Build your creative portfolio under 5’

In the previous post, we shared some tips and things to consider once you set off to create a portfolio for your work.

Now, let’s take a closer look at how to build your first creative portfolio with Macula. Good news — once you’ve selected what you want to share, it can literally be done in under 5 minutes!

First sign in to Macula and set up your profile.

Add your nickname, username, bio, and social links so people can reach out or learn more about you and your work. Then, upload an image for your profile picture. Click the three dots (…) on the left and choose “Set as Avatar.” This image will also appear on your public profile (portfolio).

Now let’s get into the fun part — showing your work!

Step 1: Uploading your work

First things first, let’s get your creative gems onto Macula. You have two options to upload your work:

• Individual Uploads: Perfect for showcasing specific pieces like illustrations or photographs. Simply create a new folder.
• Bulk Upload: Got a whole project you want to share? This option allows you to upload an entire folder from your device containing all your files at once. Perfect for collections or design projects!

Pro Tip! Organization is key. Use folders for different types of content. This will also make things faster and easier when you’ll be choosing what’s ready to share with the public and what should stay for your eyes only (we’ll get to this in a moment)

Step 2: Context is all: providing details

Don’t just let your images stand alone — give them context! Adding titles, descriptions, and relevant keywords is like adding captions to a museum exhibit. It provides valuable context for viewers and helps them understand your creative process and the stories behind your work.

Here’s how to add details to your images:

• Titles: Give each piece a clear and descriptive title. This is especially helpful for individual images or projects with multiple components.
• Descriptions: tell the story behind your work. Briefly explain the concept, context, or techniques you used. In case you are showcasing some designs, you can include details about the case study, client, and whatever is relevant to mention.
• Keywords: Think of keywords as search terms viewers might use to find your work. Include relevant keywords that describe the content, style, or purpose of your work. This will help your portfolio get discovered by the right audience.

Step 3: Sharing it with the world

All set, it’s time to go live.

1. Navigate to Your Public-Ready Folder: Head to the folder containing the work you want to showcase.
2. Find the “Make Public” Toggle: Look for the “Make Public” toggle button in the upper right corner of the folder.
3. Flip the Switch: Simply enable the toggle button. That’s it!

Voila! After a few minutes, your chosen files will be live on your public profile, complete with your copyright notice under the “All Rights Reserved” license (set by default, you can change it later if you choose).

Pro tip! Keep the flow. You can continue adding new files to your published folder. Any new additions will be automatically made public.

Want to Use a Different License?

Macula allows you to choose from various Creative Commons licenses for the content you share:

• Can click on the three dots (…) on the left and choose “Publish.” There you will be able to create a new rendition of the image and choose another license type.
• Another way to do it is by opening the image and clicking on “New Transformation”. You can learn more about creating transformations and selecting license types to publish, in our docs.

Step 4: Final Step: Checking how it looks

Now that you’ve shared your work, it’s time to see it all come together! Here’s how to access your public profile:

• Look for the link to your “Public Profile” located beneath your profile picture. Click on the link and marvel at your amazing work!
• Your profile will display your image, bio, social links, and of course, your newly created portfolio. You can use the tabs to navigate into the different content types.

Also, when you click on a single image, you might notice a “UniLink” that appears. But what exactly is that?

A UniLink Preview is a web page specifically designed to boost search engine optimization (SEO) for your images. Other than the image itself it contains a bunch of information useful for both SEO and securing a correct attribution of your images, including:

• File Metadata: Details about the file itself.
• Licensing Information: Clear explanation of how the content can be used.
• Portfolio & Social Links: Easy access to your online presence.
• Sharing & Reuse Options: Convenient tools to share or reuse the content based on the chosen license.

You can learn about Unilinks and how they work here.

Universal Link (a.k.a Unilink) Preview

Easy, right? With just a few simple steps, now you have a stunning portfolio with built-in copyright protection. All set to share your work with the world: safe and simple!

Intriagued to learn more about Macula.Link and what else can it do? Sign up for a free, no-strings-attached plan!

As always, you can reach out to us with your ideas or questions on Discord, X/Twitter, or via email hey <at> macula.link.

To see what’s already in the works, you can always check Macula feature roadmap. That’s also where the functionality requests and suggestions we get from you will appear.