the cost of printing at the end of the month.

Adding Your First Product

Let’s get that first product live. This step would apply to any 3D-printed product you offer. Start by filling in the basic product details - description, photos and pricing. If your product comes in multiple colors, each color gets it's own variant, complete with a unique SKU. Don’t worry if you’re still deciding on specifics like pricing or shipping weights, these can be adjusted later.

Uploading & Matching STL Files

Next, upload your 3D printing files (STL) into the app. Using a simple tool like Microsoft’s 3D Builder, you can verify your files are ready for printing. Once uploaded, match the STL file to your product variants in Shopify.

You’ll also be able to choose the material for each product (PLA for standard prints, PETG for more functional items). This way, each variant of your product (white, black, etc.) is tied to the correct STL file and material for production.

Setting Prices and Shipping

Pricing is important. In the Slant 3D plugin, you’ll see the cost to print each item. For instance, my small duck costs $4 to print. Make sure you adjust your product pricing in Shopify to reflect this, adding enough margin to cover shipping and give you a decent profit.

Speaking of shipping, you can customize shipping settings in Shopify. If you prefer, you can charge a flat rate (say $5), or calculate exact shipping costs based on product weight. We recommend including shipping in the product price and offering “free” shipping for better conversions.