Remember how your heart skipped a beat when you saw the release of Istaria gear on cafepress.com?
Well, make sure you're sitting down before you read the following!

Several players have asked about having merchandise available that features the image of their own character, such as replacing the red hatchling on the 'Hatchie Power' designs. Virtrium is very pleased to announce that we are making custom images an option for interested players. The official press release may be found here: http://www.virtrium.com/2008.09.09pressrelease

Creating a custom image from a screen shot you submit will cost a one-time fee of $10.00 per finished image. There will also be a small per-item premium ($1.00 on most items) on all customized items ordered. Once the custom image is finished, it can be placed on any available product. Players will also be able to come back later and add the image to other products or designs and only the per-item premium will apply.

The custom image will be created using the screen shot you submit. For best results, the screen shot should be taken as close to your character or plot/lair as possible and at the highest possible monitor resolution - the closer you can get to 2000x2000, the better. It should be taken in full daylight with the 'sun' behind or slightly to the side of the camera, and the subject should be on flat ground if at all possible so that the character's feet don't vanish into the ground. Images should be submitted in either .jpg or .png format, with .png preferred.

The setup token has been added to the product page and looks like this:

Merchandise Setup Token
Special Note: After you have purchased a Merchandise Setup Token, please submit your custom screen shot through http://support.istaria.com by submitting a ticket under Merchandise and they will get your image ready to be printed on a tshirt, mug, etc.

If you are unsure of the quality of your screen shot and would like to have us examine it before you spend the money to buy a Merchandise Setup Token, please submit the image through the support site with a notation that you want to have it evaluated first.

A section has been added to the Istaria Merchandise shop for custom designs, so you will be able to show off your custom product to all your friends and relations and give them a specific link they can go to in order to go shopping for all your birthday and holiday needs.

Fire up your photography skills and increase your one-of-a-kind wardrobe with Istara: Chronicles of the Gifted.

- Amarie Ancalimon
Community Manager