Digital product templates and delivery
In Products → Digital Products, Step 1 asks What are you creating? (template cards), Step 2 sets name, price, and delivery (email vs client portal), and Step 3 configures what the buyer receives—portal widgets, license/downloads, or POD details. Course SKUs are portal-only.
When you add a Digital Product, you follow a short wizard: pick what you are creating, then name & price (and how they receive it), then what the customer receives. Template choice shapes the later steps—courses stay portal-only; file packs can be email delivery or portal; calendars and photo books jump to print details.
Capability overview
| Axis | Question it answers |
|---|---|
| Template (Step 1) | What content family is this SKU? (course, gallery, event, file pack, calendar, …) |
| Delivery mode (Step 2) | After payment, does the buyer get an email download/link or client portal sign-in? (hidden when the template forces portal) |
| Fulfillment (Step 3) | Bind the course / portfolio / event / widgets, or set license, downloads, or POD options |
Paid courses always use Client portal access with a Course template. Preset packs and one-off galleries often use Email / file delivery when you do not need ongoing portal UX.
For client-only photo or video packs, create the linked collection as a Private portfolio first so masters and fulfillment zips are not on the public CDN. See Private portfolios.
Create / edit wizard (three steps)
Dashboard path: Products → Digital Products
Edit reuses the same Step 2 → Step 3 dialog for an existing SKU (template is already fixed).
Step 1 — What are you creating?
Template cards on the Digital Products page (plus Custom Product). Pick the closest match—Course, Gallery Delivery, Video Pack, Event Access, Workshop, Mentorship, Digital Download Pack, Calendar, Photo Book, or custom.
This step only chooses the offer shape. You do not bind content yet.
Step 2 — Name & price
In the create/edit dialog:
- Product name, description, image (Course can default to the course cover)
- Price (or license pricing when the template uses licenses)
- How will customers get this? — Email / file delivery or Client portal access (omitted for Course, which is always portal, and for Calendar / Photo Book)
- Status: draft or active
Continue when the name is set.
Step 3 — What the customer receives
The Step 3 title changes with the template and delivery choice:
| Situation | Step 3 label | What you configure |
|---|---|---|
| Portal delivery | What your customer receives | Portal widgets + bind course / portfolio / event resources |
| Email / file delivery | License & delivery | Portfolio zip, license options, download limits (as the template allows) |
| Calendar / Photo Book | Product details | Print catalogue type, portfolio images, POD settings |
Course defaults to the courses widget only; you can opt in to add-ons (downloads, resources, video library, messages, gallery, events). Link at least one course before you publish.
Interface architecture
[Products → Digital Products]
|
v
[Step 1: What are you creating? — template cards]
|
v
[Step 2: Name & price (+ delivery mode when allowed)]
|
v
[Step 3: Portal widgets OR License & delivery OR POD details]
|
v
[Active SKU → storefront checkout → buyer fulfillment]
Delivery modes
Choose in Step 2 when the template shows How will customers get this?
Email / file delivery (Direct Fulfillment)
Buyer receives email after payment. No standing portal account is required for that SKU.
| What happens | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Download link (zip from linked portfolio) | Gallery Delivery, Digital Download Pack, Video Pack when you want files only |
| License text in email when enabled | Commercial/editorial downloads |
| Event registration confirmation | Event Access or Workshop with events in email mode |
| Download expiry and max download count | Limits abuse on large zips |
Best for: one-time deliverables, preset bundles, “send me the files” purchases.
Download emails use time-limited tokens. When the linked portfolio is Private, the zip and signed download path use private storage (not a permanent public object URL).
Client portal access (Portal Access)
Buyer receives a welcome email with sign-in to the client portal (/verify flow). The platform creates access grants for the widgets you select in Step 3 (courses, gallery, video library, messages, resources, events).
| What happens | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Ongoing access to linked course, gallery, or program | Course, Workshop, Mentorship, paid education |
| Widget-level content picks | Choose which course, which portfolio, which events |
| Same portal experience as Portal Manager invitations | Buyers see assigned tabs you enabled |
Best for: students, mentoring clients, members who return for lessons or proofing.
Course never offers email zip delivery—portal only. For other templates, check How will customers get this? on each SKU.
A gallery widget can point at a Private portfolio. Buyers see it only after purchase (or invite), with signed portal delivery.
Portal widgets (access types)
When Client portal access is selected (or forced), Step 3 lets you enable widgets and bind content:
| Widget | Buyer sees in portal |
|---|---|
| courses | Enrolled course player and lessons |
| gallery | Assigned portfolio / gallery delivery |
| video_library | Video collection access |
| downloads | Downloadable resources area |
| resources | Document/resource library |
| messages | Messaging with your studio |
| events | Event registration and schedules |
Templates include a default widget set and may offer unchecked add-ons. The editor filters choices when you switch delivery modes.
Template directory
Dashboard path: Products → Digital Products → What are you creating?
Access-based (portal-friendly)
Full reference for courses: Set course access rules · Portal UX: Client portal experience
- Course — Structured lessons in the client portal. Links a course; courses widget included by default; optional add-ons for downloads, resources, video library, messages, gallery, events. Delivery is always Client portal access (no email-zip option). Lesson attachments can use private media; intro/cover may use the public library path.
- Workshop — Live workshop with recordings and materials. Links workshop metadata + events; portal or email confirmation.
- Mentorship Program — Ongoing mentorship. Usually Client portal access with messaging and resources.
- Event Access — Ticket-style access to events. Email / file delivery can confirm registration; Client portal access keeps schedules in portal.
File delivery (download- or portal-capable)
- Video Pack — Standalone video collection from a portfolio. License settings and downloads; portal video_library optional. Prefer a Private portfolio when the pack must stay off the public CDN.
- Gallery Delivery — Photo gallery with download access from a portfolio. Strong fit for email zip; portal gallery when buyers need return visits. Prefer a Private portfolio for client proofs and paid finals.
- Digital Download Pack — Files and presets without tying to one gallery narrative. Email delivery for attached files; license settings available. Public library files are fine for presets you also use on the site; client-only masters belong in Private portfolios.
Physical fulfillment (POD — Step 3 is product details)
These skip portal/email delivery toggles and configure print options in Step 3:
- Calendar — Customizable photo calendar (print-on-demand).
- Photo Book — Multi-image bound book (print-on-demand).
Private portfolios and digital SKUs
| You sell | Portfolio choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Paid client gallery / finals zip | Private portfolio + Gallery Delivery or Video Pack | Masters never land on the public CDN; checkout still emails a token download or grants portal access |
| Marketing preset pack you also show on the site | Public portfolio or public library files | Same assets can appear on pages and in the zip |
| Course with portal lessons | Course content + optional Private lesson media | Portal access unlocks the course; private lesson files stay out of CMS pickers |
Detail: Private portfolios.
Choosing template + delivery
| You sell | Start with template (Step 1) | Delivery (Step 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Online course | Course | Always Client portal access + link course in Step 3 |
| Workshop ticket + replay | Workshop or Event Access | Portal for materials; email for confirmation-only ticket |
| Client proofing gallery purchase | Gallery Delivery (+ Private portfolio) | Portal for ongoing access, or email for one-time zip |
| Lightroom presets zip | Digital Download Pack | Email / file delivery |
| Mentoring retainer | Mentorship Program | Client portal access |
| Print calendar / book | Calendar / Photo Book | POD details in Step 3 (no delivery toggle) |
How this connects to courses and invites
| Path | When to use |
|---|---|
| Digital Products SKU (portal) | Storefront checkout; buyer pays → portal grant |
| Portal Manager → Invite Client | Named access without going through cart—see Invite clients to portal |
A paid course needs a published Course template product (portal) linked to your course in Step 3. Invite-only students can skip the storefront SKU.
System restrictions & guardrails
- Calendar and Photo Book are not configured as digital portal products. Use their POD Step 3 flows.
- Course cannot be sold as email-only zip delivery.
- Email / file delivery without a linked portfolio zip or event id cannot fulfill. Attach content in Step 3 before you sell.
- Linking a Private portfolio does not change template or delivery mode. It changes where the files live and how download/portal URLs are signed.
- Mixing portal and direct expectations in marketing copy causes support load. State “instant download” vs “portal login” on the product page.
- Education module / client portal must be on your plan for portal SKUs.
Next steps & validation
- Complete Steps 1–3 using the tables above.
- For client-only gallery or video packs, confirm the linked portfolio is Private.
- Set the SKU Active and run checkout in test mode.
- Confirm buyer receives the correct email (download vs portal welcome).
- For portal SKUs, sign in as the buyer and verify each enabled widget.
- For email delivery + Private portfolio, open the download link and confirm the file arrives (token route, not a bare public CDN URL).
Verifying your setup
- Template matches what you sell (course vs gallery vs files vs print).
- Delivery (when shown) matches how you described the offer publicly.
- Portal SKUs have widgets bound to real course/portfolio/event content in Step 3.
- Email-delivery SKUs produce a download or event email on a test purchase.
- Client-only packs use a Private portfolio where that matters.
Course and event selling paths have dedicated product guides: Courses as a product · Events as a product. Recommend related SKUs to existing buyers with Upsell products in the client portal.