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In this tutorial, we will share how to create an NFT for free. It’s easier to create, or ‘mint’, an NFT than you think, and it’s just as simple to do it for free. For this tutorial, we will focus on creating a single NFT artwork and not creating generative NFTs or a collection of NFTs.
Then What are NFTs? These non-fungible tokens have taken the world by storm, but they’re not as complicated as you think. Fundamentally, NFTs are a way of registering a digital file on a cryptocurrency blockchain to ensure it is a one-of-a-kind item and show ownership. We have a complete guide on how make and sell an NFTbut here we will show you how to specifically create an NFT for free.
For artists, NFTs can be transformative, allowing them to own their digital work, sell it, and even earn percentages of future sales. In our interview with art curator Tina Ziegler, she covers International Women’s Day and World of Women NFTs, explaining how important NFTs can become for artists.
While you can create NFTs on your computer or laptop, you can even mint NFTs on your mobile device. the best NFT apps for iPhone, for example, allows you to create an NFT on the fly; or see how your collection is doing and keep track of NFTs on various blockchains. With that in mind, some of the steps below to create a free NFT are applicable, but we’re using a desktop browser.
How to create a free NFT: the steps
01. Create a crypto wallet account
(Image: © Ian Dean)
You will need a cryptocurrency wallet to set up an account at any NFT marketplace to create your NFT. We chose Metamask because it is one of the most used and accessible. There are alternatives, such as the Coinbase wallet.
When you create your wallet account you will be given a 12 word ‘seed phrase’, this is your unique password. Keep it safe and don’t share it anywhere, the seed phrase acts as your security code (useful if you forget your password).
02. Create an account in an NFT market
(Image: © Ian Dean)
For this tutorial we are creating an account on weird, but the same approach applies to any NFT market. Read our guide to the best NFT Markets to find the right one for you.
Once you set up our account (adding a username, photo, bio, etc.) link your Metamask account to your Rarible account by following the instructions. Linking your two accounts ensures that your NFTs will appear in your wallet and all transactions can be completed easily (you will need to go into the Metamask settings to automatically bring in your NFTs). Our Metamask account also acts as our Rarible login.
Spend some time customizing your NFT marketplace account, adding a banner image, and linking your social media accounts. The longer you make sure your social networks are connected, the better; You’ll find that your art is more visible the more time you spend adding detail to your page.
03. Paint some art
(Image: © Ian Dean)
For this guide on how to create a free NFT, we quickly created a new piece of art. We googled some random photo references and painted a sketch using the Rebelle 5 paint app; it’s fast and we don’t focus on details but on a general sense of the face and proportions. (read our Rebelle 5 Review for more information on this excellent digital art software).
An NFT can be any digital file, so create the art you love to do, but here we are choosing a digital painting. We save the new painting as a jpeg and prepare to upload it to our new NFT market account and mint it as NFT.
04. Uploading your art
(Image: © Ian Dean)
It’s time to upload our art and start creating an NFT for free. These NFT marketplace sites like Rarible have very easy to use guides for uploading your art and the process is generally the same (some select NFT marketplaces may want to verify this, and this may take a few days). Click the Create tab at the top right of your account and continue.
You will now need to choose a blockchain. There are four options on Rarible, including the new low-carbon cryptocurrencies Flow, Tezos, and Polygon. (We have a must-read guide to the most popular NFT cryptography to decide which one is best for you). To create an NFT for free, we are choosing Ethereum.
05. Choose free mintage
(Image: © Ian Dean)
The following options help you decide the value and type of NFT you are creating, for example choose Single to create a single NFT or Multiple to mint a series of NFTs to create a collection. (Take a look at our NFT Trends feature for inspiration). Set the price, add a name and description, and make sure to switch Free Minting to ‘On’.
Free minting, or lazy minting, allows you to put the minting fees on the buyer so they are not charged. You are typically charged ‘gas fees’, the cost of transacting on the blockchain, to mint an NFT. The gas unit is called ‘Gwei’. Depending on the traffic on the blockchain as you mint, the fee may go up or down; the higher the traffic, the higher the cost. It can often be cheaper in the late afternoon or early morning.
But… they don’t charge us if we choose Free Minting. The downside of pushing gas rates on the buyer is that you may need to lower the asking price to anticipate the later cost, or mint your NFT like an auction and let the buyer decide.
06. The NFT is minted
(Image: © Ian Dean)
In Rarible, when the NFT is minted, you get a beautiful explosion of digital confetti. Now the real work begins. It’s best to get social and post about your new NFT as soon as possible. You can link the new NFT directly to Twitter, Facebook and other social media channels from the NFT marketplace.
You see, minting an NFT for free is easy, but there are a few things you need to know; The advantage of free minting allows you to quickly create an NFT for free, but it can have some drawbacks as NFT markets tend to make “normal” NFTs more visible. Because of this, you will need to make more of your own social channels for promotion.
How to create a free NFT: frequently asked questions
What is a blockchain?
This is a database that is shared between the nodes of a computer network. Each block in the chain contains data and constantly checks and updates the data. This makes any asset on the blockchain immutable, ensuring that data is extremely difficult to change or delete. These are decentralized networks, which means that there are no third parties involved and all data is freely available for viewing and tracking.
What gives an NFT value?
Rarity and/or status help an NFT achieve value. So, for example, an NFT created by established artists like Beeple, Damien Hirst, and Takashi Murakami will be worth a lot.
But NFTs are breaking the rules. New artists are finding new ways to ensure that NFTs differ from traditional art appraisals. Community and utility is an important factor. Think of an NFT like the Bored Ape Yacht Club as a ticket to a club, and that club will have exclusive events, chat groups, and projects to participate in; these community-driven NFTs have great value.
Why is an NFT jpeg worth so much?
An NFT jpeg is worth a lot because it is not the jpeg that is bought, but the hash token on the blockchain. Crypto Punk art is the visual “thing” that we may find easy to understand, but the true value of the NFT is its token and the benefits it can bring by being on a blockchain. This can include being invited to exclusive events in real life.
How much does it cost to do an NFT?
It can be free, if you use lazy minting. Standard NFTs can vary wildly in cost from gas fees to generate and record on a blockchain, with costs rising and falling as the blockchain is used. A typical NFT can cost between $10 / £7 and ¢$200 / £170. We know of fees as high as $2,000 / £1,700.
What types of NFT sell best?
NFTs that have utility will always sell well as they embrace the full functionality of the blockchain. This is why you will find the NFTs below to be some of the most popular.
1. Bored Monkeys Yacht Club
2. Cryptopunks
3. The sandbox
4. Art blocks
5. Doodles
6. Cool cats
7. Decentralization
8. World of women
Can I avoid gas fees without using lazy minting?
Yes, up to a point. Newer NFT crypto blockchains like Wax allow you to set the limit on the gas fee you are willing to pay to mint an NFT. It will be processed and minted at a time when the gas rate matches its set level. Also, consider avoiding minting an NFT on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as these are historically the busiest days and therefore the most expensive.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific financial or investment advice or recommendations to any individual for any investment product. The article is only intended to provide general information and opinions about NFTs. The opinions reflected in this article are subject to change at any time without notice.
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