Mino P FAQ | Flip Video

Design Your Flip Mino FAQ

General Frequently Asked Questions

How can I personalize a Flip Mino camcorder?

You can personalize a Mino camcorder on TheFlip.com online store. Just click on this link and follow the directions. There are three ways for you to personalize a Mino camcorder:

Select from a huge collection of existing designs in the Flip Video Design Library
Upload your own image and use it to create your own design by starting here
Use the Flip Video Pattern Generator to create a one-of-a kind pattern by starting here

Which Flip Video camcorder models can I personalize?

At this point the personalization service is only offered for Flip Mino camcorders purchased from TheFlip.com.

How much will the personalization service cost me?

The personalization service is included free of charge with the purchase of your Flip Mino camcorder on TheFlip.com. At time of purchase, you must choose to personalize your Mino and determine the design you want printed on the camcorder prior to checkout. A design cannot be applied to your Mino camcorder after it has been purchased.

Can I personalize a camcorder I already own?

At this time you can personalize newly purchased camcorders on TheFlip.com and cannot personalize camcorders that you purchased previously.

Can I personalize a black Mino camcorder?

No. At this point black Mino camcorders cannot be personalized. In the coming weeks we will develop a few designs for the black Mino so please check back with TheFlip.com soon.

What content am I allowed to print on my Flip Mino?

You can print anything that you like as long as it does not include content that infringes on the copyright, trademark, patent, trade secrets, right of privacy, right of publicity or other legal right of any third party. In other words: It’s really your design. Also, we reserve the right to reject any design that includes messages of hate, violence or other objectionable material. For full details, see “Terms of Service”.

Can I modify a design that I found on TheFlip.com?

No. We respect the creative choices of our users and do not allow anyone to modify any of the designs on our site or our partner site, CafePress.com.

How is the design printed on the camcorder?

The design you choose or create is printed on the front of the camcorder only and can cover the entire front of the camcorder, excluding the lens and trim. Each design is printed individually using a state-of-the-art printer using an industrial-strength coating and curing process.

Are there areas of the camcorder on which I cannot print?

Yes. Designs may only be printed on the front of the camcorder. The print template includes a mask that protects certain portions of the camcorder from ink in the printing process and makes sure that the image fades out gradually over the corners of the camcorder. Nothing will be printed on the lens, metal trim and Flip Video logo. Designs may only be printed on the front of the camcorder.

How long will the design last on the camcorder? Will the design fade or scratch?

Printed camcorders go through an industrial strength coating and curing process. Printed designs are not harmed by humidity, exposure to sun or repeated touch. They will not peel or fade with time. However, the print can be scratched and damaged if not treated properly. We expect the prints to last as long as the camcorders themselves.

Can I replace the print on my camcorder after it has been printed?

The printing process on camcorders is permanent. Once printed it goes through an industrial-strength coating and curing process and cannot be removed or replaced.

Will I be able to return my personalized Flip Mino if I do not like it?

Yes. With our Satisfaction Guarantee, you may return your personalized Mino camcorder within 90 days of purchase for any reason. Please note that we are only able to offer full refunds for returns of orders of five or fewer personalized Mino camcorders. Returns of orders of six or more Mino camcorders will be charged a $60 restocking fee per camcorder after the fifth camcorder. To return any products, email orders@theflip.com with your order number and reason for return. You’ll receive instructions on returning your products.

How long will it take to personalize my Flip Mino camcorder?

Depending on the shipping option you select, you will receive your order as early as 2 business days after your order is placed to as long as 5-7 business days. You can select the shipping option on the last page of the checkout process.

What if my personalized camcorder breaks?

If you experience a problem with your camcorder that cannot be resolved via our online support service, you may return your camcorder for repair under our warranty program. In the event that your personalized camcorder needs to be replaced with a refurbished unit, your personalized design will be printed on that unit. To request return authorization click here.

What is the Flip for Good program?

For information on our Flip for Good program, please click here.

Upload Your Own Image - Frequently Asked Questions

How can I personalize a Flip Mino camcorder with my own image or photo?

You can personalize a Mino camcorder with your own photo or image on TheFlip.com by starting here. You can upload any JPG or PNG image file to get started.

Can I personalize a camcorder I already own?

At this time you can personalize newly purchased camcorders on TheFlip.com and cannot personalize camcorders that you purchased previously.

Which Flip Video camcorder models can I personalize?

At this point the personalization service is only offered for Flip Mino camcorders purchased from TheFlip.com.

Can I personalize a black Mino camcorder?

At this point black Mino camcorders cannot be personalized. In the coming weeks we will develop a few designs for the black Mino so please check back with TheFlip.com soon.

How is the design printed on the camcorder?

How long will the design last on the camcorder? Will the design fade or scratch?

Printed camcorders go through an industrial strength coating and curing process. Printed designs are not harmed by humidity, exposure to sun or repeated touch. They will not peel or fade with time. However it can be scratched and damaged if not treated properly. We expect the prints to last as long as the camcorders themselves.

What resolution should my uploaded image/photo be?

Flip Mino designs are printed at a resolution of 300 DPI and therefore the minimum dimensions for your image should be 600 by 1200 pixels. As an estimate, a picture taken on “medium mode” on a 4 megapixel camera will just about cover the front of the camera. You can always upload a larger image and scale it down using our online tools. However, a larger file will not necessarily produce higher quality. Please see more information below.

Why do I get a message saying, “Warning: Image quality too low”?

To ensure that your personalized Flip Mino will print properly, designs are printed at 300 DPI and the Flip Video personalization tool will prevent you from generating a design below this resolution. As you scale your image, you change the printed resolution of your design: the more you enlarge your design, the lower the resolution of the image that falls on the camcorder. If your design resolution drops below 300 DPI, a warning message appears. If you encounter this message, we suggest that you either scale the image down or upload a new image of higher resolution.

How can I personalize using “transparency”?

Professional designers can upload designs using transparency (also known as “Alpha Channel”). To accomplish this, use a third-party image editing program to generate a 24-bit PNG file with Alpha Channel transparency information in it (8-bit) before you upload it to TheFlip.com. Please note that the color white will be treated as transparent as the camcorder itself is also white. Please see the Creating Advanced Designs FAQ for additional tips for creating professional-looking camcorder designs.

Can I include more than one image in my design?

No. At this time, only a single file can be uploaded to create a personalized Flip Mino. If you wish to include more than one image in your design, you will have to use a third-party image editing application to combine your multiple images into one image file and then use that file in the Mino personalization process. Please see the Creating Advanced Designs FAQ for additional tips for creating professional-looking camcorder designs.

Do I have to upload a file to create my personalized Flip Mino Camcorder?

No. You do not have to upload a file to create a personalized Mino. You can either purchase a personalized Mino from the Flip Video Design Library or use the Flip Video Pattern Generator to create a one-of-a-kind design. The Flip Video Design Library includes a large collection of free designs by leading designers, as well as creative members of the Flip Video community. Feel free to select a design that fits your personal preference.

After I buy a design, can I keep my design private?

Yes. Unless you decide to share your design, your design will only be available to you during the creation process. After you make your purchase, no one else will have access to your design. If you choose to share your design on TheFlip.com or CafePress.com and your design is approved by our designers, it will be available to anyone who visits those sites. You do not have the ability to share your design with only select visitors to those sites.

Can I create a design and allow others to buy it?

Yes, you can. Please refer to this section on becoming a Mino designer.

Can I share designs I find on TheFlip.com with others?

Yes. There are a few great ways to share designs that you find on TheFlip.com:

“Share this Flip Design” links – throughout TheFlip.com you will be presented with links to “Share this Flip Design”. By clicking on these links you will be able to email or share a link to a specific design. The sharing options including embedding links on Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, Blogger, Typepad or Wordpress. You can also embed custom HTML into additional online pages.
You can also share any page on TheFlip.com by copying and pasting the full “URL” (which starts with http://) to create a link on any other website, email or blog.

What is CafePress.com and how is it related to Flip Video?

Flip Video (TheFlip.com) has partnered with CafePress.com to create a personalization service for Flip Mino camcorders. TheFlip.com and CafePress.com share many of the camcorder designs but each site may also offer unique designs. If you become a Mino Designer and would like to earn $10 each time your design is ordered on a Mino, you will need to create an account with CafePress and manage your “shop” to create and sell your designs. When you order a Mino with a design, you order will arrive from CafePress.com.

Pattern Generator - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Flip Video Pattern Generator?

The Flip Video Pattern Generator is a simple tool for creating unique designs with just a few mouse clicks. Using this powerful tool, you can select your favorite colors and pattern style, and the Generator will present your choices in an infinite number of possible designs. With the Pattern Generator, you are almost guaranteed that no one else will replicate your exact design.

How can I create my own design using the Pattern Generator?

The following steps will help you create your unique design:

Select a primary color – this color will be the most dominant color in your pattern.
Select a secondary color – this color will be the less dominant color in your pattern.
Select a style from the four drop-down menus.
Select “Explore” from the large square in the middle

The Pattern Generator will roll through infinite variations of patterns that combine your primary color, secondary color and style. If you see a pattern that you like, you can “pause” the Generator by clicking on the large square in the middle. Once you pause the pattern, you’ll be presented with multiple variations surrounding the main square. Click on any of these variations to view it.
If you like a design you can either use it to design a Mino (see the next step) or “lock” the design and continue exploring. By locking the design you’ll save it for later so that you can continue exploring in the middle square while your locked design is saved and accessible in one of the perimeter squares.
Once you’re satisfied with the pattern in the large middle square, click on the “Use This One” button (which appears in the middle square when you move your mouse over it) to continue to the next step which will allow you to position your unique pattern on a Mino.

NOTE: At any time during the pattern generation process, you can use the intensity slider to change the intensity of the patterns being generated. If you slide the selection closer to “wild,” the Pattern Generator will offer you “wilder” options. If you slide the selection closer to “mild,” the Pattern Generator will create more conservative options.
Explore and have fun with the Pattern Generator!

Can I save my favorite design and use it later?

Yes. While exploring many patterns, if you like a design that you’re viewing in the large middle square you can “lock” the design. By locking the design you’ll save it for later so that you can continue exploring in the middle square while your locked design is saved and accessible in one of the perimeter squares. Also see step 5 in the above description on using the Pattern Generator. Your saved patterns will not be saved if you close the Pattern Generator window – they are only saved as long as you have the window open and continue to use the Pattern Generator.

How do I change the color of my pattern?

The Pattern Generator produces designs based on your choices of primary and secondary colors. Each color element in the design is based on your selection of colors, though colors may still vary based on the degree of “Intensity” of variation that you select (using slider on the bottom) and your use of these variations.

How do I change the styles in the pattern (stripes, circles, etc.)?

The Design Generator has several design styles (listed on the left side). Each style can be selected by clicking on its icon. Each style also has several options, which can be selected by clicking on the small down-facing triangle.

Can I adjust how the design is placed on a camcorder before printing it?

Yes. The Pattern Generator is the first step in creating your design. After selecting your pattern, click on the “Use This One” button (which appears in the middle square when you move your mouse over it) and the next step will allow you to position your pattern on the camcorder. You will also have the ability to scale and rotate your design as part of this next step. As you positioned the pattern you will be able to preview the design on the right side of the screen to see exactly what it will look like when printed. Select “Add to Cart” once you’re ready to order your Mino.

Becoming a Designer - Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to become a “Flip Designer”?

Becoming a Flip Designer enables you to create designs and make them available for sale on TheFlip.com. Furthermore, as a Flip Designer you can earn $10 each time your design is purchased on a Mino. When you complete your first purchase, you will be provided with a link to set up a store on our partner’s site, www.cafepress.com.

How can I create a design and sell it on TheFlip.com?

We encourage all of our users to create designs and make them available on TheFlip.com for others to buy. There are several ways to do this:

After purchasing your own camcorder, you will be invited to share your design for sale on TheFlip.com.

Share for free – This is the easiest route. You simply tell us which designs you’d like to share with TheFlip.com, name your design, give it a description and accept the term of use. Your design will be reviewed and, if selected, will be featured on TheFlip.com for sale. NOTE: You will not earn any commissions for selling via this method.
Sell your designs on TheFlip.com and earn $10 for each camera sold - In order to sell your design and earn money when Minos are sold with your design, you will be required to set up an account with CafePress.com. Once you create your account, your design will automatically be uploaded to your account on CafePress.com. Your designs will automatically be available for sale on CafePress.com and will be reviewed for sale on TheFlip.com shortly thereafter. In order to add additional designs to your account for sale on TheFlip.com, you will need to log into your new CafePress.com account. All your submitted designs will be reviewed by TheFlip.com team and, if selected, will be featured on TheFlip.com for sale. Once a Mino is sold with your design, you will be notified by CafePress.com and they will require you to submit additional information in order to receive your payment by check.

You can also go directly to CafePress.com to set up an account. By setting up an account on CafePress.com, you can upload designs and make them available for sale on CafePress.com and TheFlip.com. You can read more about open up a shop on CafePress here.

What is CafePress.com and how is it related to Flip Video?

Flip Video (TheFlip.com) has partnered with CafePress.com to create a personalization service for Flip Mino camcorders. All orders are accepted and processed by Flip Video (TheFlip.com) and printed by CafePress.com. You will receive your personalized Mino from CafePress.com. TheFlip.com and CafePress.com share many of the camcorder designs but each site may also offer unique designs. If you become a Mino Designer and would like to earn $10 each time your design is ordered on a Mino, you will need to create an account with CafePress and manage your “shop” to create and sell your designs.

How do I create professional-looking designs?

Graphic design professionals can take advantage of advanced features and capabilities that can greatly improve the quality of their designs. Please see the Creating Advanced Designs FAQ for additional tips for creating professional-looking camcorder designs.

How many designs can I make (or do I need to make) as a designer?

You can make one design or as many designs as you would like as long as they conform to the Terms of Use of both TheFlip.com and our partner CafePress.com.

Why are my designs not showing up for sale on TheFlip.com?

Once you create designs, either by buying them on TheFlip.com (and sharing them after purchase) or by opening up a shop on CafePress.com, TheFlip.com team will review every design and will decide what to make available for sale on TheFlip.com. If you cannot find your design on TheFlip.com, it’s possible your design is still in the approval process or will be merchandized at a later date since TheFlip.com regularly refreshes its site with new designs.

Can I share my design with other online communities (MySpace, Facebook, etc.) or other sites?

Yes. Once your designs are available for sale on TheFlip.com, you’ll be able to share them with other communities in two ways:

“Share this Flip Design” links – on the page where your design is hosted you will see a link to “Share this Flip Design”. By clicking on this links you will be able to email or share a link to a specific design. The sharing options including embedding links on Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, Blogger, Typepad or Wordpress. You can also embed custom HTML into additional online pages.
You can also share any page on TheFlip.com by copying and pasting the full “URL” (which starts with http://) to create a link on any other website, email or blog.

Creating Advanced Designs - Frequently Asked Questions and Tips

What resolution should my design be?

All designs are printed at 300 DPI on the Mino ‘canvas’ which is 2 inches by 4 inches. Said another way, a design of 600 by 1200 pixels will fit exactly on the Mino front to be printed at 300 DPI. If your design is higher resolution than 300 DPI, our printing process will convert it appropriately for printing. If your design is lower resolution than 300 DPI, you will not be able to cover the entire camcorder face with your design. If you scale (or stretch) your design too much, you will get an error stating that your resolution is too low and you will not be able to order that design layout on your camcorder.

Should I design in RGB or CMYK?

Like with most printing processes, CMYK will provide you a more accurate preview of the final output, though the differences are very small. If you are not a professional designer we recommend you work in the standard RGB color-space.

What colors look best when printed?

There are no colors that will look bad when printed, but some bright and saturated colors might not look as vibrant as your computer monitor might display. The printing technology that we use is very high quality and can produce a wide range of bright and vivid colors. You can print graphics as well as photos.

Can I personalize a black Mino camcorder?

At this point black Mino camcorders cannot be personalized. In the coming weeks we will develop a few designs for the black Mino so please check back with TheFlip.com soon.

How can I personalize using “transparency”?

How intricate and fine can my design be?

Designs are printed at 300 DPI. For a good example of what a 300-DPI color print may look like and how fine details can be, try printing the design on a home inkjet printer at 2 inches by 4 inches at 300 DPI. Advanced tip: You should be careful with images featuring very small human faces (less than half an inch in size), as the printed picture is composed of tiny color dots and details like small faces may seem a bit noisy (the human eye tends to be more critical with faces).

How complex can my design be? Will fine details be printed?

Personalized Flip Mino designs are printed at 300 DPI. Most simple home printers print at 300 DPI and provide a good example of the level of detail that can be achieved at 300 DPI. This printing resolution is very good and small details show up clearly. You recommend avoiding using images that contain very small detail (like faces that are smaller than a half on the camera), as the printed picture is composed of tiny color dots and details may seem a bit noisy.

Is there a clear-coat or seal used in the printing process?

The printing process includes two layers: 1) color print and 2) clear coat. The clear coat provides added protection to your design and is printed automatically on any pixel in the design that is not completely (100%) transparent. The clear coat feels and looks slightly different than the surface of the white camcorder. You can use the clear coat as a design element (playing with high-gloss plastic against semi-gloss clear coat) or you may find that it is a distracting element in your design.

We recommend avoiding the clear coat over areas that are white if possible since your final product will show the full gloss of the white camera body. To avoid the clear coat in white areas, make the clear area 100% transparent (not even a pixel with color). If you would like to use the clear coat as part of your design reduce you transparency to just under 100% (~98% is recommended) - the automated process will cover it with clear coat like the rest of your design.

Additional notes on using transparency

You can create graphics with intricate transparency patterns, showing the high-gloss surface of the camcorder underneath. You can create sophisticated designs with different transparency levels (8-bit Alpha channel). The best format to capture transparency for Flip Video designs is 24-bit PNG (single-layer and no masks). To create a design with transparency in Photoshop, create a single-layer design (without a background layer), select an area for removal and clear the selected area. (Alternatively, you can use masks to create a more sophisticated selection with multiple levels of transparency) The checkered background pattern in Photoshop will represent transparent areas of your image.

How do I avoid unintentional “noise” and “artifacts”?

The printing technology used in the personalization process is highly accurate. The printing equipment will try to render every possible pixel in your design. Furthermore, a layer of clear coat will be applied on any pixel that is not 100% transparent. Make sure that you clean your entire design (especially white areas) and delete small imperfections like compression artifacts or “near white” pixels to optimize the printing results.

Should I avoid large areas of dark colors?

Yes, we recommend avoiding large areas of pure black or other dark colors by adding small details and textures to these large areas. Large areas of pure black and other dark colors can develop unpredictable patterns in the printing process.