This guide shows you how to fulfill an order yourself, without an external print provider. It covers self-print, where you make and ship a physical product, and self-download, where the customer gets a digital file by email. It is for merchants who handle production in house instead of routing orders to a connected provider.
When self-print applies
Self-print means there is no external print provider on the product. You make the item and you ship it. Composerie does not send the order anywhere; it hands the work to you.
When a self-print order is ready, Composerie generates the artwork as both a PNG and a PDF, saves them to storage, and emails you download links. You print from those files. You can also find them on the order itself, in the Print files section.
Self-download is for digital products. Nothing physical ships. Composerie renders the file, emails the customer a download link, and marks the order fulfilled on its own. You do not need to add tracking or take any further action.
For more on the two file formats and when to use each, see print files (PNG and PDF).
Mark a self-print order printed
Marking an order printed is an internal milestone. It tells Composerie the item is made and ready to ship. It does not notify the customer, and it does not create a Shopify fulfillment yet. That happens later, when you add tracking.
Open the self-print order
Go to Orders and open a self-print order that is Pending or Processing. The order header shows two buttons: a green Mark as printed button and a Mark as shipped button next to it.
Click Mark as printed
The order status becomes Fulfilled, shown on the page as Printed, ready to ship. The customer is not emailed, and no fulfillment is pushed to Shopify at this point. This step is yours alone, to track what you have finished printing.
Add tracking and mark it shipped
When the order is on its way, mark it shipped and record the tracking. This is the step that creates the Shopify fulfillment, which is also what sends the shipping email to the customer.
Open the Mark as shipped dialog
Click Mark as shipped on the order. You can do this from a printed order, or straight from a Processing order if you skipped the printed step.
Pick a carrier and enter the tracking number
Choose the carrier from the dropdown, then type the tracking number. The tracking URL fills in for you based on the carrier you picked. If your carrier is set to Other, enter the tracking URL yourself.
Choose whether to notify the customer
Use the Notify customer toggle to control the email. When it is on, Shopify sends its shipping email with your tracking details. This toggle only works when the order is linked to Shopify and the customer has an email on file. If either is missing, the toggle is off and the dialog tells you why.
Submit
The order flips to Shipped in Composerie first, then the fulfillment is pushed to Shopify in the background. From there you can mark it Delivered when it arrives.
For more on carriers, tracking links, and editing tracking after the fact, see shipping and tracking.
Common questions
Does Mark as printed email the customer?
No. It is an internal milestone only. The customer is notified later, when you mark the order shipped with the Notify customer toggle on.
Where do I get the print files for a self-print order?
Composerie emails you download links for the PNG and PDF when the order is ready. You can also open the order and find them in the Print files section.
Do I need to ship a self-download order?
No. Self-download is a digital product. Composerie emails the customer a download link and marks the order fulfilled on its own. Nothing ships.
Can I send a self-print order to a print provider?
No. Self-print and self-download orders stay with you. The Send to production action is rejected for them.
Why is the Notify customer toggle disabled?
It only works when the order is linked to Shopify and the customer has an email on file. The dialog shows the reason when it is off.
Next
To handle carriers and tracking links in more depth, read shipping and tracking.