Approving a visual
Review the artwork for each product, choose one of three decisions per product, and understand why you can't order half a job.
A visual is the artwork your supplier's designer draws up for your enquiry. You review it and make a decision on every product. This is where a design is signed off and, if you're ready, ordered.
#How you get there
- The "visual ready" email, which has a review link.
- Visuals → Review › in the portal.
- To get done → Review artwork.
The link needs no login. That's deliberate: you can forward the email to whoever should decide, such as your club or school, and they can review it themselves. If they shouldn't see prices, use Send to my customer for approval instead. See Sending a visual to your customer.
#The review page
The page says "Please review each product below and select your decision." Each product has its own card showing whichever artwork exists for it (front, back or both), Artwork colours, Size Group and size chart, Logo Placements and Detailings. You can download one product, or every product as one PDF.
#Three decisions, one per product
You decide each product separately, not the whole job at once.
| Decision | What it means | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Approve & Place Order | The design is signed off and you want to order it now. | Opens Quantities per size, and Names & Numbers (one per garment) where the product has them. Empty name and number values are left off. |
| Approve for Later | The design is right, but don't order it yet. | It stays approved and can join a later order. |
| Request Changes | The design needs work. | You must Describe your changes, and you can Attach files. You'll get a new visual to review. |
#The rule that surprises people: no half-ordering
An order can only be placed once every product on the visual is approved.
- Choose Request Changes or Approve for Later on any product and Approve & Place Order disappears on all the others.
- Choose Approve & Place Order on one product and Request Changes and Approve for Later go for the rest.
This stops a job splitting into an order that's half in production and half still being designed.
Tip
if some products need changes, approve the good ones for later and request changes on the rest. When the changes come back, order everything together in one go. Products you approved earlier show "You approved this one earlier. You can add it to the order you're placing now."
#Changes on only some products
You don't have to decide everything to ask for changes. Choose Request Changes on the products that need it, leave the rest undecided, and submit. The undecided ones are not signed off. Your supplier makes the changes and sends the visual back to you. The every-product rule only applies when you approve or order.
#Submitting your decisions
- Make a decision on every product. The page counts them ("N of M products reviewed"). Or choose Request Changes only on the ones that need it.
- Enter Your name (required).
- Press Submit Decisions.
- If you're placing an order, Before you approve asks you to tick each point: colours and fabrics, size measurements, style and garment type, quantities, names and numbers (if any), that every design feature and colour is correct, and that once approved no changes can be made. Then press Confirm & Submit.
- You'll see "Thank you! Your response has been sent." The page is now read-only.
Watch out
once a product is approved and ordered, no changes can be made to its design. Check the checklist points carefully.
#What happens next
The job's contact gets a response received email listing the decision on each product. It goes to you whether it was you or someone you forwarded the link to who clicked. It carries up to two buttons:
- Raise Order Now — appears when products were approved but not ordered. See Raising an order from approved products.
- Confirm Order Details — appears when an order was placed. The order is a draft until you confirm it. See Confirming an order.
#Common questions
Why can't I click Approve & Place Order? Another product is set to Request Changes or Approve for Later. Change that decision, or approve everything for later and order together once the changes are back.
I made a mistake after submitting. Message your supplier on the job.
It says "Link not found" or "invalid or has expired". The visual was replaced or has moved on. Use the latest email or Visuals, or ask your supplier.
A product says "Not part of this review". It's still being worked on, or it's already been ordered.
I see a review phrase box instead of Send to my customer. Some suppliers use an older process where a rep types a review phrase to send changes on some products first. If your page has that box, that's the process you're on.