Adding Materials to a Product

Adding materials to a product tells CrafterBy exactly what goes into making it and how much of each material is consumed per unit produced.

Steps

1. Open the product from the Products list.
2. Go to the Materials tab.
3. Click Add Material.
4. In the search box, type the name of the material you want to add. Results filter as you type.
5. Select the material from the results.
6. Enter the Quantity Used per product, in the material's unit of measure.
   • For a Simple material (units): enter a whole number (e.g., 1 jar, 2 labels)
   • For a Weight/Length material: enter the amount used (e.g., 35 for 35 cm of thread)
   • For a Dimensional material: enter the volume used (e.g., 30 for 30 mL of fragrance oil)
   • For a Sheet material: enter piece width and piece height
7. Optionally, enter a Waste Factor % (explained below).
8. Click Add. The material appears in the list with its calculated cost.

Adding multiple materials

Repeat the steps above for each material the product uses. There is no limit. The cost breakdown panel updates with each addition, showing the running material cost total.

Waste factor

The waste factor accounts for material that is used in the process but does not end up in the finished product. Common sources of waste:

• Mixing and pouring loss (resin left in the mixing cup, wax left in the pouring jug)
• Cutting loss (fabric offcuts, leather trimmings)
• Testing and QC (a candle you burn to check scent throw)
• Liquid materials absorbed by tools (paint in a brush, glue in an applicator)

Enter the waste factor as a percentage. A 10% waste factor on a material increases its effective quantity by 10%, which increases the cost by 10%.

Example: A 200 g soy candle.

• You add 180 g of soy wax as the nominal quantity
• You apply a 5% waste factor to account for wax left in the pouring jug and drips
• Effective quantity: 180 g × 1.05 = 189 g
• Cost is calculated on 189 g, not 180 g

Editing or removing a material

To change the quantity or waste factor of a material you have already added, click the edit icon next to it in the materials list. To remove it entirely, click the delete icon. Changes take effect immediately in the cost breakdown.

Material not in the list?

If you cannot find the material you need, it has not been added to your materials library yet. Open a new tab, go to Materials > Add Material, create it, then return to the product and add it. See Adding a Material.