Export Design
The Export dialog provides multiple ways to export your designs for different purposes. You can enable multiple export types simultaneously to generate all your needed files in one operation.
File Selection
Before selecting export types, choose which components and sides to export:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Sides to Export | For multi-sided components (like cards with face and back), select which sides to export. Check all sides you want included. |
| Components to Export | Select which enumerated rows to export. Items are sorted alphanumerically. Each shows its quantity in parentheses (e.g., "Dragon (x5)"). |
| Select All / Select None | Quick buttons to select or deselect all items. "Select All" only selects items with quantity > 0. |
Items with zero quantity cannot be exported and are marked with a warning icon. Deselect these items to proceed with the export.
Export Types
1. ZIP Archive
Purpose: Download individual PNG files of all selected components in a single ZIP file.
| Parameter | Options | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bleed | • Full Bleed • No Bleed |
Full Bleed: Includes the entire image as designed. No Bleed: Removes 37.5px from each side (trim to cut line). |
| Mask | • None • Apply Mask |
None: Exports rectangular images. Apply Mask: Applies the component's mask image to create shaped edges (e.g., rounded corners). |
| Archive Name | Text input | Name for the downloaded ZIP file. Defaults to the design name. |
Use Case: When you need individual image files for uploading to print services, sharing, or importing into other software.
2. Print & Play PDF
Purpose: Arrange components on printable pages with cut lines for easy home printing.
| Parameter | Options | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Paper Size | Letter, A4, Legal, Tabloid, A3 | The paper size for PDF pages. Letter (8.5" × 11") is standard in North America. A4 (210mm × 297mm) is standard elsewhere. |
| Bleed | • Full Bleed • No Bleed |
Full Bleed: Includes bleed area for professional printing. No Bleed: Removes 37.5px from each side. |
| Cut Lines | • None • Under • Over |
None: No cut lines shown. Under: Cut lines drawn behind the cards. Over: Cut lines drawn on top of the cards. |
| Cut Line Color | Color picker | Color for the cut lines. Only visible when cut lines mode is not "None". |
| Cut Line Thickness | 0.5 - 5 pixels | Thickness of the cut lines. Default is usually 1-2px. |
| Sides to Get Cut Lines | Checkboxes for each side | For multi-sided components, choose which sides should have cut lines. Typically you'd only add cut lines to the face side. |
| Page Margins | Top, Bottom, Left, Right (inches or millimeters) |
Margins around the page edges. Prevents content from being cut off by printer margins. Presets: None (0"), Narrow (0.25"), Normal (0.5"), Wide (1") |
| Rotate Backs 180° | Toggle switch | When enabled, back images are rotated 180 degrees. Useful for duplex printing - print fronts, flip paper on short edge, print backs. |
| PDF Name | Text input | Filename for the generated PDF. Defaults to the design name. |
Quick presets available:
- None: 0" margins (maximum space)
- Narrow: 0.25" margins
- Normal: 0.5" margins (recommended for most printers)
- Wide: 1" margins (safest for all printers)
Use Case: Creating print-at-home versions of your game for playtesting or personal use.
3. The Game Crafter
Purpose: Upload components directly to The Game Crafter for professional print-on-demand production.
You must connect your The Game Crafter account before using this export option. Click "Connect TGC Account" to authenticate.
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Designer | Select which TGC designer account to upload to. Loads from your connected TGC account. |
| Game | Select an existing TGC game or "Create a new Game". Games are containers for components in The Game Crafter system. |
| New Game Name | When creating a new game, enter the game name here. Defaults to your Component.Studio game name. |
| Component | Select an existing component to replace, or "Create a new Component". Components are sets of cards/pieces within a game. |
| New Component Name | When creating a new component, enter the component name. Defaults to your dataset name. |
| Update or Delete | Update: Adds new cards and updates existing ones. Delete then Update: Removes all existing cards first, then uploads fresh copies. |
| Mark as Proofed? | Yes: Marks uploaded components as proofed (ready for production). No: Leaves components as unproofed (requires review in TGC before ordering). |
Use Case: Publishing your game for sale or ordering professional prototypes through The Game Crafter.
4. Tabletop Simulator
Purpose: Generate image grids or individual images optimized for importing into Tabletop Simulator.
| Parameter | Options/Range | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cache Name | Text input | Name for the online cache. Images are uploaded to persistent URLs that you can reference in TTS. Defaults to design name. |
| Cache Type | • Deck/Cards • Individual Images |
Deck/Cards: Combines all cards into grid images (one for faces, one for backs). Standard for playing cards. Individual Images: Exports each card as a separate image file. Use for odd-shaped or thick components. |
| The following options only apply to Deck/Cards mode: | ||
| Cards Across (X) | 1-20 cards | Number of cards horizontally in the grid. Standard is 10. |
| Cards Down (Y) | 1-20 cards | Number of cards vertically in the grid. Standard is 7 (creates 70-card grids with 10×7). |
| Max Image Size | 512-8192 pixels | Maximum width or height of the generated grid image. TTS default is 4096px. Higher values = better quality but larger files. |
| Additional Rotation | • No Rotation • 90° Clockwise • 180° • 270° Clockwise |
Applies rotation to all images in the export. Applied after any design-specific rotations. Useful if your cards need to be rotated for TTS viewing angle. |
Images are uploaded to persistent URLs. When you regenerate the cache with the same name, the URLs stay the same, automatically updating your TTS mod without needing to change any links.
Use Case: Creating digital versions of your game for playtesting in Tabletop Simulator. View exported caches on the Caches page to get image URLs.
Export Process
When you click Start Export, the export proceeds in stages:
- Generating PNG Images - Renders each selected component to PNG format. Shows progress counter (e.g., "15 of 52 images").
- Processing Exports - Creates the selected export types (ZIP, PDF, TTS cache, TGC upload) in parallel. Shows status for each active export type.
- Complete - Summary shows total images exported, file sizes, and links to view results (like TTS cache or TGC component).
You can cancel the export at any time by clicking the Cancel button during the export process. Partial results may be saved depending on which stage was interrupted.
Multi-Export Workflow
You can enable multiple export types simultaneously. For example:
- Enable ZIP for high-res individual files
- Enable PDF for print-and-play testing
- Enable TTS for digital playtesting
All three will be generated from the same render pass, saving time.
Export Settings Persistence
Most export settings are saved to your user preferences and will be remembered for future exports:
- Which export types are enabled
- Bleed and mask settings
- Paper size and margins
- Cut line preferences
- TTS grid configuration
- TGC designer and proofed settings
Some settings are NOT saved and reset each export: file names, cache names, selected components, and specific TGC game/component selections.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Export button is disabled | Make sure at least one export type is enabled and no selected items have zero quantity. |
| TGC export fails | Verify your TGC account is connected and you've selected a designer and game. |
| PDF has cut-off edges | Increase the page margins. Some printers can't print to the edge of the page. |
| TTS images look blurry | Increase the Max Image Size setting (try 8192px for highest quality). |
| ZIP file is huge | This is normal for high-resolution images. Consider exporting in smaller batches. |
Summary
The Export dialog provides comprehensive options for getting your designs out of Component.Studio:
- ZIP: Individual PNG files for maximum flexibility
- PDF: Print-ready pages for home printing
- The Game Crafter: Direct upload for professional production
- Tabletop Simulator: Digital versions for online playtesting
Enable multiple export types together to generate everything you need in one operation. Settings are saved between exports for convenience.