AngieG. ~GinAngieLa.com · Follow
5 min read · Jan 18, 2024
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If you’ve been tuned in to the digital art scene, the buzz around NFTs has undoubtedly caught your attention. NFT Art, riding the wave of popularity since 2022, has become a game-changer for artists looking to showcase and sell their art in the digital realm.
In the past, creators had to pay a gas fee to mint an NFT, but fear not, times have changed.
You can now mint NFTs for free on OpenSea, and I’m here to guide you through the process step by step.
Let’s demystify some terms. Minting an NFT essentially means permanently recording a digital creation on the blockchain. It’s the process of turning your artwork into a unique, non-fungible token, giving it an unalterable proof of authenticity and ownership.
Related: 9 Best Software To Create NFT Art
Traditionally, minting came with a price tag, known as gas fees — charges for updating the blockchain. These fees could range from a few dollars to a substantial amount, depending on the platform and market conditions.
By utilizing the Polygon (MATIC) blockchain, you can sidestep those pesky gas fees and bring your digital creations to life without breaking the bank.
Here’s how to do it!
Step 1: Connect Your Wallet
OpenSea doesn’t require a conventional sign-up. Instead, you connect your crypto wallet. Choose from popular wallets like MetaMask or Coinbase Wallet.
Step 2: Create An NFT Collection
Creating a new collection is super-easy. All you need to do is navigate to your account, select “My collections,” and then click on Create a collection.
Step 3: Customize Your NFT Collection Details
Give your collection a name, add a description, and set a custom link. Crucially, select again the Polygon blockchain in the dropdown menu to avoid gas fees. Select the coins you want to allow users to pay with and choose the Display theme.
Being able to customize the link to your collection is pretty awesome, because you can choose something that is easy to remember — for yourself and for your prospect customers.
If your collection name is already taken, you can add your artist name.
For example, I am using links like OpenSea.io/collection/black-night-by-ginangiela or OpenSea.io/collection/dearness-by-ginangiela.
*Please note: you cannot use any special characters in both title and description.
I was actually wanting to use the character ∆ in the name of my collection. But unfortunately, I cannot use it on OpenSea. So, instead of BL∆CK NIGHT, my OpenSea collection has to be called BLACK NIGHT. ´\_(ツ)_/`
Step 4: Upload Graphics For Your NFT Collection
Craft a visual identity for your collection with logo, banner, and featured images. These visuals represent your artwork on OpenSea, so make them captivating and reflective of your artistic style.
I like to use something typical of the artworks in the collection (like the antlers for my Dearness Collection), as well as my brand colors.
Step 5: Define Your Profit Margin
Set your profit margin under “Earnings” to ensure you benefit from your hard work. If you don’t set any margin, you won’t get anything of the sales price! ´\_(ツ)_/` The highest percentage rate you can currently set is 10 percent. So, just enter 10%… After that, you can connect your social media accounts for added exposure.
Step 6: Mint Your NFT For Free On OpenSea
Click on “Create” to upload your artwork. Add title, description, and select your recently created collection. Again, don’t forget to opt for the Polygon blockchain in the dropdown!
Step 7: List Your NFT for Free on OpenSea
Select a fixed price or timed auction, set the duration, and be aware of the 2.5% fee deducted by OpenSea. Confirm your listing, and voila — you’ve successfully minted and listed an NFT for free on OpenSea!
Congratulations! You’ve navigated the process of minting NFTs for free on OpenSea.
Now it’s time to share your unique creations with the world and — who knows — maybe your digital masterpiece is just about to become the next sensation in the NFT art universe. If you have minted any NFTs, feel free to share the link in the comments down below.
Happy minting!
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I hope that you found this tutorial helpful. You can learn more about the creative process behind my BLACK NIGHT NFT Art Collection here, where you can also see the before-and-after images of all the works.
For more inspiration and tips to showcase and sell your art check out GinAngieLa.com. ✌️
